Best And Coolest Blue Note Records

Blue Note Records is probably the coolest jazz label in the music industry since their establishment in 1939. There are three names that should be mentioned in the record companies’ success . Label’s house photographer Francis Wolff (1908 - 1971) , Reid Miles and the record engineer Rudy Van Gelder. Reid Miles did those classic covers and Blue Notes becomes an icon in the jazz world. I think Factory Records reached the same success  in rock music with its own style&sounds...

I choose my 10 favorite Blue Note records...

1 - Lee Morgan - Sidewinder

2 - Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin’

3- Hank Mobley - Workout

4- Dexter Gordon - Go!

5- Mccoy Tyner-The Real Mccoy

6- Joe Henderson- Mode For Joe

7 -Thelonious Monk -Genius of Modern Music: Volume 1

8 - Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch

9- Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil

10 - Herbie Hancock - Takin’ Off

KLAUS DINGER ( NEU STORY) ?

-KLAUS DINGER-(Neu! 1972) STORY?

A story should have a beginning, middle, and an end... but not necessarily in that order. Jean-Luc Goddard

There are some artists that we feel that we are obligated to thank. I do it very often even they are not aware of that. They make our crazy old cruel planet a nicer place. It doesn’t mean we all cry for days about the ugliness of our old world. But these people are maybe one big reason that we think&smile. Imagine a world without Dali, Tolstoy, Proust, Rembrandt, Miles Davis, and Rimbaud….. This list can start very easily and fortunately does not end so easy.

I know it’s kind of late to write something about it but when I heard Klaus Dinger’s death. I felt really funny. It feels like losing a friend. A friend you didn’t see for years but you always liked. I though right the away about my favorite Neu! Albums: 1972(white) and 1975(black).

Brian Eno said once: “There were three great beats in the 70s. Fela Kuti's Afrobeat, James Brown's funk, and Klaus Dinger's Neu! Beat.” It was obvious that Klaus Dinger was the main man of Neu! , he designed even those very arty, simple album covers. 

Any Neu! Fan knows the big conflict between Klaus Dinger(March 24, 1946 – March 21, 2008) and Michael Rother. To me they look like to enemies who like each others style. You can easily tell when you read their interviews that Klaus Dinger wasn’t the most easygoing guy on the earth, but luckily Michael Rother was! And I certainly believe that this tension creates this cosmic and magic energy to do these 2 albums (‘72 and ’75). The album Neu! 2 -which they recorded between these 2 albums- was made in a hurry (that’s what Klaus Dinger said!).But it’s still an interesting album with the “overdubs”. Klaus also played with the speed of the same songs and put them on the b-side as they were diffirent.That’s is a very smart “Klausich” solution for a though problem.

Michael Rother & Klaus Dinger

First Neu! Album is a very revolutionary music with very avant-garde ideas. You can’t compare this album with the other Krautrock albums. The opening song Hallogallo is over 9 minutes. It is a perfect example of the Neu! sound, they also call it Motorik but I read that Klaus Dinger uses “Lange Gerade” or “Endlose Gerade” which means “long line” or “endless line”. It’s simple but hypnotic. The second and third song Sonderangebot (bargain or sale) and Weissensee are similar and difficult pieces. Very minimalist and experimental. Then comes Im Gluck In the beginning you can hear a rowing boat. Klaus Dinger said that he recorded it when he was traveling with his girlfriend on the boat to Sweden. It’s like the second part of the Weissensee but a little more peaceful. If you are still on this album, you reached one of the most important song in the pop music history. Negativland is a cult song. Again very simple riff and a very simple primitive apache beat. Michael Rother plays bass on this song, Klaus adds a highly distortioned Japanese banjo on that. The funny thing about Negativland and Hallogallo-they are probably most known Neu! songs- are their length. They are both 9 minutes 47 seconds! These 2 songs also show us the direction of the Neu! sound which we will hear more on the Neu! ‘75(black) album. The last song Lieber Honig (Dear Honey) is about Klaus Dinger’s girlfriend Anita*. This is probably the creepiest love song in the music history among with Cheree of Suicide and Rote Lippen of DAF. Well, the album is over. Even though I listened hundreds of time I have the same reaction after each listening. Just staring to the walls…Lieber Honig is a really good final song for such a weird, unique album. When I heard that Klaus Dinger died I had the same funny feeling. What do you feel? Rest in Peace Herr Dinger.

*Klaus Dinger made another song about Anita(his swedish girlfriend) in 1983 called “Ich liebe dich (Jag älskar dig-swedish!!!)” even though they had to break up before 1975. 

Ps: I can think about one album very close to Neu! 72, but without stealing the ideas just with the same feeling. If you trust me dear reader, go and buy Boredoms’ Super Are (1998).

SURF’S UP,BUTTHOLE SURFERS IS HERE!

Chosing a name like Butthole Surfers is probably not a great start for a music career or I guess any kind of career. When you listen Butthole Surfers’ music  you will realize that these Dudes from Texas are not into any commercial success.

Gibby Haynes(the singer) and Paul Leary(guitarist) formed the band in 1981 in Texas and King Coffey(the drummer) joined them in 1983. The band had various numbers of bass player but Jeff Pinkus is with the band for the longest time. 

I was an innocent teenager untill I discover Butthole Surfers in my mid-teens thanks to Kurt Cobain. In his interviews he introduces  bands like Raincoats , Young Marble Giants , Flipper, Half Japanese and many others...

Butthole Surfers made some great albums, their music is uber-psychedelic with a  good rock&roll base. Their lyrics can creates easily many scandals if they were a little popular. They love the mix punk,country,folk,psychedelic and electronica and then the singer Gibby Haynes spiced it up with his weird vocals and some sound manipulation.

Their third album Locust Abortion Technician is as important Daydream Nation(Sonic Youth) in the American rock music history , allthough I recommend Independent Worm Saloon (It's produced by Led Zeppelin Man John Paul Jones) for beginners , because L.A.T is really twisted as hell!!! 

I never saw them live before but I heard they do have excellent performance with some additional  visiual effects(weird video footage etc.). So be ready to see this Grotesque Punk-Rockers from Texas at Commodore on October 12! 

Butthole Surfers Discography :

Psychic... Powerless... Another Man's Sac (1984)

Rembrandt Pussyhorse (1986)

Locust Abortion Technician (1987)

Hairway to Steven (1988)

piouhgd (1991)

Independent Worm Saloon (1993)

Electriclarryland (1996)

Psychic...Powerless.... Man's Sac

Weird Revolution (2001)

October Tour Dates

Oct. 5 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall - get tickets
Oct. 6 - Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre - get tickets
Oct. 7 - Chicago, IL - Metro (kick off for Riot Fest) - get tickets
Oct. 9 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre - get tickets
Oct. 10 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge - get tickets
Oct. 12 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom - get tickets
Oct. 13 - Seattle, WA - Showbox - get tickets
Oct. 14 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom - get tickets
Oct. 16 - San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom w/ The Melvins - get tickets
Oct. 17 - San Diego, CA - Canes w/ The Melvins - get tickets
Oct. 18 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia w/ The Melvins - get tickets
Oct. 30 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre w/ Peaches - get tickets
Oct. 31 - Austin, TX - Stubb's w/ Peaches - get tickets

Os Mutantes (with Strange Magic) 2009 Vancouver Show

Os Mutantes’ show was originally scheduled in the Commodore on September 3rd 2009 but then the venue changed to  the Rio Theatre on Commercial Drive. Well, I was not super happy about this change; even though the band is Brazilian and playing at “Rio” Theatre...

First of all , people were buying popcorn! That’s really bizarre because Os Mutantes was a freaky-voodoo psychedelic rock band in the 60’s , and I guess their Vancouver fans can do whatever they want , which includes eating popcorn while watching Os Mutantes.

The opening band was Strange Magic from Vancouver. They have a new EP called “Songs to Burn” .They were good but the sound system was bad and yeah they were the opening band and people at Rio Theatre were hungry for their popcorn! I’m not sure if I liked them so I will probably see Strange Magic one more time(hopefully there won’t be any popcorn this time!) They reminded me a little bit Stereolab.

Os Mutantes is touring for their new album Haih or Amortecedor. It’s totally a new line up with the original founding member Sergio Dias. Sergio was wearing his magic robe, similar to the one that he was wearing on their super cosmic debut album’s cover.

They had a mixed set with their old and new material both in English and Portugese.  They played “A Minha Menina,” probably one of their best songs. The new songs are good although there was one cheesy salsa song, which I could have done without.  There is also one song on this album that Sergio Dias said he co-wrote with Tom Ze (another important Brazilian musician from Tropicalia Movement) when you heard it you could tell it had that weird Tom Ze vibe, the song is called '2000 e Agarrum!' The guitarist played clarinet on the new songs and I think that the clarinet mixed with Os Mutantes’ sound very well.

They concert finished with their voodoo mantra Bat Macumba, which I really enjoyed. Overall it was a good concert -in a better place, at a better time, it would have been....better! When I say that I am talking about the Rio Theatre and the audience (a few drunk, popcorn eating yahoos). There were lot of distractions, the lighting and sound system was not good and it was a little difficult to focus on the band’s performance. 

Hey , did you notice that I used the word “popcorn” more than Os Mutantes. 

Ps :

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PELE OR OS MUTANTES

I knew very little about Brazil until few years ago. As a soccer fan I believe Brazilians make soccer an art. So my knowledge was limited with only Brazilian Soccer players and I am still big fan of Pele,Romario,Zico,Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and many more.

But then probably 4-5 years ago I listened Soul Jazz Records release Tropicalia A Brazilian Revolution in Sound-Soul Jazz Records-2006 and I was in a big shock! All the tunes in this album are so good,so strange and beautiful...

 I was so glad to discover Os Mutantes(They have 6 songs in the Compilation by Soul Jazz Records) and I believe that they are probably the best Brazilian band. Their music is so unique, they called it Tropicalia but it thas almost every strange elements of music. I can never guess what they were drinking while they create these songs and sound. It’s magic,psychedelic,up beat and you just want to learn Portuguese right away.

It was formed by Baptista Brothers and Rita Lee in the early sixties. Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil introduce them to the troplicalia music scene. For a long time they have troubles with the military government in Brazil at that time.

Their self titled album Os Mutantes is a great sample of psychedelic rock with a Brazilian influence. The most amazing thing is their musical sound that they create in songs like “Bat Macumba” . “Ave,Gengis Khan” , “A Minha Menina”. 

They influenced many musicians  like Beck,David Byrne,Flaming Lips, Akron/Family etc...

The good news is I have my ticket for Thursday(They are playing at Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver -September 3) and I’ll sing  the song Bat Macumba with them...What about you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2EKghlmIyQ&feature=related

Is Grolsch only "A Beer" ?

You know that beer is good for you! I learned it when I was 13 or 14 , it was winter and I was at the beach. It was so cold and the beer bottle was freezing , After couple of minutes I couldn’t feel my fingers and I was still holding it. Having said that I am 30 something now and I am an adult( at least by the laws). One good thing about being adult is having the option to drink beer at home!

Anyways , I suppose to write this about Grolsch , eh? Grolsch is a good beer,nice and crisp pilsner with a lager feeling. But its bottle makes it so special. You can simply open it by hand using a lever at the side of the bottleneck and another thing if it’s your last beer and you don’t think you can’t finish it (because you are an adult and you know what’s gonna happen if you finish that beer) , you don’t have to waste it.It’s a swing-top cap , close it and put it in the fridge back. Next morning(sorry) , next evening you can have it again and it’s still perfect.

And then once you finish it , wash it very nicely and now you have a nice bottle with a perfect cap. I know many home brewers use it but I am not one of them. I use it for to put olive oil. It’s a nice bottle and technically it’s free!

Ladies and gentlemen , I am smart... And I love you all.

Last words , drink beer and use lots of olive oil(it is the only secret for a good salad!)...

I am friend with Damo Suzuki(Damo Suzuki at Biltmore in Vancouver)

I remember when I was 15 or 16 ,this Dutch guy called Gerard suggest me this band called Can. It was their album “Ege Bamyasi(Aegean Okra)” , I can pronounce it perfect because turkish is my first language.It’s Can’s perfect answer to pop art. It’s a “can” of okra on a black background. It was so bizarre and back then I was not bizarre enough to buy the album for another couple years. But after I first listened I was regret to wait for few years.

About 3 weeks ago I saw the poster about Damo Suzuki’s concert at Biltmore and I was pretty excited.

On the concert night ,right after I parked my car , I was walking to the venue and there he was. I wasn’t sure first and I though the question “Are you Damo Suzuki” would be too stupid. I guess I starred at him too long , he asked me if I was gonna see the show. Then I was damned sure that it was him. Damo Suzuki was talking to me!!!!

Another legend The Fall’s singer Mark E. Smith made a song called “ I am Damo Suzuki” and now I am talking to Damo Suzuki. He was wearing Italian National Team’s Soccer t-shirt( I think that’s enough weird.He is a Japanese guy who lives in Germany. )

He said he arrived one day before and had to leave Vancouver 5 in the morning on sunday.He didn’t look very happy about it. I was excited to hear that he lives in Cologne(in Dusseldorf) , where there were few legend Krautrockers made great albums like Neu!,La Dusseldorf and Can. He didn’t like me to use the word Krautrock, he said that it is German Rock.

Luckily i wasn’t too lazy to bring my camera with me and I have got some picture taken. He had some nice friends there( I don’t know if he knew them before), some german immigrants who came here long time ago.

Damo Suzuki said that he like the challenging part of what he is doing because he doesn’t have a band and that’s why it’s called Damo Suzuki’s Network. In each city he plays with different musicians that he never met before.

Anyways , after our nice chat I went in. Biltmore’s staff are friendly plus they have one of the best beer in BC, Phillips Blue Buck Ale.

The opening band Defektors were pretty good , it was the first time I saw and heard them. It’s a trio and they reminded me a little bit Minutemen. Their performance was very good but I believe that they better keep some of their songs shorter.

Then Damo Suzuki came to the stage with this band named “ Sex Negatives” . They were mostly improvising pretty loudly , which became annoying sometimes because I couldn’t hear Damo Suzuki. It was a long set without a stop . Damo Suzuki was like a Shaman and his singing healed all our devil sides. When it was over ,everybody was tired and it included the fans.

August 9 2009,Vancouver

ISTANBUL ( NOT CONSTANTINOPLE) !

Is Istanbul not Constantinople ( or the question is - was Istanbul not Constantinople)?...In fact it was and it is. Istanbul has had so many names, nowadays nobody remembers those beautiful names. Well maybe a few people who are into history know some of the names but not your average Istanbul’lu( Istanbulite).

The Ottomans(1299-1923) took over Istanbul/Constantinople in 1453. Starting with this period until 17th century Ottoman Empire spanned 3 continents(Europe,Asia and Africa). Istanbul was always the centre of any interactions between East and West.In its long history, Istanbul has served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330–395), the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922).

The Ottoman Kings surprisingly, used Constantinople, as well as Bab-i Ali and Dersaadet. Other popular names for Istanbul were Byzantine, Nea Roma, Tsarigrad, Stinpolis, Islambol, Dar’ussaadet. According to Professor Ilber Ortayli (a very sweet and cool Turkish professor, and fortunately popular these days) Ottoman Emperors finished their writings with the phrase“ Be makam-i Konstantiniyye el mahmiyye (Well Protected Constantinople Centre)” - it’s old turkish but I tried my best to translate it.

I would like to introduce Ilber Ortayli a little bit: he is an important academician and speaks/reads about 15 languages. After teaching in several universities in Europe,Russia and Turkey he became head of the Topkapi Palace Museum (where Ottoman Kings lived almost 400 years) in Istanbul, which is another great reason to visit the Palace. It’s probably the most important museum in Turkey. I have to add that when you visit this place that you will have also probably the best view of Istanbul,oops Constantinople.

PS :

1- Did I forget to mention that Konyali Restaurant (one of oldest restaurants in Istanbul with the best location) is in Topkapi Palace. I swear to God , once you eat a Doner Kebab there , you’ll never even walk by those falafel,shwarma etc... things in North America.

2-The city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. The historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

DAMO SUZUKI @ BILTMORE ( GOT MY FEVER,WHY DO I GO?)

Probably the most popular Japanese singer in the world is coming to Vancouver in August 8.We should go and watch the show.But I can hear your question in my head; “who is he,who is he?” . And my job is trying to explain this legend old man.Not that old compared to Mick Jagger, he is almost 60.

He was the singer of the legendary German band Can. Can was a Krautrock band and influenced so many music bands like Sex Pistols’ singers John Lydon’s own band Public Image Ltd., Primal Scream,The Fall,Radiohead,Flaming Lips etc...

The front man of Can’s Holger Czukay met him on the street while he was busking(1970). Well it’s weird but true , he was sitting in a Cafe in Munich and heard Damo Suzuki singing and they needed a singer very urgent (they arranged a show that night and the previous singer Malcolm Mooney had just quit the band because of a nervous breakdown) and he accepted the invitation.Their first album together was Tago Mago and it is probably still one of the most important experimental rock album in the music history.

He was a member of Can for three years and they recorded 5 albums and one compilation called Unlimited Edition(which is great!). He mostly improvised in these albums and song sometimes the weirdest things but they were so beautiful...

My favorite Can song is “Bring me Coffee or Tea” from Tago Mago and the lyrics goes like this...

You just smile at me,

You're just on my knee,

Bring me coffee or tea,

Call me pretty little bee.

Whisper in my ear, lad,

You're still my parent friend,

Throw me out of my bag,

Ask me Are you dead?

He quit music in 1973 , and become a Jehovah’s Witness. He started playing music again in 1983 and has been touring with lots of different musicians ever since. It will be an interesting show for sure...

Got my fever,why do I go?*

* from Halleluhwah by Can&Damo Suzuki