Party Monster doles out that winning plot combo of nightlife and murder, based on the book and documentary Disco Bloodbath. Its soundtrack keeps pace, with tracks from the first wave of new wave, some big-sounding ’80s pop fluff and offerings from the current “born-a-touch-too-late-to-catch-it-the-first-time” fit of electroclash. Old school alums include Stacey Q, Tones on Tail, Nina H?gen, ABC, and Shannon. Ladytron, Miss Kitten & The Hacker, Waldorf, Keoki and Felix da Housecat versus Pop Tarts (a.k.a. the actors in the film) dish the newstuff, along with Marilyn Manson as transsexual club star Christina (what a stretch!).
Various Festival In the Desert
Simple, raw and repetitive in the best way, Festival in the Desert is about rhythmic repetition far removed from anything electronic. From hypnotic female vocal ticks to guitar throb deeply set in an African desert, the compilation is about translating the intense openness of the desert into music. Malian legend Ali Farka Toure and a range of other Malian and Mauritanian musicians bring their own guitar-laden traditions, and even Robert Plant-who somehow feels like a Western spokesman-makes a marvelous journey into eerie, bluesy emptiness. Sparse and compelling, this compilation thoroughly entertains through its spirit of simplicity.
Various Compilasian: The World Of Indie Pop
Indipop-not Indian pop music, but a label that began more than 20 years ago-chronicles its surprisingly long career on Compilasian, with cuts from as far back as 1981. Almost all prove far, far ahead of their time, with long thumping grooves and airy flutes that foreshadow all kinds of techno, ambient and worldbeat fusion. Each tune has Indian and Middle Eastern signifiers that give it an otherworldly ambience, all the while pushing forward with graceful, aggressive grooves. This is a vigorous presentation of a little-known but powerful imprint.
Kabir Fuel For the Fire
Clean, clear and crisp are Kabir’s rhymes, delivered with intensity and intelligence. The Boston MC kicks the valiant underground tell-it-like-it-is vibe that falls somewhere between Dilated Peoples and Mr. Lif. His style actually bears an almost uncanny resemblance to Oakland-bred MC Azeem, a mouthful of carefully placed and enunciated rhymes born from spoken word days. The music behind him likewise inspires a range of moods, from heavy stepping to straight-up breakbeat thump. Like most of the rappers in this vein, the intensity can be wearing at the same time it’s admirable.
Roll Deep Salt Beef
Showing how out-there some of the East End post-garage repertoire can get, the Roll Deep posse comes up with twisted, meandering violin and synth movements over a stop-and-go half-beat riddim. Karnage, Danny Weed and Bionics give it to us without the MCs this time, but that won’t last long, believe.
Sidewinder Less Than Effortless RMX
Germany’s Soul Patrol duo rocks a hypnotizing Afro-funk mix of Sidewinder’s mellow “Less Than Effortless,” sprouting it from the original’s warm trumpet riff into a crisp keyboard-centered jam. On the flip, Tom Churchill sprinkles some two-steppy spice on the Winder’s summery “Open Source,” placing the keyboard and flute parts just lovely. Swinging.
Big G Sunshine
Proper’s head honcho gets on the knobs here and throws down an easy yet heavy bit of chugging reggae-tinged breaks, highlighted by some lovely vocal samples, pumping organ chords and a tenacious bassline. On the flip, production duo Tonk strips the damn thing down dub-wise and runs a more propulsive break and bassline. You win with either side of this bad bwoy.
Senior Coconut Smooth Operator
Uwe “Coconut” Schmidt and his Orquestra’s wonderfully time-warped take on the Sade classic gets remixed in triplicate on this entertaining disc. As Agoria, Frenchman Sebastien Devaud lures the tune from Schmidt’s ’50s Latin lounge mists onto an acid-tech dancefloor. Then, Frankfurt producer Good Groove pumps it with a stealthy, energetic electro beat before Depeche Mode-ster and Coconut fan Martin Gore swings the whole mess into dubby minimalist territory. Very tasty overall.
Chromeo Destination: Overdrive
Based on their pedigree as two of Montreal’s top-ranking hip-hop producers, Dave 1 and P-Thugg have risked little scorn coming out as ’80s pop-rock-tinged electro dorks. This pouty follow-up to last year’s Playgroup-pleasing “You’re So Gangsta” is some Hall & Oatesy dark-pop that gets roughed up band-style by Brooklyn boys DFA. If you like your blue-eyed retro-electro soul with a bloody nose, snap this up.
Mr. Fidget Fidgestrumental
Two-step meister Donae’o comes at ya once again, this time with that oo-fah buzzy bass business and a simple yet menacing piano-and-string riff splayed over a cut-up rhythm that sounds like dried beans being shaken in a coffee can. Social Circles can do no wrong at the moment. Boom.
