TRACKLIST
1. Brian Eno - “Microsoft Windows 95 Theme”
1. Brian Eno - “Microsoft Windows 95 Theme”
2. Blu Anxxiety - “I Haunt Myself”
3. J.V.C.F.O.R.C.E. - “Strong Island”
4. C. Memi & Neo Matisse - “No Chocolate”
5. Mikan Mukku - “Kan”
6. Kimio Eto - “Yuki No Genso (Snow Fantasy)”
7. Los Diablos Rojos - “El Guapo”
8. Los Babys - “Jinetes En El Cielo”
9. Babatunde Olatunji - “Akiwowo (Chant of the Trainman)”
10. Farmers - “House of Pancakes”
11. Really Red - “Youth Culture For Sale”
12. Wire - “A Question of Degree”
13. Albert Ayler Trio - “The Wizard”
14. C. Memi & Neo Matisse - “ホロラヴァーズ ”
15. Juma - “化石になる日”
NOTES: On my recent trip to New York City, I made a point of visiting as many record stores as possible. I've been to the city twice before and on neither trip did I find the time to visit a record store. Granted, I had other stuff to do—the city is pretty big after all—and with my pick of things to do to pass the time, I found myself quite busy without spending all of my hard-earned on a handful of cherished records.
This time around, I swore things would be different. I was going to be in town for a week, so I knew I had to at least visit one shop in that time. There's gotta be at least 10 in the five boroughs, I figure. So, fast forward a week of bagels and more walking than I've ever done in my life, and I'm throwing away clothes to make room for my records in my carry-on bag. I packed clothes that I could part with in the event that this would need to happen, and lo and behold, I was right. I brought home 26 records from 7 different shops: Material World, Brooklyn Music Exchange, Academy Records, Record Grouch, The Thing, Rough Trade, and Alberto & Sons. The last place was a thrift shop that had a sizeable record collection, and considering I left with two Kraftwerk LPs and an Eno/Fripp collab, I deem it on the same level as my other record shopping experiences.
The first shop I stopped at, Material World, was also the one at which I spent the most money. I struck up a long conversation with the guy at the counter, Adam Whites, who it turned out co-owned the shop and also used to run a label called Katorga Works that's released a particular wealth of the releases that have helped shape the punk and punk-related scene of the past few years. These days though, Adam told me he runs a reissue label called Bitter Lake Recordings that has specialized in releasing a constant stream of underground gems from Japan's avant-garde 80s, forgotten tape collections, groups that no longer exist and have no interest in reliving their musical past in their present lives, and I got to hear a lot of it while hanging out in the shop. In fact, when my buddy Steven Salazar (of Shanghai Beach) and I walked in, Adam had been reviewing some masters on the shop sound system, and I was so taken with them, I pre-ordered a copy of the release they were going to be put on, along with most of the upcoming BLR catalog. Some of that is what you hear on the show today, C. Memi & Neo Matisse, Juma, Mikan Mukku, that stuff is all Bitter Lake. Once those new tapes drop in, I'll be sure to play those on the show, that is if they arrive before we reach episode 100!
Also a bit of personal news, I've moved to Weslaco for a few months to save money/pay off some debt. It's been a strange transition, but then again, when is moving not a completely discombobulating experience? Anyway, this little jumble my head has been in has given me some new priorities. I'm still going to pull the curtain on BLASST at 100 episodes, but perhaps it will not be gone forever. I just need to better manage my time so that I can pursue other projects. I want to do more design, I want to produce some zines, I also want to make some new music. More to come in the next few weeks. As always, thanks for listening. I lost my wallet a few days ago and cancelled my cards as a result, so my podcast hosting is suspended until I can reconnect a card to my account. That being said, all episodes of the show will only be on Mixcloud for the time being.
-A
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