Other Music New Release Update
December 4, 2002


In This Week's Update:

Boards of Canada ("Twoism" Reissue)
Cody Chesnutt
DJ Hell
Kid Dakota
Clicks and Cuts 3 (Various Artists)
Black and Proud (Various Artists - 2 Volumes)
Richie Hawtin and Sven Vath
23 Skidoo (2 Compilations)
Kyoto Jazz Massive
Deadbeat
Crack: We are Rock
Shuttle 358


Restocks:

Kiki and Herb
Michael Nace


FEATURED NEW RELEASES:

BOARDS OF CANADA "Twoism" (Warp) CD/LP $14.99/$14.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/icedcool.rm
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/oirectin.rm
It has been a long time coming but the duo known as Boards of
Canada and Warp records have finally reissued the ultra-rare
"Twoism." One of IDM's holy grails, this was originally released in
1995 on BOC's own Music 70 imprint in a very limited quantity and
has fetched over $1000 on E-bay. "Twoism" features eight tracks of
their trademarked blissed-out downtempo music. This record has
long been regarded as their finest moment, and in my opinion, the
tracks featured are equally as good as anything on "Music has the
Right to Children" What more can I say, but if you are a fan then
you need this! Essential. [JS]
CD  //perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=80106100702&refer_url=email
LP  //perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=80106100701&refer_url=email

CODY CHESNUTT "The Headphone Masterpiece" (Ready Set Go) CD $16.99    
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/theseed.rm
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/servethi.rm
Finally! After a year of hype, magazine covers, one-off shows,
reviews, interviews, etc., we see the self-released debut of Cody
Chesnutt with "The Headphone Masterpiece." A hefty two discs, 36
songs of rock & soul, beats and guitars, falsetto and Rhodes piano,
Chesnutt bridges the lines between Prince, Kool Keith, Lenny
Kravitz, the Roots, The Strokes, D'Angelo and a younger
adventurous Beck. Forget about rap-rock, here's the pretentiously
real thing -- rants, raves, loves, grooves and moods, in various stages
of fidelity, from high to low, all are explored. He strips it down to voice
and a guitar, then punches it with a full band. Other times, he's only
accompanied by a drum machine or keyboard. It's a multi-referenced
mixture though the sound of California flows throughout from '60s
sunshine rock to 70's psych-soul to '90s chronic funk. Do I like it?
Yeah. Was it worth the wait? It's not what I expected. A good thing, it
does take a few listens to sink in, or maybe a certain mind-frame, but
when you reach it, it's is a fun and soulful journey. [DG]
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=72410170012&refer_url=email

DJ HELL "Electronicbody Housemusic" (React) CD $19.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/systemco.rm
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/elastoba.rm
Gigolo label head honcho, DJ Hell puts his money where his mouth is
and releases a double-mix CD of tracks that he likes that aren't
necessarily trashy electro released on his own label. CD-1 explores
the dark soul of modern electronic house. Lots of macho black male
vocals (U.R., Derrick Carter), robotic disco house (Metro Area, Recloose,
J.Kohncke...) and finally, good ol' deep, black, gay house (Bobby
Konders). He spices it up here-and-there with some electro-house that
manages to not be annoying, a solid mix that's modern and from the heart.
Speaking of from the heart, CD-2 lets the cat out of the bag and uncovers
the classic sound that much of the last two years of electro is based on:
Electronic Body Music. A few gems made way before, and way beyond the
current crop of imitators, the first three tracks are a complete unit climaxing
into Nitzer Ebb's "Control I'm Here." (A track that still makes football fans
dance alongside full-fledged goths.) Hell keeps the energy level high and
driving, careful not to fall too deeply into simple reminiscing. (The DJ Rok into
Bigod 20 mix is a good example.) Except for a few on-the-beat-but-sudden
Pro-Tool mixes, the mixing is nice and the programming is spot-on. This mix
moves hard, dark and keeps it real. [SM]
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=80164726262&refer_url=email

KID DAKOTA "So Pretty" (Chairkickers) CD $12.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/sopretty.rm
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/bathroom.rm
So I got this in the mail a few weeks ago, I remember throwing it on
but I must of just quickly skipped from track to track. Well I thought
I heard it, rock singer/songwriter... right? Recently someone was
asking about it, so I decided that I should give it a closer listen.
Singer/songwriter... yes, but only if I had let at least one of these
tracks play all the way through I would've been instantly mesmerized.
The songs have a sorta Elliott Smith meets Doug Martsch vibe but
then they invariably take a detour to somewhere solely Kid Dakota.
Darren Jackson's lyrics tell stories of hard luck that are distinctly
American. Guitar, voice, and drums are layered with overdubs and
unique changes that must've tested the limits of Pro-Tools. Surging
strands of rock are bound together with more subtle sounds that may
take a couple of listens to fully appreciate. Melancholic chord
progressions push through the reverberations, pulling punches one
moment and hitting you the next. The third track "Bathroom" stands
out a bit from the others, a story of passing out in a restroom stall and
waking the next day with hallucinations. It stops, starts, teases, flutters
and revolves, then is finally overcome by a squall of distortion and
feedback. The core of the album was previously self-released as an EP,
now combined with three new tracks that feature Zak Sally (from Low) on
bass. I hate to think that I almost missed out on this one, Kid Dakota's
an amazing new artist and "So Pretty" is an incredible album. Give it a
chance and I am sure you will also fall in love with it. [AG]
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=65660575062&refer_url=email  

[V.A.] "Clicks and Cuts 3" (Mille Plateux) CD/LP $18.99/$18.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/loversin.rm
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/meltagfd.rm
Mille Plateaux's "Clicks and Cuts" compilations have been one of
the best and most consistent series of electronic music today.
Volumes one and two were both stunning featuring a total of five
discs of who's-who in the genre. Nor will volume three will disappoint,
featuring 23 unreleased tracks by Luomo, Antonelli Electr, Swayzak,
AGF, Andreas Tilliander, DAT Politics, plus 16 others. "Clicks and
Cuts 3" features more of a diversity amongst the tracks than the
previous volumes, from the warm funk of SND "Palo Alto", to the
disco clicks of Antonelli Electr., and the 2-step influenced "Melt" by
the one and only Luomo (whose 9 minute track alone is worth the
price of this 2-CD set!). This time out, Mille Plateaux have really
outdone themselves, and once again lived up to their reputation as
one of the finest electronic music labels around today. [JS]
CD //perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=71875231162&refer_url=email
LP //perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=71875231161&refer_url=email

[V.A.] "Black and Proud Volume 1" (Trikont) CD $14.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/messagef.rm
[V.A.] "Black and Proud Volume 2" (Trikont) CD $14.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/imtalkin.rm
The always-excellent Trikont hits us with two new reissue
compilations. Although they are best known for their old Americana
and blues reissues, they do a fine job with these CDs that compile
conscious black nationalist soul music. Volume one has an
emphasis on music from the '70s, even though it also includes recent
(and stellar) recordings from '60s rage laureates "Last Poets." Volume
two includes a few more contemporary artists including Asian Dub
Foundation (collaborating with Assata Shakur!) and the hip hop spoken
word of Cipher Jewels. The mood of these volumes are more pride, hate
and indignation than sorrow and hurt. Funky spoken word tracks by
Camille Yarborough, Gil Scott-Heron, and Melvin Van Pebbles sit
alongside funk and reggae workouts by artists such as Sons of Slums,
S.O.U.L. and Derrick Harriott. Their ain't nothin' pop about these tracks,
and if anything it's a great musical document of a time in black music,
where truly anything went. Ornette Coleman, Stevie Wonder, and James
Brown influences are heard colliding with each other throughout, and it
sounds awesome. It's great to see this sound document, and it seems
kind of weird that a German based label would be putting this out... but
now that I think about it, a lot of the ideas and emotions that inspired
these songs are still a bit too confrontational to this day. After thirty-odd
years, the wounds of racism and discrimination are still fresh and
unhealed; and it still packs an emotional, thought provoking punch all
these years later. [DH]
"Black and Proud - The Soul of the Black Panther Era Volume 1"   
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=401569803022&refer_url=email
"Black and Proud - The Soul of the Black Panther Era Volume 2"   
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=401569803062&refer_url=email

RICHIE HAWTIN & SVEN VATH" "Sound of the Third Season" (Mute) CD $ 15.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/sharivar.rm  
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/rechters.rm
Ibiza: the party capital of the world. A long-standing haven for those
who dress to impress and dance to sweat. 2000: Sven Vath starts
a night called Cocoon @ Club Amnesia featuring the hottest global
talent available, bringing the highest quality in techno and house to
the dancefloor masses. 2002: Richie Hawtin agrees to command
the decks on a few of these missions and a marriage is born. This
stellar mix is a collaboration between the two that combines top-
notch tracks with the collected sounds and atmospheres of this
intense scene, bringing you as close to the real experience without
you having to choke on the smoke machine. They played here a
week ago for a club that reached above full capacity, and the set
was amazing. As I left, the poor 150 souls in line outside that were
desperate to get in had no idea what they were missing. They can
buy this and find out.  Techno, trance, electro, and deep-house,
courtesy of Reinhard Voigt, Ricardo Villalobos, Legowelt, Swayzak
and Wessling & Schrom to name a few. "The Sound of the Third
Season" is an accurate depiction of life underground, after-hours.
[JD]
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=72459630732&refer_url=email

23 SKIDOO "Gospel Comes to New Guinea"  (Ronin) CD $15.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/thegospe.rm
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/coup.rm
23 SKIDOO "Just Like Everybody Part Two" (Ronin) CD $15.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/lighteni.rm
In 1981, J.C.M. and Alex Turnbull (brothers as well as martial arts
experts), and Fritz Haaman merged their interest in industrial noise,
funk and Gamelan music and formed an ensemble known as 23
Skidoo. The London based group spent the first half of the '80s
hopping between, and blending, these various styles underneath
heavy percussive rhythms, tape loops and often funky sound
experiments before fading into obscurity -- save for a recent
reappearance with a new record released two years ago. But
where (loosely) like-minded bands such as Cabaret Voltaire and
Throbbing Gristle hog the pages of the "Early Industrial" chapter
in music history books, these two CDs are essential reminders
that, though more subdued than their noisy counterparts, 23
Skidoo are no mere footnote. "The Gospel Comes to New Guinea"
is a fantastic collection compiling the group's singles together for
the first time on CD. A well-rounded representation that spans from
1979 to 1987, classics like the almost-improvised title track
(recorded in the summer of '81 at Cabaret Voltaire's recording
studio and originally released on the Fetish label), as well as the
brilliant and funky "Coup" (with bass guitar pops that would later be
a prominent sample in the Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin' Beats)
are only a few of the highlights. Also featured are rare early
recordings including their first release, "Ethics" as well as their 1982
EP "Tearing Up the Plans." During the latter part of the '80s, 23
Skidoo regrouped to form the Ronin Records label and build their
Precinct 23 studio. "Just like Everybody Part Two" compiles archive
recordings made their between 1986 and 2000 and shows the band
embracing modern technology, utilizing sampled dance beats and
exotic sounds against their trademark elastic bass attack, yet still
continues to retain a loosely improvised feeling in spite of the
medium. [GH]   
"The Gospel Comes to New Guinea"   
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=503930800212&refer_url=email
"Just Like Everybody Part Two"   
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=503930800232&refer_url=email

KYOTO JAZZ MASSIVE "Spirit of the Sun" (Compost) CD $15.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/stargaze.rm  
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/thebrigh.rm
Kyoto Jazz Massive keep up with the current nu-jazz/future soul
patterns established by acts like Cinematic Orchestra, 4-Hero, and
label mates Jazzanova. "Spirit of the Sun" is full of bright and warm,
up-tempo and soulful jams that help heat up these approaching bitter
winter nights. Balanced between vocal and instrumental with loads of
bubbling percussion, shuffling rhythms, soothing Fender Rhodes, and
synth tickles. Standout tracks are "Deep in your mind" featuring
Victor Davies and "Eclipse", with its chugging drums and grand piano.
Accomplished solos throughout give the album a very live feel within
all the programming. [DG]
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=66754850842&refer_url=email

DEADBEAT "Wild Life Documenatries" (~Scape) CD $15.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/toberlin.rm  
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/organint.rm
After exploring the realms of jazz and hip-hop, ~Scape returns to
its dubtronic roots in a major way. Montreal's Scott Monteith (aka
Deadbeat) works by day at a music software company and that
knowledge is apparent throughout his ~Scape debut, "Wild Life
Documentaries". Monteith has studied the history and techniques
of traditional dub and effectively conveyed that message for the
new millennium using all the delays, echoes, and compressions
at his disposal. Sparse, warm, and relaxing rhythms are scattered
throughout this spatial journey. Highlights include "Organ in the
Attic Sings the Blues," "Let it Rain," and "A Dub for Akfuen,"
fellow Montreal soundman. [JD]
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=71875271152&refer_url=email

CRACK: WE ARE ROCK "Silent Fantasy" (Tigerbeat6) CD $9.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/hookerle.rm  
Although electro-based, don't think for a minute that Crack: We Are
Rock have anything to do with that whole mass consumerism,
fashion-first, Berliniamsburg thing going on here in New York City.
C:WAR (from San Francisco) are much more forceful and noisy,
combining illicit imagery with a distorto-disco, which fits in perfectly
with the Tigerbeat6 crew. Be ready for King Riff and Obscuratron to
continuously hit you in the face with a mutilated 808, while the
lovely L'Erin and Le Kim strut over your bound body with a Lolita
sass of spoken-sung stories that seem to emanate from deep inside
a darkened cave veering into the surreal and sometimes bizarre but
always demanding movement. "Silent Fantasy" is a 20 minute long
glimpse into the art-minded noisy dance that is SF. I can understand
that this recent glut of electro that has recently hit the market may
have soured you to anything even remotely electro but please give
C:WAR a chance. [AG]
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=75193719222&refer_url=email

SHUTTLE 358 "Understanding Wildlife" (Mille Plateaux) CD $15.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/imnotafr.rm  
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/finch.rm
Shuttle 358 (aka Dan Abrams) offers a "downright purty" album that
combines the emotive atmospheres of the Kranky label with the
intellectual modernity of Mille Plateux. Track one, "Finch" is made
up of looped chords, vocal swells, piano melodies and SND-like
micro-breaks. It's nice to hear a minimal album that is not trying to
reinvent minimal music as much as it's trying to evoke, and travel
through moods. Track 2:"Plastination" has a stuttering bass loop
that is grounded by an irregular, drawn out chord burst that sounds
like a melodic wave washing upon the shore. A good album to
wake-up to (a compliment) as well as end the night with. [SM]
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=71875231152&refer_url=email



RESTOCKS:


KIKI & HERB "Do You Hear What We Hear?" (People Die) CD $14.99
Back for the holidays, we can't keep this NYC cabaret
sensation's CD in stock! On "Do You Hear..." you'll find flamboyant,
over-the-top, and often hilarious send-ups of popular hits and
traditional favorites. Kiki shreds Belle & Sebastian's 'Fox in the
Snow', Radiohead's 'Creep', Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', and
Geraldine Fibbers' 'Lillybelle' while desecrating holiday classics like
'Frosty the Snowman' and 'What Child is This'. Pianist Herb is at his
best when he just starts screaming. Wild. [TC]
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=06143258382&refer_url=email

MICHAEL NACE "The Voyage Out" (Minority Records) CD $10.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/timepass.rm
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/perfectp.rm
Anyone familiar with the name of Michael Nace will probably be
surprised when hearing his debut full-length, "The Voyage Out."
The singer-songwriter spent the better part of the '90s playing in a
fairly popular math rock trio, Philadelphia's Drill for Absentee. So
upon first listen to Nace's first solo effort, I was expecting
something drawing from Rodan's influence, not Nick Drake's. "The
Voyage Out" may be an ambitious change of gears but it is a
wonderful and rewarding shift for the talented guitarist. Produced by
Geoff Turner (New Wet Kojak) with a group of collaborator's that
includes Adam Wade (Shudder to Think), "The Voyage Out" is richly
dynamic -- driven by soft, finger-picked acoustic guitars and layers
of strings and percussion. Nace's hushed vocal delivery resembles
Neil Halstead at times, but while both artists are equally lulling the
arrangements here are far more complex. Throughout, dual guitar
melodies weave intricately around each other accented by a wonderful
array of instruments and symphonic flourishes. The first verse of
"Perfect Place" is flavored with British folk influences, but by the chorus
string and synth accents shift the song into something more exotic and
eastern. In contrast, "Time Passes" almost floats, pushed by light jazzy
drumming and the accompaniment of a vibraphone. "How Do You Ask
the Night" is one of the album's most upbeat moments, still melancholy,
synthesizer washes create playful counter-harmonies to the folk guitar
melodies. Overall, "The Voyage Out" is an album with so many layers
that with every listen you are sure to hear the song differently than before.
And while there's a lot going on musically, Nace's melodies are simple,
memorable and soulful. Recommended. [GH]
//perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=859404798005&refer_url=email


This week's contributors: Tom Capodanno [TC], J Dennis [JD], Andy Giles
[AG], Daniel Givens [DG], Gerald Hammill [GH], Duane Harriott [DH],
Scott Mou [SM] and Jeremy Sponder [JS].




THE BIG PICTURE:

To see a complete list of Other Music new releases for the week
ending December 3, 2002, use this link as a shortcut:
//releases/20021203.html

To see a list of new releases from previous weeks:
//newreleases.html

To see new release updates from previous weeks:
//updates.html

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