minmae/electroscope | life and hope in the psychozoic era/electroscope

been meaning to do this one for a while. these two might be curious bedfellows but somehow this split lp works well. maybe that's because both bands are bloody great. here you can hear minmae edging from their early flying saucer attack fuzz to their later more precise indie rock stylings, while electroscope plough their own unique radiophonic furrow, somehow combining futurism, retro electronics and childlike sensibility. methinks these days they'd find a very welcoming home on asthmatic kitty.

lp released by (the always excellent) rocket racer & airborne virus in 2000.

get.

photo stolen from discogs as i can't be bothered.

hood / themselves | you shins break my heart / p.u.s.h.

i went through a phase of being really into themselves and the whole anticon thing, and some of the records i still think are pretty amazing. but somehow themselves no longer cut it for me. and i think a lot of that is the sheer density of their songs, whether it's the convoluted theatrics of the lyrics or the dislocated beats. i'm only a fairweather at best hip hop listener, something i turn to satisfy cravings for heavy bass rhythms and good tunes, good times. and themselves take work.

their contribution to this split picture disc (another winner on the rocket racer label) never sinks in; i can never remember what it sounds like, just seconds after playing it. why is that?

hood, on the other hand, never fail me.

7" released by rocket racer in 2004.

fill er up.

various | speakers keep speaking

rocket racer was one of those small labels that put out consistently interesting records in attractive packages. and this record is definitely proof of that. the music is enigmatic, beguiling and uncommerical, and so is the packaging - no words on the sleeve, a solitary match glued to a sleeve that depicts hundreds of matches, the running order provided on a matchbook... that kind of thing.

and any label that's willing to release records including eletroscope is genuis in my book. ahem.

1. hood - i have it in my heart to jump into the ocean
2. the freed unit - picnic at stretton baskerville
3. ma cherie for painting - ola ola es una boa manha
4. lackluster - hyaline reverie
5. tank - kino art
6. electroscope - the prior eye
7. astorria - third movement
8. accelera deck - guided (a^d/ec.k-rmx)
9. five way mirror - libby marsh

released by rocket racer in 1999.

you dig.