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We kick off tonight with some heavy South London dubstep before heading to Finland, India and then Barcelona, Berlin and back again with a short stopover in 70s synth-fuelled disco . . .

Search & Destroy - Candyfloss (Loefah remix) [HFRMX01] (Hotflush)
Loefah - Root [DMZ06] (DMZ)
DJ Pinch & P Dutty - War Dub [TEC01] (Tectonic)
Skream - Glamma [Skreamizm Volume 1] (Tempa)
Paavoharju - Valo Tihkuu Kaiken Läpi [Yhä Hämärää] (Fonal)
Alka Yagnik & Ila Arun - Choli Ke Peeeche [The Very Best Bollywood Songs] (Outcaste)
Filastine - Judas Goat [Burn It] (Soot)
Nettle - Untitled (Canci'n'hiphop Arabe by Nettle ft Aziz Arradi) [Nettle Remixes] (theAgriculture)
Ghislain Poirier - Simplicité Volontaire [Breakupdown] (Chocolate Industries)
Ellen Allien & Apparat - Metric [Orchestra Of Bubbles] (bPitch Control)
Datasette - Can You Smell Maths [Split EP1] (Ai)
Röyksopp - What Else Is There? (The Emperor Machine Dub Version) [What Else Is There? EP] (Wall of Sound)
Shogun Kunitoki - 1918-1926 [Tasankokaiku] (Fonal)
Lusine & David Wingo - Locks [Idol Tryouts Two] (Ghostly International)
Kiila - Kateet Linnut [Silmät Sulkaset] (Fonal)
Loka - Safe Self Tester [Fire Shepherds] (Ninja Tune)
Clark - Herr Bar [Throttle Furniture] (Warp)

Coldcut - Aid Dealer (feat Soweto Kinch) [Everything Is Under Control] (Ninja Tune)
Ellen Alien & Apparat - Do Not Break [Orchestra Of Bubbles] (bPitch Control)
Wax Factor - Reggaenomics (Luna Landa version) [Sci-Fu] (Needlework)
Jimmy Edgar - I Wanna Be Your STD [Color Strip] (Warp)
Modern Institute - Stairs [Excellent Swimmer] (Expanding)
Miller & Fiam - Thousand Francs [Modern Romance] (Expanding)
Burnt Friedman & Jaki Liebezeit - Broken Wind Repair [Secret Rhythms Vol 2] (Nonplace)
Paavoharju - Ikuisuuden Maailma [Yhä Hämärää] (Fonal)
Sigur Ros - Ba Ba [Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do] (EMI)
The Advisory Circle - And The Cuckoo Comes [Mind How You Go] (Ghost Box)
The Focus Group - Jout Sections [Sketches & Spells] (Ghost Box)
Jan Jelinek - Im Diskodickicht [Kosmicher Pitch] (~scape)
Tunng - No Man Can Find The War [Dream Brother: The Songs Of Tim & Jeff Buckley] (Full Time Hobby)
Chocolate Watchband - Voyage Of The Trieste [The Inner Mystique] (Big Beat UK)
Strawberry Alarm Clock - Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow [Incense & Peppermints] (MCA)
Erkin Koray - Ay Bir Tane [Benden Sana] (Koktas)
Rich Boy - Get To Poppin (Inst) [Get To Poppin 12"] (Interscope)
About - Stack Of Marshalls [Bongo] (Cock Rock Disco)

More info on the Paradigm Shift radio show and Cyclic Defrost Magazine. Sydney Australia.

Streaming weekly from 2ser in Sydney 2030-2200 Mondays, GMT+10

More info on the Paradigm Shift radio show and Cyclic Defrost Magazine. Sydney Australia.

Pulseprogramming - Within The Orderly Life (Sylvain Chauveau remix) [Tulsa For One Second Remix Project] (Aesthetics)
Coldcut w/Saul Williams - Mr Nichols [Sound Mirrors] (Ninja Tune)
Waxfactor - A Famous Myth [Gameface EP] (Lex)
Waxfactor - Plead The Fifth [Gameface EP] (Lex)
Monolake - Occam [Hong Kong] (Chain Reaction)
Monolake - Plumbicon [Polygon Cities] (Imbalance)
Lee Grainge & Steve Sullivan - No Lock Up [No Lightweight Stuff] (Bluetrain)
Claro Intellecto - Thieves [Warehouse Sessions Volume 1] (Modern Love)
Modeselektor - Fake Emotion (Dabrye remix) [Hello Mom Remixes] (bPitch Control)
Ellen Alien & Apparat - Metric [Orchestra Of Bubbles] (bPitch Control)
Picchio dal Pozzo - Merta [Prog Is Not A Four Letter Word] (Delay68)
Battles - hi_lo [EP C] (Warp)
Kemialliset Ystävät - Savuava Harmonia [Alkuhärkä] (Fonal)
Yo La Tengo - How Some Jellyfish Are Born [The Sounds Of The Sounds Of Science] (Egon)
Baris Manco - Lambaya Puf De [Prog Is Not A Four Letter Word] (Delay68)
Tom Zé - Gloria [Tropicália - A Brazilian Revolution In Sound] (Soul Jazz)

Daedelus - Impending Doom EP (Ninja Tune)
Depth Affect - Arche Lymb (Autres Directions In Music)
Ellen Allien & Apparat - Orchestra of Bubbles (Bpitch Control)
Fripp & Eno - Evening Star (Editions EG)
King Crimson - In The Wake of Poseidon (Island)
Mogwai - Friend of The Night EP (Matador)
múm - Live in Reykjavik (Bootleg)
Ricardo Villalobos - Achso EP (Cadenza)
Sigur Rós & Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson - Hrafnagaldur Óðins (Bootleg)
Zucchini Drive - Being Kurtwood (2.nd Rec)

So I caved in and made a top 25. This was an interesting year. Lots of disappointments (even many on my list are disappointments), and a year when I found myself many times enjoying EP’s more than albums (that’s not usually the case). This year was definitely an example of why you need more than a first impression to rate an album. This was also the first year I dedicated myself to learn more about Indie Rock music, and I tried to keep up with the new releases with mixed results. Anyways, here is my list. It will no doubt look a lot different once I hear more of the 2005 releases on lists like Boomkat’s (investigating a lot of those right now). Without further do, here is my list. I elaborated on the top ten.

1. Boards of Canada, The Campfire Headphase [Warp] - Sure, this was a disappointment after Geogaddi. Initially, I was very disappointed, and wasn’t listening to it much, It wasn’t until later when I made a conscious effort to enjoy it for what it was, and then I started to really sense the greatness of the album. Still nothing I’d put on par with their last two albums, but there is a lot to love here.

2. Prefuse 73, Surrounded by Silence [Warp] - Again, something I initially filed as a disappointment. It didn’t push Prefuse’s sound like One Word Extinguisher and was just a clutter of collaborations. I didn’t really like it until I stopped looking at it as a follow-up and looked at it more as what Herren envisioned it as, the mix tape of his mind. Looking at it in this way, it’s a real enjoyable mix of lots of styles. Herren’s work with some of these collaborators is really something they’d never achieve on their own, and the album creates fresh sounds with the clash of styles moreso than Prefuse’s beats.

3. Boom Bip, Blue Eyed in the Red Room [Lex] – Boy, has Boom Bip really shifted gears in the last year or so. Seed to Sun was a hit and miss instrumental hip hop record, but with Corymb and now this great record, he’s almost pushing into experimental electronic or Post-Rock territory. I think it’s been a real step up in quality though. The vocal collaborations are both very strong (Do’s And Don’ts has to be one of the best singles of the year), and the instrumental work can get downright amazing. Just listen to “Cimple” or “Eyelashings”. Boom Bip is becoming a real musician instead of just a producer, and it’s a metamophosis I’m loving to watch unfold.

4. Bonobo, Live Sessions [Ninja Tune] - I’ve always liked Bonobo’s downtempo, future jazz grooves, but this record blew me away. Bonobo takes his electronic arrangements and adapts them to a full-on jazz band live performance. Not only is it amazing how well these tracks translate to live instruments, but also the live improvisation is quite impressive. I would love to see this actually done live. Let’s not forget the two other tracks here as well. “Recurring” makes me excited for his next album, and it’s nice to see the Four Tet remix get a CD release.

5. Apparat, Silizium [Shitkatapult] – Apparat has become on the best electronic producers of the new millennium. Duplex was flat out geniu, and the vocal work he introduced on that record with “Contradiction” is expanded on this EP, and given more prominence. Apparat has to be the lead in adapting vocal arrangements to IDM sound scapes. Just listen to “Komponent” or “Not A Good Place”. The electronic sounds are never patronizing as with bands like The Postal Service, and the glitchy elements of his music never seem to overshadow the vocals. Just great work I think will influence a lot of electronic producers in the future.

6. Venetian Snares, Rossz Csillag Alatt Szuletett [Planet Mu] – I am not a VSnares fan. Let me just say that. I think much of his work is childish and unlistenable. I haven’t been able to get into anything of his besides the Moonglow 7”. So when I heard about the approach of this new record, my interest was piqued, but I didn’t actually think I would like it. Boy, was I wrong. This is an incredible achievement for Snares, showing he can take his Breakcore sound and give it substance instead of just comedy or Satanist references.

7. Bibio, Fi [Mush] - One of the nice surprises of 2005. Coming with a recommendation from Boards of Canada, this record got a lot of press, so I heard some samples and wasn’t impressed. It wasn’t until later when I listened to the album as a whole that I learned its true genius. This record is definitely more than the sums of its parts. His acoustic guitar and warbly drones envelope you when listening to album, and you’re almost transported for the full album.

8. Prefuse 73 and The Books, Prefuse 73 Reads The Books [Warp] - After hearing “Pagina Dos” on Surrounded By Silence, I was expecting some really funky, upbeat stuff from this EP. Besides that track though, it was really downtempo, which was a welcome surprise. The Books must be just a dream to remix. So much potential. I’m not sure Prefuse 73 realized all of that potnential, but he did some awesome reworks, and with this and his LP from this year, laid a ground work for collaborations between electronic and indie artists that could be a great thing.

9. Four Tet, Everything Ecstatic [Domino] – First off, let me say that “Smile Around The Face” is my song of the year. Just incredible. The rest of the album isn’t really in the same vein, which threw me off a little, but it is quite a good record, even if not on par with Rounds. The instrumentation is as strong as ever even without the guitars, and he’s created some really epic tracks without retreading past material. I think this will be seen somewhat as a transitional album for Four Tet, and you can tell he’s still figuring some sounds out on the record, but what is there is strong, and of course the single “Smile Around The Face” is just a monster track.

10. Lackluster, What You Want Isn't What You Need [New Speak] – It’s been a real struggle for Lackluster. He’s made some of the most memorable IDM in the last few years in my opinion, but he’s still having trouble even getting record labels to release his material. So, seeing him be able to release this even if some of it was old was welcoming. Upon first listen, I had heard some tracks before, but what’s refreshing is that a) these tracks are still strong despite their age, and b) the new material is as strong as the old material. The result is a marvellous little mini-album, and it’s just great to see that there are labels willing to release his work after him having so much trouble recently.

11. Kettel, Through Friendly Waters [Sending Orbs]
12. Jackson and His Computer Band, Smash [Warp]
13. Akron/Family, Akron/Family [Young God]
14. Esthero, We R in Need of a Musical Revolution [Reprise]
15. Aoki Takamasa and Tujiko Noriko, 28 [FatCat]
16. Broadcast, Tender Buttons [Warp]
17. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah [Clap Your Hands Say Yeah]
18. Minotaur Shock, Maritime [4AD]
19. Bonobo, Solid Steel Presents Bonobo: It Came From The Sea [Ninja Tune]
20. Esthero, Wikked Lil Grrrls [Reprise]
21. Chevron, Everything’s Exactly The Same [Planet Mu]
22. Broken Social Scene, Broken Social Scene [Arts & Crafts International]
23. Skalpel, Konfusion [Ninja Tune]
24. Luke Vibert, Lover’s Acid [Planet Mu]
25. LCD Soundsystem, LCD Soundsystem [Astralwerks]

This sunday I listened to Savath + Savalas, Six Organs of Admittance, The New Pornographers, Low, Clogs, Feist, Apparat, Anthony & The Johnsons, Marc Ribot, Talking Heads, Madvillain, The Streets and Maarten van Roozendaal.

I won Astral Disaster with an internet auction. And I got a notice from Boudisque that the first pressing of Ape Of Naples is already sold out. Unbelievable.

Yesterday I finished my first mix with the use of the wonderful Mixmeister programme. The second one is already in the making. Excellent stuff to fuel my (and your) mp3 player.

Antony and the Johnsons - I Fell in Love with A Dead Boy EP (Secretly Canadian)
Apparat - Duplex (Shitkatapult)
Castanets - First Light's Freeze (Ashmattic Kitty)
Cristian Vogel - 1968 Holes EP (Mute)
Encre - Common Chord (Clapping Music)
Funkstörung - Funkenstört EP (Compost)
Giardini di Mirò - Boys Scares Are Guide To Rebellion EP (EarSugar)
Hot Chip - Over and Over EP (DFA)
Jason Forrest - Lady Fantasy EP (Sonig)
john dalhbäck & Axel Bartsch - Speicher 32 (Kompakt)
Krazy Baldhead - Bill's Break EP (Ed Banger Records)
Nico - Desertshore (Reprise)
Nina Simone - Wild is The Wind (Philips)
Pillow - Flowing Seasons (2.ND Rec)
Various Artists - Never Be Alone EP (Ed Banger Records)
Vicarious Bliss - Theme From Vicarious Bliss (Ed Banger Records)
Web - The Eva EP (FatCat)
Whignomy Brothers - Bodyrock EP (Freude Am Tanzen)

taken from http://www.2ndrec.com/blog/2006/01/02/what-2006-will-bring/

As promised earlier in this blog, we’ll release a free MP3 compilation with songs from our back catalog plus two tracks from upcoming releases in the next few days (still working on it).

January will also see the release of an EP by a new hip hop group called Zucchini Drive, which consists of Marcus from Stacs of Stamina and Tom from Cavemen Speak. The EP will contain 6 tracks, 3 songs produced by Aqua Luminus III & Markus Acher (Notwist, 13 & God, Lali Puna etc), Lord Grunge (Grand Buffet) and Pilot Balloon and 3 remixes by Tepr, Hitch and Corrado Nuccini (Giardini di Mirò).

Luca di Mira aka Pillow, keyboarder of Giardini di Mirò, will release his solo album in February. We’ve posted some info about it earlier, so if you want to know more about it, click here.

The Zucchini Drive full-length “Being Kurtwood” is due in March, right in time for their European tour. Production for this record was done by various producers, like Styrofoam, Alias, Populous, Giardini di Miro, b.fleischmann and others.

Giardini di Mirò will release the 2nd part of “North Atlantic Treaty Of Love”. This 12″ will be strictly limited and comes with a hand screened sleeve (like the first one). The 12″ will feature two new Giardini di Mirò songs and two remixes by Alias (Anticon) and Apparat (Shitkatapult).
We’ll also release a CD combining all 8 songs from both 12″s.

Corrado, guitarist of Giardini di Mirò, just finished the final mixes of his Nuccini! album and it turned out even better than we’ve expected. Corrado did all the production (and some vocals) and invited Tom (Zucchini Drive), Bleubird and Nomad to add their raps and singing. The result is hard to describe, some songs sound like Godspeed You Black Emporer doing hip hop, some tracks are quite funky and rocking with crazy raps, but there are also very beautiful, melancholic ballads on the record. Corrado uploaded two songs to his myspace page, so check it out.

That’s all we can talk about right now, but there’s more in the making…


Giardini di Mirò
Zucchini Drive
Nuccini!
Pillow
Stacs of Stamina
Cavemen Speak
13 & God
The Notwist
Pilot Balloon
Grand Buffet
Tepr
Hitch
Apparat
Alias
Styrofoam
Populous
B.Fleischmann