Yes, definitely. That’s probably the kind of music I DJ, is kind of adult dance music in many respects. I don’t know, how can I explain … I mean, I said to my son, “You can’t understand the blues until you’ve had your heart broken by a woman or whatever, and you can’t understand my music until you’ve had group sex on Ecstasy.”
Side note: New York will always be hip-hop.. New York will always be rock.. both genres are pretty sleepy right now, all things considered. Uptempo, club-sounding music is dominating the airwaves, and dance music in general is more accesible. Here is how perceive the sound of New York dance music this year.
For much of the year 2010, I was feeling disco-type music more than ever– likely a sentiment I had because I was passively receiving it almost every night I went out. I could, and generally would hear fairly quality boogie, cosmic, italo– new, old, and (most of all) edited disco tracks, seven days a week if I so desired. The genre is so massive- and always feels largely undiscovered– but by the entrance of summer, a kind of deep house sound with late 80s into early 90s influences had started to really emerge into the picture. Tim Sweeney recently did his roundup of the year 2010’s best, and for the most part, I think it explains this transition.. better yet– it forecasts 2011.
Back in Portland I did a photo-shoot with Lady Di, excited to show you the rest of the photos.. it was such a pleasure to work with her and the boys from Torso Vintages who were pulling museum grade pieces to style her in…. how does ‘museum grade’ grab you?
Here is a little edit I did of a track I’ve been feeling quite a bit lately, everyone familliar Mouzon’s Electric Band are more likely to know “Everybody Get Down“– but I think this other track also released on Baby Come Back has been slept on a little bit (note, it was apparently the other way around when it was released in 1979) ..
MY SONG WAS REMOVED DUE TO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT!
From Wikipedia:
Alphonse Mouzon (21 November, 1948) is a well known jazz-fusion drummer and percussionist, and the Chairman/CEO ofTenacious Records. He also composes, arranges and produces, as well as acts. Alphonse Mouzon’s popularity as a performing artist first became realized in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
This video is pretty cool– and gives a little glimpse of a side of Portland that has been blowing up over the last couple years. Miracles Club create a kindof Portland-brand of spacey Chicago house, and obviously do it well.. not to mention they fill a nice portion of the dance/electronic scene out there, amongst the likes of Glass Candy’s dark disco and Copy’s 8-bit sounds.
Also nice to see the numerous cameos by some of my dearest friends out there.. shouts out to E*Rock, Maxx Bass, Ryan B and Bree G– y’all crazy for this one.
The first time I saw this video, I had a pretty typical ‘what-i’m-viewing-is-terribly-ironic’ reaction. Now I’m not only feeling the music and style– I’m seriously contemplating practicing those dance moves.. I think New Beat is due for a return.
Also a little background noise (definitely not as good, but for perspective):
Diane Birch with The Phenomenal Handclap Band - The Velveteen Age EP
In a week (December 7th, so 7 days and 12 hours, roughly) marks the release of “The Velveteen Age”– Diane’s collaboration with The Phenomenal Handclap Band. The album is made up of covers– notably within the classic ‘goth’ realm, but more or less they are songs that were rather anthemic to her at that point in her life. Between Diane and Phenomenal Handclap, there is a ton of natural funk and groove– and slight nods (see if you can actually find them!) to some collective favorites like Sea Level’s “Fifty Four”, and Demis Rousos “I Dig You”, as well as some channeling classic vibe from Abba to Morricone to Patrick Adams.
Its an amazing record, I can’t wait for you to hear it!
(Did I mention I designed the cover-art?)
TRACKLIST: This Corrosion (Sisters of Mercy) Kiss Them For Me (Siouxsie & The Banshees) Bring On The Dancing Horses (Echo & The Bunnymen) Atmosphere (Joy Division) Primary (The Cure) Tarantula (This Mortal Coil) A Strange Kind of Love (Peter Murphy)
Diane Birch with The Phenomenal Handclap Band Produced by Steve Greenberg, Daniel Collás & Sean Marquand Arranged by Diane Birch, Daniel Collás & Sean Marquand Diane Birch - Vocals and Keyboards Luke Riverside - Guitar Pier Pappalardo - Bass Patrick Wood - Drums Quinn Luke & Patrick Wood - Backing vocals
Check out “Good Day Today” by David Lynch– such a weird crossover, but its pretty rad actually.. I’m also a total sucker for vocoder and sound effects..
