Category: Listen

Let me tell you my favorite Meat Beat Manifesto concert story.

I had become a fan of Meat Beat Manifesto during the 99% tour and was psyched to see them again on their Satyricon tour. I went to the nightclub they were going to perform at with my buddy in hopes of catching their soundcheck. No such luck, but we did get to meet the members of Consolidated. Nice guys but I don’t think they were to impressed to see me eating a Whopper from Burger King.

Later that night, Harry, my soundman from WMFO, and I went to the nightclub for the show. Consolidated put on an incredible multimedia show and as much as I loved Meat Beat Manifesto I didn’t know how they could possibly top their opening act. I needn’t have worried because Meat Beat Manifesto put on a show that I’ll never forget.

That’s saying quite a lot for two reasons. One, I’ve seen some top notch show and, two, I was out of my head that night. I’m amazed I can remember anything for all the beer and whiskey I was drinking, and I’m not much of a drinker in the first place.

Meat Beat Manifesto were phenomenal. The music was unrelenting and their multimedia stage show was a paranoid hallucination. The beats were pounding and the bass was throbbing and despite my tendency to be one of those guys who stands against the wall tapping his feet to the music I couldn’t but help hitting the dance floor.

I met a lot of cool people that night. None that I can remember after all these years but cool all the same. That’s another thing I like about Meat Beat Manifesto, they’ve built up a community of smart and wonderful people around them. To this day if I meet someone who is also into Meat Beat manifesto we almost always instantly bond.

Anyway, the night came to a close and Harry managed to herd me into his truck and drive me home. I don’t remember anything after that. What I do remember is that Heidi, my girlfriend at the time, had spent the night working at a club and was covered in cigarette smoke, sweat and beer scum came home from work to find my passed out in a puddle of my own vomit. Not my proudest moment. Angel that she was, she undressed me, got me in the tub and washed me down and put me to bed. She’s a far better man than I because if I came home to that, I would have just left me on the floor and went to bed.

Writing this all down I realize that this doesn’t sound like such a great story but somehow I’m very fond of that night. If you have a favorite Meat Beat Manifesto concert story, email me and I’ll read it on the show.

All the songs that appear on this week’s solipsistic Nation come from Meat Beat Manifesto’s Live ’05 album, courtesy of Jack Dangers.

1. Meat Beat Manifesto “I Am Electro”
2. Meat Beat Manifesto “Spinning Round”
3. Interview with Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto
4. Meat Beat Manifesto “Hello Teenage America”
5. Interview with Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto
6. Meat Beat Manifesto “Radio Babylon”
7. Interview with Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto
8. Meat Beat Manifesto “God O.D.”
9. Meat Beat Manifesto “No Purpose, No Design”
10. Meat Beat Manifesto “It’s the Music”
11. Meat Beat Manifesto “Nuclear Bomb”
12. Meat Beat Manifesto “Helter Skelter”
13. Interview with Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto
14. Meat Beat Manifesto “Edge of No Control”
15. Meat Beat Manifesto “Prime Audio Soup”
16. Interview with Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto
17. Meat Beat Manifesto “Do It with Soul”
18. Interview with Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto

I’ve been trying to remember when I first came across Scanner (the stage name of Robin Rimbaud). I’m quite sure it was a compilation CD but I can’t recall which one. No matter. What I do recall, however, was that the track featured recordings of phone conversations that he had snatched from the ether. At first I regarded it as a cheap gimmick. But I kept coming back to the track, listening to it over and over again as I wrestled with the complications of what the song meant.

The conversation was compelling because of it’s intimacy. It was simply two people talking, gossiping and joking, completely unaware that they were being recorded and, as far as I know, unaware that their conversation would be incorporated into a song. Despite Robin’s unsettling soundscape the conversation had a warmth to it. It lent humanity to Robin’s bleak music. Was this his commentary that we all can make the simplest connections with each other despite the alienating effects of the very technology that makes that connection possible?

But the question also sparked some anger. What right had Robin to steal their conversation? It rankled that he would intrude on their privacy and then compound the intrusion by using it in his art. But that provoked the question of my role as a listener. How could I point an accusing finger when I was just as complicit by being drawn into the song. True, I’m not the one who made the recording but if I was truly outraged I could have pressed stop on my CD player as soon as I realized what was going on. But I kept listening. Again and again.

And all of this raises the question of our governments who are more and more eavesdropping on our phone calls and reading our email and text messages. It’s one thing for an artists to do it but quite another for the government to do it. The common explanation these days is that the government is doing it to monitor for terrorists but it also acts as yet another panopticon to keep people under control. As Foucault observed, if you think you are constantly being monitored you will begin policing yourself which is very unsettling.

Robin has since moved away from using recorded phone conversations in his music but he’s always had a unique of making me questioning and reevaluating the world I live in and always shifting the context. Robin is a perfect example of one of the reasons I love electronic music so much because it has the capacity to go far beyond a dance track with cool sounds.

1. Scanner “140 Acid” [FREE DOWNLOAD]
2. Interview with Robin Rimbaud aka Scanner
3. Scanner “Pearl Necklace” [FREE DOWNLOAD]
4. Scanner “Reason by Heart, Sleep by Twilight, Excerpt” [FREE DOWNLOAD]
5. Interview with Robin Rimbaud aka Scanner
6. Scanner “915.675” [FREE DOWNLOAD]
7. Scanner “394” [FREE DOWNLOAD]
8. Robin Rimbaud aka Scanner “Experience” [FREE DOWNLOAD]
9. Scanner “Radio Entry” [FREE DOWNLOAD]
10. Scanner “Passage De Recherche” [FREE DOWNLOAD]
11. Interview with Robin Rimbaud aka Scanner
12. Scanner “Unknown” [FREE DOWNLOAD]
13. Interview with Robin Rimbaud aka Scanner

When I think of Germany and electronic music I often think of the robotic sounds of Kraftwerk or the pummeling tracks of techno of the 90s. When I think of Germany I don’t think of electronic music that blends jazz elements with house and r&b that will either shake your ass or seduce you. I admit it’s a stereotype but there you have it. Well, I believed that until I came across Compost Records.

Compost Records was founded in 1994 by Michael Reinboth and in the last 14 years Michael has released music from some of the most talented artists around. Beanfield, Trüby Trio, Jazzanova; these are just some of the dynamic talent that Compost records represents.

On today’s show we’ll talk with Michael and find out where his love affair with r&b, jazz, funk and soul began and how his career as a music journalist led to launching Compost Records. And, of course, will accompany our conversation with Michael with select tracks from the roster of artists on his label.

What better way to get your groove on?

1. Eddy Meets Yannah “Shamed (Domu Remix)”
2. Interview with Michael Reinboth of Compost Records
3. Studio R Feat Capitol “A&R (Llorca Remix)”
4. Shahrokh SoundOfK “Chicago”
5. Lorenz Rhode “Shake It (Extended)”
6. Tj Kong & Nuno Dos Santos “Circus Bells (Technucada Mix)”
7. Interview with Michael Reinboth of Compost Records
8. Nova Dream Sequence “Dream 4”
9. Interview with Michael Reinboth of Compost Records
10. Alif Tree “Forgotten Places (Moodymann Remix)”
11. Koop “I See A Different You”
12. Marsmobil “Mangia Amore”
13. Kyoto Jazz Massive “Between the Lights”
14. Marbert Rocel “Blue Days”

This week on solipsistic NATION we’re going to focus seven labels that are putting out some of the finest dubstep you’re likely to hear.

Dubstep is growing in popularity with its dark sound of minimal rhythms and throbbing bass. We’ll learn where dubstep came from, why our guests have chosen to specialize in dubstep when electronic music mutates so quickly and whether dubstep has gone mainstream or is still regarded as an underground phenomenon.

The labels featured on today’s show are Nozl Recordings/Bloodied Blade Recordings, Boka Records, Hot Flush Recordings, Iberian Records, Immerse Records, Lodubs and Studio Rockers.

Today’s show is sponsored by eMusic. eMusic is the number one site for independent music with over three million tracks to choose from. Right now eMusic is offering a 14 day free trial with 35 free song downloads. If you cancel before 14 days, you get to keep all 35 tracks for free! If you sign up at emusic.com/nation you help support solipsistic NATION, and, more importantly, you support the artists.

In keeping with the theme of this week’s show, below are some dubstep artists you can find on eMusic. Enjoy!

Benga Boxcutter Burial Coki Digital Mystikz Drop The Lime

Hatcha Kode9 Kromestar Loefah Mrk1 Pinch

Scuba Shackleton Skream Sub Version Vex’d Zomby

Photo Credit: R_O_B_O

1. Lone Wolf “Slayed By Shadows”
   Nozl Recordings/Bloodied Blade Recordings
2. Lone Wolf “The Plague”
   Nozl Recordings/Bloodied Blade Recordings
3. Afterdark “Infernal”
   Boka Records
4. DZ “Chalice Dub”
   Lodubs
5. 23Hz & Numaestro “Galleon Dub”
   Immerse Records
6. 23Hz & Numaestro “Al Andalus (Full Mix)”
   Iberian Records
7. Emalkay “My Story”
   Boka Records
8. Vaccine “Fever”
   Hot Flush Recordings
9. Bionics “Dubcore”
   Studio Rockers
10. Relocate “Too Moody to Swing”
    Iberian Records
11. Solvent “Think Like Us (Bombaman Remix)”
    Lodubs
12. Boxcutter “Endothermic (D & M Master)”
    Hot Flush Recordings
13. Forsaken “Fighting Spirit”
    Immerse Records

Electronic musicians often choose to be anonymous. That is to say, they present themselves persona free in opposition to rock bands like Fall Out Boy, who are slickly marketed and have a tailor made image to consumers who frequent stores like Hot Topic. And let’s be honest, a lot of electronic music is pretty generic. It sounds like it could have been made by anyone.

And then there are artists like Amon Tobin who creates music that is so distinct and unique that his sound is as identifiable as his finger prints. It’s like listening to ‘Trane; one you hear him blow his sax, it gets etched into your brain and from then on, you will always be able to pick out a Coltrane tune in a crowded and noisy bar.

Amon first hit the scene as Cujo with his 1996 release, Adventures in Foam. Amon was definitely influenced by drum and bass be he stood out, even then. Foam was laced wild horns, jazz drum breaks, Latin rhythms and a touch of exotica. Whatever the hell it was, it was great!

Amon quickly followed Foam with Bricolage, Permutation and Supermodified and took those themes further and further and as he went along his music got weirder and heavier. By Out from Out Where Tobin had become a full fledged soundsmith, tweaking and twisting his samples well beyond their source material. Foley Room found Amon sampling field recordings of lions, motorcycles and wasps rather than vinyl dug from crates and transforming it all into something utterly recognizable as being Amon Tobin.

On solipsistic NATION I play the best of all genres of electronic music. I’m not kidding around. I really mean it. Amon is the very best at what he does and I’m pleased that he has joined me on today’s show for a retrospective of his musical career so far.

I hope you enjoy the ride!

Photo Credit: Bruno Bollaert

1. Amon Tobin “Creatures”
2. Interview with Amon Tobin
3. Cujo “The Sequel”
4. Interview with Amon Tobin
5. Amon Tobin “One Day In My Garden”
6. Interview with Amon Tobin
7. Amon Tobin “Bridge”
8. Interview with Amon Tobin
9. Amon Tobin “Nightlife”
10. Interview with Amon Tobin
11. Amon Tobin “Four Ton Mantis”
12. Interview with Amon Tobin
13. Amon Tobin “Chocolate Lovely”
14. Interview with Amon Tobin
15. Amon Tobin “Hey Blondie”
16. Interview with Amon Tobin
17. Amon Tobin “Back From Space”
18. Interview with Amon Tobin
19. Amon Tobin “Ruthless”
20. Interview with Amon Tobin
21. Amon Tobin “Esther’s”
22. Interview with Amon Tobin
23. Amon Tobin “Keep Your Distance”
24. Interview with Amon Tobin

I seem to have gained a reputation for playing only chillout music on solipsistic NATION. So untrue! I can, however, understand why some people might think that. The last couple months I’ve featured live performances from Dr. Toast and Nalepa, a guest mix from Travis Nobles from the hiddenplace music blog and featured music from Native State Records. So, yeah, I can see why people might think that all I play is chillout. Hopefully this week’s show featuring an interview with Nicolas Chevreux from Ad Noiseam and music from his roster of artists will put that notion to rest.

There is some pretty and delicate music on Ad Noiseam but on the whole, Ad Noiseam specializes in music that is experimental, gritty and very, very loud. Ad Noiseam doesn’t limit itself to a specific genre. From the metal/drum and bass stylings of Bong Ra to the insane breakcore of Enduser to the subsonic bludgeoning of Scorn, there’s something for everyone. As long as you don’t mind your ears bleeding, that is.

Sit tight. Crank the volume to eleven and prepare to have your mind completely blown. Just don’t send your medical bill my way.

1. Bong Ra “Slaytronic”
2. Enduser “Pushing Back”
3. Interview with Nicolas Chevreux of Ad Noiseam
4. Glowstyx “U R Mine”
5. Interview with Nicolas Chevreux of Ad Noiseam
6. Chevron “Burn Down The Jungle!”
7. Exillon “Darkassid”
8. Interview with Nicolas Chevreux of Ad Noiseam
9. Jvox “Murder”
10. Interview with Nicolas Chevreux of Ad Noiseam
11. Raoul Sinier “Huge Samurai Radish (Lynx And Ram Remix)”
12. Cdatakill “Yesterdays”
13. Lapsed & Nonnon “Hapless Plastic (Ra Remix)”
14. Mad E.P. “Scab Removal Technique”
15. Mothboy “A303”
16. Interview with Nicolas Chevreux of Ad Noiseam
17. Scorn “Stripped Black Hinge”
18. Aaron Spectre “Half Silver”
19. Interview with Nicolas Chevreux of Ad Noiseam
20. Lapsed “Lapsed + Urusai: Where Were You?”

If you’re new to solipsistic NATION, I kick off each month with a live performance by an electronic musician.

When I first introduced the live segment on the show I thought that it would be something I would only occasionally do on solipsistic NATION. I just assumed that recordings of live performance that artists would share with me would be scant. Happily, I was wrong.

As more and more live recordings came my way I decided that I would feature those shows on solipsistic NATION at the beginning of each month until the well ran dry. At this point I have enough recordings to take us until June and it at this point it looks like I can continue this segment on solipsistic NATION indefinitely.

This month’s comes to us from Dr. Toast by way of the Dub Beautiful Collective. Dr. Toast’s music is, well, beautiful.

I’d like to thank Dr. Toast and Maer from the Collective for their generosity. I had Maer on solipsistic NATION a few months back to feature some of the artists who have performed for the Collective in the past. I could probably continue the live segment on solipsistic NATION for the next year drawing from their archive alone.

This month I’m going to give away one tee shirt, courtesy of Threadless. Threadless is a community based tee shirt company with an ongoing, open-call for tee design submissions.

Send me an email and you could win a Threadless tee!

1. Dr. Toast “Live (November, 2004), recorded by the Dub Beautiful Collective“
2. Interview with Dr. Toast
3. Dr. Toast “Skronked”
4. Dr. Toast “Zero-Marking”
5. Dr. Toast “Somnambulist”
6. Dr. Toast “Deeper (Dr. Toast Remix Ft. Rena Jones)”

When I began solipsistic NATION I didn’t make any attempt to make the show commercially viable. My mission was to play electronic music that I love and if people listening to the show happened to love what I was playing, I considered that a bonus.

I wasn’t being entirely self-serving. I was playing quality music so I knew I was bound to pick up an audience, even if it was a niche audience. And I was right. Over the years, solipsistic NATION has attracted an ever growing audience. And that’s where it gets interesting.

People often find their way to solipsistic NATION because they are just as passionate about electronic music as I am. And that shared passion sparks some wonderful conversations, which often leads to friendships.

Nearly a year ago I met Travis Nobles, who runs the hiddenplace music blog. Travis and I share similar taste in music and he constantly exposes me to new artists I most likely would have never heard about and usually those artists are on netlabels.

Travis is so dead-on about the artists he reviews that I invited him to be a guest DJ on solipsistic NATION because I knew he would select some stellar music for the show. The other reason I had Travis come on the show is because that while our tastes are comparable, he tends to pick out music that is more ethereal than I would normally listen to. But it is exactly that difference that makes listening to his music such a beautiful experience; he turns me on to stuff that I might otherwise miss. That forces me to expand my horizons and ultimately keeps solipsistic NATION fresh and exciting.

1. Xurba “You Are a Circle”
2. Workbench “De La Terre Á La Cime (I & II)”
3. Interview with Travis Nobles of hiddenplace music
4. Sabi “Dried Flowers, Mirrored World”
5. Planet Boelex “Forever and Always (Feat. K)”
6. Mikael Fyrek “The Tiny Greens and Whites”
7. muxu “Moving at 30”
8. Iambic² “Regulus”
9. Nest “Charlotte”
10. Le Mépris “susu”
11. Deluge “The Crush”
12. Audiokonstrukte “Disfiction”
13. Interview with Travis Nobles of hiddenplace music
14. Promo: Fallen Nation

I’m very excited about today’s show because as of this week, solipsistic NATION is being broadcast on KYOU Open Source Radio on 1550 AM in San Francisco.

I’d like to thank KYOU’s station manager, Stephen Page, from bringing me on board. I’d also like to think all of you who are listening, whether you’re listening to solipsistic NATION over the airwaves in San Francisco or those of you who have downloaded the show from all over the world.

I’ve got a jam packed show for you!

This week on solipsistic NATION we’ll talk with J. Anthony Allen, the Director of Programming for the Spark Festival of Electronic Music and Art taking place at the University of Minnesota, February 26 through March 2.

We’ll also talk to to Professor Diana Deutsch from the University of California, San Diego‘s psychology department, about musical illusions and paradoxes, phantom words and other curiosities.

We’ll also chat with Robbie Martin, who performs experimental electronic music under the name Fluorescent Grey and runs Record Label Records.

Finally, this week on solipsistic NATION I’ll be giving away two Mix Tape USB Drives, courtesy of SUCK UK. The Mix Tape USB Drives stores up to one hour of high quality digital music – the same amount as you get on a C60 cassette tape. Perfect for creating your own unique compilation or mix ‘tape’.

Send me an email and you could win one of the Mix Tape USB Drives. I’ll randomly pick a winner in two weeks and announce the winners on an upcoming show.

SUCK UK produce furniture, lighting, interior products and accessories. Most of the designs are by Sam and Jude or selected by them from some of the best designers around the world. SUCK PRODUCTS are available in shops in the UK and around the globe.

1. Puzzleweasel “Fodhovl”
2. Parag Chordia “Vadi”
3. Interview with J. Anthony Allen, Director of Programming of the Spark Festival of Electronic Music and Art
4. SoNu Ensemble “Sonaurium”
5. Professor Diana Deutsch “Introduction”
6. Professor Diana Deutsch “Scale Illusion”
7. Professor Diana Deutsch “Commentary”
8. Professor Diana Deutsch “Nowhere”
9. Interview with Professor Diana Deutsch, University of California, San Diego Psychology Department
10. Evan Bartholomew “Elusive And Effervescent Is Our Destination”
11. Fluorescent Grey “Physically Modelled Theme For Children”
12. Fluorescent Grey “Are you aware of the pink light emenating from your naval?”
13. Interview with Robbie Martin of Fluorescent Grey and Record Label Records
14. Fluorescent Grey “Molten Ghost”
15. Promo: Fallen Nation