2 with ten – the letter h
hardknox. i found this bio and it’s really accurate “Equipped with the streetwise fury of a junglist, the uncompromising angst of a metal rocker, and the discriminating taste of a Big Beat cut ‘n’ paster, Lindy Layton and Steve P — better known as the seasoned production duo Hardknox — overturn electronic music conventions into bloody, indistinguishable masses of sound. Scorched basslines press up against blistering breakbeats as screaming guitars survey the resulting ruination like shocked onlookers to a train wreck. Featuring a cameo by Schoolly D on their self-titled 1999 full-length debut, the grungy sounds of Hardknox first appeared on Skint Records (home of Big Beat king Fatboy Slim.) Hardknox’s window-cracking, wall-shuddering, speaker-busting sonic brutalism plays out like a lesson learned the hard way, spraying hooks with all the lethal fury of gunfire“.
i first heard of hardknox in 1999 when their self-titled debut landed on my desk. at the time i thought it was one of the better records i had heard primarily because of the aggressive nature to it all. the album moves into some dark dreamy patches at times but there are always aggressive almost abusive undertones throughout. to this day hardknox remains as a staple on my shuffle as i pretty much only listen to this when im doing something physical and aggressive like working out or running. this definitely isnt a band for everybody but im very specific in how i “use” (listen to) hardknox. it works really well for me in that regard and i suggest you track this cd down if u like to listen to music when u exercise. the track i chose cos i can is the first track i ever heard as well as the first track that hooked me. hope u investigate more.
the h’s on both my desk top and lap top computers are pretty f’n weak. it’s always so much nicer when u have a ton of choices – maybe that’s why i have scratched my head over this second choice for a while. im not sure what this phenomenon is called but when i look at my library i have a bunch of singles by a bunch of h’s but not too many full albums. obviously this is the sign of the times as we move away from the full album paradigm into the age of digital singles. i mean, west indian girl’s next release is going to be a digital twin single so im not really complaining…just commenting – good or bad im not sure but that’s present day reality. i honestly dont have anything i feel really strongly about as it pertains to a new band. im sure some of u will mention health or the horrors and i hope u do because i want to listen to more of them. for both of the bands i only have a few tracks in my library but nothing where i can confidently say “i love this band and this album and here’s why”. i feel i would undermine my own credibility if i broke my own rules and just mentioned a trendy h pick based on just a song or 2.
heatwave. taking a page out of one of our regular blog-poster’s (nick d) book i’m going with a band from the 70’s. why? well the reason is this…while researching all my h’s i found heatwave’s story to be the most enjoyable to read because i honestly didnt know anything about them except that they wrote disco songs. please check out the bio i have linked because it’s a great read – i had no idea that their keyboardist and leader rod temperton went on to write and produce so many hit songs…esp with michael jackson. plus the picture i found of them is pretty classic – they look like they would still be really cool today. anyway, chalk heatwave up to a lesson in 70’s disco fusion. another reason i chose this song was because of the first 33 second dreamy jazzy intro which im sure so many people forget is even there. it’s pretty awesome how they started this song and how it drops right into that classic groove. normally i dont post videos but damn this is awesome – the amps the outfits the moves. makes me feel good.
Bonus: 80’s cheeseball or synth pop genius…u make the call on this one. funny how the more digging u do the more u sometimes end up kind of liking someone in a very warped way. for example i had no idea that harold faltermeyer was an arranger on giorgio moroder’s soundtrack to the 1978 film midnight express, which if u havent seen u should because it’s a great movie. anyway…isnt it amazing how much money a person can actually make in this industry? fletch anyone. shit, his official site claims that this song is actually the biggest selling ring tone of all time. damn, good god harold.
OK PLEASE SEND ME NEW MUSIC!!! IDEALLY FROM THE LAST 2 YEARS – I DESIRE RECENT H’S
About The Author
Francis Ten
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I’m acronym impaired, its HTDA. I guess I like typing T&A together. 😉
Wow, so many suggestions to check out since I last checked the H’s.
Well, Fran it looks like you procrastinated long enough that a new H band has been born while we were waiting for your responses, and I can’t help but wonder… what are your first impressions of Mariqueen’s new project, How To Destroy Angels? http://pitchfork.com/news/38686-how-to-destroy-angels-a-drowning/
I’m a big fan of downtempo, and love ethereal sounding female vocalists, but was a little underwhelmed by the debut track. I know you will give a very balanced and honest review as you always do, so I look forward to your analysis. I’ll reserve final judgement on the project in total, until I’ve heard a little more, but am leaning toward disappointed.
While I’m on a kick of saying aloud the things that wiser people only think quietly to themselves…. I must say, I find it
interesting, that the HDTA project didn’t really use any of the Indie band promotion methods, that Trent has been enamored/experimenting with lately. What is your take on that?
Thanks dylan for turning me onto ‘Health’, very cool. ILIFF thanks for reminding me about ‘Haysi Fantayzee’, completely forgot about that band & song – what a blast from the past. Derek A. really enjoyed discovering ‘Helio Sequence’ – Gr8 music, one of my new favorites! Thanks all! 🙂
crap franny , I did it wrong . just skip me in your mention . I’ll get it rite for “I’s” xoxo
/Users/robinvincent/Desktop/03 Everybody’s Talkin’ (From _Midnight Cowboy_).m4p Again Franny I hope I did this right . I’ve always Loved Harry Nilsson’s midnight cowboy . And the Heavy , not sure how I found them . Like but not love them . /Users/robinvincent/Desktop/01 Brukpocket’s Lament.m4p
THE HIGH WATER MARKS
‘Queen Of Verlaine’
http://blip.fm/~mr7v2
‘The High Water Marks’ is an indie rock band associated with the Elephant 6 collective.
The band has two lead creative members, Hilarie Sidney and Per Ole Bratset, who co-write the band’s music. Hilarie Sidney, drummer for ‘The Apples in Stereo’ and Per Ole Bratset of the band ‘Palermo’ met during an ‘Apples in Stereo’ performance in Oslo, Norway. The two became friends and began recording songs together through the mail before deciding to record together in the United States.
Sidney and Bratset, now married, were joined by Jim Lindsay (former ‘Oranger’ member and ‘Preston School of Industry’ contributor) and Mike Snowden (known for his work in ‘Von Hemmling’) to play drums and bass, respectively. With this four member lineup, ‘The High Water Marks’ recorded the album ‘Polar’, which was released September 2007.
‘Queen Of Verlaine’ is off the band’s debut album ‘Songs About the Ocean’ which was recorded with Sidney and Bratset performing all of the instruments themselves.
HAALE
‘Home Again’
http://blip.fm/~mrytq
Haale (as in halle-lujah or jalepeno), is a Bronx-born woman of Iranian descent whose name means the ‘halo around the moon.’ Her songs are trance-inducing, rhythmically propulsive, and lyrically engaging tapestries that draws on both Persian mystical and American psychedelic musical traditions.
She released two mesmerizing EPs in January 2007: ‘Morning’ and ‘Paratrooper’ — and spent the year touring across the country and in Europe, at venues such as the Bonnaroo Festival, SXSW, and the Mimi Festival in France. She performed at David Byrne’s Nonesuch-sponsored series at Carnegie Hall, recorded with Sean Lennon (on ‘Before the Skies’), and shared the stage with such diverse artists as the legendary Hugh Masakela and Odetta.
While back at home from touring, Haale and producer/percussionist Matt Kilmer went to work on their first full-length debut, ‘No Ceiling.’ It was released on March 18, 2008, to critical acclaim, hailed “one of the year’s most memorable releases,” by the Boston Globe. The album features players Shahzad Ismaily, Mike Gamble, Doug Wieselman, Chris Hoffman, and Johnny
Gandlesman and co-writing by Matt Kilmer and Dougie Bowne.
On the breathtaking full-length debut, “No Ceiling” Haale explores themes of transformation and evolution, singing in English and Persian through a riveting soundscape of percussion, psychedelic guitars, and soaring strings.
Haale also contributed 2 tracks to the 2007 collaborative album ‘The Sandinista! Project – A Tribute to The Clash’ covering the song ‘One More Time’ along with an alternative version of the same song called ‘One More Dub’.
‘Home Again’ is off the 2007 EP release ‘Paratrooper’.
On last H… The Hold Steady, nobody posted them yet. These guys have put out good record after good record… and a new record is coming before summer 2010. Here’s one to slam a few beers to… cheers!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d87LmzCn0Ps&feature=related
sorry for the twenty posts… my machine is buggin out… or this blog is buggin out… smack me now.
Holy Ghost… any track will do but if you want guidance… check “Hold Onâ€
http://www.myspace.com/holyghostnyc
Hearts Revolution… check out “Dance Till Dawn†or “Digital Suicideâ€
http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=5518648&ap=0&albumid=11303985&songid=43210954
i guess i did actually respond to this but my comment is still awaiting moderation… i said holy ghost and hearts revolution. just to make this simple… here is a copy of my post…
i guess i did actually respond to this but my comment is still awaiting moderation… i said holy ghost and hearts revolution. just to make this simple… here is a copy of my post…
Holy Ghost… any track will do but if you want guidance… check “Hold Onâ€
http://www.myspace.com/holyghostnyc
Hearts Revolution… check out “Dance Till Dawn†or “Digital Suicideâ€
http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=5518648&ap=0&albumid=11303985&songid=43210954