—You look so good, fantastic man! (William Onyeabor “Fantastic Man”)
Just came across an interesting article on William Onyeabor, nigerian musician who released some now highly acclaimed records from 1977 until 1985. He stopped releasing after that, and has remained somewhat of a myth ever since.
You should definitely check out the compilation “Who is William Onyeabor?” as well as the rest of his œuvre.
(William Onyeabor on Spotify, article from The Guardian).
Photo: promo
—So, we hit the stage and then we fly back to our nest (Outkast „13th Floor / Growing Old“)
The other day, I realized that my sons might see me like I saw my father. A guy that is old. I remembered seeing my father, when I was the age of my sons, and in my memories, my father is old, and I am me, not old. I am still the same person in a way, I can easily recall the boy I was, looking at my father. I still feel like this boy now, it is the same person who looks at my sons and my sons look at a guy who is old, but feels like them. This is a feeling I struggle finding the right words for. It is calm, awesome and frightening. It holds a lot of beauty and freedom. I am part of a cycle, and that’s ok.
“13th Floor / Growing Old” on Spotify
—Release: 01 January 1998 (Precision Breakbeat Research / EMI / Intercord)
Drum & Bass project Makai‘s longplayer „Millennium“ features one of the rare tracks of the genre building on vocals (the opener „Beneath the Mask“ is based on a sample from the theme of anime classic „Ghost in the Shell“). The whole record feels like a liquid chrome-mercury blend. Shiny, dark, venomous, uncanny, cloudy, razor sharp, super tight, full of pathetic, megalomaniac urbanism. The cover illustration may suggest some kind of extraterrestrial sci-fi killer robot music, but don’t be mislead. This is more Planet Earth than you may want to know, there could be a lot of (sad) truth in it, and in that sense you may call this album dystopian.
However. It is musical brutalism executed in the most beautiful way imaginable, and „Omen“ swings like a superhuman. Still love it.
(Album available on Spotify)
Photo: promo
—Release: 19 June 2020 (Warp Records / Rough Trade)
Darkstar´s upcoming album “Civic Jams” is like a bale of cotton, fluffy to the touch, heavy to lift. I always had the impression as if I wasn’t listening via headphones, but loudspeakers. It´s like there´s clouds, unreachable, yet embracing like clouds around the mountain top you´re standing on. As you may figure, I´m quite impressed by how this album sounds. Music-wise my first association was Stevie B… Which is slightly unfair, but the grooves of this record are very 1990ies. All in all nice to listen to. Not more, not less.
(EDIT: now available on Spotify)
Photo: promo
—Release: digital 05 June 2020 (Awal) / CD + LP 19 June 2020 (Awal / Rough Trade)
Not sure about the title of Bruno Majors upcoming album. To me it sounds somewhat sad, although the record is not. Maybe a bit melancholic, but I wouldn´t even go that far. I really like the record, it´s bloody well done music, and it sounds like some classic, even timeless, salon music in parts, while being very contemporary at the same time. Very nice.
(EDIT: now available on Spotify)
Photo: promo
—Today I will be unafraid.
Just finished a corona spare time project.
Varsity-style jacket made from raw 14oz US blue-line selvedge denim, sporting a hand printed label. I like the way raw denim handles. It has a very firm hand and is very rigid, which I totally prefer over any light or soft fabric.
Regardless any flaws, I’m very proud of it.
Photos: Claas Bader