WFMU's Beware of the Blog

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Sad Macaroni

Bob Brainen played "The Sad One," a 1967 track by New Orleans guitarist Eddie Lang, from the newly issued Mr.Joe's Jambalaya & Loaded Down With The Blues.  Eddie's real name was Eddie Langlois, and he was influenced by and recorded with Guitar Slim. Ted Barron played a 78 rpm recording of Slim's "Troubles Don't Last."

Frank O'Toole played music from Macaroni, the new Bobby Conn album. Here, Conn continues to do what he has done best for fifteen years: creating synergies of 1970'a art rock and glam and 1980's new wave influences.

Brian Turner had guitarist Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth on his show. Ranaldo released his first rock-context solo album, Between The Times And Tides this week. Here is his live set, his band here consisting of guitarist Alan Licht, bassist Irwin Menken, and Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, 

Next Monday, March 26, from 6-9pm, Dan Bodah will have Cuddle Magic as his guests. Cuddle Magic is an ensemble with up to nine members, and mix folk, minimalism and world music into whimsical but complex songs. Irene Trudel played "The Packaging," one of the band's tracks. 

 

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Low Culture, Wretched Supreme Centipedes

John Allen played music from House Of Low Culture.This drone metal project is composed of members of the bands Sun O, Old Man Gloom, and Isis (the current Isis, not the 1970's Isis.)

On My Castle Of Quiet, tonight at midnight, William Berger will have the Kentucky band Wretched Worst as his guests. He played their "Sickening Ship/Two Million Heads,"and describes their dark improvisations as where "Can, grindcore, and Flipper intersect."

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: And Now Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Program!

The marathon is over. The station met its goal thanks to its listeners. Scott Williams played Scott McDowell and Faye singing Sonic Youth's "Death Valley '69" for the Hoof N' Mouth Sinfonia, where the WFMU DJs sing to close each year's fundraiser. 

On More Exciting Moments, Frank O'Toole played "Stand In" from I Will Set You Free, the new Barry Adamson album. Adamson was a member of Magazine, but his solo work is influenced by jazz, and film composers like Ennio Morricone and John Barry. Donna played Morricone's "La Scoperta Dell' America (Esotica)" on Gateway To Joy. Bob Brainen played the main theme from Barry's 1960 Beat Girl soundtrack.

Tomorrow. from 11am-1pm, Micheal Shelly will have author Kent Heartman on his show to discuss his book,. The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story Of Rovk And Roll's Best Kept Secret. If a group like The Association or Fifth Dimension needed a band for a hit single in the 1960s and 70's. the Wrecking Crew were THE L..A,.session people. This huge unit included drummers Hal Blaine and Jim Gordon, guitarist Tommy Tedesco, and bassists Carol Kaye, Max Bennett and Joe Osborne.

The Monkees also used The Wrecking Crew. Singer Davy Jones died last weekend. Debbie D. played their "Look Out! Here Comes Tomorrow" on Debbie Does WFMU. Jones was a child star before joining the band, playing the Artful Dodger in the cast of Oliver in the early 1960's. R.I.P. 

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Marathon--Round Two!

The marathon continues. Monica did her first show of the 2012 fundraiser, and included a speech by Sacheen Littlefeather, followed by Bette Davis (the film star, not the funk singer and wife of Miles Davis) singing "My Heart Belongs To Daddy." Sacheen Litttlefeather was the President Of The National Native American Affirmative Image Committee. and declined the Oscar on Marlon Brando's behalf. He won for The Godfather in 1973, but refused the award to protest the treatment of Native Americans.

If "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" is not to your liking, here is the other Betty Davis singing "He Was A Big Freak," played by Scott Williams during the 2010 marathon.

Trouble played music from Iranian singer Googoosh, then new music from THEEsatisfaction on This Is The Modern World last week. Googoosh was extremely popular in Iran, but did not perform from 1979 untill 2000, due to the Iran banning female singers after the Islamic Revolution.

John Allen played music from film composer Basil Kirchin's score to the 1971 film, Primitive London  followed by Dory Previn. Previn died on Valentine's Day. She composed lyrics to her husband Andre's film scores (1967's Valley Of The Dolls) before releasing six of her own albums, after their divorce. 

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Marathon--Round One!

It's marathon time! I am not going to ask you for money, but when WFMU DJ's do, some special events are planned. Pseu Braun, with co-host Gaylord Fields, will have Yo La Tengo on Pseu's Thing With A Hook, tonight at nine. The band, long tome friends of WFMU, will play your requests as you pledge. Bob Brainen played the group performing "Mr Tough" live at the station in 2006.

Monica talked about preparing for the marathon, and then played music by Harry "The Crown" Hosono, and Wendy Rene. Rene's real name was Mary Frierson, and was given her stage name, when recording for Stax, by Otis Redding.

John Allen played "All About Money" by Spontaneous Overthrow from Personal Space: Electronic Soul 1974-1984, a compilation of personally produced music.

The marathon began on Monday, and DJ's started giving musical pledge prizes and playing tracks from these premiums. Liz Berg played Dicky Design. Irene Trudel, Misty Roses. Scott Williams played "I Want To Take You On A Sea Cruise" from Gary Wilson's Forgotten Lovers album.

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Your Chart-Topping Marathon Subconscious

WFMU is preparing for its yearly marathon. Today from 3-6pm, Kurt Gottschalk will feature premium CDs from other DJ's on Miniature Minotaurs. Last week, Kurt played "Rocking Chair" by Swedish Mobilia, who function on 100% improvisation.

On Beastin' The Airwaves, Kelli played "Dirty And Dumb" by Labretta Suede And The Motel 6. The band will be her guests on Sunday, 6-9am. Brian Turner played "Jam Song" by the Twerps. They will perform live at WFMU in April (I will post details as this comes closer) with Feedtime. Brian says the Austrailian Feedtime had an influence on many early 1990's grunge bands.

How deep are chart-topping hits embedded in your subconscious? Nat Roe broadcast a segment called Really Small Amounts Of Time; 400 milliseconds of every number one hit from 1956-1977 was played. You should be able, says a study from Cornell University, be able to identify 25%.-

Therese played new music by Tindersticks. Sometimes compaired to Nick Drake, this band is known for their dark chamber folk. Frank O'Toole, on More Exciting Moments, played a track from a reissue of The Fantastic Adventures Of Dillard And Clark. This was one of the first California country rock experiments, done by two respective members of The Dillards and The Byrds, originally released on A&M in 1968.

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Black Metal Mercury Blues.

Cinema, spirits and soul! Monica opened her show with a set that included Niobe, Spiritualized, The Stylistics, and Nino Rota.

Sharon Van Etten recently played her entire new album, Tramp, at the Mercury Lounge. She and band mate Heather Woods will be on Jeffrey Davison's Shrunken Planet this Saturday, February 12th from 6-9am. Last week, Jeffrey played "Ask" from the album.

Jeremiah Lockwood, whose father was a cantor, grew up steeped deep in Jewish Music, but also enjoyed country blues guitar. He mixes the two in his band, The Sway Machinery. Marty McSorley played their track, "Youba" Rob Weisberg will have the group on Transpacific Sound Paradise, also on the 12th, from 6-9pm.

From Jewish-influenced country blues to black metal, Chris M. played Mutilation Rites on Imaginary Radio. The Brooklyn-based band will be his guest this Sunday, February 13th from 3-6am. From 6-9am, Kelli will have New Zealand's Labretta Suade And The Motel 6 on Beastin' The Airwaves. Kelli played their "Mean Mouthed Mama."

Liz Berg played music from Bob Bruno, followed by Dustin Wong, who creates "one man symphonies" using a guitar and loop pedals. Dustin will be on Liz's show on Monday, February 15th, from 9am-Noon.

The Old Codger will fill in for Mac on Tuesday, February 16th, from 8-9pm.

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Monday Monday, And The Rest Of The Mountain, Too.

Sometimes music makes climbing the Monday mountain more palatable. On More Exiting Moments, Frank O'Toole played an MP3 of The Butterfield Blues Band, from a 1966 live Filmore Show. Liz Berg played a set that included Richard Papercuts, The Skunks, and Baby Tears. Irene Trudel played Curved Air next to 1971, pre-disco Bee Gees, and Colin Blunstone. Singer Joy Askew will be Irene's guest, Monday, Febuary 6th from Noon-3pm

This Saturday, Febuary 4, from 6-9am, Jeffery Davison will have the Rhode Island folk duo Brown Bird as his guests on Shrunkin' Planet  He played their "Severed Soul" last week after a track by the band South China.  From 6-9pm on Transpacific Sound Paradise, Rob Weisberg will have Scott Knetter of the band Nation Beat as his guest DJ.

On Monday, Feburary 6th, from 9am-Noon, Trouble will have Ben Graves as a guest on This Is The Modern World, playing the space-age sound of Cold War era soundtracks. On her last show, Trouble played new music from The Howling Hex and Zombe.

Mac played an  89-year old recording  "The Lovelight In Your Eyes" by the Manhattan Dance Orchestra on his Antique Phonograph Music Program. Mac will be doing next weeks show from The Brooklyn Farmacy 8pm-9pm, Tuesday, February 6th.

 

 

 

 

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Hello Fred, Goodbye Jimmy And Etta

Scott Williams played two pieces of spacey music, one from big band leader Don Ellis, then one from The North Sea. Ellis specialized in complex time signatures, and was using electronics on his albums two years before Miles Davis made In A Silent Way.

 

Fred Cash, who sang in the Impressions with Curtis Mayfield, will be Michael Shelly's guest this Saturday, from Noon-3pm. Last week, Michael began his show with a set composed in part of The Leopards, Amsterdam, and Delbert Barker.

Marty McSorley played Terminator X, followed by new music from U.S..Girls. He also payed tribute to disco bandleader Jimmy Castor, who died last week. On Tuesday, January 31st from 6-9am, Black Pus will be Marty's guest.

Monica played new music from 9th Ward Marching Band, who only perform during New Orleans carnival season. Jimmy Castor was featured, as was Etta James. James recorded many blues and R&B records, "At Last" perhaps the best well known. She died last week.

 

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Turbotax Meets Freeform.

Frank O'Toole started the week on More Exciting Moments, playing new material from Christine McBride next to Thriller Houseghost's remix of Radiohead. TKOL also remixed the band: "Little By Little" was selected by Jesse on the Fro Show. 

"3E" by the No Wave band Mars was played on Marty McSorley's show, from a reissue of their 1978 album, Live Artists In Space. This week, Tuesday, the 24th, 6-9 AM, Marty will have live music on his show from The Immaculates  Miniature Minotaurs with Kurt Gottschalk, today from 3pm-6pm, will also have a live guest, composer Eve Beglarian. Last week, Kurt included music from Matthew Shipp in his Friday The 13th Monkathon.

On Tuesday the 24th from 12pm-2pm, Scones radio will Podcast DJ Space Jam, who will be playing 90's house music. Space Jam is the resident DJ at New York dance club, TURBOTAX. The last Scones Radio show kicked off with the track "Lover" by Blondes. Also on the 24th, On Three Chord Monte, Joe will have Brooklyn garage punk band The Siberians from Noon-3pm.

Bill Dees, who wrote "Pretty Women" and "It's Over," for Roy Orbison will be on Night People, 7-8pm on Thursday, January 26th.

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Happy 2012, Dancing Zola Jesus

On Imaginary Radio, Chris M. played some of his favorite 2011 dance music, including Joker, Skream, and Nero, before a guest spot from Norwegian DJ VLR, who continued with a set of  his dance music picks for '11. He recommended "forget about '92 and discover '11."

Many WFMU DJ's have been revisiting their picks of last year's music, including reissued music. Joe McGasko played  "Judith" by Lucho Perez, from  The Original Sound Of Cumbia, on the Soundaway label. Another recent reissue is of the 1966 Beach Boy Smile Sessions, music composed by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. Bob Brainen played the orchestral psychedelia of "My Only Sunshine."

Kelli, on Beastin' The Airwaves, played music from, among others, Caged Animals and Zola Jesus. She then interviewed music writer John Swenson, who talked about his new book, New Atlantis:Musicans Battle For Survival In New Orleans. Kelli then hosted a live set from Idgy Dean.

Here is some WFMU Blog news: starting now, the archive picks post will also announce upcoming live events, and you'll hear more live performances in the archive selections, Today, different versions of Thelonious Monk's "Friday The 13th" will be featured on Miniature Minotaurs with Kurt Gottschalk, 3-6pm. Transpacific Sound Paradise will be live from The Golden Festival, Saturday, 6-9pm. On Daniel Blumin's show,  Reinhold Fried of The Zeitkratzer (Time Scraper) Ensemble will appear Saturday, 9pm-Midnight. Barry Adamson will be on Imaginary Radio with Chris M,.3am-6am. Twin Guns will be on Three Chord Monte with Joe Belock, Tuesday, Januray 17 from Noon-3pm, and Scones Radio with Brad and Momo will podcast Sammo Soundboy and DJ Sliink from Noon-2pm.

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Your New Years Garden

Jeff M. started 2012 on Noise And Syrup playing "Duldrums" from the new Atlas Sound album, Parallax, next to Skyneedle. Both songs have a spacey nuance, but notice how Jeff segues from the floating time of "Duldrums" to the more rhythm driven sound of "Creepertown," the Skyneedle piece.

John Allen played music from Gary War, then Arthur Russell. Here, the rhythms match more, as John segues a steady electronic pulse into a piece of driving dance music. On Zzzzzzero Hour, Bill Mac played two tracks presenting more contrast: Asha Puthli's cover of George Harrison's "I Dig Love," next to "Pineapple Crabapple" by the Free Design. The voices working at similar pitches in these songs is Bill's segue hook.

Joe Belock played new music by The Gardens before playing the Thermals on Three Chord Monte. During his lead-in, Joe mentioned other DJs also played this band. Mike Sin played "Alive In 5D" on Optical Sound. Therese played "Ideas To Use."

Two more new recordings: Marty McSorley played "L Train" by from the new Dirty Beaches album, and on This Is The Modern World,. Trouble played "Heaven Help The Working Girl" by Norma Jean after Nina Simone.

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Skinning The Free Form Holiday Cat

WFMU never makes habit of playing stale Christmas carols, but has its holiday traditions. Stan annually plays the entire first Rotary Connection album: this 1968 piece never made it to "classic rock" formats, but hear how its choral treatment of rock and soul covers has aged like fine brandy, taken out for special occasions. 

How about Holiday surrealism? Kurt Gottschalk filled in for Dan Bodah with Miniature Minotaurs, playing "Santa Dog '92" by the Residents. The big, digital production gives this track modern classical grandeur. Tamar filled in for Liz Berg, playing Meredith Monk, Hazel Meyers, and Billie Holiday on Are We There Yet.

Nazario Scenario's Amanda filled in for Jesse, playing Bob Dylan next to Memphis Minnie, then Merle Haggard next to Chuck Berry. Amanda tilted these sets towards music distinctly rootsy and distinctly American. This is a fascinating gambit. A DJ's show sound is all in the DJ's choices, and Amanda creates her sound by linking organic sounding tracks of different genres. She uses genre without being boxed in by genre. This is just one way to skin the free form cat, but indeed an effective one .

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Handi Loves Free Form, Soul, AND Eclectic Shows

^{Soullllllllllllllllllllllstice! Gaylord Fields greeted winter with huge blocks of 1960's-70's soul, playing Bobby Patterson And The Mustangs, Maxine Brown and Barbara Lynn. Gaylord says on his playlist page "Fannee Doolee loves free form programming but hates eclectic shows." The value of well-executed ecelticism is priceless, but you can't deny the joyous power of long grits and butter sets of soul--perhaps the 60's music that ages best}

^{Music need not be soul music to have soul: Monica played Donald Byrd's performance of "Blind Man, Blind Man," complete with chorus. Fascinating is how Byrd extracts the choral element from pre-soul, "square" music--Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, Four Freshmen-and adds swing and blues to make it hip. Compare Byrd's approach to The Freshmen singing "Holiday," played by Dennis Diken. The middle ground is Syd Dale's "Penthouse Suite," often used during 1960's TV "technical difficulties," played here by Bob Brainen.}

^{Cast this net wider and find a planet of soundtrack and "program" music revolving around funk, pop and lounge jazz. Nat Roe played Goblin from the score to Dario Argento's film, Deep Red. Rich Hazelton played Henry Mancini from the Touch Of Evil Soundtrack on Inflatable Squirrel Carcass. We''ll deal with much more of this music in the future, but finish by watching the below clip, with 1969 music by Jerry Goldsmith. Could this sound fit on a soul jazz album from the era? Absolutely!}

 

 

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Threads

We know jazz musicians, even those playing the most advanced jazz, marinate in the blues. Monica played Mary Lou Wiliams in a set with the Bees and Ry Cooder. Listen to the blue thread Monica runs through her set. Want more blues? Here is Maria Lavitsky playing Al Kooper & Shuggie Otis on Day For Night.

Blues is music boiled to pure essence; so is the pristine guitar of John Fahey. John Allen closed his show playing this shining acoustic music next to Meg Baird and Cain Nugent

Here's a set from Nazario Scenario mixing post-punk and power pop, including Gang Of Four, The New York Dolls, The Move, and Camper Van Beethoven. The power pop cultivated in the 1960's by The Move was made dark and ironic in the 1970's by Big Star, played by Therese. Run this thread to our era and find Bobby Conn, played here with his Glass Gypsies on Airborne Event With Dan Bodah. Power pop, new wave, glam, art rock, Conn's songs are multi-faceted arrow tips of 1970-1990 rock. Here is another aspect of his work below, "Angels." Enjoy.

 

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Archie Bunker's Free Form Hammer

Duane's show last week had several high points: he dug out quality rare vinyl. One record was Hammer, a San Fransisco group whose 1970 album got FM airplay when current, then vanished. Duane also played soul singer Jo-Ann Garret. Hear the heavy echo and old style back up vocals.

Scott Williams played the Turkish rock of Erkin Koray in a set with Mercury Rev and Spacemen 3. I love the tar thick bass lines of early 1970's Turkish psychedelia--almost heavy enough for modern dance music. (Listen to the Koray next to "Beat The Clock" by Spark, played by Trent On Sound And Safe.) More important, Scott plays a broad range of psychedelic rock--enough to make his set diverse but cohesive.

New Yorker Archie Bunker probably didn't appreciate such free form FM greatness, even during its early 1970's Big Apple hay day. On 100% Everything, Mary Wing used the All In The Family sketch "Scranton"--and a Cordova add--before playing "Wrong Way" by Brian Eno and John Cale. The implications: old TV as pure sound, locations as a theme, (Scranton--Wrong Way), widening the range of DJ source material. Think about it if you like, or appreciate the comedy..

Better yet, don't analyze, embrace visceral aural joy.

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: JFK on KLIF on WFMU

Radio as archeology is fascinating. On Ariel View, Chris T. played tapes from Dallas's KILIf AM from November 22, 1963, the day President John F.Kennedy was killed. There are endless levels to listen on, but here are a few:. Listen to the air checks as old style, just-the-facts journalism. Listen to the air checks as pre-Beatles top 40 radio. Listen, especially, to the adds: popular culture before rock permeated that culture. Popular culture with naivete the Kennedy murder brought to an end.

Now to present day, free-form FM. Brian Turner played the dark psychedelia of Les Rallizes Denude, Though organic and 1960's influenced, the bass and trippy nuance remind me of Portishead's "Half Day Closing," played by Irene Trudel. Some say Portishead extracted this bass line from "American Metaphysical Circus" by The United States Of America, played by KBC on Bitslap.

Liz Berg did a set that included 1970's synthesized cinema music from Ilayaraaja, and hip-hop from Volume Five of Madlib's Medicine Show. There are tracks between these two, but I found the use of driving vocals in both to create two very different tone colors was a powerful thread binding Liz's set. Listen and see if you agree.

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Handi Hears The Singers, The King, And Shuts Up!

In a half hour, I heard two radically different but excellent female singers. Irene Trudel played Sandy Denny singing a demo of "Who Knows Where The Time Goes," which Denny sang in completed form on Fairport Convention's Unhalfbrickling in 1969. Scott Williams played the free improvisation of Linda Sharrock with her guitarist husband, Sonny. Scott narrates trying to explain Sharrock's voice to his six-year old, Llia, who adopted Linda's style and saranaded dad. For me, the Sharrock team invokes early Lennon/Ono work such as "Touch Me," also selected by Scott.

If Sharrock's electric avant-shards are too "out" for you, Monica played blues guitarist Freddie King after The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. I'm always talking about segueing organic sounds with modern electronic sheens, but Monica segues a layered arrangement into a small combo where King's six string shines like a razor--an equally gratifying contrast.    

Let's end by me shutting up for an archive blitz. Liz Berg played.Orbits and The Black Hollies. John Allen, Pulse Emitter. Therese played Acid Baby Jesus. Sue P. played Sex Church next to Druids Of Stonehenge on Solid Gold Hell.

A happy and safe holiday weekend for everyone and I'll catch you next Friday.

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Henry Cow Jumped Over The Pond

Just when you've almost forgotten a DJ on the WFMU bench, he or she does a killer fill-in show. Dave Mandl substituted for Gayloard Fields, playing Red Balune. This primarly Dutch band features Fred Frith of Henry Cow, which Bill Mac played on Zzzzzzero Hour.

Across the pond, about six years before Henry Cow's ultra-complex Canterbury progressive rock, Curt Boettcher produced The Association, and formed his own band, Millennium, played here by Irene Trudel. This is some of the best, under-heard baroque vocal pop of the era. Brian Turner played more straight-forward rock of the period, Bump.

Lest you think I'm spoon feeding you too much hippy-dippy sunshine, on Dark Night Of The Soul, Julie played the dark drone of Nico And The Faction. Scott Williams played the wonderfully eerie resonating drums of Pheeroan ak Laff. Joe Belock played The Black Lips on Three Chord Monte.

DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Greedy Minimalists Keeping Company.

I'm no minimalism expert, but know when it when I hear it. Daniel Blumin played "Kungo Sogoni" by N. Hawa Doumbi. Listen to how the track feeds off a repetitive instrumental motif. Steve Reich, played on Mudd Up! With DJ/Rupture, employed repetition in "Come Out" in 1966, creating aural hypnosis using a voice loop  Robert Fripp and Brian Eno used loops on "Swastika Girls," played by Dan Bodah on Airborne Event. For GREEDY! minimalists, Scott McDowell played Eno, Terry Riley, and Can on an edition of The Long Rally.

This progressive rock improvisation form Flasket Brinner, played by Scott Williams, is far from minimal. Listen to the driving percussion. (Can you hear the reference to Chicago Transit Authority?) For more song oriented prog, hear Patto, played by Brian Turner.

Last archive call: On This Is The Modern World, Trouble played two artists who should be more famous. Caetano Veloso was called the "Bob Dylan Of Brazil." He was jailed for his political stance under Brazil's 1960's dictatorship. He is still making music, and here covers the Beatles "Elanore Rigby." Abbey Lincoln was married to be-bop drummer Max Roach, and contributed vocals to his albums--perhaps the most experimental of any artist coming out of be-bop..Here she is with Roach in 1961, singing "Mendacity" on Are We There Yet, with Tamar.

The best artists are often known by the company they keep.