Black Devil

I moved recently. The stresses and strains have subsided to leave me with the little pleasures. One of these is reconnecting with my collection.

According to the receipt, on the 22nd April 2004 I went to Spillers and bought Black Devil "Disco Club" (Rephlex).

Odd-ball proto-electro from 1978 doesn't really age. Still gob-smackingly funky and still sounds like the future.

This futuristic sound has led to accusations of fakery, that it couldn't possibly have been made in the late 70s. The record is even more incredulous when you think that MIDI wasn't around in 1978. Factor in that it was made by two hermetic French music librarians and it all starts to get a bit rich.

The head of Lo Recordings (who released their subsequent albums) came to my uni and showed us some music videos. As most people didn't know who he was nor cared for the videos, I was free to badger him about Black Devil Disco Club. He assured me that they are old French guys. But he might have a vested interest.

I believe. Not that it matters. Whenever it was made, it's stonking.

mp3---> Black Devil - Timing, Forget The Timing

RIP Malcolm McLaren

He seemed like a bit of a prick but without him, punk in Britain, if not the world, would not have developed the way it did.

McLaren was also instrumental in bringing hip-hop to these shores.

The man is an integral part of the history of popular music in the UK. There can be no higher accolade.

mp3---> Bow Wow Wow - C30, C60, C90, Go!

Green Aw Maaaaaan

As previously stated I was gonna skip Green Man this year.

Well I might have to reassess.

They've added Fuck Buttons. Fuck Buttons and Memory Tapes. Fuck Buttons, Memory Tapes and Neon Indian.

It's not fair. I've moved into a new place and they go and do this.

mp3---> Fuck Buttons - Space Mountain

They Don't Make Them Like They Used To

I realise I've been banging on about coldwave. New loves do that.

Angular finally released Cold Waves & Minimal Electronics Vol.1 a few weeks back and it's been stationed in the stereo.

All good, but one track stands out in particular.

"Watching Trees" is gloriously otherworldly, its jerky funk wrapped in melancholia. It also possesses a stone cold classic pop chorus.

How this is not on any of the umpteen "Best of the 80s" compilations is a shame. How it was all but forgotten for 24 years is a crime.

mp3---> Eleven Ponds - Watching Trees

This is also the first track that I've "flowed" on mflow. Leave a comment if you want an invite. If you're already on then search for Ceefax.

Word Up

Nerves were shot last night. Watching football should be joy not agony.

After Arsenal's miraculous fight back we flicked through the music channel's and stumble on MTV Classic's Classic Mixtape.

Video of the night was this.