The Yearly Nearly End of Year
Hey ho hi, the end of year is near, so here's a list with eight tracks I love at the moment -- eight because soon it's twothousandandeight. I've loved some of them for a very long time, so listen carefully, and listen loud.
Us tracks be friends, so this list does not discriminate against other songs I love (like 'Hesitation' by Mya & The Mirror, which, like I've said way too many times, is one of my all time faves). I'm not sticking to any genre or era (I'm so wild!); these are just some lovely songs for our shared pleasure.
And in the everlasting words of almighty Bob Saget, these are in completely random order.
1000 Ohm is an I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E band. It was active between 1979 and 1988 (the main guy still makes music today). They released so, so, so many great songs that were so different in the best way possible. They are probably most famous for 'A.G.N.E.S.' (their first release), which is brilliant, but I've listened much more to the ones I'm posting.
First, a new-waveish / pop-punkish / everythingish song from their first 12". There's so much power in such a friendly way (the main bass-riff is soooo cooool). It's like punk, but with an attitude you'd wish your neighbor's teenage son would think about adapting.
1000 Ohm - Look Around
Listen / Buy: GEMM / eBay / Amazon.com
Then this italo-dancebazooka from 1988. I love the build-up and all the layers. The chorus is unbelievable, somehow off-key, and it's so upbeat and wonderfully wonderful. Listen to it L-O-U-D!
1000 Ohm - You're the One (original mix)
It's hard to imagine these both came from the same band, and when you listen to some of their other songs you'll be thinking the same as I: so so brilliant!
Lo-Fi-Fnk are two happy Swedes making good good music. This one has always been my favorite, even though 'Steppin' Out' is also very good.
Everything works in this song: it's really happy-pumping, so very likable, flows so smoothly and effortlessly (which so many people try and fail at, but Lo-Fi-Fnk do perfectly here)--just listen to the fun part!!!--plus they get away with borderline cheesiness and end up with party fondue (I don't know how to describe it properly, bear with me here...)
Respect.
Lo-Fi-Fnk - City
Anthony Monn is a genius. He even looks like three geniuses: Richard Branson, Wayne Coyne (from The Flaming Lips), and Zaphod Beeblebrox from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. See for yourself.
He's produced a bunch of brilliance, for Amanda Lear and as Charisma, but I love his Magnifique project from 1979, and especially the song I'm posting. There's also a super-nice Disconet mix of this song, but the vocals in this version are just too good. Rollin' knee deep in rollness in the land of admiration.
Magnifique - Magnifique Part 1
Dorine Hollier is great and I don't like to add a "but" to that honest statement, but (sorry) she would be even greater if she had released more than this one song. Her voice is unbelievable! And the whisper-chorus always reminds my how much I love this freaking song. And her, I guess.
The song from 1984 is produced by Pier Luigi Giombini, a/k/a Ryan Paris, who sang 'Dolce Vita' and 'I Like Chopin' and other songs you should be falling asleep to every night.
The back cover says (in German) that Dorine Hollier is a 25 year old Canadian. She studied English and French literature in London, and learned Jazz and Tapdance in Paris. In Rome, Dorine Hollier met Pier Luigi Giombini (Ryan Paris), and together they started working on her solo material, which, you know, is what you're gonna listen to.
She also wrote a bunch of lyrics for Ryan Paris. Show her some respect.
Dorine Hollier - Tonight...Crazy Night
This is seriously a contender for The Best Song In The World.
Andrea is Dario Farina and some woman singing and some guy singing. The credits are all for the production, so I have no idea who Andrea really is, and--what's more--who this guy is who sings so beautifully in the song below, or what he looks like. I want to know. I mean...just listen to his voice.
The song is so well done, and eeeeeverything I would ever want in a song like this. Plucky bass, cowbells, and a perfect chorus.
From the album 'Like Humphrey Bogart' from 1986. How can you go wrong with that?
Andrea - Kiss Me Tiger
Ferrara is John Ferrara, disco-monster, who released a bunch of great stuff between 1979 and 1982. This song was mixed by Valapucci, a remixer for Disconet Program Service (frequently referred to as 'Disconet', and was a Dj service which created edits and mixes of songs to make them more danceable, or more Dj-friendly.)
This song is so, uh, dare I say funky? It starts off kinda punchy and you don't really know what's gonna happen, then you're slapped in the belly with the wobbly synth, and then BOOOOOM: guitar+bass+drums+hihats+rollerscates+blindin' disco balls all thru the night. And lotsa girls singing duu-duu-duu-duu, and strings, and steamy "Love Attack". And flutes. And more boom. That's why we love it.
Ferrara - Love Attack (Disconet remix)
Nancy Nova has always frightened me a bit. I've always liked her, but she has this kinda sinister look in her eyes, and I just don't feel I can trust her with my life...give me some time and it might change.
But this self-proclaimed 80s Gay Icon is a fantastic singer and breather, and I can't remember a bad song she's ever done.
I guess she's like zombies. They're cool and all, but you don't really trust'em.
She was mostly active between 1978 and 1983, appeared in Top of the Pops (as a songwriter for another artist) and had a huge success with 'The Force'. but in 2005 she released an album called 'Nancy Sings Jazz'. I haven't heard it, but eerie jazz might be something I'll love in 2008. Oh, and she lives on a farm.
Here's a song from 1981, one of her better known hits. As with all her songs, it's a bit weird and eerie AND beautiful and lovely. It's a mixture of so many types of song: pop, reggae, disco, rock, and pure weirdness -- that's her style. And we love her style.
Chorus!
Nancy Nova - The Force (remix)
And here's her website.
Lots of good stuff. Happy new year!
