Syd Matters-Everything Else

I've been a regular visitor to balearic bible testpressing.org for a while after being introduced by trusted musical kitkat Walkmusic. Featuring his and many other mixes from trusted collectors and friends alike, its always worth a punt for some laid back, interesting and hard to find sounds. Pavel Plastikk's mix the other month was no different and via some internet research I discovered one of the highlights was this track from French act Syd Matters. A bit of a weepie, but who cares.

Syd Matters-Everything Else (buy)

Talk Talk-It's My Life

Been away for a while, the sun's been shining blah blah blah. Lots of Talk Talk has been getting rereleased lately, mainly the later albums. Nothing beats this tho.  Video scared the shit out of me when I was younger for some reason. Vevo's insistence on pissing on youtube's chips for any music that ever reached some kind of audience means you don't see it here.

Talk Talk-It's My Life (buy)

Vakula-Mama Said Go Slow

Vakula's been hitting his stride for quite a while now and there's little sign of him stopping. On the week he provided Resident Advisor with a mix solely of his own productions, I'd thought I'd share this belter from last year on his Shevchenko label.  There is a quote from the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko hand stamped on the vinyl, and here's me thinking he was a fan of the 30 million pound footballer who ran around a bit, but didn't score much for Chelsea a few years back. Nevermind.

Vakula-Mama Said Go Slow (buy)

Check out his RA podcast here (available for a limited time). I'd also highly recommend his new release on his label Leleka. It's a real ruddy treat.

Simoncino-I Feel the Rhythm

Feelin' this. Composed using only real syntheisers, drum machines, mixer and a tape recorder. this album aims to highlight authenticity in a modern age of software programs where music can be constructed in minutes. Or so says the album promotional pack. For once the stuff spouted actually speaks the truth. This shit WORKS. Best album I've heard all year. Check out my album highlight below.

Simoncino-I Feel the Rhythm (buy)

New Musik-Warp (JWalk-Look What You've Done Edit)

It's that time once again that I am able to share with you an exclusive edit from South Manchester don Walkmusic. 'Warp' was pretty ahead of it's time back in 1982 mad, forward thinking and very synthetic.  Here we get a smooth 2012 transition that retains the punch of the original, whilst omitting the weird shit previously included so it's primed ready for the dancefloor. Once again this in wav. file so play it loud and it won't sound shite! Great stuff. Someone press it on vinyl!

Batteaux-High Tide

This tune has been heavy rotation for the last couple of weeks. The catalyst was this wonderful hour long mix from Lexx. Inevitably most of the tunes are as rare as rocking horse shit, but thanks to djs such as Lexx we can enjoy these kinds of tunes in an altogether new way, reborn in a new place in our own time without spending ridiculous wedge.



Batteaux-High Tide (buy)

Fleetwood Mac-Sara

Whilst many people's weekend highlights will involve their fair share of boozy stories, for many tuning into the Fleetwood Mac documentary (admittedley a repeat, sadly like much of BBC Four's output of late) and it's own tales of debauchery and excess will refresh many memories and provide a backdrop to some timeless pieces of music.

I've been fond of their album 'Tusk' of late as I have mentioned on a previous post, and I recently got hold of the 2004 released bonus CD which includes a 8 minute version of Stevie Nick's 'Sara'. Any extension of a song that good (why did they shorten releases when they were released on single anyway usually to the detriment of the song) ain't no bad thing.

Fleetwood Mac-Sara (Unreleased Version) (buy)

Earth People-Dance (Kerri Chandler's Centro Fly Mix)

Some really nice 90s house sounds given hefty rework treatment by Kerri Chandler. Bank Holiday vibin'!



Earth People-Dance (Kerri Chandler's Centro Fly Mix) (buy)

Personal Space-Electronic Soul 1974-1984

I've highlighted on more than one occasion before that the internet and everyone's access to all kinds of music from different era's has increased the demand for rare and forgotten releases to be repressed/rereleased. Whilst there probably isn't a better label going than BBE for providing these carefully considered compilations;  a recent one dropped on Chocolate Industries attempting to highlight the unheard underground of electronic soul from the 1974 to 1984. 'Personal Space' helps to move these tracks from obscurity and isolation in a well thought out and thoughtful way. The compilation is already one of my highlights of 2012 and I keep finding new favourites with each listen. 

My favourite at the moment is the stripped down sound of Otis G Johnson's 'Time to Go' (which closes the collection). This track has the capacity to bring tears to many eyes. 

Otis G Johnson-Time to Go (buy)