Tune of the Week: RIP Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton has passed away, leaving a huge legacy. Remember when she transitioned to being a movie star and made it look easy? Remember when she created her own amusement park? Remember when she invested in children’s literacy? Remember when she helped get the world out of a pandemic? Remember when she was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and, in response, produced her own idea of a rock record:

She did all of that and without a whiff of pretension. In fact, not taking herself too seriously seemed to be part of her modus operandi:

Thanks for all the lessons, Dolly. Rest in eternal power!

Tune of the Week: Amazing Journey

Surely, one of the most incredible aspects of The Who’s masterwork, “Tommy”, is the fact that it was created entirely by the four piece band. It’s hard to think of another major work by a band that didn’t include at least backup singers, so this feat seems especially notable. This track includes at least three part changes and some otherworldly drumming by the great Keith Moon.

Tune of the Week: Rest in Power Sensational

I didn’t think I’d be making this kind of post so soon, but the great underground MC Sensational has passed away. Sensational was a true underground musician’s underground musician. His approach to music was off-kilter, grimy and unrelentingly his own. His confidence in his art form was unwavering. While personal challenges kept him from producing his own backing tracks in recent years, he would still pop up on mostly European productions that were inspired by him, such as the one above.

Sensational was, a forever will be, an inspiration for anyone trying to do things their own way. Regardless of socially accepted aesthetic norms, the true artist stands by his creation and stands up for its validity.

Here is a great article on the life and times of Sensational written by former collaborator and chief propogator of the Sensational sound, Skiz Fernando.

Here is the fictional fiim Skiz made, inspired by Sensational’s life starring the man himself.

Here is a more recent documentary about the man, the myth and legend.

Rest in power, Sensational. Thanks for flying the freak flag for us outsiders!

Tune of the Week: Jurass Finish First

Jurassic 5 were a true anomaly in the underground hiphop world of the late 90s and early 00s. They had not one nor two mcs, but four in the group. Their production was handled not by one producer/dj, but two. Undoubtedly influenced by the likes of Freestyle Fellowship, the Jurassic crew took the “more is more” LA style and blew it up. They were able to mix and blend hard rhyming with barbershop quartet as well as turntablism. Perhaps the weight of all those voices, perspectives and egos brought down this unique group, but their legacy lives on with recordings like this.

Tune of the Week: Wagon Christ

Here’s a great animated music video for one of Luke Vibert’s many alteregos, Wagon Christ. Funky and fresh!

Tune of the Week: Juan Atkins' Infiniti

Time for some boogie-down-summertime action courtesy of Juan Atkins’ Infiniti project. Juan is one of the pillars of Detroit techno and this is some of his mid 90s output. Strangely, this project is not sited in his Wiki entry. As well respected the world over as Detroit is for their contributions to electronic music, the whole story has yet to be told, apparently.

Tune of the Week: Rupa "Disco Jazz"

Time to shake that moneymaker to some Indian/Disco action from 1981. This unique project was proposed to singer Rupa Biswas after a successful three hour concert in Canada. It has recently been rediscovered and reissued by the kings of obscurity, the Numero Group.

Tune of the Week: The Monks

At a certain point in listening to punk rock you realize it’s really just rock ‘n’ roll. Generally, it’s sourced from the gritty world of garage rock. Alongside The Seeds, The Monks are one of those foundational bands that help set the template for weirdo rockers all over the world. Dig the fuzz on that bass (not to mention the hair-dos)!

Tune of the Week: Karl Hector and Malcouns

Karl Hector and the Malcouns are a German group devoted to all things funky. You can hear a little James Brown, Ghanian funk and krautrock all thrown into the mix. Perfect for some summertime BBQing action!

Tune of the Week: Ice Cube for the Fourth

To celebrate 250 years of bullshit, we’ll take a listen to some of the words of Ice Cube off his incindiary debut album, produced by the all-mighty Bomb Squad.

Tune of the Week: Coldcut & Hexstatic

By 1997 rolled around Coldcut were already electronic music legends. They had perfected the samping and mash-up style of production, been doing their “Solid Steel” radio show for 10 years and had created the extremely influential Ninja Tune label. After ten years of accomplishments they were not done innovating. This video created with A/V pioneers Hexstatic merged the worlds of music and video in a way that seemed nearly impossible for most people in the late 90s.

Tune of the Week: Gregory Isaacs

Gregory Isaacs was a certified reggae legend by the time he became an international star in 1982. Having come out with hit after hit since the roots era on the island, success had its downsides and for Isaacs it was an addiction to cocaine. By 1989 it would seem that things were better for him. He released “Warning”, an album filled with haunting tales for prospective rudeboys. Produced by King Tubby in the midst of the digital production revolution, “Warning” is a great encapsulation of a lot of what was going on at the time: technological changes and a breakdown in civilization caused by the crack epidemic. Long live the Cool Ruler!

Tune of the Week: NASA Project

In the early 90s, the North American rave scene was finding its legs. Crews in New York were starting to build and things were starting to make their way west. In the meantime clubs were still the main source of hearing the newest sounds from overseas. With the amount of import tunes trickling in DJs would have to get creative. Often you would hear a mix and blend of several different styles in one night: acid house, hip house, hip hop and hardcore.

One of the most unsung scenes in the States from back then was in Dallas, TX. The center of the scene was the Lizard Lounge, a refurbished old theater. Complete with chandelier, huge dance floor and multiiple levels of balconies, Lizard Lounge was a haven for those seeking to dance their butts off til morning. The city’s alternative station, The Edge, turned into Edgeclub on Saturday nights and would broadcast DJ sets directly from the club.

Two local DJs and producers got their records and gear together and formed NASA Project. DJ Red Eye and DJA1’s productions took the baton from overseas hardcore acts like N-Joi and The Prodigy and added their own unique Texan sense of humor to the mix. “Textasy” quickly became a classic in the worldwide scene. Contemporary electronic artist Textasy was so taken by the track to name himself after it. Tra-la-la-boom-de-yea!

Tune of the Week: RIP Sonny Rollins

Due to his parents’ Virgin Island roots, Sonny Rollins famously worked in some Caribbean flavor into his jazz recipe. The master has passed at age 95. Let’s have a little calypso boogie session to send out the genius of the saxophone. Rest in Power!

Tune of the Week: Miles in Transition

Much is made of the major phases of Miles Davis’ career: his two classic quintets, his modal compositions, his electrified sound. For me, some of the most enjoyable music was the stuff that happened in transition. “Fillles de Kilimanjaro” was a 1968 recording that saw Miles transitioning out of his second classic quintet and into a a more dark and brooding sound that would take him to some extreme places later. While electrified bass and keys hint at the sounds to come, the playing is laid back and subdued. Truly, the calm before the storm. Happy 100th, oh Prince of Darkness!

Tune of the Week: Miles at 100- The First Quintet

The late, great Miles Davis would’ve turned 100 this month. Amongst all the tributes, I feel like his first legendary quintet is getting neglected. Perhaps this is, in larger terms, impossible. Maybe everyone thinks that because of Coltrane’s involvement that this is already well-worn territory. While I do very much appreciate the second quartet and the tensions and textures that their style created, the first’s sheer effortlessness is forever fascinating. I particularly love the “Relaxin’ With” album. There was a decision to leave in false starts and studio chatter, which creates a certain anticipation that is utter satisfied with the burning performances that are subsquently captured, again, seemingly without any effort. Dig!

Tune(s) of the Week: Ooooh Raaaas!

Ras G was a pillar of the LA beat scene in the 00s. Heavily influenced by Sun Ra, Ras’ music took several directions simultaneously. From abstract sample collages to broken beat house to bass-heavy headnodders, Ras kept the buttons pushed on his trusty Roland SP-404. This eight and a half minute EP displays just a few of his styles. RIP Ras G!

Tune of the Week: William Onyeabor

William Onyeabor turned his semolina flour mill business into an opportunity to create synth-powered funk music. He self-released nine albums before devoting his life to religion. In the 2010s David Byrne’s label Luaka Bop made his recordings more widely available. You can read more about him here.

Tune(s) of the Week: RIP Bob Power

Thanks to the above track by A Tribe Called Quest, Bob Power is probably the most known audio engineer in all of Hip Hop. He also worked on one of the more complicated tracks De La Soul ever made:

The whole thing was done on archaic samplers. Bob at one point had the whole thing setup and then changed one thing and ruined it, having to re-do the entire process. The final product took a couple of days.

For the more tech savvy amongst you, here is a great interview with Bob from Tape Op Magazine with lots of great engineering tips.

Rest in Power, Bob!

Tune of the Week: Elaine Radigue RIP

Last week saw the passing of the great Elaine Radigue. She worked in long form with feedback, the Arp 2500, tape and, towards the end of her life, with instruments and musicians. Here’s is her sonic life story, as told by her: