BBC Radiophonic Workshop

I came across BBC Radiophonic Workshop recordings in 2006 and recently dug them up again for another listen.  At the time, I didn't know anything about the history or musicians who made these recordings so thought I'd share my findings.  The sound effects, songs, and experiments in sound are very unique and worth a listen.  Also, these musicians were using electronics long before people thought it was ok to do so which makes it cool...not unlike Lou Reed singing about heroin but nerdier.

Read about the history here:  Brief / Extensive



Delia Derbyshire caught my interest though most significantly.  I realized that she contributed to White Noise album in 1969 which is one of the first examples of electronics being mixed with rock n roll, not unlike United Space of America.

One of my favorite tracks from the 1969 album "My Game of Loving" (beware:  there is some hardcore sex samples throughout):


And from some of her work at the BBC:

STSSv2

The second volume of Save the Sound State is ear tested and ready for consumption.  Another nice mix of library, soundtrack, funk, tropicalia, experimental, french pop, and all other interesting sound from all over the world.  Somehow it all works together and is sure to awaken the senses.

On the Menu:

1. Ron Geesin - Troglodyte
2. The Roger Webb Sound - Moon Bird
3. Les Maledictus Sound - Kriminal Theme
4. Lee Hazlewood - Vem Kan Segla
5. African Music Machine - A Girl From France
6. Basil Kirchin - I Start Counting (demo)
7. Kevin Ayers - Girl on a Swing
8. Antonio Adolfo - Venice
9. Caetano Veloso - Tropicalia
10. Cluster - Marzipan
11. Bimbo - Borondong Garing
12. Renaissance - Sounds of the Sea
13. Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information
14. Mystic Siva - Supernatural Mind
15. Fernando Antonio Pearson
16. Neu! - Isi
17. France Gall - Nefertiti
18. Ennio Morricone - Intermezzino Pop
19. Jeff Keen - Song of the Prasticator




**You can also download the mix HERE for your media device of choice

Synth Britannia Documentary

Spend an hour and a half with this BBC documentary about the rise of synthesizers in 1970's Britain.

Soundtrack includes Kraftwerk, Throbbing Gristle, OMD, Gary Numan,the Normal, Depeche Mode, and many other 80's relics.

School of Synthesis

Join me, those who are brave enough, in watching this two hour synthesis workshop given by Dean Friedman from the N.Y. School of Synthesis in the 1980's.  

Soft Machine Paris 1968

Last summer, I ordered several Shindig back issues. One of the issues was #20 featuring the Soft Machine (I tried to find a pdf copy on the internet to share here but no luck). Also, it looks like it's no longer available to order from Shindig.  Amazon has some used copies for $12.  Highly recommend buying this issue if you enjoy the Soft Machine as much as I do.

Excerpt: "In July they returned to America to headline a few shows before joining Hendrix for a second US tour together. As before, because of the avant-garde stance, their set would sometimes attract hostility from both audience and promoters alike, especially when Ayers insisted upon performing "We Did it Again" ad nauseam." Brilliant.

Instead of the article, here is this youtube video of Soft Machine playing in Paris in their early, pre-jazz, Kevin Ayers havin', psychedelic freak-out days.



According to some dude on the interweb,  this is "Soft Machine's live performance for French TV, entitled Ce Soir On Danse Avec Les Soft Machine (Tonight We Dance With The Soft Machine). There’s even actually some dancing going on, despite the band’s challenging alt-psych/jazz/pre-prog stylings. The original poster pegged this as being recorded August 25, 1968, but some Machineheads are pointing out that it might be from 1967 (45 years ago), as the Softs were on tour in the States in August ’68."

0:00 – A Certain Kind
3:52 – Save Yourself
5:55 – Priscilla
6:30 – Lullabye Letter
14:10 – Hope For Happiness

Spacey Bruce Lacey

Another great find courtesy of Jonny Trunk, I introduce the genius, artist, shaman, filmmaker, musician and visionary spacey Bruce Lacey.  Ahead of his time in just about everything he did, he inspired many great innovators from Monty Python to Throbbing Gristle.  Read more about him and buy his records on Jonny Trunk. 

Excerpt: "In the mid 1970s Brian Eno (a friend of Lacey’s daughter’s boyfriend at the time) visited the Lacey studio, which was in an old shoe factory in Hackney. Lacey recalls Eno’s thoughts about his synth at the time: “Eno told me that when he switches on his VCS3, it is silent. But when he turns on my synth it is alive, it bubbles”.

Watch this 16 minute short film about Bruce Lacey


Lacey's robots playing on Fairport Conventions 1969 album "what we did on our holidays".

STSSv1

Back in 2006, I put together several compilations exploring experimental music from around the world.  Most of the music was from the 60's and 70's and served as the inspiration for countless bands and projects I grew up listening to.  They laid the groundwork for punk, electronic music, hip hop, new wave, etc etc.   Most took chances and approached music as art.  They pushed limits of sound and did new things with it.

The following is a collection of some of my favorite songs from those early compilations and bare the same name as they did in 2006 

I bring you  Save the Sound State: Volume One



Track List
1) Phil Young - Science & Technology
2) Zouzou - Tu Fais Partie Du Passé
3) Harmonia - Gollum
4) The United States of America - Cloud Song
5) Basil Kirchin - Communication
6) Brigitt Bardot - Contact
7) Ennio Morricone - Alla Luce Del Giomo
8) Free Design - Kites are Fun
9) Faust - la ft heisst das es la ft oder es kommt
10) Feminine Complex - Hold My Hand
11) Sun Ra - Angels and Demons Play
12) Soft Machine - We Did It Again
13) John Baker - Milky Way
14) Francoise Hardy - Je ne Suis Pas La Pour Personne
15) Marcos Valle - Mais Do Que Valsa
16) Nino Nardini & Roger Roger - Tropical
17) Silver Apples - Ruby
18) Can - Oh Yeah
19) Phil Young - The Artist Speaks

Jeff Keen

Please read about Jeff Keen (Artist, poet, film maker, all round extremely excellent creator of unique stuff. Born 26 November 1923; died 21 June 2012) on Jonny Trunk's site.  

You'll also want to watch his 8mm videos on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZJ41AAAynE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9RzZahLvig

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9foXj5jZCww

And Listen.......

Broadcast Radio Show

In December of 2007, Trish Keenan and James Cargill joined Jonny Trunk on his radio show to play some of their favorite soundtrack music and discuss the influence of soundtracks and library music on their sound.

Basil Kirchin

Lately, I have been rediscovering the drummer and composer Basil Kirchin.  My favorite compositions are considered library music/stock production compositions (which is a fabulous topic all on it's own.  I recommend this article about the topic on Pitchfork) .  He made a lot of interesting sound track music and percussive songs.  This guy was really ahead of his time and is quite humble about the music his contribution.

Interview from 2003 before Basil passed.

Comprehensive article by Jude Rogers discussing his body of work. 

 

The Blues According to Lightnin' Hopkins

Must watch this great short little documentary featuring the riveting Lightnin' playing the blues and drinkin' booze with his friends in his hometown of Centerville Texas circa 1969.  Some priceless moments here.

Marcos Valle - Previsao Do Tempo

Marcos Valle's 1973 album Previsao Do Tempo has been in heavy rotation at home lately.  Beautifully recorded Brazilian album.  Lots of space, warm vocals, amazing synthesizer sounds and Brazilian percussion.  A lot of Stereolab & Sean O'hagan listening was done here one can assume.  Available on reissued vinyl here.

Listen to one of my favorite tracks on the album:


#marcosvalle #stereolab #underwaternutsack

Mizell Brothers

Mizell Brothers were responsible for producing some seriously legit early 70's records I'd like to note.
Primarily two recent records I found at PJ's in Ann Arbor Black Byrd and Street Lady from one of my favorite  trumpet players Donald Byrd (Detroit).  Bobbi Humphrey's album Blacks and Blues should be noted as well.  All very soulful, funky records.

Extra bonus:  I'm pretty sure the Sea and Cake sampled the first track on Street Lady for their track Bird and Flag on the Fawn.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diSvUh_qUsg

Mystic Siva

Fantastic album representing some serious Detroit psych rock (1970)  Here is a great blog  about the album.  

Broadcast "Black Sessions" remembered

Broadcast playing live in Paris 2000 for the Black Sessions.  Great songs...possibly even better live.  

1. Long Was the Year
2. Where Youth and Laughter Go
3. Message From Home
4. Echo’s Answer
5. Dead the Long Year
6. Look Outside
7. Come On Let’s Go
8. Interlude 2
9. Unchanging Window
10. Papercuts
11. Lights Out
12. Hammer Without a Master

Dowload zip file or watch here