Monday, January 29, 2007

A Few Of My Favorite Things...

The Prodigy - "The Prodigy Experience"

The early 1990's was a heady time for electronic music - if you were actually listening to it in the early 1990's that is. A period that for many people probably seems relatively dated in it's sound, the early 90's did not yield many great "techno" artist albums. "The Prodigy Experience" stands as one of the few examples in my opinion of a timeless blend of the era's many redeeming guilty pleasures, from the squealing chipmunk vocals, hyper pitched beats and whistles, to the dirty bass wobbles and anthemic piano lines.

What separated the Prodigy was their ability to display great, almost pop like hooks over top of "rave music" (which at the time seemed completely foreign to my friends and I). Growing up in the small Ontario town (and former quaker mecca) of Uxbridge, I was exposed to a more diverse range of music than was normal for teens from other small towns (respects to the James St. Bass show). Yes, the heady days of pick up truck sound systems in the parking lot outside the high school battling for metal supremacy weren't much of a resource for underground music. In fact the exposure to sounds like the Prodigy was really a fluke in many ways. I recall it was my friend Tim who arrived back from a trip to Ireland with a 12" by a group of digital punks out of Essex. I can still remember hearing "Out of Space" and being absolutely in awe of the sound. I can also recall trying to figure out what each of the groups four members played, only to soon realize it was one guy on a drum machine and a keyboard with three dancers.

The whole "Prodigy Experience" has much to offer though, and "Out of Space" only scratches the surface. From the bowel shaking bass solo mid way through "Charly" (that we could never quite hear in my friend Daryl's Ford Tempo), the demonic proclamation of "Fire", or the mash up madness of "Everybody in the Place", every song has something to grab your attention and keep you rushing. My fondest memories of this album were using it as the official soundtrack to marathon sessions of the video game Sonic the Hedgehog for Sega Genesis. Of course the gaming system is long gone, but Experience has managed to survive my ever expanding musical tastes all these years, playing in heavy rotation on my iPod at the gym.



The album like the game may seem dated by today's standards, but there really is no dismissing the fondness I recall having for them; a fondness that came with experiencing both in there prime.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Friday Night is "Looking Good"!!!

This Friday night inside the Guverment NightClub, LTJ Bukem touches down with a stellar lineup of Toronto locals for what promises to be an off the hook party. I don't make it out to many big drum n bass jams these days (probably due in large part to the sheer number I've attended over the years) but in this case I, along with many other "old school junglists" will be braving the cold to party with one of the originals, all the way from funky London town! Joining LTJ Bukem, one of the genre's finest party hosts, MC Conrad will add his tasteful aural stylings on the mic. In many ways one can not picture Bukem playing without the sing song vocal talents of Conrad rousing the crowd to rush to the bass.
On the heels of a thankfully short lived retirement, Frankie Gunns, one of Toronto's premiere DJ's, promoters and peddler of fine beats, is joined by Toronto producers Mutt and Krusada as the popular "SLXN" series makes it's return from a brief hiatus last year.

SLXN began as a way for mainstay Toronto promoters Theory to push the funkier, more musical sounds in drum n bass. With guests like Calibre and Marcus Intelex touching down last year it was a series of events that certainly speaks to the sounds in drum n bass I personally prefer. With Frankie Gunns once again on board, SLXN is set to make an impact (hey, getting me out to the Guverment for anything is considered making an impact these days).

If you caught Bukem and Conrad last January in the Orange Room you'll appreciate the fact that the promoters have moved the party into the larger confines of the Guverment "main room". A bigger, cleaner sound system, a killer line up of locals, a new dub or two from Krusada, and more room to schmooze... you know it makes sense!

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Unfortunate, But True...


Hinder - "Lips of An Angel"

My love for music is quite far reaching, genre defying in many cases. I pride myself on being open minded about a lot of music, probably a by product of my years as a wedding DJ. That said, I believe playing music for people in love has also created a healthy degree of contempt for things that musically tend to annoy me, songs I define as "Unfortunate, But True". These songs don't necessarily follow any formula, but they certainly posess the misfortune of being heard on the wrong day at the wrong time, thus pushing them into the "loathed" section of my brain.

Candidate one is Hinder's "Lips of An Angel". Long before I knew the title of this tune or the band who performed it, this song annoyed me. It started while I was watching videos on MuchMusic one night with my girlfriend (which is pretty much the only time I watch videos on MuchMusic. Coincidence?). The video features a guy singing the lines from the song into a phone to the woman he supposedly lusts after, while his "girl's in the next room" (line from the song, so clever). As contrived as it is lame, this song sounds a lot like another band I really can't stand Nickelback, but simply a cheap imitation. Is it the whiney vocals, or the tortured soul image that screems big 80's rock revival? Does it really matter?

The first thing I thought of when I heard this song was how much it reminded me of another song by rock supergroup Velvet Revolver "Fall to Pieces" (another candidate for a rant like this). The big difference is that at least Velvot Revolver has Scott Weiland all strung out in the video, which you know is completely authentic since Scott has had his fair share of "issues" involving his life actually "falling to pieces" (ahhh heroine, what a drug).

All that said, the main reason for voting this song as "Unfortunate, But True" is how it feels waking up to it. For two consecutive mornings a few weeks ago my alarm clock radio greeted me with the "lips of an angel". Starting your day with a kiss like that hurts in a way that smoking a pack of cigarettes before going to sleep only to wake up with the tar stuck to your brain does. Yes, it hurts... and so does this song.

Friday, January 19, 2007

A Few Of My Favorite Things...

Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil (1964)

One of the great Blue Note abums of the prolific 196o's period has to be Wayne Shorter's "Speak No Evil". Weeks into my first year of college studying jazz performance, i was literally chastised for not owning this album (among many others that will no doubt meet similar fates as this with a comment or two in StrictlyLampin'). Being publicly chastised for not owning a classic jazz recording was the ultimate initiation for first year students (which inevitably carried on in my case all through college). Unlike many university frosh weeks that seek to produce uncomprimising photos of freshman in altogether surreal activities unfit for sober human consumption, college jazz programs have their own first year embarassment rituals. In my case it was the walk of shame from the 3FL jazz department at HMV to the main floor cash to purchase this CD, one that I clearly should have bought or stolen by the time I was 7 (or so I was told... repeatedly).

Speak No Evil contains six Wayne Shorter compositions, with Elvin Jones, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Freddie Hubbard as the supporting cast in what I would easily describe as an absolute original master piece. This was a departure for Shorter from previous solo efforts as it gave him a chance to showcase a more lyrical bop approach. From the opening horn fanfare of "Witch Hunt" the albums tone is set. The rhythm section locks down a pocket groove that pushes Hubbard and Shorter to convey energy without breaking a sweat. That said, I can't imagine Shorter sitting still for long enough not to on his solo for the album's title track. Pushed by Hancock's lush voicings, it showcases all that is truly great about Wayne Shorter, from his melodic, lyrical ideas to the full beautiful tone of his horn.


Even after discovering many of Shorters other great recordings from this era, including Adam's Apple, Night Dreamer and Juju, this one stands out as my favorite and easily one of the most cherished discoveries of my college "hazings". Do yourself a favour and take the walk of shame... get this album!!!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Welcome to StrictlyLampin!!!

Well, I've done it. I have officially joined the ranks of the blogging world. Welcome to StrictlyLampin, my infrequent attempt to sort out the soundtrack of my life. My initial idea was to simply have a place to post music, mixes and other related information I may care to share with friends and fellow music junkies. Occassionaly you'll see some reviews of albums and tunes that have caught my attention, events that may interest you, and my thoughts on a lifetime PC guy going Mac. Stay tuned...

Thanks to my friend, studio compatriot and DJ dopelganger Chase (aka Spouter of Nonsense), I am learning my way through the wonderful world of "interwebbing"(and free services to boot).

Easy,

Keith