Telegram Sam (4)

1. Carl Craig: Hush: Even his leftovers are pure genius. You can find this one on a Japan-only collection. Sounds like 69-era Craig. And that's good, right? 2. P.G. Six: The Dance: Heartbreaking first song of Pat Gubler's newest longplayer on Dragcity. Out in february. 3. The High Llamas: The Old Spring Town: Woodstock never ended if you got to believe this happy bunch. Pure pop music like they don't make them any more. Brian Wilson will cream himself over this song. Out in february. 4. Rufige Kru: Beachdrifta: I actually cried when I heard this one for the first time. Probably my favourite d&b track ever. No, not probably, pretty sure. 5. Rob and Goldie: The Shadow: "Shadow: a patch of shade, a dark figure projected by anything which intercepts rays of light" And this must be my second favourite d&b track ever. Old skool darkness without any mercy. 6. Mercury Rev: Back to Mine: The perfect Sunday morning mixtape. Say no more. 7. Burial: Versus: The best track on Warrior Dubz and, if I'm being honest, superior to everything on his already pretty brilliant debut cd. The best of Detroit techno and d&b in one neat package. Fookin' genius! 8. Clipse: Hell Hath No Fury: Long time since I heard such a fine in-ya-face hiphop album. It's all about selling coke, crack and brown sugar. Never mind if it's delivered like this. Welcome back Neptunes! 9. Tetuzi Akiyama: Don't Forget to Boogie: On endless repeat for weeks now. One man, one ridiculously distorted guitar, lots of riffs. That's it and it's enough. 10. Fat Freddy's Drop: Cay's Crays (Digital Mystikz Remix): Digital Mystikz prove once again that they're the undisputed leaders of the dubstep pack. Bass, bass, bass. And then some bass.

Telegram Sam (3)

Since Blogger is half of the time not able to upload the cd-sleeves of the records in my top 10 of 2006, I'm squeezing a Telegraphic Samuel in between.

1. Depeche Mode: Sinner in Me (Villalobos Remix): As those Hasty Fashionist cunts apparently do not want to release this brilliant remix, some evil person decided to press it on a fat slice of vinyl. Serves them right. And oh yeah, Villalobos is a fookin' genius. 2. Dharma: Plastic Doll: Clone Classic keeps them coming. This Italo classic is on the thin line between kitsch hell and electropop heaven. And it sits there just right. 3. Marc Moulin: I Am You: On january 3th I'm doing an interview with this Belgian legend who you may know from Telex and Placebo. In the interest of doing a fine interview I will be careful to not mention my opinion of his new record. Mind you: it's way better than his previous two. But that's not saying much, innit? 4. Justice vs Simian: Never Be Alone: From quite a while ago, but got hold of it only last week. What a great record this is! 5. Vince Watson: Renaissance: Not bad for a Planet E but hardly Watson's best record. Go for the a-side for ecstatic sub-trance. 6. The Popular People's Front: My Flat's on Fire: Some cheeky bastard decided to put on electro-track under Busta Rhymes's 'Light That Ass on Fire' and it is even better than the Neptunes original. 7. Incogdo/Kenny Larkin: Simply Just a Ventage/Wondering: Bootlegs rule! This one compiles Derrick May and Carl Craig's sought after Outland release and a limited Warp 7" of Kenny Larkin on one 4-tracker. Hotter than than a 1000 suns, especially Larkin's brilliant 'Wondering'. 8. Zwicker: I Get My Kicks at Nighttime: On promo for ages and now out on Compost's Black Label. Funky electro groove with killer funny lyrics. That's enough for me. 9. VA: Spaceships and Pings: Fine 4-tracker with outstanding tracks by Konrad Black and Magda, both going electro. The Troy Pierce and Marc Houle tracks are more of the forgettable kind. 10. LCD Sound System: 45_33: Not too sure what to think about this one. It is definitely not boring because I did not switch to another track during the first listening. But what it is other than 'not boring' I am not too sure about. OK, James and Tim like disco. So what?

Telegram Sam (2)

1. Booka Shade: Darko (Booka Shade meets Hot Chip Mixes): The Booka Shade mixes are mediocre at best. It is Hot Chip that brings a welcomed surge of invention and their two remixes are pretty genius, with the second remix being the bee's knees. 2. Uniqorns: Uniqorns: Welcome to slower-than-slow territory. A trippy slo-mo original and another splendid Quiet Village remix, that rivals the best tracks on Made in Menorca. Nice sleeve, too. 3. DJ Pierre: Box Energy: Ever since News has taken in hand the legacy of Chicago's greatest ever label, all classic Trax are available again, this time around, though, in pressings worthy of that noun. This is probably my most favourite acid track ever. Deep, dark and trippin'. 4. Patrick Pulsinger: Presents Utopia Parkway: Long time no hear but Pulsinger has always been one of the reliable stayers. He proves exactly that with this kosmische 3-tracker on Compost's Black Label. Go with the flip for two cool-as-ever dis-ko-tek-no crackers that remind of Sluts'n'Strings & 909-era Pulsinger. 5. Magnus International: Kosmetisk: Another one of those tracks that you get into even deeper when you are exposed to it more often. Norway rules the housewaves. 6. Theo Parrish: Falling Up (Technasia Mixes): Deceivingly simple but a smooth diamond. One of the best techno tracks in ages. 7. Sexual Harrassment: I Need a Freak: Finally found this one. Not the original pressing but an obscure German license. Wouldn't be paying for the costly originals either, because, except if you are Ed DMX, all other tracks on this 1983 5-track EP are pretty wack. 8. Ricardo Villalobos: What's Wrong with My Friends?: Indeed, friends! Golden Ricardo hits again with more trippy longies. Not all tracks are equally danceable and, no, this is no second 'Fizheuer Zieheuer'. That's just because there is never going to be a second 'Fizheuer Zieheuer'. 9. Djuma Sound System: Djinn Remixes: Forget the flip and go straight for the 'Ob-Selon Mi -Nos'-stylings of Trentemoller's heavenly remix. One of the tracks of the year. 10. Phantom Slasher: Gruble: Already posted this one. Mentioning it again because it is one of those double-packs that just keeps growing and growing. Totally tripped-out crazy disco with a fat slice of dub. Go straight for 'Lasagne for 10' and 'Satchell on My Doorstep'. The first is one of the best space disco tracks ever, while the latter is one nifty edit of Roxy Music's 'The Main Thing'. Noid always goes recommended.

Telegram Sam

1. Villalobos: Fizheuer Zieheuer: If you play this two times in a row you're in almost 70 minutes of minimal fun. That's an album's worth! The longest groove ever. 2. Kode9 & The Spaceape: Memories of the Future: Eureka! The best new thing happening in music. Pretty sure about that. The electroclash wave swept off the road by a deeper bass and big city paranoia . London is a place to be again. 3. Banten: Banten: Like a lot of NWW List records this Danish bunch at first sounds like straight seventies jazz-rock. Then it starts perverting the rules and gets all strange and surreal on you with cabaret-style ditties and other crazy sounds. 4. Tom Carter: Sun Swallower: Reissue on cd of 2001 tape. Psychedelic Texas cowboy does it West of river Ganges style. He swallowed something alright. 5. Sophia: Technology Won't Save Us: This record won't either. They mean well but lack unity of purpose. There, I've said it. 6. Sandro Perri: Plays Polmo Polmo: Ring the alarm! Postrock! In this case all twangy and raggedy and chillin'-in-green-forest cosy vibes. Like the chaotic psychedelic atmosphere, but would like it even better if Sandro would leave the vocals to more able singers. Close but no sigar. 7. Midori Hirano: LushRush: Who? Japanese piano player. What? Tries to do something memorable with classical, electronics and found sound. Outcome? Fails. Next! 8. Risto: Aurinko Aurinko Plaa Plaa Plaa: Electronically enhanced punkrock, dirty-funky synthpop and cheesy rockabilly lullabies on one record. Contemporarily amusing Finnish business. 9. Avarus, Jaakko Tolvi & Chris Corsano: The Green Wah Tape: Can't help but thinking that a lot of contemporarily amusing Finnish business is a reincarnation of Amon Düül. Mighty drum business from Corsano while the others freak off their heads as usual. Music for heathen rituals and their aftermath. 10. Nath Family: Sounds of the Indian Snake Charmer Vol II: Ex-Wolf Eyes member makes lo-fi tape that sounds like its title. Charming indeed.