The Medium Wave Podcast

Important Notice:

2009-07-28T00:10:00.002+01:00

Medium Wave Roadshow

2009-06-25T02:06:00.009+01:00

Don't worry we're still here!. In case you haven't noticed, Podcast 16 is right there and if you haven't listened to it yet then shame on you. No ramblings on that one from me as we've already got Episode 17 in the bag and I'm far more excited about that one.

We've actually been busy firing up the Fun Bus for some Medium Wave Mobile Disco evenings. These are not club nights, but where we get to play birthday parties, weddings etc..Invite only I'm afraid Podfans!.

These are generally enormous fun, albeit something of a white-knuckle ride when you realise you have a room full of party people dancing and YOU are responsible for keeping them there.
Like when we do the Podcast, DJ Rules loads up his gramaphone, and packs the boot of the Fun Bus with enough old vinyl to fill ten branches of Help the Aged. Dr Volume on the other hand hoists the laptop onto the Stanton Uberstand, plugs in the Novation Nocturn, wires up the NI AudioKontrol Interface, boots the hard drive, and loads the floor-filler Mp3s into Nativ e Instruments fantastic 'Traktor' software. This incredible program has actually been carefully designed around the fact that the person operating it may well be a bit worse for wear having been enjoying some "hospitality" and a first dibs on the Buffet Supper. My favourite feature is the HUGE flashing light which alerts you to the fact that the track currently playing is going to finish in 30 seconds giving you just enough time to cue up 'Musclebound' by Spandau Ballet. It even has a Cruise Control which will play random tracks if you forget to cue something up...it is actually called that as well. Genuius.

Other than the modus operandi of our playing music, all the normal Medium Wave rules of promoting new music and exploring the outer limits of recorded sound go out of the window. It is someone's party and we are obliged to "do some old"!. The only rules are, keep 'em movin' and keep swapping genres as neatly as possible. There is also a temporary ban on 'Rappers Delight' but that's another story.

We do maintain however, that it is possible to get people dancing, singing & clapping along with records they know and love without playing a genuinely bad tune. Boyzone are strictly off limits, there is no need to bust out the Grease Megamix, YMCA or the dreaded 'I Will Survive'. But.... Song 2 by Blur is a genuinely brilliant record. Fatboy Slim made some incredible party floor-fillers that have saved our bacon many times. All Motown classics, as ubiqitous as they are, still sound astonishing through a hired 500w PA. The intro to "There She Goes" by The La's always comes with an audible 'yesssss' in any room in which it is played. You could fill an hour with just the best moments of Kool and The Gang and nobody would complain....and I never get bored of 'Teenage Kicks' . Oh, and in case you were wondering the Mic stays switched off, unless we need to announce 'Last Orders' or someone at the party wants to slur a few words.

Just don't double-book us with one of those 'Funky Vocal House' DJ's you get in every bar in every small town every Thursday, Friday and Saturday..(this has actually happened to us)...we'll only mither him off the decks and ruin his 4 hour "set".

Pod Against Racism

2009-06-09T03:08:00.006+01:00

UK Listeners/Readers. Please don't let the reactionary idiots who voted N**k Gr*ffin and that other scumbag nobody knows the name of get away with it. (I'd love to know what Music these f*ckwits approve of since pretty much all known music is the product of a multi-cultural mash-up)

For starters, Please take the time to sign the petition against the Fascist BNP.

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/page/s/notinmyname

http://www.stopthebnp.org.uk/

I said I want to Podcast...

2009-06-03T04:13:00.002+01:00

Greetings Podfans, Episode 15 of Medium Wave is just a click away and just in case listening to it isn't enough here are your hosts with some information about it.
First up, DJ Rules...king of the simile, master of the metaphor, this week he reckons we're a Picnic.....

DJ Rules Writes:
"People...Its summer in the city and everyday is a stoned soul picnic at Medium Wave. So settle yourself down on DJ Rules' Gingham blanket and lets open that wicker hamper and explore the aural delights of a fine Medium Wave spread.

Next to the paper plates I see a delicately wrapped copy of The Premiers' "Farmer John". Looking as juicy and appealing as it did back in '64 this is an East LA crazy hep cat workout driven by a gaggle of screaming pedal pushing lovelies known as the Chevelles Car Club: the record was the party and if you see "Kosher Pickled Harry" do let me know. For the story behind this tune check out http://www.richieunterberger.com/premiers.html

Sitting snuggly beside the ham sandwiches neatly cut by Dr Volume rests the rather more contemporary Mr Day with DJ Vadim and the Curtis homage "If I Can't Love You". Presented as a delightful 7" white vinyl pressing this slab of pure 70s stoop funk is one of DJ Rules tunes of the year so far. With the vocals and melody floating along like a crisp packet on a hot New York sidewalk Mr Day is clearly going to stay a believer and I'm right beside him. Find out more or purchase at http://www.myspace.com/eric_aka_mrda y

Perfect as a side dish I have also packed a good helping of sunshine pop with The 5th Dimension's "Good News". Originally known as The Versatiles, a name change and the support of Jim Webb (songwriter) and Bones Howe (arranger) saw these 5 crazy cats purring slick soaring soul harmonies. You may well remember "Up-Up And Away" as well as "California Soul" and "Stoned Soul Picnic" (written by Laura Nyro - ed) everyone a winner baby and that's no lie...check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Dimension

Finally every picnic needs a slightly left-field nibble, I personally go for anchovies in olive oil but this time decided to pack a little Coco Rosie with "By Your Side". From their 2004 debut La Maison De Reve this slice of Lo-Fi Parisian playfulness is rocking my boat in ways that the good Doctor finds difficult to understand but then we don't all like anchovies...http://www.myspace.com/cocorosie
So people that's DJ Rules and his hamper of summer goodies, enjoy the treats and roll one for me x"

And now over to our correspondent Dr Volume....

Dr Volume Writes:
"Get yer Factor 15 on, make sure you're carrying an umbrella...its the old curmudgeon Dr Volume here. Firstly, what on earth is "Stoop Funk"? I've just Googled it and the only thing it came back with was...this very blog entry by DJ Rules! As for Coco Rosie..I recall it got very good notices when it came out but its one of those records I can very easily judge as one that I simply do not like. I just find the rather self-consciously "fragile" production values rather mannered. Deliberately squeaky 'iccle-girlie' vocals are also one of my pet hates, see also Talulah Gosh, The Cranes and Deerhoof. I like Anchovies though. Especially their third LP "Double Squid and Patatas Bravas".

Anway I played some records as well..it all seems a long time ago and I'm now busy deciding which Swell Maps track to put on next weeks show (at the moment, its all of them but I'm sure I can narrow it down).
Well, I played the rather fine Junior Boys who are now 3 albums in and still doing a fine job of imagining what 80s Electro Pop might have been like if the Fairlight and the Linn-Drum had never been invented. Its pop music alright, but also full of air and space..kind of Dub-Pop. Not that I have anything against the Trevor Horn style kitchen-sink approach but its an interesting exercise.

I gave Deerhunter a spin too. These are much blogged already so I won't add to the mountain of publicity that has already been heaped upon them, but I must say they were excellent at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds last week. They continue to do that weird thing of playing very loud, intense music almost without a break and then pausing to riff with the crowd in a very disarming way, somewhat at odds with the Psychedelic maelstrom still ringing in your ears. This gig ended with a rather protracted attempt by a (tired & emotional) Bradford Cox to ring his mum over the PA System (aided by their laconic sound engineer). He eventually succeeded and god knows what Mama Cox thought of the message left by her son speaking through a digital delay with 200 rather merry fans cheering in the background.

Good to get a Chrome track in too. This one pushed DJ Rules' Lo-Fi garage rock button! I got this on the strength of the sleeve, and all I can say is the cover accurately depicts what it sounds like:

Also in my selection were tracks by the excellent Ametsub, Working for A Nuclear Free City and the mighty Boredoms. Thanks for listening. Podcast 16 coming very soon, I've been down to the bargain basement for this one so should be good. "

That's all from your two resident DJs. Stick around for Episode 16. Oooh Matron...."

Listen on....

Medium Wave Record Shop now open!

2009-05-24T01:52:00.009+01:00

I was only thinking today how nice it would be to run my own dusty old Record Shop. What could be more fun than sitting behind a counter, pricing up the new Hyperdub 12"s, fighting with DJ Rules for control of the shop sound system and sneering at customers coming in and asking for The Killers on CD. Of course these days it would probably be more profitable to just go ahead and burn money rather than go to the trouble of renting a shop, ordering stock etc.

Still for now, you can actually visit our very own virtual record shop here! :
http://peoplesmusicstore.com/mediumwave

Early days for our hosts Peoplesmusicstore.com although it is quite a nice idea and I hope it takes off. If you're not sure how it works, basically you can create your own 'store', give it a name and a shop front and add tracks to it. You can write reviews of the tracks and basically promote the music you like to other people. The USP here is that if someone else buys a track from your 'store' you get points which are effectively kind of like Rock & Roll Nectar points (or Green Shield Stamps if you're the wrong side of 35 like me) which you can put toward buying your own downloads.
Yes, its downloads only I'm afraid which won't please our man DJ Rules who is a dedicated buyer of black wax. I suppose in theory there is no reason why this model shouldn't apply to physical purchases as well at some point.

For us, for the time being, this is a nice way of plugging the artists we play on the podcast. We're not big fans of file-sharing and I think I speak for us both that we believe you should pay artists for the music you like especially if they aren't signed to a major label or earning shedloads from film rights etc. We would more than happily pay a small fee to each artist when we play their music on the show but alas the PRS don't allow a pay-as-you-go rate for this, only a very expensive subscription which is completely out of proportion for a podcast like ours, and of course does not cover us for territories outside of the UK which is pretty useless when we have listeners all over the planet.

I'm afraid we're not stocking everything I'd like to at the moment. In fact, I've found it much harder to get hold of some of DJ Rules' stuff than my choices especially some of the older pre 2k stuff but music is being added to the site all the time so do keep popping in. Looking forward to your custom, and ring the bell if the door is locked, DJ Rules will probably be round the back having a crafty snout.

We ate peanuts and played records

2009-05-17T00:15:00.011+01:00

The man with the dog walked past and cast a glance through the window. The local teenager shuffled on by parading the now and anticipating the event. A Toyota pulled up and a man stepped from the vehicle with a rather large bag. The rain started falling as the mic stands were set up and at 9.45 a rather angular and bovine young lady passed by with a takeaway. At 10pm the lights were dimmed and the scotch eggs had been eaten. The show started at 10.15 precisely. DJ Rules explored his full repertoire, stepping gently into J Dilla and Slum Village and directing the orchestra into a statesman like version of 'Fall in Love' conducted by Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood Ferguson. As the night fell and the city slowed a touch of Ariel Pink 'Getting High in the Morning' was deftly introduced followed by The Millenium Psych-ing out 'To Claudia on a Thursday'. As the last peanuts were crunched and the Carlsberg drained a stirring rendition of the Phreek classic 'Weekend' was reinterpreted by Class Action aka Leroy Burgess. At 12.30 the mics were unplugged and at 1am the Toyota reappeared and a tall man climbed into the back. I do hope the bovine young lady enjoyed her takeaway and you enjoy this performance of Medium Wave.

DJ Rules with acknowledgement to Dom Cerulli and the sleevenotes for the 1965 classic; Milt Jackson at the Museum of Modern Art.

J Dilla and Slum Village (http://www.myspace.com/slumvillage)

Ariel Pink (http://www.mysp ace.com/arielpink)

The Millenium (http://thealwa ysbluesociety.blogspot.com/2008/03/millenium-begin-1968.html

Class Action aka Leroy Burgess (http://www.soulwalking.co.uk /Leroy%20 Bur gess.html)

Medium Wave is 14...

2009-05-14T02:27:00.009+01:00

...and we've reached that difficult age. Fittingly, this is the second attempt to produce Podcast 14, the first version is now rotting on the cutting room floor largely due to me not quite getting into the usual spirit of things.
Not only did I not quite have the right "vibes" in my "record bag", I was feeling a bit "off". This caused me to take far too much umbrage at DJ Rules rather too quick dismissal of Brian Wilson. I also failed to see the funny side of his insistence that he never saw the magnifcent Snub TV in the late 80s because every time it was broadcast he was at a Motorway services on his way to an illegal rave. It was all downhill from there. Fear not, we did it all again and this time we've produced a damn fine show for y'all.

You may be wondering why a forward-thinking Podcast such as ours has this week aligned itself with the ubiquitous "rock royalty" that is Bob Dylan. The reason is, I was following reports of his recent gigs on The Word Magazine Podcasts. I am quite hooked on these at the moment, and despite not sharing their love of Springsteen, Dylan etc. the ramblings of Mark Ellen (of Whistle Test fame..and the man who suggested reading out the address for donations at Live Aid just as Bob Geldof launched into his famous 'fook the address...give us yer fooken money' rant) and Smash Hits man David Hepworth are a delight to listen to, packed with really funny anecdotes and musings on popular culture...just like Medium Wave but 20 years in the future!

Anyway, neither DJ Rules nor I are particularly fans of 'Bawb', but in following the discussion on his recent appearances at the O2 I happened upon a clip on Youtube of one his 'performances'. I was aware that Dylan likes to 'reinterpret' his songs, and that his voice isn't quite what it was but nothing could prepare me for..........well listen to the podcast and you'll find out.

Also on the show: the fantastic Art Brut, and as they say of The Replacements (who I really must get around to hearing) how come I've only just discovered Art Brut?!
Warp Records veterans and pioneers of complex jazzy Puzzle-electronica Plaid, spiky and angular New Wave monsters Pere Ubu (if you have any interest in Punk or New Wave you should be able to get their first two LPs on the NHS) , "Doyen of the dubstep scene" Martyn, the excellent spartan electronic thumpings of the splendidly monikered Shed, and The Horrors.

Yes, The Horrors. If you'd asked me a couple of weeks ago I would have sworn I'd never play anything by a cartoon Goth band with unfortunate Peaches Geldof connections (second Geldof mention already!) on the Podcast but their new LP is really rather splendid. It evokes The Chameleons and The Bunnymen with lurching My Bloody Valentine-esque guitar noises and creepy Hammer House keyboards..what's not to like? It also begs the question, is Geoff Barrow of Portishead (who is in the chair for this one) perhaps going to emerge as a bit of a Brian Eno/Martin Hannett maverick producer for our times? Underachieving Tesco-indie bands, please form an orderly queue.

Anyway thats my take on things, I'm sure my co-presenter DJ Rules will be along in a moment to enlighten you further....

Episode 13: Oak style flooring with a Khaki and Orange Colour Scheme

2009-04-28T02:11:00.010+01:00

Well Podfans, the Medium Wave Fun-Bus has pulled into a well known UK 'Leisure complex' and Episode 13 is upon us. Press play on the PodPlayer at the top of the page and browse our extensive facilities, or read on for the full brochure.

Here is DJ Rules to tell you about some of the gramophone records he played on the show:

DJ Rules Writes:
"Mines a single malt...hep cats, beatmakers and soul breakers welcome one and all to Medium Wave episode 13. As you will know DJ Rules is a man not scared to show his love so I open my arms to you all and say don your leisure suit, slip on those free slippers and pad on down to the Medium Wave leisure complex. You can check in anytime and we offer a range of family friendly activities...bookable in advance of course with a valid credit card and copy of the Daily Mail. First off may I introduce you to Shafiq Husayn head of light entertainment and soul soaring hip hop beats. We play "Push" from the album Jank Random Vs Earl Leonne. Check out more at http://www.myspace.com/leossun"

"Over at the Medium Wave Cafe le Dysfunctionale we have the ever helpful Thee Oh Sees serving up a healthy family platter of wild garage rock with a delightful surf topping. Check out their low carb menu at http://www.myspace.com/ohsees And remember moms for every copy of "Ruby Go Home" you order Medium Wave will give you a free Kids colouring pack of favourite stills from that Disney classic 'Look Mom Hannah is a Whore'

"Once your belly is full why not slide on over to the Medium Wave bar and join mein host the Dukes of Stratosphear. Renowned for their friendly welcome and only recently returned from a highly successful Cruise Ship tour let the boys spin away your clogged artieries and help you eat your monkey mind with the cocktail classic "My Love Explodes" Find their summer schedule at http://www.xtcidearecords.co.uk/ And I have to say the album is very well modelled by Dr Volume and his somewhat Morriseyesque chin!!"

"So there you go people its always 25 o clock at the Medium Wave leisure complex...and no we don't offer a checkout facility but then why would you want to do that....Donuts to ya all ..DJ Rules head of housekeeping and tobacco supplies"

Thank you DJ Rules, and now here is Dr Volume to tell you about the noises that came out of his computer when he pressed the button marked "Music".

"I'll have a Krombacher, and get us some Peanuts would you? I've just realised if you click my link to the Krombacher Website it plays 'Belfast Child' by Simple Minds as one might imagine Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits might play it. I find that somewhat disturbing. I hope DJ Rules doesn't listen to it, as it may bring back haunting memories of his woodland Utopia. Anyway, I played some music on the Podcast too! 'Selina's Melodie Fountain' by the hugely unsung Serena Maneesh, was one of them. This lot get accused of being Shoegaze revivalists but while the lurching guitars and FX-laden production obviously nod toward My Bloody Valentine there is a Stones-esque swagger and giddy Pop sensibility to this which is more....Stargazing than Shoegazing. "

"I also played a remix of a Débruit track by Alfred Weisberg-Roberts aka Daedelus. Not only has he done a fine job of mashing up the wonkiest Gallic Hip-Hop with New Order's 'Perfect Kiss' he also sports some quite splendid sideburns which would make both Mike Nesmith and Richard O'Sullivan of 'Robin's Nest' fame quite jealous."

"Manchester Funksters A Certain Ratio featured in our 'Warm Baguette...or Mouldy Old Dough' spot this week. The result is somewhat predictable as I still feel a certain loyalty to the band I've followed for over 20 years. They have been through enough stylistic and line-up changes to earn the title of the 'Fleetwood Mac' of Post-punk. It is fair to say that at times they have tested my loyalty! They do actually have a new LP out which has been available for a few months but you can't buy it in the shops and as yet its only available on import from Son De Marquis. Its a mixed-bag of a record which references the past a lot, and I agree with my co-presenter that there is a bit too much thrown into the mix and it would be great to hear Ratio pare it down a bit.
ACR Live is another matter entirely, and if you haven't seen them play before you really should go aong and see how Cowbells were meant to be walloped. You can catch them at the Deaf Instiute in Manchester on 24 May and the fab Brudenell Club in Leeds in 4 July. More dates here".

"Finally, DJR explained to me that his post includes a reference to Hannah Montana. I had little concept of this charmless, Aryan, Disneyfied Bimbotron until I saw her on Jonathan Ross last Fiday. I can only urge that if yer kids insist on seeing her new movie that you also get them the original 'Fame' and 'Saturday Night Fever' on DVD which have good singalong songs, and also have a meaningful plot, a bit of gritty realism and Non-White people in them."

Fritter away your Bank Holiday Monday with us...

2009-04-13T01:30:00.013+01:00

Contain your excitement Podfans, here it comes...finally Episode 12 is here!. Got anything better to do with your bank holiday Monday? No don't go to Centre Parcs, Keswick Pencil M useum or the Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, listen to THIS!

Synopsis:

SCIENCE! Its a Thomas Dolby special of sorts (by accident rather than design). We also find time to board the Medium Wave Fun-Bus and head to the pub to interview the Mind on Fire Collective, we discuss Chas out of Chas n' Dave's contribution to the canon of Hip-Hop, and ponder what (surely 138 year old) Clive Dunn is up to these days. There are the usual features including "Warm Baguette...or Mouldy Old Dough", and "Diff'rent Strokes" and more fantastic Pop Factoids. Oh and the usual genre-demolishing selection of music with: Qunicy Bright, Thomas Dolby, Kidkanevil, Super Furry Animals, Sa Ra Collective, Four Tet, Débruit, Cheapskate, Tim Exile, Whodini, Move D, Stevie Wonder and Bauhaus.

Enjoy the show and if you want to get in touch, be on the podcast, send us free records/t-shirts/gold/diamonds etc please contact us here or via
mediumwave@podomatic.com

Listen with DJ Rules and Dr Volume

2009-04-07T11:23:00.005+01:00

Well said Dr Volume!. Also worth mentioning that the Four Tet track is a collaboration with the Sa Ra Collective and, man, we are talking a far out tune. Its going to turn your toes to jelly and your eyes to ice cream...you'll wake up at a children's party being served as the pudding whilst whistling a Sore Eros tune. Seriously people this show is a killer, and the Mind on Fire Guys are about to let loose some serious beat abuse in the Manchester area...watch this space mes amies..

Keep on looking under those carpets ...DJ Rules carpet beater extraordinaire.

Episode 12 Coming Soon.

2009-04-07T00:03:00.004+01:00

Episode 12 has now been digitized and will be up here for your listening pleasure just as soon as Dr Volume has removed all the libellous, scandalous and rubbish bits. It will almost certainly feature music by Quincy Bright, Four Tet, Cheapskate, Thomas Dolby, Move D, Bauhaus, Super Furry Animals, the jaw-dropping new single by Tim Exile and many many more.
Plus we have our special guest from the Mind Of Fire collective with news of their various exciting cultural happenings down Manchester way. Stay tuned, its gonna be a belter.

I don't wanna be nice...

2009-03-30T00:41:00.016+01:00

Bloody hell. If all my co-presenters talk of trees/flowers/peace/hairy-stuff is leaving you reaching for the Rennies, don't forget on the Podcast you also get my selection which includes The Fall, Pendle Coven, Sparks, Kraftwerk, Luke Vibert and a bit of this:

My people - Episode 11

2009-03-29T20:50:00.011+01:00

My people were wobbly and had flowers in their hair....beat abusers, accoustic soundscapers and downright wrong'uns gather and shake those copies of the guardian for we refuse to be labelled... we come to dip our furry toes in the pool of Medium Wave. Yes, episode 11 is amongs us and what a treat of aural impudence it is. Some of DJ Rules highlights include (on my left) that electro classic COD, In the Bottle. A full on effect 1983 electro stromer of Gill Scott Herons tune with a little bit of the smurf mixed in for added head spinning. Found a great site the other day which has collected stacks of the old NYC early rap and hip hop flyers from around 79 to 85...check out http://toledohiphop.org/images/old_school_source_code/
On the more furry feet tip I can only say get out folksters and purchase your copy of the new Sore Eros album. Ethereal, celestial and all those other ials that DJ Rules loves to snuggle up with on a chilly Spring evening. Stand out tracks include, In my Heart and Lips Like Wine, the latter a little like being dipped in warm chocolate and then whispered dry by a collection of French au-pairs. http://www.myspace.com/soreeros

Yann Kesz was a real treat and I could have pretty much picked any one of the thirteen sublime wobbly hip hop/disco edits on this platter. It came out in 2007 and is another formidable from the French beats scene. Featuring Eagle Nebula, Lorett Fleur, Karim Nazem, DJ Suspect, LMNO, LD and Boddhi Sativa its on the Tradvibe label which can be found at http://www.tradvibe.fr

Finally I doff my rather jaunty Kangol hat to the Reggae and Dub pioneer Mr Dennis Bovell. Now DJ Rules is no part time sucker and he respects true talent and innovation so I say arise Sir Bovell aka Blackbeard and stand proud. From the Slits to I Roy, the Pop Group through Madness, Dennis has played that desk like a true believer. We played Electrocharge from the Blackbeard album I Wah Dub and I suggest you find a horizontal position and let the UK Dub Master take over...... http://www.myspace.com/dennisbovell

Well beautiful people thats DJ Rules on the blog letting you know where my hat is at. Keep on listening, send in comments, send us records and stay believers. Peace Dub and Flowers ...

W**ky Debate rages on!

2009-03-22T01:54:00.004Z

Er...We have a new message from Flying Lotus about our use of the 'w' word:

"I never did this music shit to be called 'wonky' you know?like it's some kind of fad.
It doesnt even sound right if i said it..imagine ME saying wonky, it's ridiculous.
Wonky is implying something is wrong or 'off' with what we're doing, not only is it kind of a slap in the face to a musician, its also a slap to the person who appreciates the sound. "

"I know your intentions are good and I KNOW you're out there fighting the good fight, so I thank you, but you have to understand it's things like this, that take the fun / life out of what we're trying to achieve. "

And it looks like someone else doesn't like being called W**ky either. Flying Lotus sent us this link:

http://thequietus.com/articles/01269-zomby-blasts-reynolds-for-wonky-ketamine-link

So there you have it.

I think we may have to introduce a system of fines or forfeits for any further use of the word on the Podcast.

The Artist formerly known as Wonky

2009-03-15T01:44:00.019Z

Ugh..Myspace. At the very best it is like staring into a gigantic, infinite landfill site of gig flyers, demo tapes, bad poetry, spam-email and bad HTML. Unfortunately it is also very useful for hooking up with bands, DJs and getting help with Podcasts. I am a hypocrite so.....last week our marketing team down at Medium Wave HQ got busy with some serious social networking in attempt to make some connections and drum up some new listeners. We got some nice responses back, offers of free records (always welcome!) and offers to do interviews on the show which we'll be following up. So maybe Myspace isn't so bad (as long as I don't have to look at it).

Only one negative response so far, from top Warp Records artiste, the ubercool Flying Lotus. Not sure if it was from t' Lotus himself, or one of his 'people' but his response suggested he was somewhat miffed at the repeated use of the word 'Wonky'.

He has a point. The word Wonky appeared quite a lot in our message. I've used that word on the blog, we both say it a lot on the Podcast. We are guilty of Wonkyism.
We could say Flying Lotus is a purveyor of a particular distortion of instrumental Hip Hop which has, as its trademark, very fluid beats that deliberately swing as far from strict 4/4 quantized rhythm as possible. For shorthand, many people call it 'Wonky' and maybe he's sick of hearing that word, maybe he feels pigeon-holed and labelled by it. (Or maybe he thinks we're a couple of chancers and it was his way of telling us to f**k off.)

It is nothing new. The music media has always invented new genres on an hourly basis and musicians will seek to disassociate themselves from them. Lest we forget, the Beatles were tagged 'Merseybeat' for the first few years. Wire deny they were ever a 'Punk' band. All Shoegazer bands deny being Shoegazers. Andrew Collins' fab Radio 2 show 'The G-Word' began with a montage of Goth legends vehemently denying having anything to do with 'Goth'. Anyone remember Romo, Crunk, The New Wave of New Wave, The Camden Lurch, Narco-House, Riot Grrrl, Post-Rock....?

Ironically, yesterday it officially became incredibly un-cool to use the Wonky word. It was mentioned in the Guardian Guide in an article on 2009 hipster slang which means it has already entered mainstream media parlance. Nathan Barley and the Hoxton massive will already be deleting their Hudson Mohawke and Dorian Concept MP3s in disgust. Someone should tell these guys too.

Perhaps we shouldn't be so lazy as to use these kind of shorthand terms to describe music. The trouble is that there is so much of it coming at you from all angles that this kind of labelling and filing of music is bound to continue as a way of helping us make sense of it all. Such are the perils of being two old giffers, making a Podcast which attempts to mix the music of the past with the underground, and overground music of now. We're not trying to be "cool", we're not fashion victims and we're not trying to be 'down with ver kids'. We just have a thirst for new sounds and we get a kick out of drawing lines between the past and the present.

Anyway, apologies to Mr Ellison, a child of the Coltrane dynasty no less, and I still love your wonderful records even if you are a grumpy Wonker (or at least your Myspace Operative is).
I wonder if we can get through the next Podcast without mentioning The W Word?

Brussels to Manchester

2009-03-11T22:00:00.018Z

Stop sniffing that shiny plastic and lend me your ears for a moment. Pull up a chair, that's it....a little closer, for I am going to tell you a story. Perhaps you should close your eyes...now picture a young DJ Rules. A handsome Mancunian rascal of, dare I say 13 years old, on his first trip to alien shores. A camping trip to France and Belgium, very exotic in that kind of 1980s "people like us aren't meant to do this kind of thing" type way. Aspirational would perhaps be the better term.
This trip was a mere day or so after I had come into close physical contact with Siouxsie at the Apollo and my young heart was full of wonder, my trousers full of magic and my aspirational pockets very empty. Most of my "spends" had gone on nasty miniature bottles of Vodka, Gin and Whisky on the boat along with supplies of French Gaspers and dibs on a share of good quality continental porn. So...we arrive on a coach in Brussels, twenty innocent rascals and chancers, given rather generously and somewhat foolishly 3 hours to have a look at the sights "be back on time" ...yeah mate sure we will.

Now DJ Rules at 13 already had the joy coursing through his youthful veins and of course found himself in Brussels finest vinyl emporium. A world of import wonders before me, a belly full of joy and empty pockets. What's a resourceful scamp to do but utilise his fine mind in planning to remove records from the shop without intruding on the counter staff or tills. These were the days of limited intercontinental travel my friends, and a commotion of 6 Mancunian teenagers arguing loudly and shoving each other was certainly distraction enough for the sly boy Rules to sidle out of the shop with Siouxsie and the Banshees-Once Upon a Time Stories and David Bowie-Live...to name a few! Beating a hasty retreat to the local bench we managed to clear a good half of the miniature mixers stock and had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon flirting with Brussels beauties....oh those days. And yes, dear reader I still have the records and will indeed post a picture of said items with the original Belgian Franc price stickers.

So onto contemporary matters I hope you enjoyed the Anagram Jam tunes, I believe a very very limited release (69 vinyl only) from Andy Votel's Finders Keepers label. A great all round package with fantastic artwork (see orange sleeve above). Jaunty felt hats off to those fellas. The Norwegian dub ('Manna-Salma I Dub'. Record shown above) was an interesting find and has kept my head nodding for many a night, you can find out more at http://www.smartpatrol.no/.
I love the simplicity of the tracks particularly refreshing after hearing the new Disrupt album..the best dub is often very simple in DJ Rules book. Finally the Anthony Valdez track was a real treat of pure soulful hip-hop with the beats coming from those Flying Lotus guys who seem to have their sticky fingers in every pie at present. Its a 7-inch on the recordbreakin.com label, one of the best; putting it our there in a wonky soulful way. Previous releases include the delightful Kissy Asplund and DJ Junior.

Enjoy the new show people and as the man Curtis says "stay a believer". Peace and joy to you all....now get your nose back into the shiny wax!! The man Rules with big love to the Big Toes and Mungo's Gang...the future is in the north...Tak

Almost there....

2009-03-10T00:39:00.010Z

OK OK, its taking a little longer than usual but we do have to whittle down the show from 140 mins and just to prove Dr Volume hasn't just been Twittering, getting his head around Reaktor, and writing rambling blog entries about Cabaret Voltaire, here is a picture of the actual, almost nearly finished edit of Podcast 10.

And...For those of you *really* suffering withdrawal symptoms, here is a 55 second Video Blipvert sneak preview just to tide you over till the show is finally online. Cor..Its like Max Headroom innit?!

Podcast 10. Life is a Cabaret (Voltaire).

2009-03-08T00:29:00.014Z

Hello its Miserable Old Shoegazer Dr Volume here. Podcast No.10 was recorded last night and will be ready on PodOMatic and Itunes just as soon as I have edited out all the scurrilous and obscene comments that emitted DJ Rules potty mouth. We usually do the show 'live', in one take and record twice as much as would fit into a 70-ish minute show so yes we do quite a bit of editing of the 'chat' (we don't just throw this stuff together you know!) and a few tracks will end up being left off. DJ Rules insisted on playing the whole of side one of Deacon Blue 'Raintown', so that's off for a start.

Anyway, its a belter, and maybe the best yet. Expect to hear some Siouxsie & the Banshees, Norwegian Dub, Disco Inferno, Mtume, Mungos Hifi, Joker, Anthony Valdez, Curtis Mayfield, Shed, The Slits and Baikonour...as long as I can fit it all in. I think we were quite funny and entertaining too. On the taxi ride home from Medium Wave HQ, the driver insisted on playing Key 103 and despite the fact its a local Manchester station at 1am they were still churning out astonishingly bland daytime radio slop, Coldplay and Lady GaGa with an inane DJ with the kind of 'personality' that left me longing for DLT or 'Ooh' Gary Davies. It made me feel we're actually quite good at what we do and that at least our Podcast is better than that cretinous aural vomit.

I was really pleased to finally play a bit of Cabaret Voltaire on the show. We like to play interesting stuff from the past as well as fairly cutting edge stuff (Rules and I were both pleased to read that, having played a tune by John Cale last week, he's a fan of the likes of Erykah Badu and Jill Scott which is a nice bit of synchronicity).

Oddly, DJ Rules had already picked out a bit of The Slits and The Pop Group for the show so he was already in a kind of late 70s Post Punk frame of mind and ready for a blast of murky, early Cabs. I chose Silent Command, perhaps not an obvious one. Its an industrial 70s Sheffield take on Dub Reggae and I love this mix of hamfisted bass, genuinely out-of-tune guitars, wheezing old beatbox, with Chris Watson's ace organ adding a sort of 60s garage band thing to the mix while Mal feeds his vocals through whatever cheapo effects are to hand. Its quite a racket, and the Cabs really couldn't play..which makes them more Punk than the Pistols and the rest of those Muso pub rock bands like ver Clash. The whole thing sounds like it is about to fall apart at any minute, but for the relentless hiss and thud of that knackered drum machine keeping it together. For all the technology we have at our disposal today you'd never get close to that sound if you tried for weeks and weeks. I have a curious fascination with the Cabs and I own pretty much everything they've recorded. Their discography is a complex and dangerous place to tread. At their worst they can be almost unlistenable, a bit 'lets be shocking', or in the middle years just a bit dull and plodding. I still feel strangely compelled to hear the whole lot though. I'm fascinated by the journey they took from Dadaist noise terrorists to Electronica pioneers and they way they had an influence on the NY electro scene. What also intrigues me is the obvious tensions. They were struggling with their own limitations as musicians and in the middle years Mal clearly wanted the band to take a more commercial direction, but as Mick Fish points out in his excellent and very funny book, they couldn't really write 'Songs' and Richard H.Kirk was content to stay in Sheffield and noodle away in Western Works Studio (taking occasional taxi rides around the corner to the Off Licence). Doing this podcast with DJ Rules and working with other Musicians in bands means I'm always interested in understanding, er, shall we say 'creative tensions'!
Anyway they were a fucking great band, and check out this video of Mal giving a talk about their careers, and their interaction with the whole NYC club scene and working with Marshall Jefferson etc. Seems like a very nice fella, and I believe now lectures at Brighton University. Chris Watson is now an expert in field recording and you may well seem him in the credits for sound on BBC Wildlife programmes, and my hero Richard H Kirk is in Sheffield, busy at Western Works releasing several new LPs a year under his various aliases.

And finally...
I got one of those gig lists from Seetickets, and in amongst the usual carefully non-partisan descriptions of forthcoming events (for example describing a Boyzone reunion as 'spectacular') some bored writer had slipped in this refreshingly sarky comment about a forthcoming UB40 gig:

"..And if you be 40 or upwards you might want to see this band."

DJ Rules on the cameraphone

2009-03-05T22:06:00.008Z

Ok suckers in the donut shop your daddy has picked out a few select cuts for your viewing pleasure....so here we go. First off the Ras G album African Space programme...got to be the most creative and challenging album I have heard in years, spaced out on a Sun Ra vibe and mixing up jazz, soul, techno, dub n pure bass with the odd folk leaning its circulating around DJ Rules inner sanctum at present.

Next up a rollers classic Gong and Radio Gnome...man its got a pixie in a tea pot on the cover and they jam on space rock...medium wave classic all over.

Finally my good sugar munchers we have the essence of DJ Rules and its the P and P (you know Mr Adams and Brown) productions Cloud One, Funky Disco Tracks...Grandpa Rules tells me this one used to shake the paradise garage to its knees !!!! Its soaring, cheeky, rude and a delight to be with...a DJ Rules favourite every time and even better that the good Doctor dislikes it...far too happy for that miserable old shoe gazer....peace and big hats to you..Im off for a cup of tea x

The joy and how to find it ........

2009-03-03T21:20:00.003Z

So......DJ Rules wraps his fingers around the cigarette paper and rolls his digits and mind to the rhythm of the joy and how to find it. You my friend will know the joy, its that moment when you hold an unknown wonderous melody, tune or bassline in your soul and melt and envelope within it...it may only last seconds, if lucky minutes and if walking in big mans shoes perhaps a whole hour...but thats rare. I found it last week when discovering the Akron/Family album and the song Love is Simple (refrain) I placed the needle on the groove and that was it...THE JOY...I searched for two hours in the local record store for the joy yesterday...nothing. Single after single, album after album, going deeper and deeper and in the same process seemingly moving further and further away. The joy seems to hold no indicators, its seldom repeated by the same artist, you can look in elusive corners and its behind you in the 50p singles, its in your friends sisters collection whilst your talking with her brother about the latest nu folk release, it sneaks up with no calling as you flick and dig and then BANG ...the JOY...

It came today in its usual innocuous slightly bemuddled manner...I had noticed a record with a bright orange sleeve sitting on the floor behind the counter at piccadilly records. It had been there for the past two weeks sat in the same place just out of clear vision. Bright orange, on the floor, watching me. And it happened, a simple sentence...."whats that on the floor" a simply reply "Oh thats some weird secret promo thing we had in, had lots of them but they all went quick dont really know why thats still there" an exchange of looks built up over the past 20 years ..."Do you want to listen to it" needle...record and JOY JOY JOY ...

So dear listener DJ Rules invites you to share this new JOY on the next show Im sure you will share my delight and until then keep digging, keep looking, keep listening and keep loving.

Peace and anagrams, its a clue!

DJ Rules

Dr Volume's Pick of the Week

2009-03-03T01:01:00.004Z

Thanks for that intro DJ Rutles. Or is it Tim Westwood?! Peace and donuts indeed. (Is there actually a "Radio Gong"? If there isn't have a listen to podcast no 52 when we get there if you want to know what that might sound like).

Anyway, Dr Volume fans, put down your Latin prep, try not to spill your warm milk and feast your headphones on this bastard.
Taking "Wonky" out a bit further is our Dorian Concept, and occasionally forgetting to put a beat in which suggests Ambient Wonky, and why not? You are supposed to listen to this stuff as well as...well...can you dance to it?. Are there Wonky clubs where people gyrate in a sort of Free-Jazz manner to Dorian, Onra etc? Probably should get out more but I have to stay in and edit all the rude things DJ Rules says out of our Podcasts.

Digi-Dub News. A bit miffed with what i've heard of the new Disrupt LP. What I liked about Foundation Bit was the sheer audacity of it, completely at odds with fashion in releasing something which could have been the follow up to the Orbs 'U.F.Orb', and bloody good with it. Alas this new one sounds like Herr Disrupt is in thrall to the fuzzy 8-Bit Commodore 64 Sound-chip aesthetic which to my ears is becoming increasingly tiresome.
Enough Lo-Fi lets have some Hi-Fi...Mungo's Hi Fi to be precise. Mungo's hail from Glasgow which appears to be the new epicentre of Digital Dub. They have a barrowfull of tunes on the ace Scotch Bonnet label and this new one is the first for their new dubstep offshot, Scrub-a-Dub. Thats more like it, that'll nice up the dance and no mistake!

I've just started reading Luke Haines book 'Bad Vibes' and I'm hooked already. I never actually listened to any Auteurs or his solo stuff but you don't need to to appreciate this barbed, twisted and very funny account of the media shitefest that was Britpop.

...Speaking of which, here is part one of the great bands that Britpop ate. The bands that were cruelly ignored while everyone was watching TFI Friday, cooking their Jamie Oliver 'shmush-ins', dancing around the room to the Onka's Big Moka by Topl**der.

No.1
Disco Inferno.
Great band, they sort of tipped samples over their songs like a grumpy child empying a toybox on the floor and tended to use camera sounds or running water rather than beats (is that DJ Rules I hear groaning in the background?). Like all the great lost bands of the 90s these Got completely lost in the rush to sign Ocean Colour Scene. Start with the stunning 'Its a Kids World' which samples Lust for Life, Dr Who, Playschool ( in a quite creepy way) and features possibly the best guitar riff of the 90s.

Bye for now popcocks. Peas and Doughballs.

DJ Rules

2009-03-02T22:53:00.003Z

Welcome to our weird and slightly wonky world where good tunes are those that hide under the carpet, creep around at nightime and scare little kids. We are in the business of playing the edge of wonky soul, hip hop, space rock, drones, moans and gems...and the odd bit of acid folk if Dr Volume goes out of the room. Come and say hello and view our ramblings...its like Radio Gong but actually coherent....

peace and donuts people

Start Here

2009-03-02T02:14:00.000Z

Another 70 mins of top light entertainment. We're joined by our very own Steve Wright 'Posse'; Dom, Phil and a Pink Pony with surprisingly forthright musical opinions. 'Around the World' visits China where music comes in the form of little plastic boxes, DJ Rules sneaks in not one but TWO nu-folk records using trickery and sleight of hand, our Yorkshire correspondent joins us for a special 'Charity Challenge' and we go to the pub in the middle of the show (with predictable results). Somehow we still found time to play tracks by Paul Murphy, Jedi Knights, Trap Door, Onra, The Hearts, James Pants, Daru & Reggie B, Microdisney, Lukey Demus, Broadcast, Tunng, John Cale and Cody Chestnutt. Wot..no Dub?