"Themed around the title's subject matter the album is a small but natural departure from Francis' previous work, the musical backdrops to his fierce syllable deliveries are crafted completely by a live band rather than a motley crew of producers. While his previous methods worked gloriously in kick heavy effect across his previous long players, the music on Li(f)e seems to represent Francis' growth as a human being, sounding both organic and effortlessly emotive. After hints at such a transition with skits and tracks like 'Jah Didn't Kill Johnny' or 'My Name is Strange', where Francis explored the performance aspect of a live band, the idea has come full circle."
I was asked to put together a mix or to contribute in some way to the 200+ strong Modyfier Blog series a while ago and after a long spat of making the usual excuses about time constrictions I made this... a blend of wierd of wierds sake.
Cue inflated gumpf:
"Music is so personal, and in turn so endlessly subjective. It’s the personal relationship I have with music that I wanted to explore, given that - to me at least - the nature of these mixes is a little…different. It wasn’t planned at length or mused over with a fine edit comb; it was recorded and arranged hastily in one night.
For people who might have read my writing or those who follow the blog for the specific kind of music it covers the choices could be a little weird for weird’s sake, but it was a simple exploration of a neglected record collection that bore it. Obviously there are songs and artists I needed to include for whatever tenuously personal reason, but the particular ‘sound’ I was looking for in all the material exposed itself rather obviously to me at the time.
This mixtape is dedicated to the memory of Ted Danson in Three Men and a Baby; he lived the rawk’n’roll actor lifestyle hard but bolted at the final hurdle. I’d rather be Steve Guttenberg from that film any day; Selleck had the career, the sharp suits and the mustache but Steve...Steve was the one with all the creative flair."
01. Gerhard Trede - Technischer Bewegungsablauf (mlr’s Ted Danson edit) [Normal] 02. Foot Village - . (mlr’s Skip To The End edit) [Tome] 03. Mountains - Map Table [Thrill Jockey] 04. Birdengine - Alone With The Beast Folk [Drift Collective] 05. Hymie’s Basement - America Won/America Two [LEX] 06. Skeletons & The Kings Of All Cities - Fake Tits [Ghostly International] 07. Bill Callahan - Invocation Of Ratiocination [Drag City] 08. Liars - It Fit When I Was A Kid [Mute] 09. 13&God - Superman On Ice [Anticon] 10. Instruments - Black Kite [Free Download] 11. Sixtoo - Cue Burner/Soft Weapon [Bully] 12. Soso - All The Useless Things These Hands Have Done [Endemik] 13. Aesop Rock - Coma [Definitive Jux] 14. John Baker - Codename [Trunk] >> Charles Bukowski Outburst 15. 10cc - I'm Not In Love [Mercury]
American duo Lazer Sword just released a minimix (along side an interview) to promote the fact that they're playing fabric this Friday. If you're a fan of that new Megasoid/SPKRBRZR incarnation of Sixtoo and that Turbo Crunk sound in general, then you should check it out.
Oh and they (both members under different names, Lando Kal and Low Limit) are absolutely owning the first release from the Numbers imprint...
Hovatron and his turbo crunk cohort Lunice are set to be touring Europe, (well Amsterdam and Glasgow's Baller's Social Club at least) so to celebrate this slew of gigs they've released a quick 5 minute mix of club themed nonesense for your delectation.
Speakerbruiser (aka Rob Squire, formerly Sixtoo, ex-Anticon, current Megasoid mobster) recently played at Japan's only Glitch Pop night, Made In Glitch. He also made a mixtape for them in honour of his appearance which we recently discovered is available to download over at their site. Cue 30 minutes of direct heat all the way from Montreal.
A little appetite/pant wetter for the forthcoming Megasoid project on Ninja Tune.
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