Frank Zappa - Keep It Greasy

Yes, the song is awesome, but see how long it takes you to work out what they're singing about.

Who dat?

Rapping about rapping? Check. Thomas Dolby on the production tip? Check. Casual turban and leather trousers combo? You best believe that's a check! Hell yeah, this is Whodini with an absolutely classic old-school gem from the golden age of electro. Just don't make the mistake this writer made of paying over the odds for an original vinyl copy of their album. Let's just say that they were probably more of a singles band.

Def Does Doom

Heres a small snippet of a Mos Def sound check where hes doing a quick run through of 'Rainbows' off Mf Doom & Madlib's awesome 'Madvillainy' album.

I'm Your Man

Check this bizarre video for Leonard Cohen's song 'I'm your man' off the album (and now documentary) of the same name. Made by the National Film Board of Canada it seems to meander loosely around the song as well as adding some oddly distracting Foley sounds. I've no idea what Leonard's involvement with the project was but I can only assume he must've loved the end result!

Knuck if you buck

Southern University marching band blast rap brass loud.

They play three songs:
1. Fabolous - Breathe
2. Crime Mob - Knuck if you buck
3. Lil Scrappy - Head Bussa


There's a lot of this on youtube. Head Bussa seems a big marching band tune.

In terms of original versions, Knuck if You Buck is by far the pick of these tunes for me. Spooky, and hype.

Alva Noto

Carsten Nicolai released his first Alva Noto album in quite some time earlier this year. 'Xerrox' - available now on Rater Noton - is a truly beautiful album well worth picking up. Theres no shortage of his other work available to watch online though - a nice starting point is the animation 'Spray' which deals with "the problematics of speed , the vision of utopia and the dissolution of our ideas into fragments ...speed of data-flow is equivalent to 　the speed　 of our time. in an era when virtual products　of our ideas are expanding , we are simultaneously positioning a calm point in which to settle ourselves"



However, since the landmark release of 'Vrioon', his first album in collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto of Yellow Magic Orchestra fame its been hard to separate the two names. Check out this clip - 'Berlin' from 'Insen' - their second album together to see what all the fuss is about!

Otis Redding / Sam and Dave

Pure fire. I love Stax soul - the horns, the relentlessness. Always seems a little bit too fast.
The first two clips are Otis Redding on 60s British telly programme Ready Steady Go. Otis is amazing and I swear music TV never has that kind of energy anymore. Imagine this on Popworld, with those two presenters doing sarcastic half laughs and wrapping themselves up not knowing whether what they're saying is ironic or not.

This clip has the wacked out 60s titles then Otis Redding performing Satisfaction (which he kills), My Girl and Respect


This one has I Can't Turn you Loose and Shake (Shake is the na na na na na tune from the titles of part 1 and Here Comes the Hotstepper)


If the horns on those tunes weren't bad enough, and Otis Redding didn't shake enough, see this clip of Sam and Dave performing Hold On, I'm Comin' (this clip is realy quiet by the way).

Scotch Orchestra

For the last few years now, Shige Ishihara aka Dj Scotch Egg has been entertaining crowds armed only with a bullhorn, some effects pedals and several gabber infected gameboys. As co-founder of Brighton's Wrong Music label his fanbase has been growing fast and even helped him remain in the UK when his student visa expired by starting the 'Save the Scotch Egg' petition online. Below you can check out a video for 'Scotch Bach' (dir. Steven Glashier) off his most recent album 'Scotch Hausen' available now on Wrong Music/Adaadat.

Empire State Human

The original line up of the Human League (before Marsh and Ware did a runner, prompting Oakey to replace them with two school girls...) released a couple of belting albums. 1979's 'Reproduction' is a dark affair with strong Kraftwerk leanings and no shortage of analogue action from a Roland System 100 amongst other things.



Following Marsh and Ware's departure - which subsequently resulted in the formation of Heaven 17 - Oakey was able to take the group in the pop direction he'd always been gunning for since he was invited to join. Oakey went on to bang out classic pop anthems with the new Human League, but arguably his greatest moment was in collaboration with synth wizard Giorgio Moroder for the soundtrack to the 1984 film 'Electric Dreams'.

by the power of love!

Here's everyone's favourite effete, bob-sporting He-Man Adam of Eternia hymning his love for long-lost sister Princess Adora (aka She-Ra), whose vocal contribution seems particularly post-coital. Killer tune even without the incestuous overtones.

Anderson & Kuti

To some people the very idea of wandering minstrel and salmon-farming country squire Ian Anderson jamming with Afrobeat pioneer and political firebrand Fela Kuti might seem vaguely preposterous. However, as those in the know will tell you, from "Living in the Past" through "Four Wheel Drive" and on to their recent rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", Jethro Tull have always been a genuinely funky-ass outfit more than capable of laying down ball-busting grooves with the best of them. Anyway, here are these two musical giants cutting some serious rug alongside Glaswegian Strange Brewmaster Jack Bruce.

things are hotting up...

Undoubtedly, Paul Weller's finest hour was in the Style Council...you only have to watch him punting down the River Cam to forcast a 'Long Hot Summer'

Saxon Sound

80s English dancehall was fantastic. It's not really something that gets much press - doesn't really get written into the pop histories of the NMEs, MOJOs and Wires and isn't what Tony 'Greatest Nation' Blair's boasting about- but is some of the best music to come from Britain, particularly the Saxon Sound affiliated stuff, released on labels like UK Bubblers and Fashion.
Proper bright, dancefloor music.
Read all about it.


Smiley Culture - Cockney Translation (Polydor 1984/Fashion 1985)


Papa Levi - Mi God Mi King (Taxi 1984), Interview and Saxon Posse


Smiley Culture - Police Officer (Fashion 1985)


Saxon Sound System on TV (1985)



Heatwave - 'England Story Mix'
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