scissorkick

It's my pleasure to post a mix from my good friend Sam Willis, aka Deven Miles, who has always been a musical inspiration and is responsible for introducing me to an entire world of amazing music back when I attended college in London in 1996 (and Gino Scoccio a few months back). Sam is one of the most enthusiastic music lovers I know and this mix perfectly exemplifies his eclectic tastes. Moving from classic rock to hip-hop to minimal techno and current indie stuff -- Beatles, Missy, Arcade Fire, Fleetwood Mac, Matthew Dear; seriously -- his Adult Swim mix is the perfect intro to the Deven Miles style. We were lucky enough to DJ at 93 Feet East last time we went to London, which just happens to be the home of Sam's monthly "It's Bigger Than." If you are in London, make sure to hit this party on the first Saturday of every month. For more info click here.

Deven Miles :: "Adult Swim Mix"

Posted by Steve at 9/29/2005 10:47:00 AM | Permalink | Comments   

Frist, I'd just like to quickly thank everyone that came out to the first ScissorSound party on Saturday. The room was completely packed, the bands were totally amazing and the energy couldn't have been better. It was a total success and I thank all of you for coming out and making it such a joy to put together. Special thanks to Jeff for editing the visuals, Aaron for DJing with me, Tomoko and Koji at BPM for running everything so smoothly and especially the bands -- Kudu, 33Hz and Matters + Dunaway for incredible, energetic sets. Thank you all. It was a fantastic night. Now back to the posts. Today's post comes from a new band recently introduced to me by Sarah at Quannum through her friend at Definitive Jux. You may not have heard about Cassettes Won't Listen but my guess is that you will. And probably very soon. Like the Notwist, CWL combine indie instrumentation and vocals with well informed electronic elements, but unlike the esteemed German quartet, they forgo the dour Teutonic moodiness for a more optimistic pop feel. Imagine, if possible, an inversion of the Mobius Band, putting more emphasis on the electronics and less on the guitar pop. "Lunch for Breakfast" is in my opinion the strongest song on their newest EP available from Dope Lotus Records. The middle break, shifting suddenly into a breathy, Boards of Canada on speed groove, opens into a steadied vocal melody that slowly builds into a really explosive, emotive indie/shoegazer payoff. One of my favorite tracks of the moment. A 2-for-1 that you'd be remiss to skip over. Resources

Posted by Steve at 9/26/2005 08:00:00 PM | Permalink | Comments   

For all of you readers in NYC, we hope you'll be able to make it out to our first scissorkick party. Brooklyn's Studio BPM will be the spot of the first ScissorSound party with special guests Kudu, 33Hz, Matters & Dunaway and your mid-set selectors DRM and Sema4. The night will be a celebration of great music, all of which combines organic and electronic elements for each acts' signature sound. For those familiar with Studio BPM parties, you will not be dissapointed, as we are prepped to party hard right until the spot closes. I expect it may be a pretty packed night, so get there early to see our friends Matters & Dunaway who are coming down from Boston to open up the night. In 33Hz and Kudu, you have perhaps the city's most hard working 1-2 punch of ingeniously channeled 80s ephemera updated for the 21st century audience. And for fans of either band unfamiliar with the other, I personally guarantee you will be feeling it. No guestlist for this one -- sorry -- because a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. But I hope you feel tha $7 is nothing compared to seeing this bill in the amazingly friendly Studio BPM atmosphere. And make sure to introduce yourself if you are a reader of SK! ScissorSound 2005 Saturday, September 24 9:30 PM to 2:30 AM Studio BPM 237 Kent (btwn Grand and N. 1st) www.studiobpm.com with: Kudu (12:30) 33Hz (11:30) Matters + Dunaway (10:30) DJs DRM + Sema4

Posted by Steve at 9/19/2005 08:53:00 PM | Permalink | Comments   

I'm sure a good number of scissorkick readers are familiar with 2004's finest hip-hop record, The Foreign Exchange's brilliant Connected. Today's post salutes that record's producer of the moment, Nicolay who is currently making the most solid beats this side of Kanye West's mixing board bomb squad. Look, if you can name a better producer currently making beats as listenable, as reverent and as malleable to acapellas as Nicolay, I am on it with an open wallet and a ready wrist. Truth be told, overground cats like Kanye, Just Blaze, Jay Dee and underground alchemist like Blockhead, Paris Zax, etc. are some of my favorite producers and even their stuff doesn't hit me as hard as Nicolay's. I guess it's the humility he seems to exude from his reworking of samples and his obvious love of instrumentals. His sound -- hyperbole warning!! -- puts him at the forefront of producers to follow Pete Rock who is the undisputed champion of introspective, soulful yet dance floor friendly cuts. His new City Lights Volume 1.5 on BBE sounds and feels a lot like the Petestrumentals record released in 2001. Musical, developing loops that stand on equal ground as forefront instrumentals or background accompaniement. Please, do not sleep on Nicolay. You will regret it. Today's post "Light it Up" is the instrumental version of one of Nicolay's oldest tracks (from a 2002 Little Brother 12" on ABB Records) which reworks a sample from a classic in the ingenious way -- with an indelible tone and pace -- that characterizes the style of this up-and-coming Dutch master. Resources

Posted by Steve at 9/15/2005 10:33:00 AM | Permalink | Comments   

Big post today. And yes this is a track from the real record. Not the fake that was ingeniously floating around online and fooled a lot of people (myself included). Was lucky enough to get a copy of The Campfire Headphase, the newest full-length record from Boards of Canada set for an Ocotber 17th release date. Although I am often guilty of hyperbole, those that know me can attest to a special love for the UK duo who are undeniably among the finest purveyors of organic, slightly eerie electronica. Their fanbase is a truly loyal one, deconstructing the hidden (and sometimes obvious) numerological and religious subtext of their tracks and posting these discoveries online for further chatroom conversations. Today's post is a double dose, one for the eager fans awaiting a taste of the new record -- which is fantastic and surprising -- and a rarity I found online of a classic from their second official LP Geogaddi. "A is to B as B is to C" when played backwards (as this post shows) is marked by some classic BoC weirdness. Trust me. As for the new track, "Hey Saturday Sun," resident BoC expert and friend Jamie Roberts has given it two affirming devil horns straight up to the heavens. All I really have to add is one word: guitars. For long-time fans of BoC, you recognize the significance of guitars on a BoC track. That's good enough for me. I hope you like it. Resources

Posted by Steve at 9/09/2005 10:26:00 AM | Permalink | Comments   

I know this will be all over the web in 15 minutes(as the band instructed) but I figured I'd try to get it posted as soon as I could for all of you to enjoy. Just got an email from Touch & Go with a link to a new TV on the Radio track called "Dry Drunk Emperor" and its a good one. Since I just listened to it for the first time, my opinion probably doesn't hold much weight so I will post what the band had to say about the song: "we ( tvotr ) were back in the studio thinking and feeling again and made this song for all our everybody... in the absence of a true leader we must not forget that we are still together.... hearts are sick ... minds must change ... it is our hope that this song inspires, comforts, fosters courage,and reminds us... this darkness cannot last if we work together. let us help each other... heal each other .... look after one another ... the human heart is our new capitol.... this song is for you.... us.....we....them...it is free. pass it on. TO THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA : NEW YORK CITY'S HEART IS WITH YOU... STAY STRONG ! WE LOVE YOU . -tvotr" I don't think much else needs to be said in the light of my previous post. ENJOY! Resources

Posted by Steve at 9/08/2005 12:23:00 PM | Permalink | Comments   

I know some might fault an MP3 blog for getting political but during these desperate days following one of the nation's most devastating natural disasters -- and the government's truly pathetic response -- I thought a quick post to show support would be appropriate before I continue the music. The link below is a post to a report recently on Fox, yes Fox news, that shows the desperation and tone of the media in response to the situation in Louisiana. I will refrain from my own analysis because finally the news media is showing a level of outrage and disgust that many Americans including myself feel. It took 9/11 and a bullshit war in Iraq to finally get journalists to show some fire. I think watching this clip will finally prove not only how big of a fucking asshole Sean Hannity is but also how journalists have risen to the ocassion when the dire reality of a situation calls for it. I also posted a link to Kanye West on MSNBC, where, in a truly moving moment during a recent fundraising telecast, he goes off script and uses live airways to communicate a sentiment many African Americans (and other non-black Americans too) feel about the majority party in this country. Unfortunately (and expectedly) it was edited by NBC on national broadcasts. We will be back with music on Tuesday but for now please check out these links and our thoughts go out to all those who have suffered, are suffering and have been affected by Katrina. -- STEVE Shepard Smith/Geraldo Rivera on Fox (.wmv 5.1 MB) Kanye West on MNBC (.wmv 4.0 MB)

Posted by Steve at 9/04/2005 03:50:00 PM | Permalink | Comments