Keepin' Love Fine

XYZ Dancin', Breakin', Tonight
Holy Ghost I Will Come Back

For the longest time I thought that trainspotting referred to spotting musical references and cues in songs. As the train came to be replaced by other, more dominant modes of transportation in the 20th century and the wireless radio (and the BBC?) became responsible for transmitting key cultural elements of the British identity, the same fervor and fanaticism that doddering old bachelors in Harris tweeds displayed for jotting down the numbers and schedules of trains as they passed by was extended to the world of music, and the word trainspotting was adapted to that. Trainspotting actually refers to a method of heroin injection.

I say this with all the love in my heart (because 1) I have nothing but admiration for Nick Hillhiser and Alex Frankel of Holy Ghost* and 2) I really think, as the Van Pelt said, there's no problem stealing from our favorite thieves, especially in music), but tell me there isn't a bit of a touch of Holy Ghost's I Will Come Back on XYZ' Dancin', Breakin', Tonight? Specifically the cadence and lyrical style at the opening verse. By the time the chorus pops up, however, XYZ has jumped off fully into the musical territory favored by the programmers of bumper music for early 90's sports shows.

This is the opening track from XYZ' Disco Charts Vol. 1 released in 1984, which has an absolutely , and was written by Denny Motion. Mr. Motion's previous musical credit was as the titular head of the Denny Motion Group, on a 1981 LP Small Talk. The liner notes implore you to "Let Denny Motion carry you off to his contemporary guitar land. Let him accompany you to happy, gay parties. Journey through lovely countrysides and join in with his romantic feelings, far away from dull every day life." Sure!

* The Trinity/Triune God: Father = LCD Soundsystem, Son = Juan McLean, Holy Ghost = Holy Ghost.

Phil Lynott sounds like he has a cold

Taken By Trees Watch the Waves
The Crêpes What Else?

Eminently tasteful music is always in great danger of becoming the soundtrack to your next car shopping experience, or given the staggering decline of the auto industry, your next brush with an iPod commercial on a transit shelter. Chairlift's Bruises* or the career of Feist, for example. Give me a softly strummed guitar, a beat you can clap along to, and a woman with a voice that shifts between tender and listless depending on the listener's mood, match that with an animated silhouette dancing on a picnic bench and we've got a campaign.

Victoria Bergsman had already proven her music licensing credentials, having sang on Peter, Bjorn & John's Young Folks, as well as with The Concretes, so felt that rather than establishing her own brand of fair trade coffee, she'd make some more music. With production duties handled by Dan Lissvik of Studio, we have the second album from her solo project, Taken By Trees' East of Eden, recorded in Pakistan and heavily referencing Sufi music, trance states and maybe even a John Steinbeck novel.

Yes, of course there's a National Geographic short film about her "journey." The album will be released by Rough Trade on September 7th.

Dan Lissvik has also recently paired up with Fredrik Lindson (of The Embassy) under the moniker The Crêpes to release a super-limited LP (& much more available mp3/CD release) called What Else? that's a soft and subtle homage to dusk, summer pop & (I'm assuming) the Traveling Wilburys.

Chairlift Bruises (Juan MacLean Remix)

Speaking of iPod commercials, here's the Juan MacLean remix, which only becomes recognizable at about 3 minutes in, and is far superior to the frightening 8-bit work-over that Passion Pit treats it to.

Speedboat Weekend

A boat.

Private Let's Make Love (Underneath the Apple Tree)

June & July were such busts as months weather-wise, that I'm thrilled to be able to take it to the streets tomorrow for the Ste Catherine Street Sale. I'll be DJing at the American Apparel store at 1205 Ste-Catherine Est. from 2pm onwards, so come by, say hello, and block-party with me.

If you've ever made the mistake of delving into the Rockwell catalogue to discover if any of Berry Gordy's son ever matched up to the "paranoia rock" of Somebody's Watching Me, well, he never did (as you probably found out), but you were probably thrilled when Private's "Secret Lover" poppued up on your radar, as well as the various remixes that have been around on the blogs for the past couple of months. The Danish re-interpreters of 80's R&B and electro did it right on another track, Let's Make Love (Underneath the Apple Tree), this time cribbing from the same Human League cheat-sheet that The Juan MacLean had been hiding up their sleeves. And in fact, the rest of their album is full of on-target cues & sounds - enough MJisms and Stevie Wonder flourishes, but done in a fresh enough manner that it's not creepy.

Etta James, belting it out

Etta James 7 Day Fool (Whiskey Barons Edit)

Etta James gets the post-Pilosski treatment from Boston's Whiskey Barons, resulting in a wonderful summer BBQ stomper. It is always, always wonderful to hear a soul/R&B edit that is not Pilooski's edit of Frankie Valli's Beggin'. DJs & Sid Lee - time to leave it alone!