Test Pressing Podcast

Canada`s Invisible City Editions currently have a 12 in the shops, its two sides pitting the healing chants of DJ Harvey-endorsed Reiki ascension ambassador Astarius Miraculi against the homegrown Electro-Boogie of Jeancy. They`ve also just completed a tour of Australia, sharing dates with the esteemed musical company of Tako from Red Light Records and Theo Parrish. To celebrate tour and homecoming Brandon Hocura (one half of ICE) put together this mix, a tribute to the “panther country” of sassafras grass, just outside of Toronto, that serves as a convenient escape from the city. Poetry, birdsong and six strings. New Age big blue, winds blowing east. Shells, gongs, tribes and brass bands. Small pieces segued to form a suite of serenades and gamelan chimes. Landscape language. Gentle shorelines. Everything played like a harp. Hymns to the morning. Elephant calls. Piano meditations and talking drums. Folk arias. Timeless travellers. East of Garafraxa.

Following the piece the other day on the return of dream house I thought it would be be good to ask someone for a mix of some of their favourite originals of the sound. I got in touch with Timm from Coyote and Is It Balearic as I know its a sound that he loves – so much so that he’s got the great Don Carlos to remix a new Glass Coffee track they are releasing soon. So here you go. Over an hour of a great great sound that is perfect to put you in a good mood for the weekend.

A lazy sunrise or sunset beach moves to loved-up Library music, and then a West African romany ballad. Gypsy passion rides a midnight express with a human engine through Vollenweider harps, Summer`s Folk and city light ambience. Javier Bergia greeting the day, greeting the world. Moonboots favourites, Fat Ronny classics, Claremont 56 rarities, and even rarer breaks. Africa, Brasil, Lexx & Cantoma. Begin`s apiculture, and Mark Barrott updating Pink Floyd`s “More”. Ray Mang making Paqua sound like the Idjuts doing over The Lighthouse Family. Our man of the moment, Jan Schulte, sampling his kitchen sink. A really nice two hours of the known and the unknown. There are shadows because there are hills.

Here’s a great documentary from 1996 that was first aired on Radio 1. Some lovely stories from people that first visited, ex-pats, residents, DJs and legends of the island discussing music without frontiers and dancing next to 50 year old folk as the sun rises. Nicky Holloway chairs proceedings which is fitting as he was one of the early ones to visit. Thanks to Matt Raistrick for sending this in.

You can’t go wrong with John Martyn. His run of albums throughout the 70s on Chris Blackwell’s Island Records are truly special. From “Bless The Weather” to “Solid Air”, “Inside Out” to “Sunday’s Child” and finally “One World” and “Grace & Danger”. Timeless music. I think my favourite has to be “One World” with that stunning final track where you can hear the geese quacking as they record Martyn and Steve Winwood’s Moog across the lake. A real ambient moment. Andrew Allday and Bullion have got together and done a tribute mix to Martyn featuring some additional EQ and dubs. Allday tells us… “Many, many years ago as a young and impressionable 16 year old I was given a tape by an older and wiser acquaintance. On one side was Van Morrison’s ’Astral Weeks’, on the other ‘Solid Air’ by John Martyn. It’s fair to say that this c90 had a huge effect on the way I listened to music. Fast forward a few years and a new recruit strolls into my workplace, Nathan, the young man who would become Bullion. An instant rapport was formed around a love of music and knowledge was shared. It was to my surprise that Nathan had never heard of John Martyn, this was immediately rectified and the great man’s oeuvre shoved forcibly into his ears. As with myself a few years previously, exposure to Mr. Martyn’s work changed the way Nathan listened to and approached music. It’s a special artist that can have such a profound effect on those who listen to them and John Martyn seems to be universally loved by all, certainly all those I know. I’m sure there are some out there who have failed to be touched by his music but I imagine such people are a little odd. His work defies categorisation and during his career his openness to experimentation ensured a constant regeneration of his music. The ability to fuse folk, jazz, blues, rock, funk, reggae and more whilst avoiding cliché is unsurpassed and ensures that every album listened to promises new sonic surprises and intrigue. Perhaps beyond his virtuosity as a musician John Martyn’s true appeal lies in his ability to express such raw emotion and tenderness in song. A heart of stone would be required to listen to an album like ‘Grace & Danger’ and not be moved by the heartbreak contained within, such music has often been a comfort to me during darker moments. The man himself was a walking contradiction and how someone supposedly filled with such anger could write music so beautiful and sensitive is often discussed. Who knows, surely we’re all like that at times. I was lucky enough to meet the great man not too long before his death. I watched and listened, somewhat in awe, as he sat in his wheelchair and entertained all those around whilst knocking back a pint of dark rum and orange juice, half rum half juice as I later discovered. At one point in the evening he called me a cunt, perhaps the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me. A deep appreciation and love of Martyn’s music led myself and Nathan to attempt a tribute to him, something we hope we’ve achieved. It was a labour of love and a thoroughly enjoyable experience, best listened to with a glass in hand raised to the memory of Mr. Iain Mcgeachy. We hope you enjoy it. A & B x A special mention must go to Joe Black & Daryl Easlea, keepers of the flame.” This mix first aired on London’s great NTS radio station.

With Elaine Constantine being nominated for outstanding British debut at the UKs Bafta’s for her “Northern Soul” film (read an interview with her here – she’s brilliant) this weekend it seemed a perfect time to run this mix from Stubborn Heart singer Luca Santucci. Luca has a killer soulful voice and is the singer on one of my favourite UK house records, Herbet’s “You Saw It All”. Anyway, thats not why we are here. We are here to celebrate the sweat and sawdust of the Northern Soul scene. A scene that has managed to keep going all of its own accord, out of the media spotlight, based on pure passion for music and dancing. Black Americans singing from the heart. Luca’s brother has a pretty immense Northern collection which he happily gets to raid as and when. As he says, “This is a hugely extended version of the mix I did for Solid Steel (assisted by Darren Knox), full of tunes I nicked out of my brother’s box and mp3ed when he wasn’t looking. The couple of cleaner sounding recordings are taken off Elaine’s soundtrack as the Solid Steel mix was done to promote her film. I just kept adding to it with faves from my brother’s legendary back-to-his DJ sessions. Loads of rarities and every one a fucking mind-blowing slice of magic. It gets no better than this. I get really pissed off with people who think they know about black music and dismiss northern as music for old white blokes who can’t dance. This music is soaked in soul and feeling, made by people with no delusions of grandeur, for very little money and a whole lot of love, full of dirt and funk and inspired instrumentation, heartbreaking melodies and harmonies, beautiful songwriting and joyous vocals. I fucking love it, glad you’re enjoying it, knew you would. x” Its a perfect introduction to the Northern scene if you don’t know much of the music but if you understand raw soulful underground house music then this all might make sense. * 1.  Young Mods – Who You Going To Run, Where You Going To Hide (Everblack) * 2.  Mystiques – Put Out The Fire (Twinight) * 3.  John Harris And The Soul Sayers – Hangin’ In (Kerston) * 4.  The Summits – It Takes Two (DC International) * 5.  Monique – Never Let Me Go (Maurci) * 6.  Sag War Fare – Don’t Be So Jive (Libra) * 7.  Eugene Gaspard – Holding On (Rosemont) * 8.  The Sacred Four – Somebody Watching You (Champ) * 9.  Love, Warmth & Affection – Talking About Love (Week-End) * 10. Wee – Try Me (Owl) * 11. Valerie & Nick – I’ll Find You (Glover) * 12. Eddie Parker – I Need A True Love (Triple B) * 13. Carl Carlton – I Can Feel It (Backbeat) * 14. Windy City – We Party Heavy Up In Heah (Innovation II) * 15. The Superbs – Wind In My Sails (Dore) * 16. Al Williams – Try Them (Grapevine) * 17. The Sherrell Brothers – The Price (Currison) * 18. Danny Hunt – What’s Happening To Our Love Affair (Dynamite) * 19. Eleanore Mills – Same Routine (Astroscope) * 20. The Festivals – You’ve Got The Makings Of A Lover (Smash) * 21. Universal Minds – Chance At Love (Charles) * 22. Billy Byrd – Lost In The Crowd (Scream) * 23. Bobby Jones – Welcome Back A Foolish Man (Kack) * 24. Luckey Jamal Davis – Vacate (Big City) * 25. The Impressions – Love Me (Curtom) * 26. Paul Burton (The Stinger) – So Very Hard To Make It (Without You) Pt 2 (Music-Go-Round) * 27.

Michael Büchel is Kejeblos. Our Dr Rob once described his release on Phantom Island, “From The Drumpoet Community and Zurich`s Club Zukunft winds blow and effects circle Compass Point drums that thump for a kind of New Wave Acid.” His mix hits exactly that with a whole heap of Afro, Disco and Soul. Currently on the production side he’s working on a new Kejeblos 12 for Phantom Island and has a remix coming for the Swiss band Legendary Lightness on the new Zukunft label, DJing around and working on Phantom Island (which is really shaping up). Dig in.

I`m in conversation with Glenn Gunner, I`m pretty sure we`re in The Gardening Club, with Saint Etienne`s “Nothing Can Stop Us” playing in the background. Me: “What have you been listening to?” G.G.: “All sorts really. Anything as long as it`s not too dark or heavy. I haven`t seen you for a bit. Where have you been?” “Following Weatherall around.” “Ah, so you like it dark and heavy?” In London a divide had opened. What had been brought together by an inclusive spirit popularized by Alfredo, and encouraged by the drug, split, at least briefly (all of this moved so fast in hindsight). Perhaps it was because more people had started making records. Up until this point, with only so many tunes to go round, everyone, to a certain extent, was playing similar stuff and, by necessity, across the board. Once people began making their own music, the increase in choice allowed divisions, and sub-divisions, to appear. There were those that followed “The Outsider” (Weatherall’s pseudonym at the time – Ed) on his journey away from the light, over the precipice and into an inky blackness of Detroit Techno and European Trance. Marching to a pummeling metallic military tattoo. There was the Chemical ne Dust Brothers Mantronix tribute, that looked to replace the much-loved “Balearic chug” with a fusion of Hip Hop and Rock, birthing Big Beat and Trip Hop, depending on the perpetrators` favoured substance. And then there was a new homegrown House, taking its inspirational from Disco, and its lead from the Black Science Orchestra, and DJs like Glenn and Harvey, listening to “all sorts”, as they looked for samples and referenced their pasts. Whacking Nancy Ames into a New York groove. “Boy`s Own. The Complete Fanzines 1986-92” is published by DJhistory.com and can be purchased directly here. The compendium has also been released as an expanded iBook. You can find more information over at Bread & Circuses.

I’ve just been reading the book by James Fearnely (accordian player for The Pogues) ‘Here Comes Everybody’ and thought it perfect time to post this one and wish you all a very Happy Christmas! Exclusive remix dub business from me and my mate Scott McCready getting pissed and Pogue-y with a version of their “Summer In Siam”. Pour a glass, chink it with someone you love, remember those that aren’t here. Here’s to a good one for you all. Much love, Paul (Apiento) and Dr Rob. x.

There`s some beautiful music on here. The first half mixes percussion, acoustic winds and electronics into a soundtrack that has a Toussaint / Lanois New Orleans Voodoo moon noir mardi gras washed up on the alien beaches of Craig Leon`s Sirius B with Vangelis Katsoulis for company. The second half builds from Gontiti-like six-string muzak, space fusion with pianos in flight, to eastern European Rock. Re-entry soothed by Franco-Afro vibes before ending with a version of a William DeVaughn classic. Remember brothers and sisters we can still stand tall. Just be thankful for what you`ve got.

We have been talking to Tim “Love” Lee for a while now about doing us a mix and here it is. Tim is the man behind Tummy Touch records and its various affiliates including Peace Feast which turned 20 this year. Three of these tracks haven’t been released yet and won’t be available digitally so this mix will be the only place to hear them… If you like this mix you can check this one from Tim back in ’96 and go to Discogs to see their discography. If you want to stay up to date with all things Tim “Love” Lee and Tummy Touch check their website here. A rare thing for us, here’s the track listing for you… Roedelius / Sehnsucht Ich Will Dich Lassen / SJD – LSM Tim Love Lee / Wenzenwoznow (from PAX2022 – UNRELEASED, available early 2016 on vinyl only) Little Dragon / Twice Charles Cohen / UTEP2 Tim Love Lee / E7000 (from PAX2021 – UNRELEASED, available early 2016 on vinyl only) Steven Halpern / Rainbow Raga Transilvanian Galaxi / Sequence 2 Tim Love Lee / So Mo Hope (from PAX2020 – VINYL ONLY) Apparat Organ Quartet / The Anguish Of Space Time (Un-released demo version) Charles Cohen / Shopping Cart Lady Kate Bush / Snowflake Laurie Spiegel / Patchwork Tim Love Lee / Tingle (from PAX2021 – UNRELEASED, available early 2016 on vinyl only)

Orb & Gilmour alien encounters. Trips into inky blackness. Library Mindbenders and Alexis Le Tan Space Oddities, via Mondo and Zoëmagik. Glenn Frey guitar, smugglers blues, and a Miami sea front at night. Snowmen and falcons. All riding an electronic pulse. The lysergic rock of Mushrooms Project. Skanking Copenhagen dreams. Darkness lifting momentarily for the dance. Elastic Funk and Tribal loops, a Teutonic beat and marching snares. Choirs call across storms of ice. Sitars, Robbie Basho chopped and clipped. A Balearic Bolero. Pied Pipers and House. Bonnie & Klein have a new record out. A 12 split with Coyote on Music For Dreams. The three tracks from B&K take a Balearic militant Acid Jazz outline, think Rose Windross` “Living Life Your Own Way” or Mephisto Odyssey`s “Dream Of The Black Dahlia” (pitched way down), and fill it with accordions, flutes, Romany violins, and lonely strings. The track “Total Blue”, already a favourite with tastemaker Moonboots, adds pizzicato and acoustic flourishes to create something akin to Henry Torgue & Serge Houppin scoring an unrequited love`s last scene and credit roll.

Nick the Record is a very established and respected record dealer based in the UK. He has been the go to guy for rare music for many many years now. He’s also a fine fine DJ playing at various parties in the UK for over twenty years now but this story ...

Lexx, as many of you will know, is one of our favourite DJs. Here he is back with a mix for us which as ever is full of lovely music and in style is pretty particular to Lexx. Sort of lowdown, soulful with a bit of bounce and disco at the bottom. The last time we heard him play was at the Psychemagik festival where he played in this perfect tent (like an Arabian hang out) and he was spot on. He's off on a tour of Japan soon and you can get news on dates here (https://www.facebook.com/Lexx72) at his Facebook group. Would love to see him out there. On the production front Phantom Island have the new Foster EP coming up (Robs got that one covered) and also a remix of my new one coming on Golf Channel any day. In fact we saw someone had finished copies of that so must be in the shops soon. Also, look out for the repress of his first EP on Phantom Island soon. On with the program. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/377-LEXX.png)

Brilliant Corners (http://brilliantcornerslondon.co.uk), fine venue, fine food, fine hi-fi, fine music, fine crowd, celebrated its first birthday last Saturday (we were there on the Friday to catch Phil Mison & Justin Strauss). To help mark those celebrations we have a set recorded by head chef, and sometime Afrobuddha, Kay Suzuki (http://testpressing.org/feature/kay-suzuki-round-in-motion-brilliant-corners/), live one Sunday in June, once the bar had closed its doors, `round midnight. Sitars, lost roads, tabla and Wobble. Birdsong and Codek. Breakers` favourite “Twilight”. Will Downing bootlegged, mashed up and spiked. Was Not Was, Punk Jazz not Jazz, No Wave Funk and the real thing. A New York afternoon, a Harlem River drive. Vocodered Brasilian Boogie. Soaring Loft classics. Italian masters and Theo`s future. Live from the kissaden. A place where pathways meet. Congratulations to Kay and owners Amit & Aneesh Patel. たんじょうびおめでいとございます。 (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/376-KAY-SUZUKI-jpeg.jpg)