Lee Perry is the man!

I don’t think his responses are nonsense at all.

I’ve clipped the whole a big chunk of it because I know folks is mad lazy and  don’t click through.

From here:

 

Mr Perry, you must remember Jamaican independence well, you were a young man of 25 in 1962…?
1962! What happened then?

Jamaican independence…

Where you are?

I’m in London. I was just wondering if you were involved at all?
I wasn’t involved in anything with colonial government business. I have my own music government, black supremacy, Ethiopia family, Africa family, Addis Ababa, something like that. All the riches of the earth is black. The isle is black. When they came and see the isle they brought the vampire with them to eat the children’s blood, they hijacked them and they lowjacked them… Do you have a tape machine running?

I do. 

That’s very good. The old fella sings a cappella and he took his umbrella and here comes the lightning flash, KNNNNNARARCARHHHH.

When did the lightning flash? 

It flashed for the government exterminator, the high priest become low priest and then low beast, moo cow HOOOOOWARGHhhhhh.

When did this happen, in 1962?

Nahhhh. It’s coming shortly! Fire government, water government, flood government. It’s coming soon…!

Will you be around to see it? 
I will be coming to you from fire fire fire fire! Super hot hot hot! Here comes the jungle god! Lee Scratch Perry on the wire!

And after you arrive? 

A few people will be gods and goddesses and angels! And the others all kaput! Great balls of fire… WAAAAAARGHHH!

Will you be a benign ruler do you reckon? 

Cosmic energy telepathic all the time!

Active Music Listening Friday July 27, 2012

YTD recordings listened to: 465
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 260
Not good music:181
Buys: 14 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Glenn Hansard, Ebo Taylor, Le Super Borgou De Parakou, Left Lane Cruiser/James Leg, Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas, Chatham County Line, Dennis Bovell, Seluah, Donnie and Joe Emerson

@@@ Delaney Davidson: Bad Luck Man.  (Voodoo music, 2012)  I found this guy over here at Real Deep Blues.  It’s a small scoop of Tom Waits without the surreal growling voice and a portrait of that part of America that most folks pretend doesn’t exist.  I’m not sure what it is I like about this guy and his music, but I like the vibe of it and want to check it out some more.

@@@ The Brokedowns: Species Bender. (Red Scare Industries, 2011).  I was thinking I had not been listening to enough of what is now the classic punk sound of the 1980’s, not the freak punk sound of the 1980’s.  So I got on that google and ended up checking out the punk blog risingfist.com where I found these guys.  I dig this — funny, swings a little, and the singer is good.  Any band that has a song called ‘This Cult is a Bummer’ is all right with me.

@@@ Old Crow Medicine Show: Carry Me Back. (ATO, 2012)  An energetic string band outfit with great singers.  There’s a lot of this music coming out right now — you had the Carolina Chocolate Drops earlier this year, Chatham County Line, and this record as well as a slew of roots music goin on out there.  I like this record, it’s just a tad too polished for my taste — that’s a very light criticism, these guys are good musicians.  I would take the Chatham County Line record over this one because it’s live and looser.

@@@ Personal and the Pizzas: Diet, Crime & Delinquency. (2011)  Bizarre name for a band.  Take the musical stylings of the Ramones and blend in the nihilism of Black Flag and you’ll end up pretty close to Personal and the Pizzas.  There’s even an acoustic number, Bored Out of My Brains, that closes out the three song EP.  It’s catchy alienation music.

Active Music Listening Thursday July 26, 2012

YTD recordings listened to: 461
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 256
Not good music:181
Buys: 14 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Glenn Hansard, Ebo Taylor, Le Super Borgou De Parakou, Left Lane Cruiser/James Leg, Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas, Chatham County Line, Dennis Bovell, Seluah, Donnie and Joe Emerson

@@@ Heyward Howkins: The Hale & Hearty (Self-released, 2012).  The first tune, Thunderin’ Stop is the best song I heard today.  Sparse yet interesting arrangement and a voice that is skilled but neither self-concious or manipulative.  The rest of the recording jumps around stylistically, which is a shame (for me) as I could take a whole record that works the vein of the first tune.  There are some really nice moments in this recording and this guy has been in a studio before, that’s for sure.  Check it out.

@@@ Joe Davita: Ancestral Language (Daddy Tank, 2012).  If you’re a listener in the nu jazz/fusion area check out the Sonny Sharrock inspired tune over at SoundCloud.  He’s got that epic spaced out guitar sound just right.

@@@ Ben Kweller: Jealous Girl.  Upcoming single.  I watched the video and thought they should have spent more time on the song rather than on the summer time booty shaking video.  Manipulative.

@@@ Fang Island: Major.  (Sargent House, 2012).  Found this on the AMG New Release weekly email.  Under genre, it describes the music as hard rock, indie rock, post-rock, alternative pop/rock.  Is this possible to make music that is rock and post-rock at the same time?

The music is generic mainstream rock, a little rough and very smoothed out  and trimmed at the same time.  Catchy, designed to sell, not much to think about.  Light like cotton candy.

@@@ Purity Ring: Shrines. (4AD, 2012)  Big fat marshmallow synths for a spaced out detached female voice to roll out on.  Complete with finger snaps and handclaps.  Big shout out to West Coast hip hop beats.  Finely focused blech.

@@@ Foxygen: Take the Kids off Broadway (Jajgjaguwar, 2012)  Great band name, opens up with a slinky sort of David Bowie vibe.  Oh no, the singer is the lovechild of David Bowie and Lou Reed.  It jumps around, little sections and stops and starts — definitely more indie than the conceptual-ness of Bowie.  It definitely sports a retro vibe that I don’t hear often — a little glam, a little ’60s Eric Burdon.  The singer has style and energy.  It’s not music that makes me jump and down, but some folks might dig it.

@@@ Micachu and the Shapes: Never (Rough Trade, 2012).  Collaged noise pop.  A piquant variety of squonks and chopped various noises with a sort of lowly mixed female voice.  Marketed as michievous, I hear it more as staticky U.K. welfare parlor music.  Might actually work live.

Active Music Listening Wednesday July 25, 2012

YTD recordings listened to: 464
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 253
Not good music:178
Buys: 14 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Glenn Hansard, Ebo Taylor, Le Super Borgou De Parakou, Left Lane Cruiser/James Leg, Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas, Chatham County Line, Dennis Bovell, Seluah, Donnie and Joe Emerson

@@@ Staff Benda Bilili: Marguerie/Mwana Single (2010)  I was checking this Congolese street band out after reading about them over here at the Chicago reader.  It looks like they’re associated with Crammed Discs, a label out of Belgium that I respect.  There is no album, and it’s a pain in the ass to find any of their music, but maybe something is percolating to the surface.

The live track ‘Mwana’ is pretty happenin’  From what I read these guys are street musicians and the playing is tightly interconnected and loose at the same time.  Man, that’s hot shit.  I would most definitely be up for an album by these guys.

@@@  Vashka: Vichada.  Oh, so much electro-pop.  Why so much electro pop?  I found these guys over here at Quick Before it Melts.  I guess this is indie electro pop because it’s not straight booty bumping club music. Not totally awful, not mind blowing.

@@@  Royal Arch Blaspheme: II.  You can stream this record over here at Invisible Oranges until July 31..  With song titles like ‘When the Cruel Nails Pierced Thy Tender Hands and Feet’ and ‘Resurrection of Depravity’ it’s pretty dramatic.  I can’t hear a single word the singer is putting forth, but this is not uncommon.  Keeping with my new tradition I would say these guys are a 9 (out of a possible 10) on the Upset-O-Meter.  They have a bit of a hardcore edge — no flaming guitar solos, just the assault.

@@@ Strand of Oaks: Dark Shores (Self-released, 2012).  Found these guys over here.  It’s kind of downer-y, alt-country rock.  I like the singer’s voice.  Solid.

@@@  Field Report: Preview EP (Partison, 2012).  From the same recommendations page over here.  I like this much better.  Floating space organ in the back and some lyrics that make you pay attention.  I was wanting to hear more from these guys until I got the publicist’s email for the record which comes out in September.

They’re a good band, but I continue to be tired of the Public Relations shake and bake.

Active Music Listening Tuesday July 24, 2012

YTD recordings listened to: 459
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 255
Not good music:176
Buys: 14 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Glenn Hansard, Ebo Taylor, Le Super Borgou De Parakou, Left Lane Cruiser/James Leg, Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas, Chatham County Line, Dennis Bovell, Seluah, Donnie and Joe Emerson

@@@ 24th Street Wailers: Unshakeable (Self-released, 2012).  Self-released records up to the top.  A female fronted blues outfit.  I like the singer and the slinky vibe of the band.  This an old school style blues release with thin, piercing guitar sounds and a distinctly non-rock feel.

@@@ Unbelievers: Pretty in Punk (Self-released, 2011).  If you’re in the mood for some poppy, clean female fronted punk check these ladies out.  Has that Green Day vibe.  The goal is catchy.

@@@ Apollo Ghosts: Landmark (You’ve Changed, 2012).  Right in that pop/indie/rock gray are.  A smooth like butter voice and a lot of arpeggiated guitar floating around.  Catchy, that’s the goal.  Rockin’ you, not the goal.  I like the vibe of it but not my favorite style.

@@@ Muneshine: There is Only Today (Droppin’ Science, 2012). A rapper over old school soul sounding arrangements.  Smooth is the point.  Doesn’t hit a bullseye for me, but check it out.

@@@  Doseone: G is for Deep (Anticon, 2012).  Sounds like a more synthed of TV on the Radio.  I think this is not intended to be lyrically mindless, but the arrangements are so in your face I can’t catch the lyrics well enough to catch what’s going on.

@@@

Active Music Listening Monday July 23, 2012

YTD recordings listened to: 458
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 251
Not good music:175
Buys: 13 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Glenn Hansard, Ebo Taylor, Sigur Ros, Le Super Borgou De Parakou, Left Lane Cruiser/James Leg, Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas, Chatham County Line, Dennis Bovell, Seluah, Donnie and Joe Emerson

@@@ Donnie and Joe Emerson: Dreamin’ Wild (Lost in the Attic, 2012).  I found this record via the Aquarius Records weekly email list.    This is pretty hot.– funky and indie with elements of dub thrown in.  Wow.  It’s kind of lo-fi, but it all works and I dig the singer.  The instrumental fourth track drags but they get back to the funky cheese with the next tune.  It looks like this music was recorded in 1979 and a rip/re-issue/reunion is going around.

@@@ Mozella: The Brian Holland Sessions.  Ah, the Adele imitators are comin out in search of fame and loot.  She’s got a good voice, less manly than Adele and the arrangements are very familiar to anybody who has a decent record collection.  Well executed for mainstream music, low marks for originality.

@@@ White Suns: Sinews (Load, 2012)  I like the shit on Spotify, but I can’t get the new record to stream anywhere.  Frustrating as shit, I tell you. Oh wait, I got it working over here.  It’s more noise than the punkiness of the  last record ‘Walking in the Reservoir’.  The point of the new jam is to beat the shit out of you — an admirable goal, but I think I’m going to check out the last record.

@@@ The Sufis: The Sufis (Freestock, 2012)  I found these guys over here at The Quietus.  Towards the beginning of the record it sounds a bunch like The Coral, a quirky outfit from the UK/Scotland area.  It’s also got a little bit of the psychedelic era Beatles/Stones to it.  The first three songs have a generous amount of song to them and then things go out from there which I enjoyed less.

Active Music Listening Thursday July 19, 2012

YTD recordings listened to: 454
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 248
Not good music:175
Buys: 13 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Glenn Hansard, Ebo Taylor, Sigur Ros, Le Super Borgou De Parakou, Left Lane Cruiser/James Leg, Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas, Chatham County Line, Dennis Bovell, Seluah

@@@ Seluah: Red Parole (Self-released, 2012).   I found these guys over here where you can also read a review if you’re fun-employed.  I guess they made it with one of the dudes from My Morning Jacket, but I haven’t been feeling the Jacket of My Morning for a while.  This has a heavier and more satisfying sound — the drums sound really great and in general I like this and think folks should check it out.

@@@ The Alchemist: Russian Roulette (Decon, 2012) Left field hip hop with a pretty shredding guitar solo in the first instrumental piece.  Wassup wit dat?  This is some odd left field shit to be sure — the Alchemist sounds super black but there’s some odd Russian theme to the record with song titles like ‘Crushed Kremlin’ and ‘Ivan’s Workout Plan’ that I am having trouble understanding.  I guess he’s really into Russians and the Russian mob.  I give him respect for the sheer oddness of the arrangements and the Russian theme.

@@@ Hour of 13: 333 (Earache, 2012).  Readers of this blog know I’ve established an upset-o-meter for all the metal recordings I listen to.  These guys are a bit dark, but they’re not super upset — not violently upset.  I’m not worried about them as people and don’t think they need to be removed from the streets.  The music is midtempo power chord metal with a very Ozzie Osbourne singer.  It’s good stuff, it’s a tad stoney a little metallic, there’s something for everybody, these guys could almost be on the radio except they don’t seem to be much into Christianity.  That could be a problem.

@@@ Dead Times/TRTRKMMR.  Go here and check it out if you’re up for some underground noise.  Wow, that’s harsh and that can be a good thing.

@@@ The Flatlanders: Hills and Valleys (New West, 2009)  I wanted to hear the new one but this one turned up on the fancy Spotify machine.  Big roots music.  Big fat and epic.  Very clean and big.  This might be absolutely amazing live.

@@@  Frank Ocean: channel ORANGE (Def Jam).  Mr. Ocean recently came out as gay on the eve of the release of this record so I thought I would check his music out.  He can sing pretty well but the music backing him is so not nutritious I can’t really get with it.  He puts up a beat, a floating synth chord and then he goes off.  I give him some respect as his music has a weird ass bent to it with somewhat weird songs with dissolute characters doing anti-social things like getting high in his mama’s apartment.  A solid B-.

Active Music Listening Wednesday July 18, 2012

YTD recordings listened to: 448
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 245
Not good music:173
Buys: 13 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Glenn Hansard, Ebo Taylor, Sigur Ros, Le Super Borgou De Parakou, Left Lane Cruiser/James Leg, Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas, Chatham County Line, Dennis Bovell

I listened to three Bandcamp recordings.

@@@ Dennis Bovell: Mek it Run (Pressure Sounds, 2012).  I checked out AllMusic and it does appear that these are baked tapes from the 1970’s that have been remixed.  There is most definitely a modern sound to the tapes, but not in an annoying way and there is enough bass nastiness on the record for the biggest bassheads out there.  This being Lynton Kwesi Johnson’s former bass player he wouldn’t let you down with thin ass mealy faced dub.  I need to check this release out but this could make my best of the year list.

@@@ Darling Farah: Division (2011)  I don’t usually dig the hardcore club music and I loathe the sort of electro pop dance that is so unfortunately everywhere, but I dug this minimalist four on the floor club record as I thought it was rhythmically more complex than what I usually hear and it has a weird ass funkiness to it.

@@@ Bethia Beadman: Made of Love (Self-released, 2012).  Found this record over here at The Quietus.  An unorthodox and somewhat slippery voice over a minimalist indie backing band.  The second tune, Glow Baby Glow has a pretty impressive epic guitar intro that comes down into a slow moving hipster song about she burns and he basks inthe glow.  It’s all right.

@@@ Nas: Life is Good.  (Def Jam, 2012).  Good beats and then odd arrangements with big string and horn intros and big vocal intros followed by Nas hitting the microphone.  So it’s an odd combination of cheese and gangsta.

Active Music Listening Tuesday July 17, 2011

YTD recordings listened to: 441
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 241
Not good music:176
Buys: 13 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Glenn Hansard, Ebo Taylor, Sigur Ros, Le Super Borgou De Parakou, Left Lane Cruiser/James Leg, Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas, Chatham County Line

@@@ WITCH MOUNTAIN: South of Salem (2010).  I was looking for their new record Set Fire! but I couldn’t Spotify but checked out this 2010 release.  It’s like Black Sabbath with the lead singer of Heart out front.  A lilting caveman stomp.  More long and jam oriented heavy rock than today’s punishing super compressed heavy metal.  Check it out, this is the best thing I heard all day.

@@@ MILO GREEN: Self-titled (Chop Shop, 2012)  Part confessional coffee shop songwriter, part epic arena rock with a touch of New Age in it.  With titles like ‘Don’t you give up on me’ this is aimed (I think) to be insipirational to all you shiny happy people when you’re havin a bad day.  Not particularly my cup of tea, but check it out if you’re shiny and happy.  Might work great live and all stripped down.

@@@ PETER APPLEYARD: Sophisticated Ladies (Linus, 2012).  Super straight piano vocal guitar vibes record.  I’ve heard this formula too many times to get much of a rush off it.

@@@  AESOP ROCK: Skelethon (Rhymesayers Entertainment, 2012).    This dude is urgent.  Beats are solid and more focused on toughness than funkiness.  He spits rhymes all right but he sounds like he’s running out of oxygen or a little constipated or both.  I like the arrangements.

@@@  TYSON NAYLOR TRIO: Kosmonauten (Songlines, 2012).  The first tune is a part free part composed tune that I liked (and put on my Spotify playlist) and then it kinda straightened out from there.  Piano trio record, I like the piano player’s energy and the drums sound great.

NO VISUALS, SORRY.

Active Music Listening Monday July 16, 2012

YTD recordings listened to: 436
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 238
Not good music:174
Buys: 13 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Glenn Hansard, Ebo Taylor, Sigur Ros, Le Super Borgou De Parakou, Left Lane Cruiser/James Leg, Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas, Chatham County Line

@@@ SLUGABED: Time Team (Ninja Tune).  Chopped up female voices over West Coast hip hop/club beats combo platter.  I think they’re going for the trippy/funky vibe.  It works all right, nothing particularly surprising to keep you on your toes.  The second tune ‘Sex’ is your four on the floor simple synth party track with a four note riff.  Oh no, now it’s got that Madonna 1980’s — what’s that tune they’re biting?  Get into the Groove, man that took some calories to access the hard drive.

@@@ JAZZ PUNKS: Smashups (Self-released).  Takes classic jazz tunes as well as classic punk tunes and kinda mates them.  This is fine listening except if you really like jazz.

@@@  JHEREK BISCHOFF: Composed (Brassland)  An Latin sort of adult alternative record.  Not the most out, but not baby food smooth either. Surprisingly it has tons of guests — David Byrne, Gaetano Veloso, Nels Cline.  It has a certain cinematic quality to it, especially the tracked I popped in my Spotify playlist, but I don’t love these tons of guests record.

@@@ GUAPO: Elixirs (2008)  I wanted to check their new record, but all I got on the ol’ Spotify machine is this recording from 2008.  It’s ambient with some nice percussion arranged in it but with a healthy knife full of New Age and a touch of hobbit-y mysticism.  It gets into this church choir that’s complex but pumps the New Age vibe which isn’t good for me.  If you roll that way, then check it out.

@@@ TEEN DAZE: All of Us Together (Lefse, 2012).  They have a tune called Brooklyn Sunburn, so I fear this ‘indie electronic’ emanated from my borough and I apologize.  This is most definitely music for shiny happy people or for interrogators at Guantanamo Bay, whichever you may be.  Here we have the highly chorused out happy synth patches — not the mean and alienated Lady Gaga chainsaw patches.  And under that we have the drum machine kick drum and the hand claps.  That’s the basic formula.  The second tune starts out with a ping pong-y blip and that, unfortunately is gonna have to be where I leave this fine piece of ‘indie electronic’.

@@@  K-HOLES: Dismania (Hardly Art, 2012)  A female garage punk band, so props to that.  Unfortunately the guitarist needs to switch it up, she’s drilling a hole in my head with that riff in the first tune.  Things turn up with the second tune ‘Rats’ — they must have had a cup of coffee between tracks.  These guys need some more chops and practice before I buy in but I like the energy.