The Joy Of 12"

I've just caught up on BBC4's The Joy Of Disco as I was in Manchester over the weekend (yes, I had a lovely time, thanks for asking).

I love BBC4's music documentaries on a Friday, especially their Britannia strand, and The Joy Of Disco fits in perfectly with previous programmes.

Naturally one of the greatest records of all time gets some attention, with Giorgio Moroder proudly explaining the influence and technique behind Donna Summer's I Feel Love. But what's better than 4 minutes of electronic disco heaven? How about 16 minutes of electronic disco heaven...

[Right-click and "Download Document" to get an mp3 of Patrick Cowley's remix of Donna Summer's I Feel Love]

Counter Gristle

Counter Culture 2011, Rough Trade's annual compilation of good shit, was released yesterday and while I wait for Amazon to deliver it, I've had a quick look back through some of their older compilations.

These were a Godsend during my student radio days, especially 2004's and this track in particular got hammered a lot...

[Right-click and "Download Document" for mp3 of Two Lone Swordsmen's Vocal Remix of Throbbing Gristle's United]

Jungle Lion

I started watching Fire In Babylon on the iPlayer this morning while doing my step aerobics (the manliest of all exercises) and not only has it got me nicely warmed up for the start of Glamorgan's season but it's soundtrack features a track I used to hammer on my old radio show down in Falmouth...

[Right-click and "Download Document" for mp3 of Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters' Jungle Lion]

GWTF:10 Hodgy Beats

I like to think I'm a responsible blogger, carefully picking tunes after many listens.

I've just finished listening to Hodgy Beats' Untitled EP for the first time and here it is. It's everything that is right with hip-hop at the moment.

When will the Odd Future backlash begin? Has it already started? Stuff this good will soon draw heat...

Submerse

I was going to type that this was the final time I'd mention Hyper Japan but then I remembered the whole Tron debacle.

I was reading The Guardian's Film & Music G2 section (prefer the old format... and price) in the queue for said exhibition and their new band of the week (the print version of new band of the day) was someone mashing two-step garage with J-pop.

Submerse has a few things up for streaming on his SoundCloud page, the pick of which is the mix below which has a nice early hours feel as it merges Squarepusher's Lost In Translation contribution, Burial and some of his own productions.

Though the widget says the download limit has been hit you can get it here.

McTronomy

Talking of Hyper Japan, while we were killing time before the bus back, we went for a McDonald's in Victoria Station... classy.

Their latest brand revamp is commendable, certainly regards the approach to their restaurants' servicescape; greens and browns, deep seats and flowers on tables.

Aside from the visuals, music can play a vital part in the servicescape. I won't bang on too much about this as it was the subject of my dissertation but I was surprised to hear bands like Yeasayer and Metronomy in McDonald's. Maybe I shouldn't have been, seeing that their latest adverts are pushing coffee - that malleable brown liquid that can mean coolness, sophistication and romance, depending on the adverts you've seen growing up.

Anyway this is a convoluted way of me linking to a review of the NME Awards Tour 2012 I did for theSprout, which features Metronomy, Azealia Banks, Two Door Cinema Club and Tribes. If you can't be bothered reading it then: Great, Great, OK, Shit.

Hyper Fan @ Hyper Japan

I went to Hyper Japan yesterday and had a great time - even the Megabus was OK.

It would have been worth it just for the tasters at the Sushi Awards 2012, and while the cooking demonstrations, the cosplay casualties and my first proper taste of manga (I'm reading Death Note) all added to the enjoyment of the day, the highlight was Natsuko Aso.

Well Natsuko Aso's super fan. He knew all the moves, he had the official towel, he had a different coloured glowstick for each song and he didn't give two hoots what anyone thought. I wish I loved something as much as this guy.

I can now see why some people totally bum J-pop, the sugar-rush, the sexless sugar-rush of it all but I wouldn't pay the £25 one stall holder was charging for an album... if only he had the official towels for sale.