House Music “Originator” Releases House Music Book

House music is finally getting its history tome, courtesy of none other than Chicago native and DJ extraordinaire Jesse Saunders. Often credited as “the originator of house music,” he wrote, recorded, and pressed the genre’s very first record back in 1984, and has joined forces with writer James Cummins to release House Music: The Real Story.

Though the book is technically Saunders’ autobiography, the story of house music unfolds simultaneously, from its days on Chicago’s streets to the Warehouse club, to record labels, and beyond. And apparently Saunders’ has no problem pointing a finger at individuals and events that gave eventually the genre a bad rep. A little dishing of dirt always livens things up.

A book party is set for February 27 at the Strictly Social club in Los Angeles, with Saunders playing a special DJ set. House Music: The Real Story is out now.

Mishka Forms Cycling Team

Love it or hate it, but few would deny the infamous fixed gear bike isn’t a distinct part of urban culture. Brooklyn-based streetwear company Mishka will once again prove that with its upcoming Death Adders Road and Track (D.A.R.T.) Cycling Team.

The group of riders, hand-picked by the Mishka crew and led by captain John “Prolly” Watson, will be participating in numerous bike-related events around the globe, recruiting other riders, collaborating with the industry on new gear, and wearing lots of brightly colored clothing.

Mishka meanwhile readies its spring line of clothing, which includes contributions from Brooklyn-based artist JK5.

Pictured: Team captain John “Prolly” Watson.

Cobblestone Jazz Announces Tour

Cobblestone Jazz has been around so long it’s hard to imagine that the Canadian trio is only now making its live debut in the U.S. The brief tour, which begins at the end of this week, will see Matthew Jonson, Danuel Tate, and Tyger Dhula performing their improv-jazz-meets-techno in real time, supporting their 2007 release, 23 Seconds (!K7). The myriad of percussion, programming, vocoders, and Rhodes on the album should be present onstage with the boys.

More on Cobblestone Jazz

Dates
02/22 Denver, CO: Warehouse
02/23 Seattle, WA: Nectar
02/26 Vancouver, BC: Plaza Club
02/28 New York, NY: Cielo
02/29 Los Angeles, CA: King King

Klimek Dedications

On Dedications, abstract electronic vet Sebastian Meissner pays tribute to personal influences that include Steven Spielberg, Marvin Gaye, a Russian ship worker, and his grandmother. How they impacted his ambient pieces would make for good, idle speculation, but nonetheless his finest work shines here. He has a sharp ear for echo, where one single pluck of a string or a piano chord typically rings and stays afloat in the air long after. His bright drones often resemble sunlight sweeping across a flooded forest floor. In his ode to Gaye and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, he builds a massive orchestral drone that sinks the listener underwater. As for how those men influenced that moment, it’s a question best left unanswered.

Otic Angst “Need That Love”

Producer and designer Diego Chavez holds quite the musical resume for being only 23. From participating in hip-hop groups and rock bands to making downtempo on the side, he seems bent on exploring as many different types of music as possible. As Otic Angst, he steps into electro territory, with a soul flavor to it that’s sharp and memorable.

Otic Angst – Need That Love

Box Studio 1

The quartet that makes up the avant-garde jazz outfit Box met for two days of recording in Stockholm with no music prepared beforehand, a recipe that could lead to brilliance or disaster… or something in between. The six tracks here were all improvised, and they have their shining moments, like at the 11-minute mark in “Untitled 9,” when anxious tremolos and a simmering rhythm section meld almost perfectly. But when a distorted guitar takes over later in the track, the psych-rock vibe saps the excitement. Four tracks are also oddly brief–all under five minutes–sometimes cutting short interesting explorations before they really take off. A mixed bag–but that’s part of improv jazz, too.

Ego System “Motella (feat. Little Freddy & So Fast)”

This active crew from Paris recently released an album and “Motella” is the track on it for me. I’m really into soca these days, but I need hard-edged soca to be satisfied. This track makes me really happy–especially the 150-bpm soca/ragga beat with grime stabs and tuff Creole vocals.

Atlas Sound Readies Tour

The inimitable Bradford Cox will be joined by Kranky labelmates Brian Foote (Nudge), Adam Forkner (White Rainbow), Honey Owens (Valet), and Atlanta musician Stephanie Macksey, for those highly anticipated Atlas Sound tour dates we’ve all been waiting for.

The tour coincides with the release of Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel, also out tomorrow on Kranky. If the band’s performance last night in Cox’s native Athens is any indication, these dates should be loud, energetic, and definitely comedic.

Read more on Atlas Sound.

Dates
02/16 Athens, GA: 40 Watt Club
02/19 Atlanta, GA: Drunken Unicorn
02/20 Chapel Hill, NC: Local 506
02/21 Washington, DC: Black Cat
02/22 Philadelphia, PA: Johnny Brenda’s
02/23 New York, NY: Mercury Lounge
02/24 Brooklyn, NY: Music Hall
02/26 Boston, MA: Middle East
02/27 Montreal, QC: Casa del Popolo
02/28 Toronto, ON: Horseshoe Tavern
02/29 Detroit, MI: Magic Stick
03/01 Chicago, IL: Empty Bottle
03/02 Minneapolis, MN: Triple Rock Social Club
03/05 Vancouver, BC: Pat’s Pub
03/06 Seattle, WA: Crocodile Cafe
03/07 Portland, OR: Holocene
03/08 San Francisco, CA: Bottom of the Hill
03/11 Los Angeles, CA: Echo
03/12-16 Austin, TX: SXSW

Photo by Josh McNey.

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