New York City based by way of Austin, TX DJ and Producer Dubbel Dutch is known not to rest in one genre. His peers have dubbed him “An accomplished producer of cosmic tone poems and club anthems from the abyss.” Although that description sounds lofty, whether he is remixing a newly released dancehall anthem or infusing UK grime and Kuduro into a new club Jam you can be sure his tracks will compel you to start dancing. Check out his recently released EP on Mixpak Records.
And I quote:
“Cluster was a German experimental musical group who influenced the development of contemporary popular electronic and ambient music. They have recorded albums in a wide variety of styles ranging from experimental music to progressive rock, all of which had an avant-garde edge. Cluster was active from 1971 until 2010, releasing a total of 15 albums, including two collaborations with Brian Eno. Musician, writer and rock historian Julian Cope places three Cluster albums in his Krautrock Top 50[1] and “The Wire” places Cluster’s self-titled debut album in their “One Hundred Records That Set The World On Fire”.”
I picked Cluster because of their album “Zuckerzeit”. It rules, get it. Cold, cool, futuristic, alingual computer grooves. Their canon is impressive, but this record sets the template.
Hear it: KMFD leads a trip through The Singularity, a freeform space encompassed by the monogenre, every Thursday from 2 to 4. KMFD can also sometimes be found performing as a computerless, one-man, futuristic groove bot.
While listening to WRCT years ago, I heard DJ Don’t Play Dat’s Brass Band Power Hour. I fell in love with the joyous sound of New Orleans Brass Bands and soon learned that there were other brass bands playing music based on Balkan brass band music. Some of those bands, such as New York’s Zlatne Uste were devoted to playing within within the Eastern European traditions. Others, such as Slavic Soul Party, were happy to bring themes from other brass band traditions to Balkan songs.
Slavic Soul Party are five New York City musicians who put on an excellent live show. I saw them once play a late night show at the Johnstown Folk Festival at one of three stages. The small audience was sluggish at first but by after a few songs, many more folks came in and everyone was on their feet dancing. This is happy, energetic music with room for great improvisations. If you have a chance to see this band live, go for it!
Hear it: Kenny Joe presents Pinkney Hall every Friday morning from 9 until 10