Gosh:

De La Soul's The Grind Date featuring a lift off Tales from Topographic Oceans on the title track as the hook. Not to mention the Six Wives Of Henry VIII Moog flutter underneath the first album track. Is this a hip hop first - sampling classic (in my eyes) lineup Yes? If not, please point me towards the others. I'm ready.

SMILE is as lovely as everyone says it is. But moreso for me because of the sound of weathered Brian Wilson sitting in the eye of his younger-self's musical storm, leading us through.

THANKS

to all who read Cloud Two . It was a short run, but a golden one. I'm signing off for now but check back every so often and something new may pop up here. Be Good. xx Jorge

PS Keep your eyes peeled in the New Year for:


* Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds [the band I'm part of ] (album)

* Duermo (my solo material) EP/Full Length


email me 4 details if you're just curious.

Taking some much needed time off from The Job, tying up loose personal ends and just sitting quietly, so to speak. Cloud Two is in rest mode, but just for a li'l while. Business As Usual in a week or two.

Here's Deft, from my favorite recording of the moment, Phantom Orchard , by Zeena Parkins and Ikue Mori. This is my Record Of The Year so far. At the risk of sounding completely pretentious - though why not? to paraphrase Eno - this thing is jewel-like.

This week looks rough, so the updates may be few. I'll try and be good, though, and post.

SubSeducer is off Carl Craig's The Sound Of Music compilation, as 69, on R&S. Craig takes Chicago House on this one, adds a bit of crunchy bottom, then brings in the starfighters to zoom in formation overhead. Craig is someone who I listen to a lot less frequently now than I used to but whose older music never grows dated or stale and shall remain lovely. I'm looking forward to his rumored upcoming album.

Received a splendid package in the mail yesterday courtesy of my man DW: a DVD of Prince live in August of '83, first show with Wendy Melvoin in the band, playing what would end up being the main source tracks of many songs on Purple Rain . I haven't given it a proper look yet but casual flipping thru revealed a heavy, heavy document I can't wait to sit and go bananas over.

Thunder.

Along with the DVD came eight CD's of pristine Stones outtakes, backing tracks and demos from the early 60's thru the Goat's Head Soup period. Especially excellent listening on this muggy, stormy Wednesday. The backing tracks for His Satanic Majesty's Request are so Dervish Fairyland pastoral, so far removed from the Blues/Chuck Berry/yadda... in places, that it's difficult to imagine Keith sat through the making of that entire album without walking out at least once in disgust. Give 'em enough Owsley ,I guess.