Cloud Two

2004-10-08T05:23:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

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.

2004-08-31T22:43:00.000-07:00

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.

2004-08-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

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.

2004-08-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

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

2004-08-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

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.

2004-08-11T17:08:00.000-07:00

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.

2004-08-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

Last week I got a hold of The Big Sky by The Necessaries, an album from 1981 by a NYC quartet comprised of, among others, former Modern Lover Ernie Brooks and one Arthur Russell. It's interesting that Russell's involvement in this band has been pretty much overlooked in recent articles on his life. I found the record doing a search for his stuff on Ebay and was excited to hear what he sounded like in the context of a New Wave/Power Pop ensemble. So, I bid and...here ya go.
On this recording he shares vocal duties with Brooks, plays cello, keyboards and other t'ings. The record was produced by Bob Blank of Wax The Van fame, and in all it pretty much disappoints as a Russell vehicle. Brooks is the dominant presence here - he takes on the vocal duties on just about every song - and the songs themselves are generally unremarkable. I think fans of The Feelies or The Modern Lovers would get more of a rush from what's on here than fans of Russell's solo work. What makes the record worthy in some small way, however, is Driving & Talking At The Same Time. It starts off with an almost Church-y wall of dark jangle before that trademark Russell Wurlitzer (?) electric piano sound comes in (think "Is It All Over My Face"). From then on it chugs along, the Russell presence interweaving with the less interesting rock dynamics of the tune to create a fascinating li'l hybrid.

2004-08-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

Here's hoping I get in to hear Andy Weatherall at APT tonight. If not, I've got a stack o' things to look at at home: A Bunuel, an Ozu and a Kirby. The Kirby is especially lover-ly (I peeked).

2004-08-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

Little Rough Rhinestone isn't even the best track on what I think is the best Soft Cell record, but it's the one I play the most. It's the fuzzy and clanging sound of tired machines making music for a drugged up, queeny, heartbroken crooner that always gets me. Dave Ball's synths always sounded great in a worn out, grimy way. Paired with Marc Almond's bleeding-soul diva persona, they made some of the greatest music under le moniker de synth pop.

2004-07-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

Squeezing Like It Was Charmin: (1) The latest issue of Wax Poetics, wherein I learned that Mantronikdidn't program all his own classic beats. Sam Sever did 'em. Noooooooooo!!!! (2) Hellboy, (3)Herbie as Mwandishi. Especially this last one while reading Wax Poetics . Makes me feel like a true beat junky or some such shit.

The Patrick Adams reissues keep popping up at Other Music ; the latest one being Rainbow Brown. While Adams' production on this doesn't quite capture that nice lo-rent afterglow of his work with Greg Carmichael on Donna McGhee's Make It Last Forever album (mp3 coming soon, I promise), it's the polish and energy of the arrangements on these songs, like Let's Go Another Round, that mark Rainbow Brown as a classic NY disco record.

P.S. Why is it that this Kompakt stuff just doesn't move me? It's Techno, right? And it's (mostly) melodic? So --- why ain't it workin' for me?!?

2004-07-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

While in a little antiques shoppe yesterday I came across the grooviest old book: a large clothbound volume called "The Secret Teachings Of All Ages". It was a reproduction from the 1960's of a dusty occult text, with chapters on the usual suspects - Ancient Egypt, Alchemy, Rosicrucianism... all the good stuff - seemingly exhaustive and full of beautiful illustrations. The best thing, though, is that the book came with an actual letter dated March 1970 sent to its previous owner from the Minister Of Information at The Church Of Satan, San Francisco, CA. On Church Of Satan letterhead. I mean, what more of a hook do you need? $30 dropped and I was in Kook Heaven.

Keeping in a Prince-ly direction, sort of, here's a 1984 Dutch take on his sound, Precious Little Diamond, by Fox The Fox (I know, I know...). This is skeevy Europop at its funkiest: almost nonsensical yet totally heartfelt vocals, wobbly mosquito synths, a chugging Minneapolis rhythm. This thing is Age Of Plastic production at its finest. I could have this on replay all day and be happy.

2004-07-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

Go on over to Blentwell and download the insanely good Theo Parrish mix (in 2 parts) up there right now. If anyone knows who sings the song with the lyric "I've been lookin' for you/Haven't you heard?" in the last half of Pt. I, drop me a line.

Move Over, Booty Clap. Butterfly, I'm Gonna Eatcha.

2004-07-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

That Neptunes/Nelly Flap Your Wings thing is now my Favorite At Any Time Of The Day/Afternoon/Dusk/Evening Summer joint. It's aural crack.

2004-07-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

Live The Fantasy.

Loving my Leaf label sampler , Hidden Room , very very much. A great surprise!

2004-07-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

Yes, Prince was great Friday night, but that performance just didn't reach the heights of Monday's at The Garden. Must've been the age of the crowd in NJ that did it. There were a lot of young 'uns. Moreso than the "I saw Prince back in the lingerie days" audience at MSG. NJ: There were few massive gtr solos a la those on Shhh and Question Of You a week ago. Less of the loose, lost-in-space and more of the showbiz Prince. Which is still a fine deal.

The One was a ridiculously great song both shows. I need to reassess that ditty.

Here's an early, Wendy & Lisa mix of Strange Relationship , before Prince took it back and came up with the slinkier mix that made it on to Sign Of The Times .

Song 1
is a recent piece of mine. I sort of remember having Prince's 1999 era sound in my head while composing this.

2004-07-16T12:06:00.000-07:00

Gonna see Prince again tonight. This is tooo much!

2004-07-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ozu, Ozu... I still haven't made it out to the BK to catch some of his films. Disappointing.

But -- back to Prince :

Heaven and Baby Go Go are both from his '85-'86 period.

Heaven has that Purple Rain vibe in its minimal arrangement and, especially, in the lackadaisical vocal delivery. There's also the similarity of his screechin' and hollerin' to what he did on When Doves Cry .
Its almost druggy, loping groove + the wigginess of Prince's vocal really seem to make this one of the oddest of his God/Spirituality-directed (as opposed to Sex/Party - directed)songs.

Baby Go Go was written as a demo for Nona Hendryx. Dig the queasy synths in the back. Sexy.

U Do Not Understand My Quirky Ways

2004-07-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to Prince since I was 12. My first 45 was Controversy, purchased on a sunny Saturday back in '81 along with Earth, Wind And Fire's Let's Groove and a fresh stack o' comics. This was on one of my weekly trips with a fellow grade school comic book pal, or with Mom, to Passaic's shopping district. For me it was usually about buying comic books, or science fiction paperbacks, but earlier that particular week I had heard Controversy for the first time on KTU and I was changed forever. The whip crack snare after the hornet synth buzz in the intro - the cyborgian delivery of the main lyric - the sheer charge of that lyric with its references to race and sexuality, even for a 12 year old. I needed to own it and live with it. It was like music made by Martians. Prince and the girls singing along with him were, to me, the most fascinating creatures on the planet. What were they? I kept trying to find out, record after record, until my question had been answered by just listening, becoming one of them in a way by digging on every strange little turn of phrase or flourish in his arrangements or singing. It was a language I understood clearly for a while. It made me want to make music. I understood up until Lovesexy (which I love unconditionally) or thereabouts, and then it slowed. I still bought every record and listened, though I felt there was a lack of focus and innovation and joy happening with Prince and his music, his vision(s) - whatever it was at that moment - so I just kinda gave up a little bit of hope. And in all this time I never once managed to see him play live, except on a bootleg video here and there.

So, it was wonderful to finally see him do his thing in front of an audience, in the flesh, last night. And even though I'm not one of the many touting Musicology as his "return to form", I think it's great how its success has brought him back in front of audiences composed of more than just dyed-in-the-wools like myself. He seems remarkably happy to be doing what he does, and goddamn if he doesn't do it better than anyone.

Wonderful Ass and New Position(Rehearsal) are both c. 1985 workouts with The Revolution. Wonderful Ass should have seen the light of day, I think. It has that trademark c.'84-'85 sound of his: quirky keyboard melodies, flanged out percussion, Wendy's dry, clipped rhythm gtr, and that beautiful champagne cork snare pop. Plus bugged out lyrics. A great song.

The New Position rehearsal is a little example of what Prince, with his magic powers, can (still) do with a minimal groove in a live setting. Enjoy.

Off 2 C The Wizard

2004-07-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

This Bunuel double feature I saw on Friday night: watching Nazarin and Los Olvidados back 2 back is something akin 2 heaven. I don't know how many times I've watched both these films in the past, but they never fail 2 present an infinity of new details, of perfect and understated Surrealist kicks. They were also much funnier than I remember. Either that, or I'm finally Bcoming a dyed-in-the-wool cynic. Who knows?

2night, The Man is in town 4 the first of a 3 night run at Madison Square Garden. I'm absolutely, positively, fucking stoked. I will B there. I will report back immediately. And I'll have a song or 2.

2004-07-09T08:10:00.000-07:00

Friday. Hot. Here's a couple for you:

Daddy's Girl : Cheeky track made in collab. with a few friends (DJ Duane/Alec D/Peter Wade). The lady is Seka.

La Horse: Title theme from Serge Gainsbourg's soundtrack for a 1970's detective caper that I've been dying to see for a bit now. This is one of my favorite film themes. Lots of almost-prog, almost-Zep "light and dark" dynamics going on here, and the harpsichord/elec. gtr/strings/brass/"funky" drummer combination gets pushed into some Baroque Spaghetti Western territory that just swings like a gibbon on Jolt.

I like the word gibbon .

Playing Catsup

2004-07-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Watched last night, after 4 days of no stimulus but continuous and lovely Sea, Friends, Alcohol, Food & occasional iPod:

Une Femme Est Une Femme by Jean-Luc Godard, which I didn't really get , but I want to, so I will view it again soon.

Mamma Roma by Pier Paolo Pasolini, which I already loved, because Anna Magnani is the shrrzzznak. And the DVD itself is a corker. By Jove.

Listened to:

Kanye West Vs. Dr. Dre mixtape. Wherein Kanye West instrumentals battle Dr. Dre instrumentals and win, but just barely, and with many wounds to remind Kanye West of the contest.

Brazilian Favela hip hop mp3's (thanks woebotnik!), of which Chiquititas is my current favorite. That lisping little Chipmunk and his Booty Electro Bass Drop nearly destroyed my headphones! My favorite beat of Summer '04 so far, followed closely by Usher's Yeah. But just the beat, mind you.

More Peaks was once a demo for the excellent Transparent but it is now free, and you may revel in its cacophony at will.

PLUG
My band
KID CONGO & THE PINK MONKEY BIRDS
are playing here in NYC tonight and you should see us, because we're great and this time we're not gonna be postponed. We're playing @ 11 pm at The Coral Room / 512 West 29th Street. Come by and say "yo".

2004-07-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

Enjoying a little R& R at the moment so real posting will commence once again somethin' like Tuesday?

In the meantime, travel a bit.

p.s. Buggles make for happy listening while lying on the beach, baking.

No Probleme Here

2004-06-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

Big up to the one Ulysses for making Italo history: He's gone and brought the one and only Alexander Robotnick over to NYC for his first ever U.S. appearance. This will be happening tomorrow night at 8 p.m at The Coral Room, 512 W. 29th St. Plus there'll be a tag team set with Messr. John Selway + more hotness. See ya there!

I Remember Kamchaka is a 1982 gem from Robotnick.

2004-06-29T10:16:00.000-07:00

Goodness! An Ozu film festival at BAM beginning in a week! I'm a fairly recent fan of Ozu's yet I'm completely devoted to the serene, observant, completely human vision of his films. The news of this festival is exciting.

That Post-Beach Glow

2004-06-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

Spent Sunday at the beach. I flip inside with the first taste of sea/beach air of The Year. Better than meditation.

Tell You Today is Loose Joints (aka Arthur Russell) in a sun-dappled, whistling down the sidewalk mood. But it's cartoon NYC all the way with its fat horns, jubilant piano and woody, cloppity percussion. This is seriously one of my favorite songs to wake up to, or to listen to first thing.

If you like what you're hearing, then check this out for more of the same and then some.

PLUG

My band

KID CONGO & THE PINK MONKEY BIRDS

are gonna play tomorrow night and you should see us. We're playing between 11 and 12 at The Coral Room / 512 West 29th Street.

Alexander Robotnick will be playing there Thursday and I'm about fit to b*st a n*t.

2004-06-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

Theo Parrish killed at APT last night. Killed . I'm glad I made it over to check out his set after rehearsal. His edit/cut up/ of Stevie Wonder's Jammin', all stop-start minisections of the instrumental version skittering behind segments of the vocal chorus, was fire. And it was nice to later share a smoke with him behind the bar and express my thanxx.

Reaction To Plastic is from the reissue of Parrish's Parallel Dimensions, out now on Ubiquity. You can buy it here, along with his excellent mixtapes.

Some Of Yr Friends is something I made about 4 years ago and is still one of my favorite ever things I've done.

Happy weekend.

PS ALL MUSIC POSTED ON THIS SITE IS POSTED FOR LISTENING PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU ARE THE CREATOR OR COPYRIGHT HOLDER OF A PARTICULAR PIECE OF MUSIC ON THIS SITE AND DO NOT WANT IT ON HERE, PLEASE EMAIL ME AND I WILL REMOVE IT IMMEDIATELY.

Gears Grind Again

2004-06-24T07:56:00.000-07:00

Rehearsal tonight with The Band for a show next Tuesday at the Coral Room. Looking forward to playing with the fellas once again. A month ago I was ambivalent about playing again anytime soon, but once I got the call from J. last week to announce the show and album we'll be recording in a few weeks I jumped. Can't wait to hole up in the studio and put a record together. Though not without a little nervousness (not like me). Will I bring the juice?

Sintiendo, con mucho amor : J-Love's Rakim:Legends Pt. I mixtape, sundry mp3's from various blogs bringing the freshness, blogs I will link to soon, once I get around to learning my Blogger template.

Reading The Complete Sherlock Holmes at the moment. This is my first time reading the actual stories after years of loving Jeremy Brett's genius interpretation for BBC. I'm reading in order, and am still on A Study In Scarlet , but I'm anticipating chewing through the whole of Vol. I (of II) in short order. The shit's excellent. Funny, too. Once I'm done with all of the stories I'll reward myself with a box or two of the TV series. Scooby Snack.

*This Is A Test*

I'm going to post the occasional mp3 on Cloud Two, so if all works well...HUZZAH! If not... let me know. Email me @: ziutu@yahoo.com
The music will be all about what strikes my fancy at the moment + some of my own music - finished and in progress. I think i'll leave everything up for a few days before refreshing, or until the Music Defense Squad comes a-knockin'.

The first mp3, OOMPH is up now, a recent track I built around some suspect "Techno Brass" stabs. It's one of a bunch of pieces I did a few months back where I just went poppy and as bedroom bombastic as I could and went for the (virtual) 80's arsenal: PPG, Linn Drum, God's handclaps... Comments, firebombs and bottles of good wine are always appreciated!

2004-06-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Round 2 of my blogging attempt. Keep yr fingers crossed for Cloud Two. Let's hope it goes high....

Feeling : Donna McGhee, DJ Greg Caz's Viva O Samba mixtape, and something I have on a mix I downloaded that sounds like Cesaria Evora + backing vocals over a rolling, percussive Afro-Detroit bed. Maybe Carl Craig's work? It feels like CC,anyway, and it's lovely.

This June humidity and cityfunk makes me want to make stripped down, jackin' machine music. It makes me want to make tracks full of hollering city girls, congas and clanging drum machines and sub bass. Arthur Russell's "futuristic summer music", but having li'l to do with water. I need to get out with my MD recorder, seek out those loud kids.