I think I probably take myself too seriously. And music, too. When I find myself going through my collection, looking for ‘something fun’, I realize I have just ten fun things and like ninety thousand chin-scratchin’ records from Snoresville. And at this time of year, in this part of the world, it really is the season of fun: high summer. So I challenged myself to up the fun factor with this month’s issue (even though I’ve actually just been listening to Kalia Vandever all the time and asking myself if I’m “living a good and honest life”, whatever that means).
And try as I might, this issue isn’t entirely fun ~ it gets a little spacey and existential at the end. But ain’t that the way of a good, long summer day? Soak it up, amigos.
click the covers to listen or go your own way ~~
Luiz Carlos Vinhas - O Som Psicodélico De… (1968)
A lysergic set of Brazilian bops from the golden era filled with lilting rhythm, blistering brass and curious lil’ details. The absolutely gonzo cover art is no exaggeration: twisted, good-time jazz tropicália (presumably performed by witches, ogres, birds and skip-roping turtles).
Soichi Terada - Sumo Jungle Grandeur (1996)
Yes, this is a sumo-themed jungle album. And while that sounds like an incredibly hokey conceit, I love this album through and through. The way it balances jungle’s typically breakneck drum patterns with airy, almost Balearic production gives the work a unique and broad appeal. In a genre I find too often grating and melodramatic for my tastes, Sumo Jungle Grandeur is a bubbly, welcomed outlier. Bonus points to Terada for occasionally pulling out the pieces' dubbier roots and creating blissful moments that sound strikingly like contemporary pop music.
*do you like jungle? I’d love some guidance / recommendations. The only other thing I’ve found that really hits for me is Tom & Jerry
Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours (2008)
I adored this chugga-lugga slab of Australian punk rock on initial release. Then, some years later, began a long exploratory period wherein I felt allergic to most rock-oriented guitar music. I’m happy to report that that time in my life is slowly fading, and I’m returning to some bonafide classics. Primary Colours sounds as timeless now as it did back then, playing on janky computer speakers above the dishpit in the small kitchen of the vegetarian restaurant where I worked. If I told you that this band formed after a drunken, impromptu jam at a staff christmas party, I’d be right and you oughtn’t be surprised.
Love Joys - Reggae Vibes (1981)
I simply don’t know how I’ve been a music enthusiast for all these years and I hadn’t heard the name Bullwackies ‘til now. Like, y’all just let me walk around like that? Completely unawares? Big, big, massive, lovely roots and rhythm sweetness.
Amaia Zubiria eta Pascal Gaigne - Egun Argi Hartan (1985)
Somehow I’d forgotten what a distinct pleasure it is to sit alone on the terrace after the sun’s gone down on a hot summer day. Just burnin’ a witch’s finger in the cool evening air, tunes playing, watching the world go by. This all caps BEAUTIFUL album of Basque traditionals with an experimental swirl was my accompaniment some nights ago. Just absolutely spellbinding.
ICYMI, I started a donations page for Regular Readers. All the money I receive will go back towards music (eg. purchasing physical/digital music, merch, concert tickets, supporting other music outlets, etc.). If you’re not able to support the newsletter financially (no presh!), you might also consider liking / sharing / following on Instagram.
ALSO, I started a ~*fun*~ tracking sheet that provides transparency on donations and spending. It includes a list of great tapes currently for sale as well as links to my Bandcamp + Discogs profiles. This is as much about accountability as it is an experiment in tracking my own financial investments in music over a calendar year.
I’m super interested in feedback / dialogue / suggestions. If you have ideas about the newsletter, want to share music with me, have specific questions / requests, don’t hesitate to get in touch. And please: share this newsletter with a pal if you feel so inspired!
Yrs.,
Andrew P.
andrewdanielpatterson [at] gmail [dot] com
lol this is clearly me going through your archive posts... but, on the Jungle question: I think part of the issue may be that you want something very specific, which is something that keeps the dubby roots and novel percussion of pure jungle, but doesn't have the "grating and melodramatic" aspect, and (I'm assuming) doesn't descend into the lounge-y, gloopy jazz-lite mess that so much DnB ended at. And I think, historically, the window for that stuff is really small. Also, most people love the grating and drama of Jungle, obviously - it is fundamentally club music, not at-home music. I'm sure you know about Source Direct, which might fit your bill. 4Hero's "Parallel Universe" LP, Fast Floor's "Quest for Intelligence" EP, and there was a label called "Liquid Sky Music" that put out a comp series called "This Is Jungle Sky" of mostly more poppy and atmospheric Jungle (then DnB in later iterations). Incredibly, there's like seven volumes of the comp on Spotify. It's really hit or miss but I throw it on sometimes to find tunes.
When you see a cover like that Love Joys record, you simply have to click and listen. So fire.