it's been a long time comin'...

i've missed this thing, but it's been a crazy past few months. my band Speck Mountain recorded a record in chicago. so i figure what better way to welcome myself back to my blog, than to present the very music that i'm really proud of and grateful to be a part of. below are a couple of tracks off the full-length we recorded in august. it's a mellow vibe. spacey and spiritual.

Speck Mountain - Summer Above
Speck Mountain - Hey Moon



for more info:
www.myspace.com/speckmountain

musical aphrodisiacs continued...

The Beatmen - Let's make a summer
1965, supposedly "The Czech Beatles." i'm gonna' go ahead and say this is just one of my favorite songs of all time. I've finally gotten off my behind long enough to perform the vinyl to mp3 transfer, but the sound could be better of course. this song in a few words: moody, languorous, intoxicating. it just melts....and i right along with it...

bi-bi ba-ba boum-boum...bi-bi ba-ba boum-boum

Les Lunours - Nous sommes bi-bi ba-ba boum-boum
when i'm listening to this, i feel good, i feel as free as a child bouncing on a great big trampoline in the sky. it seems as though every month or so there's one french/francophone psych track that ends up on repeat. and lately it's this guy right here. if it doesn't make you smile and bounce your head from side to side even a little bit, well....then i don't wanna' know you?

lucifer, son of the morning, i'm gonna chase you out of earth

Max Romeo & The Upsetters - I Chase the Devil
Max Romeo & The Upsetters - Smile Out a Style
off War Ina Babylon, 1976. i've read a few reviews of this album, and most of them praise the title track and claim that the remainder of the record falls a bit short. personally, i think that's a load of crap. and that's not to say that "War Ina Babylon" isn't an excellent song. but this record is consistently good. track after track, great grooves and vocal melodies and incredibly potent conscious lyrics. even just the phrase "smile out a style" - it's the most burnt out sentiment.

strictly roots

Althea & Donna - Uptown Top Ranking
a hit in 1978. two teenage girls, one 17, the other 18. it still sounds so fucking fresh.

ten points for australia!

so good. apparently this song has been covered by Kylie Minogue. i definitely need to hear that.
also hear me on this: if ever a Russell Morris bio-pic were to be made, he would be played by Rhys Ifans. am i right or am i right?

Russell Morris - The Real Thing

me and my strange dreams

I don't know what's happening to me, but I've been having the most fascinating and wonderful dreams lately...a solid series since Friday night actually. Last night's, however, was almost uncomfortably real and remains unusually vivid in my mind. I will not get into the details (a bit scandalous) but it sounded exactly like this:

Unknown - Exchanging Glances

off Inside Deep Note: Music of 1970's Adult Cinema.