Prescriptionz

Here's a handful of jams that I've played frequently, and somewhat obsessively, during the past year or so. Jürgen Paape's "Mit Dir" and Michael Rother's "Karussell" both qualify for this list, but Nick already posted them here and here.

Firstly, we've got some interstellar disco from Donna Summer's producer, Giorgio Moroder. There's a Todd Terje edit of this song circulating around the blogosphere - seek and ye shall find - but I prefer the original.

Giorgio Moroder - "Utopia" [alt link]

This italo disco jam from Boney M, featuring a chorus of schoolchildren, is a real guilty pleasure - be sure to scope out the absurd video here.

Boney M - "Happy Song" [alt link]

This disco-rap crossover was one of the first internationally successful 'rap' songs. Lots of rhymes about geography and dancing... this one also comes with a complementary video.

Joe Bataan - "Rap-O Clap-O" [alt link]

Tadd Mullinix has a lot of material under a lot of names - Dabrye, etc. The James T. Cotton alias is his outlet for raw techno and house. I'm sure this isn't big news for most of you, so here's the linkz. This is some truly warped techno music.

James T. Cotton - "We Still Expect Freedom" [alt link]


Next up, a sentimental pop ballad by the same folks who sandblasted your eardrums as Throbbing Gristle and a musical ray of sunshine from one half of the rabble-rousing no-wave group Suicide.

Psychic TV - "Godstar" [alt link]
Martin Rev - "Mari" [alt link]

This joint from mysterious noisemakers Zoviet France employs a subaquatic pulse and muffled ambient tones to hypnotic effect, while the spaced-out vocalist weaves his half-utterances through the mix. Great after-hours material with a strangely dubby vibe.

Zoviet France - "Mohnomishe 6" [alt link]

Last, but certainly not least, here's one of my favorite songs by the Japanese noise-rock band Ruins. The drummer, Tatsuya Yoshida, has a distinctive style consisting of extremely complex rhythms, played at breakneck speeds, yet with meticulous precision. In the midst of this percussive maelstrom, Yoshida supplies vocals in a made-up language à la Christian Vander's prog juggernaut Magma.

Ruins - "Praha in Spring" [alt link]