Grobschnitt - Jumbo

Bienvenue à imaginaryradiostation.blogspot.fr...

So I had this romantic idea that living in Europe, I'd come upon my favorite chanson/rock français and kosmische records for cheap, because, hey, they must be swimming in copies over here, right? Not so much - it would seem the vinyl craze is just as heavy/heavier in France (for example, it would seem that people are more than willing to pay well over 15 euros for ECM records...). I did see a decent copy of the third album of these OG weirdos for 10 euros.

Grobschnitt (no idea what the name means, but it's silly) seems to straddle very adroitly the fine line between krautrock jamming and prog pretension. I mean, look at that cover - these guys were a bunch of goofs that knew how to play. I got into them via the solo work of drummer Joachim Ehrig, a.k.a. Eroc - you'd be well advised to check out his meandering masterpieces (S/T I - IV). The songs on this album remind me at times of his solo work, more of prime Guru Guru. Not super into the vocalist, but he sounds OK when he sings in German. Choice jam: "Sunny Sunday's Sunset/Sonntag's Sonnabend."

N.B.: This version contains both the English language and German language recordings.

viel Spaß!

Larry Heard - Sceneries Not Songs, Volume One

I'll be gone for about two weeks, wrapping things up over here then crossing the pond for a year. Once I'm settled more posts will follow... I know, you've heard it all before... lemme leave you with a good one for now. 

Some essential house, more complexity and ear for the melodic than I'm used to from the genre. This guy's great, looking forward to sharing more of his recordings with you. Lovely stuff for bittersweet end-of-summer sunsets. 

Amuse-toi bien!

Bobby Hutcherson - Happenings

Just heard the sad news that this wonderful musician passed on a few days ago. I remember going to a certain record store as a high school/college know-nothing and getting turned on to this guy's beautiful sounds (thanks, Dr. Jazz). This is definitely one of my favorite jazz records of all time, you're captivated from those opening notes.  

Rest in power, Mr. Hutcherson.

here you go

Pluramon - Pick Up Canyon

Before listening to my spiel, go over to Listen to This! and snap up David Astri's Do it Right. First heard "Safe and Sound" over at Warm and Gooey and have been vibing to it ever since. Cheers. 

Pluramon is a project headed by Marcus Schmickler, who makes some pretty sick loop-based electronica and apparently has some really cool friends (Jaki Liebezeit, Julee Cruise). This one features Jaki on drums, with Marcus layering murky, oscillating tones on top. Antecedents that come to mind... Harmonia's first album (this really does sound like the perfect marriage of kraut and 90's loop/glitch), definitely the tape-loops of This Heat, even a darker Jan Jelinek. Couldn't recommend this more highly with your morning coffee or your nightly rambles. 

enjoy!

Dif Juz - Soundpool (Huremics + Vibrating Air EPs)

Don't know much about these guys other than their affiliation with 4AD/Cocteau Twins, and I'd really love to hear that unreleased collaboration with Lee Perry (see their discogs page)! This one's great for long days of summer reading, I love the sound of the drums in the mix, and those guitar-playing brothers can make a lovely racket with their delay pedals. I also recommend their LP Extractions.

enjoy!