Features &
Interviews

Chocolate Weasel
DJ Cam
DJ Method One
DJ Stratus
DJ 3D
Dwindle
Ed Rush
Electronica
Frank Lloyd Wright's California
Ganger
Gapeseed
Her Space Holiday
Holiday Flyer
ICU
Jungle Defined
Kim Salmon
King Rhythm
Laika
Latin Playboys
Lounge Lizards
Mark Robinson
Mixtapes
Monochrome
Most Secret Method
Music Appreciation 101
Pressure Drop
Terrastock II
Third Eye Foundation

Eat Static Science of the Gods CD
Deeply rooted in the addictive behavior of buying 12”s, DJs rarely get to intimately bond with electronic artists as their brief encounters with 2 or 3 tracks are mere introductions with the software pioneers. Only a portion of Eat Static’s breadth could be eclipsed with brief handshakes of 12” singles - their Unsound Methods full length captures the varied, and complex, facets of their persona. Ranging from the title track’s wild departure from progressive house pt the dark bobbing bass and Boymerang-ish breaks & synths of “Interceptor”, Eat Static break the rule of dance genre confinement. Favoring instead their own unique vision including a 14+ minute ambient exploration, “The Hangar”, this entity has instantly garnered a respectful bow from beatheadz and house devotees. Akin to Future Sound of London trying their hand at house grooves, “Kryll” raises questions about what Eat Static’s future will bring; while “Contact”’s milieu of seemingly-analog samples dance atop an electro-acid funk makes a distinction between planning for the future and the optimistic fatalism of dance culture. Optimists like Eat Static always favor bets on the future being better and brighter. (Planet Dog)

Echoboy Vol. 1 CD
Firmly rooted in the vibe of Too Pure's mid-90s catalog, Echoboy criss-cross the jagged edge separating pop-art and experimental-art. The sounds of crushing white noise and crystal clear melodies clash as well as meld together in the warmth of electricity running the length of wire. Heated passions and boy-meets-girl exasperation fuel the Echoboy. If ever an album rekindles the early surprises offered by SeeFeel and Stereolab (while only sounding distantly like either), it is Vol. 1 – so now my questions: Who is the Echoboy? And when is Vol. 2 coming? (Mute www.mute.com) – Keith York

Edaline Old City Scenes 10"
I have always hated how the American press has to rate consumer products on a scale of 1-5 (see: Leonard Maltin), the count of "stars" (see: Rolling Stone, ad infinitum), or extended digits (see: Alternative Press). Quality is so subjective, I find it a monumental task to even give my students' grades based on real quantifiable scores! That now said, Edaline are at the top of whatever ranking system you choose today.
Edaline has made a significant contribution to our landscape by releasing Old City Scenes . Wrapped inside one of the most personalized 10" sleeves, is an honest six-song document of what Edaline purport to be. Gut-wrenching, in-your-face honesty, displayed like a jewelry store's finest, lasts from the first explosive roar of six-string mayhem to the last cymbal crashing, guitar plinking, vocal hiccup of side two.
Old City Scenes reminds me of that friend that would pull me from the couch to get one more beer long after the 2am bars closed. The same guy always forgot how I had risen the previous morning at 6am, and then went for a three-hour bike ride; he was unrelentless in his pursuit of ensuring others were having the best time they could. Sometimes it meant not talking to him for a few days during my recovery period.
Edaline pursue that remaining residue of strength in the listener, regardless of your level of exhaustion. The guitar chords soar across yelping, screaming urgency as if telling the drummer to push the limits of his own capabilities. Edaline pushes one another and you: Push the tone arm towards the little platter one more time and you will witness the addictive magic.
(Flying Harold PO Box 750272 Petaluma, CA 94975, band: c/o 614 Cordelia Drive Santa Rosa, CA 95404) - Keith York

Edith Presler Drag 7"
Lo-fi, post-Sebadoh scrappiness brought to you by some young hoodlums from Swarthmore, PA. Sounding at their best like Perfect Sound Forever-era Pavement on "For the Love of a Texas Cheerleader," Edith Presler embrace the 4-track's promise of fame and fortune. Fans of Further should take note. (Little Mafia 8204 Harvest Hill S. Blvd. OKC, OK 73132) - Keith York

Eggplant I Believe in the Loch Ness Monster 7”
Three blazing pop songs crammed together on this one-sided single recreate every other Eggplant moment. Blistering, loud, raucous power pop songs twee-ists can’t handle. If the Wedding Present were at Gilman Street or Vomit Launch hung out with Boyracer - Eggplant could be imagined. In a post X-Ray Spex world, Eggplant can only be survivors of the much lamented death of punk - only to re-light the ashes of the Buzzcocks one last time. (Candy Floss 130 Sutter St. 5th Floor San Francisco, CA 94104)

E.J. Horizon CS
E.J.’s lo-tech calling card is one hell of an addictive showcasing of needle talent and shopping skills. House-derived as well as leading-edge vinyl purchases collide amidst the mixer’s wiring, and the vibrations of the stylli caused by squirrely grooves held smartly between the raw fingers of E.J.’s talent. Bursting with melodic trance inducing four-cylinder floor tracks, this guy has produced one of the most entertaining sets-on-cassette in recent memory. (Contact: 714-428-2805)

EJ Rise CS
Needing to update his business card stating that EJ specializes in “progressive house, trance & jungle” to add SPEED GARAGE, EJ delivers two amazing sets of 4/4 thump. On Side A of Rise, we hang out with EJ opening a can of whoop-ass on the dancefloor with the latest in UK speed garage. Hand selected trax melt together as the set rises and falls like the mutant bass noises the producers laid upon snare-cymbal-snare-KICK foundations. No setlist is included with Rise, so I know EJ is well ahead of me in selecting the latest trance from mailorder websites and record stores (the day the UPS truck drops ‘em off). Not willing to give up his secret stash of fine choons, EJ sets up for a gig of the latest trance bumpers in your living room. Damn fine stuff. (Contact: djej@yahoo.com, 714.428.2805)

Ekova Space Lullabies and Other Fantasmagore CD
Winds exhale across wide open spaces. Ekova’s vocalist Dierdre DuBois-Haddab whispers across the windswept sands and combs the long hairs of grassy plains as if the DNA that created Enya and Elizabeth Frazier was shared with another charmed vixen. World clas instrumentation from worldwide resources makes for a complex rich exhale across your living space – East Asian, Indian, Moroccan, African, mid-Eastern, hell you name it and this trio have considered it an influence to reflect on. The chefs have not included spice for the sake of following recipes though, the tapestry woven with the varied tools only makes the breath more sensual as it caresses your cheek. (Six Degrees POB 411347 San Francisco, CA 94141-1347) - Keith York

Elcka s/t CD
Bright, passionate, crystal clear emotion expressions from one of the UK’s leading Oasis’ shadow dwellers. Post-60s lovelorn radio speaker songs that belong in your mind, that demand your attention and stop you as you reach for the tuner knob to tune out Jewel for the umpteenth time. Smartly dressed, and sufficiently ego-centric these Brits will likely be swept under the US Music Marketplace Rug along with post-Smiths Morrissey records. (Island) - Keith York

Electrosonics CD
While only three songs exist on this CD, they stretch for miles across the salt flats. On their plane, they flex, and reach, exhibiting their insides through amplified electronics, drums and a tearful femme voice. The Electrosonics boldly outlay their understanding of pop music for those ingesting this collection. Their wares cross the “4AD-isms” that the 80s rock critics reference continually. Their dreamlike clouds flutter past our stereo speakers’ windows. Looking at our own reflections in a TV set turned off, staring at ourselves in the rear view mirror throwing caution to the wind as other drivers veer from our directions - we are lost in a moment that cannot be described. Our eyes are our ears when the stereo is turned off. The Electrosonics turn the senses upside down. (Quiddity/Drive In 122 44th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49548)

Elevator to Hell Eerieconsiliation CD
At first I was startled by the memories of the first couple of Monster Magnet and Spacemen 3 singles I bought years ago that filled my head as I listened to this LP. Songs flowed from speakers. As Eric’s Trip members circle the pile with their psych-pop flairs (as in bellbottoms, baby), a kindler gentler Monster Magnet came to mind. A whimsical affair between XTC and Jason Spacemen’s eccentricities sprouts Canadian wings and takes flight. Getting past the cut-and-paste artwork was difficult for me, resigning to dropping it on the floor, I just sat at my desk and listened to the gentle ramblings of a pop trio gone awry. Probably welcomed by the Ptolemaic Terrascope set, Elevator to Hell at least grasp the intentions of psych-influences while holding steadfastly to Eric’s Trip bedroom song writing. Quirky and wacked-out at times this album has some endearing moments of truth and honesty. (Sub Pop PO Box 20645 Seattle, WA 98102)

Elf Power Winter Is Coming CD
From damaged minds, come damaged melodies soaked in psychoses and distortion. The Athens crowd is back in our lives with a new album, a new label, and more of the inimitable psychedelia. With a 6Ts pop song on their minds, a Flaming Lips loaded bong, and a Sonic Youth approach to rock, Winter is Coming tells tales of a hearty love affair with the six-string and drum kit. Lengthy closer “The Albatross” is spiritually numbing as Kevin Shields inspired concussive string bending bulldozes the room. (Sugar Free POB 14166 Chicago, IL 60614) – Keith York

Elliott False Cathedrals CD
There’s something to be said for those that attend car races hoping to witness a fiery accident. Sitting at the edge of discomforting plastic and fiberglass bleacher seats awaiting an offensive tackle to put someone in the hospital, audiences drink their beer and eat hot dogs salivating. The anticipation of slow ketchup barely compares. Stretch out the timeline and seat me between stereo speakers awaiting hardcore to evolve into something the masses can appreciate rather than criticize as another adolescent diversion. At the end of the timeline (well, let’s say the ‘present tense’), is the latest offering (their 2nd full-length) by Louisville’s Elliott. In comparison to the recently released If They Do CD (on local label Initial), False Cathedrals dramatically outlines the path of Elliott’s maturation. Across the two releases we can hear the roots of the quartet’s passion in guitar rock, while the latter recording (on Revelation) is evidence of the hear-and-now defining Elliott as a band that deserves critical (and punk rock kid) acclaim. One can sit at the edge of their seat for hours listening to this, on even the most uncomfortable seating, only to find themselves lost much later in the day. While no fiery accidents or bone-crushing blows are contained herein, the anticipation for every oncoming second of tone outbursts is enough to keep one on their ass, jaw dropped and all. (Revelation POB 5232 Huntington Beach, CA 92615-5232 publicity@re vhq.com) – Keith York

Elliott If They Do CD
For a couple bucks extra you can buy the CD version of Elliott’s latest single “If They Do” and get four additional worthwhile tracks. While Elliott listening has little to do with the sale price, as the quality is worth the big bucks, you may want to consider picking up the companion disc on Revelation (“Will You?”) at the same time to get the full picture. With the bands Falling Forward, By The Grace of God, and Empathy on their resumés, this five-year old (still a toddler) child of the hardcore scene is really growing fast. With bright guitar and drum work, they stand confidently at the threshold of days of near-fame and near-glory. What we get from the indie-rock post-emo quartet are two brand new tracks, a couple songs off their ’96 EP In Transit (also on Initial) and two previously unreleased songs that take us back a couple years. Engaging, on the edge of your front-row seat listening with each spin, it’s a bargain at whatever insane mark-up your local retailer chooses. (Initial POB 17131 Louisville, KY 40217) – Keith York

Ellis Dee Project 5 CS
Representin’ two sides of his Technics persona, Ellis spins breaks and tribal house on his “Funk da Fried” mixer. Dee’s track selection is uptempo, as well as upbeat with his choices for vocal and instrumental 4-speed anthems. Fluid in delivery, scratched a bit, this is quite a bouncy little 90 minute jaunt. (Andromeda Productions PO Box 4973 Thousand Oaks, CA 91359)

Elliott If They Do CD
For a couple bucks extra you can buy the CD version of Elliott's latest single "If They Do" and get four additional worthwhile tracks. While Elliott listening has little to do with the sale price, as the quality is worth the big bucks, you may want to consider picking up the companion disc on Revelation ("Will You?") at the same time to get the full picture. With the bands Falling Forward, By The Grace of God, and Empathy on their resumés, this five-year old (still a toddler) child of the hardcore scene is really growing fast. With bright guitar and drum work, they stand confidently at the threshold of days of near-fame and near-glory. What we get from the indie-rock post-emo quartet are two brand new tracks, a couple songs off their '96 EP In Transit (also on Initial) and two previously unreleased songs that take us back a couple years. Engaging, on the edge of your front-row seat listening with each spin, it's a bargain at whatever insane mark-up your local retailer chooses. (Initial POB 17131 Louisville, KY 40217) – Keith York

Eltro Information Changer CD
Within the oddly distracting tones of this album, is an odd set of ironic cues leaving the listener perplexed as to comprehending Eltro’s statement(s). Is this dense or minimal? Is it lush or so noisy that it has moved beyond our preconceived notion of packaged music? Is it drone pop, or new age? It is quite stunning. Lazy, yet complex, articulate songs wrapped in drum machine punctuation, guitar clouds and rays of sunshine from the woman’s vocal chords, Eltro surprised me. Surprised they are from Philadelphia (close to Bardo Pond in more ways than one); this was recorded on 8-track; and that I and my colleagues had yet to witness their art. After the second go ‘round with Information Changer, I was left dumb-struck, or love-struck, or something. Eltro, like Slowdive, pattern seemingly simplistic musical ideas after environments. Within the familiar, their intonations and structural changes delight the ear searching for a more melodic drone from Windy & Carl, a successor to the My Bloody Valentine, and shoegazers with the confidence to stare down their audience, their critics and obviously the production team behind this recording. The sleeper hit of ‘98. (Miner Street 232 Krams Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19127) - Keith York

Embarrassing Rex EPS (Empty Pocket Syndrome CD
It is at times disheartening to stare at graphic packaging that purposefully attempts to catch the eye of the punk rock ethos. Whether or not the music is of any quality, this style of packaging draws the all ages wallet-chain kids to the bins and listening stations. While the Embarrassing Rex don't have an eye for innovative artwork, the music is refreshingly bright-eyed 4/4 Everready-style punk rock. Gaining momentum in their youth listening to Social Distortion records, the 'Rex has surpassed notables Green Day and Blink-182 for blistering pop songs reflecting today's need for honest all-ages anthems. Give this a test run at your local shop. (GruntShop 446 9th Street Brooklyn, NY 11215) - Keith York

Emperor Penguin Mysterious Pony CD
To put into words the impact of Emperor Penguin's kitsch explosion, I fail to give the experience justice. From vocoder delivery, to analog synth catcalls, to comedic sample play, Emperor Penguin has transformed geeks collecting Korgs and Moogs into something of a tour de force. In saying this, I admit to having listened to the breadth of space rock, post-rock, and all things experimental, causing my pen and keyboard to become quite jaded. In listening to Mysterious Pony, my faith in bedroom producers and idiot savants has been thankfully restored. With every quirky oscillator hum or sampled beat, this album has become a necessity to cope with everyday strategies and tactics. Getting up in the morning, commuting to work, and restful evenings have become more vital with this disc as a companion to these activities. Without giving it all away, I urge you to do a bit of research and give this a listen. (My Pal God POB 13335 Chicago, IL 60613) – Keith York

Empress s/t CD
With the final iteration of the Boyracer novel written, disbursed and read, fans of the great anti-pop heroes literature have a new book to read. 23 chapters in length and mostly written in the voice of our beloved bass player Nicola, the pacing is dramatically slower than previous works by our favorite authors. Transmitting sentence and paragraph at Low's metronomic ice-melting pace, Empress craft lower-tech pop songs putting the concept of books on tape in a new light. Matty's brushed or gently caressed drums design the architecture of the work, but it is the artistry of Nicola's gentile disposition and Stewart's tender approach that make the most delicate of written works (piano, organ, guitar and bass) on the most fragile paper -- so delicate, a light gust of breath could blow the whole thing apart in an instant. Curl up in your favorite chair and spend the morning with your three favorite poet philosophers and their latest anthology (their vinyl-only album and 7" are together for the first time on this disc). (Pehr/555 555 POB HP41 Leeds, LS6 4XN UK) – Keith York

Encinas, Jose Luis Duende CD
At times the highly spirited flamenco, and neo-classical tones of Encinas' guitar work transcends the likely "new age" tags that will tie Duende to a rock thrown to the lake's bottom. Across these songs, a ghost emerges as you stare into blank space and see the faces of men and women lost in their occupational workaday drone behavior. Unfortunately absent is a drum 'n' bass mix amidst the Georgio Moroder-esque sequencer play, but quick BPMs and finger play put Duende on the same page as any Enigma release. Satisfying, comforting, sexual - this record is all of 'em. Encinas' string bending and plucking moves far beyond the Spanish guitar, the classical guitar, the ambient synths, the addictive rhythms - Duende is seductive. This should break from the demographic profile prescribed. (Narada 4650 N. Port Washington Road, Milwaukee, WI 53212) - Keith York

Enemymine s/t CD
What we have here is the result of efforts put forth back in October '98 at Dub Narcotic Studios in Olympia, Washington. Four guys with three instruments and some recording equipment managed to commit to tape a hurricane of frantic testosterone. On one side of the mixing console sat Calvin Johnson (Dub Narcotic, K, Beat Happening) across these three days of microphones and mixing consoles. On the other side of the cables and wires were Mike Kunka (godheadSilo) on bass, Danny Sasaki (Mocket) on drums, and Zak Sally (since replaced by Ryan Baldoz of Some Velvet Sidewalk) on another bass. I keep hearing godheadSilo. You may hear Track Star. Calvin heard voices in his head. Audiences across this nation are hearing less and less because of the volume. It's great and you keep wanting to hear it over and over again at louder and louder temperatures. (K Records) – Keith York

Enigma Les Rois est mort, Vive Le Roi! CD
In its translucent encasement this disc lay idle. Within its playing equipment it morphs into the sounds of flowers bursting their color upon the view of young teens. The sounds of clouds. You have heard these songs before, you have kissed someone as these songs have played, you have caressed the naked body of a lover as these songs have played. These songs play in your head each and every day you wake up with the sun. If you could write down every thought of what lust means you could illustrate every book ever written since the dawn of language. You could write these songs. Enigma has only digitized your sexuality for commercial sale. (Virgin)

Enkindels Can’t Stop the… CD
A staple in the Louisville p-rock scene since back in ’92 before plumbing and phone service arrived to the outlying areas, the Enkindels reminisce with decades of posturing arena rock ‘n’ roll while melodically delivering pop songs akin to Parasites, Weezer and the Buzzcocks. How can this all be done without us old-folks knowing about them sooner? They’ve always been there, and here, but only now are they (with their third full-length) in my face…and I’m smiling more these days because of their 4/4 & six-string energy. (Initial POB 17131 Louisville, KY 40217) – Keith York

Eno, Brian The Drop CD
Music of the academics wields different powers than that of populist drivel. Brian Eno, an intellectual tour de force has released another solo album continuing his quest to undermine pop music’s “knowns.” As his approach (perhaps remarked upon by Stereolab’s song title “John Cage Bubblegum”) has been to produce music of space and time by collapsing the rules that differentiate pop from classical, jazz from country, and ambient from rock. Brian Eno holds Cage’s ideologies close to his work. The Drop is comprised of seventeen settings absent of location, yet brimming with quiet, slow sounds. Keyboards, bass and drums collaborate at Brian’s helm. Steering them through moods, weather, cities and towns, The Drop is down. Fallen below where we think we stand only to begin shaking the concrete under our feet in years to come. As years turn The Drop will probably be better understood, given more praise and solidify Eno’s collective body of work even further. This is not a one-listen-and-file long player. It took nearly a dozen listens to get inside it and will take dozens more I am sure to really grasp the linguistics Eno is toying with. A required text. (Thirsty Ear 274 Madison Ave. #804 NYC 10016)

Enon Believo! CD
A lot of great music is being created in the wake of Braniac’s sad demise – and Enon is further evidence of this trend. Following up his solo 7” on All City (as Enon), John Schmersal of (formerly of Brainiac) has joined forces with Rick Lee of Skeleton Key and Matt Schultz of Let’s Crash to create a new sound while keeping the monikor static. Somewhere between Brainiac’s sonic mayhem and Soul Coughing’s touching grooves, Enon puzzles the mind with delicate R&B and sampler-adorned noise-pop. Out of sadness, brilliance rears its bullish grin. (SeeThru Broadcasting 3470 19th St. San Francisco, CA 94110) – Keith York

Euphoria Beautiful My Child CD
Sweet Rain Remixes 12”CDEP
Reaching the highest plateaus of elegance guitar-led electro-acoustic music can achieve, Euphoria have released a rarity. Whether it be the Faze Action ,GHQ (Garry Hughes) and Fila Brazilia remixes that test your spinal flexibility and rump-shakin’ hormones, or the elegance of the solo guitar instrumental “Silky Delta”, there exists a song with a vibe to reach your soul in every mood you may encounter. Very sexy. Easily stimulating. Delight such as this is a rarity. (Six Degrees POB 411347 San Francisco, CA 94141) - Keith York

Eureka Farm The View CD
Moogs and organs taking on argumentative human characteristics run rampant in a stoner rock sci-fi thriller. Calm for only brief periods of time, The View is a rather spastic listen as reverb ebbs and feedback flows. With hints of Stereolab, Fuxa, and Mouse on Mars in the mix, Eureka Farm sound more Northwestern in their earthiness. As vocals soar and the rock begins to balance itself on two feet, one can smell pechuli in the air and hear drum circles in the distance. Space-rock spasms soaked in skunk weed residue fill out the album -- that by listen 10 or 12 sounds nothing like the first time. The View grows like wild ivy up and around your stereo, encasing it in a thick, wooded, home-cooked feeling. Engaging as it is mysterious, this forest-like journey belongs as a sci-fi soundtrack for the silver screen. (www.loosegroove.com) – Keith York

Everything But The Girl Tempermental CD
As strobe lights flicker and fireworks whirl about, weighty 4/4 kick 'n' snare moves my spine around the club environs. Tracey Thorn leans over one shoulder. Despite her speaking loudly over the din into my ear, her words sound like a whisper. She sings, "It's packed at 2 a.m., I've got no car. Are you on your own? When are you going home?" My spine quivers. This must be a dream. This must be the alcohol flowing warmly in the bloodstream. Tempermental has that effect with each listen – fantasy vs. reality live out in eyes-wide-open daydreams of club-land. Equally as pervasive in the dream-state of EBTG is the feeling of lounging inside the house with Ben Watt and Tracey and their concussive beat structures. Where Walking Wounded tap-danced around drum 'n' bass, Tempermental sashays around down-tempo (skunky) grooves and 4/4 house. The jazzy smoke-filled clubs and raver whirling dervishes equally suit the duo as they just float freely with their own modernism. As a bonus on the stateside release, Ben & Tracey include their collaboration with Deep Dish, last year's club-hit "The Future of the Future." (Atlantic 290 Avenue of the Americas, NYC 10104) – Keith York

Ex-Chittle Moving Solves Everything CD
Soothing, endearing songs wrapped in acoustic guitar mastery and deadpan talked-vocals. A trio from the midwestern planes emerge with soliloquy on their minds sending hearts aflutter with sedate powerful moods Buffalo Tom wished they had created. An ex member of Dis- on guitar speaks little to the mood set by here, but with careful consideration, one can see the distant connection. Distance is what this is about. Fragmented abstract sentences emerge from a voice that cares. A voice that cares about Brigitte Bardot and free carpet and filling jars with apple cores. You must wonder. Wonder about the minds that set stages of aural beauty using the tools many a rock band before them have also used. Guitars rarely sing the textures evidenced here. Moving solves many things; distancing yourself from memories, people, places, sights and smells. Moving has also readied Ex-Chittle for the big city. The landscapes of modernism and information stretch for the horizon as these three men gaze from multi-story apartment windows at the ant world below them. They think a lot about the move, the things they left behind. They ponder what moving has pushed them into. New realms of possibility, new sounds, new faces, new encounters. One moved from one band to another. From Dis- to Ex-Chittle he wandered. He, they, are now at home together. Ex-Chittle seems to have moved in together, into an abstract dwelling of sounds and songs and textures and sharing. Eloquent, soothing songs wrapped in mystery and wordplay. (Kalliste! 3120 S. 40th St. Milwaukee, WI 53215)

Exhale Ends in A 12"
The crisp, stunted blows upon a snare drum punctuate the strangled six-string storm. Vocals ride like foamy crests atop powerful winter waves. Hitting the shore with violent force, the white foam turns to mist and envelopes the couple standing still upon the cliff's edge. Clouds roll in. Growing ever darker, the movement of the needle across this single-sided slab of plastic mimics that of storm clouds leaving the distant horizon to become the ceiling directly above your head threatening a storm. Again and again the drums clap like ligthtning cracking open the sky. The vocalist enacts the heaviness of the rain-carrying clouds. Put the GoreTex around your body and the needle on this storm and wait out the winter rains inside your bedroom. (Sunney Sindicut Records 915 L Street C-166 Sacramento, CA 95814) – Keith York

Exist Dance Transmitting From Heaven CD
Don't judge a book by its cover. What looks like from the outside a compilation of 11 dance tracks from a variety of different LA-based producers is actually the work of the Exist Dance label owners – Tom Chasteen and Michael Kandel. Recording under aliases Tranquility Bass, Eden Transmission, Voodoo Transmission, High Lonesome Sound System, Up Above the World and Tylervision (whose "Purdy Deyenol" was co-produced by Kanel and Tyler Vlahovich), these sampler geniuses pull out all the stops in their delivery of 4/4 dance-hall stompers. Likely their most notable track is "Cantamilla" (as Tranquility Bass) which still resides in P.A. systems across the land. The book is a varied read, written from diverse points of view, and should be read and re-read as part of your dance curriculum. (Exist Dance 323-221-0517) – Keith York

Exist Dance: Label Profile
Over the last several years, Tom Chasteen and Michael Kandel (AKA Exist Dance) have unleashed two dozen dance 12"s to DJs' tone-arms and stylli as well as critical praise. Likely known amongst the dance congescenti as Tranquility Bass for their "Cantimilla" 12" (and subsequent remixes) of '94, the duo have many aliases that stretch well-beyond their netherworldly organic, tribal funk. Under the guises of Ballistic Mystic, Skull Valley, and more recently Salome , Tom Chasteen has extended further his legacy, and impact on contemporary dance. Whether or not we start our discussion about the Exist Dance empire with the remixes of "Cantamilla" on the Broadcast Standard series of 12"s, (previously known to me as the "aye-shee" song), or somewhere around the time when Chasteen alias Salome created an atmosphere of a desert soundtrack with a Satriani-esque guitar lead, it all comes full circle. Hearty 4/4 percussion drives each track on the label, as the melodies and bass lines differentially tweak. Also devoting time to other time-signature junkies like Le Pimp, the label doesn't just navel-gaze in self congratulatory catalog releases. "Hijack Party" by Le Pimp was everywhere upon its release to record bins and shoulder bags with its epic "Get Down and Boogie It's a Hijack Party" computer voice streaming from P.A.s across the land. With Skull Valley releases, Chasteen and guitarist George Nardo explore sensual soundscapes of percussive hiccups, driving basslines and a range of sample-dependent melodies. From the New Order-like melodies skipping on the crest of foamy groove waves, to the tricky dance-beats juxtaposed to lulling synth lines, the dancer and DJ can easily get caught-up in the moment. Both Skull Valley's "Green Woman in a Blue Light" and "Granite Mountain Morning" 12"s have a Beck-like flavor in their use of guitar, scratching, and vocals (courtesy of Ed Ruscha) that put you out on a desolate highway at dawn after the gathering has expired searching for a way back home to the city. One of the most recent offerings as Ballistic Mystic (Exist Dance #24), displays Chasteen continuing the funky concussive grooves that have marked nearly a decade of his work. A great one-stop shopping label to tweak your house set, funk-up your techno set, or adding a bit of currency to a groovy pop evening, Exist Dance can aid you in staking a claim at the next house party, bar, or outdoor gathering -- just don't leave home without them. (Exist Dance 323-221-0517) – Keith York

Expansion Unit World Wide Funk CD
From tasty scattered breakbeats and quirky funk-derived acid lines to the concussive drum 'n' bass stompers and trance grooves, World Wide Funk breathes diversity into any stale record collection. Whether scratched or sampled; instrumental or vocal; unassuming or alarmingly bright, the duo of James Bernard and Displacer have more skillz in their back pockets than most of their contemporaries (sampler jockeys). Borrowing from early-80s electro, early-90s house, and late 90-s breaks, the resulting stew is quite tasty. (Wax Trax/TVT 1657 N. Damen Ave. Chicago, IL 60647) - Keith York