Double Click Blues

Gerard Sekoto - The Jazz Band (1961)

Oh boy guess whose mouse is actin' up again? It's a lil annoying from time to time so I'm going to try and knock a few posts out while the gettin's good. With the title in mind thought I'd pay a visit to some of the jazzier parts of my collection. Starting with something from FlyLo, it ain't hard to see why he was on Adult Swim's radar with tunes like this.



Revisiting the Cowboy Bebop remixes again. In what will probably be blasphemy to other fans of the soundtrack, the original Piano Black is not one of my all time favourites from it, luckily I have Ian O'Brien to remedy that. The downtempo take on the tune is a lovely addition to an already solid remix compilation.



Speaking of that album, I can't go having a jazzy themed post without giving a nod of the hat to Mr. Scruff now can I? Here's another bit from Keep It Unreal, specifically one of the bonus tunes on the 2nd disc 10 year anniversary edition. The intro alone is finger snappingly good, and like much of Keep It Unreal is a lovely listen.



-Claude Van Foxbat

January Blues

Hello all, it's 2016! And don't you worry nothing much has changed, I'm still your resident selector with a penchant for Cyberpunk sci-fi and moody electronic sounds. So let's start this shindig.

Miwa Ogasawara - Nacht (2010)

Never a lot to do in the winter unless you like naff telly. So instead I revisited my favourite gang of bounty hunters the Bebop crew, the OST is well known for it's frequent jazzy bits but there's a good selection of genres in there too. Here's a long time favourite to warm you up.



I know I dumped a load of Hotline Miami stuff for the year end track dump, but it's still super good. And it's not all frantic doorkicking synthwave neither, have a surprisingly introspective addition to the soundtrack from Scattle.



And finally Wisp's reworks of Selected Ambient Works Vol. 2 make a reappearance. I haven't given them nor the original LP a listen in a long while, but I'm feeling it right about now. It hits a nice mid point between the ambient techno of 85-92 and the all out ethereal of Volume 2 that's quite refreshing.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Exhibition Beats

Pretty sure I'm at least 80% done with my final exhibition prep now, not that I had much to do compared to some people. The joys of doing video art include not having to put shelves up for your work among other things. But enough about that, let's talk music as usual.

Roy Lichtenstein - Oh, Jeff...I Love You, Too...But... (1964)

More Seatbelts this time, because I am addicted to future jazz (literally future jazz in this case). Taken from the limited edition box set verison of the Cowboy Bebop OST, this one takes a little whileto get goign but when it does I cannot stop grooving to it. Ridiculously smooth, just what you need on a Tuesday afternoon.



A recent return to my library, there's not a bad mix present on Everything But The Girl's Blame EP. Taken from their brief foray into drum & bass, but it's very well done indeed and that's not just my 1999 nostaliga talking. Since I've already given the rundown on my favourite mixes of the track I think it's high time I post the original.



More from Viklund again, this time its one of his more downbeat contributions to the soundtrack. Still a little dramatic with the strings in the background, but I love the tune and it's slow post-rock style build to the final section.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Post-Render Blues

Just finished up a big video project I've been working on for fellow writer Evan, and as much as I won't miss the ever increasing render times, conversions and compression, what I will miss is having it to do. I've been at it for nearly 4 months as of now, and I don't know what to do with myself, so I thought I'd share some tunes that are helping me cope.

Edward Hopper - Compartment Car

Working the last remnants of my latest cyberpunk binge with everybody's favourite Jazz cats from the 2040's The Seatbelts. If I were given it in a blind test I'd swear it was almost a Mr. Scruff track given that bassline and the overall feel. This one's a must listen for all you folks out there like me that like a bit of that Scruff style in our lives.



Not gonna lie, I'm kinda feeling all things Hip & Trip Hop right now, and its been a long time since I've had the pleasure of Pretty Lights' debut. It's up and down gorgeously done, shame he moved away from the style so quickly, guy's got a knack for instrumentals and I'd love to hear more.



And finally, the unsung heroes of trip hop in my collection, The Deadbeats (or just Deabeats, as they were on this first LP). I dig their style a whole bunch, the album this is from, Lounging certainly lives up to its name, it's a lovely little time capsule back to the turn of the millennium, so whack this on and have a lazy day like it's 2000 again.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Music For Freelance

You ever get an album that becomes much more relevant as time goes on? I've had this remix album in my collection for nearly 10 years now and only recently have I used itfor the title's intended purpose as I settle into my life as a freelance video editor (You can see my showreel if you're interested here!) But enough about me, let's get onto the tunes.

Obviously Cowboy Bebop's soundtrack has a whole reputation of it's own, a well deserved one I might add. A lot of potential for remixes on it too, I've already posted some of the bigger name ones such as Mr. Scruff & Luke Vibert, but there's other highlights to be had. Take the Remix of Space Lion, transforming a Jazz meets world music number into something a little more lounge-y.



A surprising contribution from Ian Pooley is also a highlight. I remember going expecting some House style goodness, especially considering the original Fantaisie Sign was a lovely jazzy Drum & Bass piece. Instead, Pooley serves up something not too disimillar from the Bossa Nova direction Thievery Corporation took on Saudade.



Rounding us of we have a rework of a track I have a love/hate relationship with. I'd be lying if I didn't say I loved the original, but some days something about that scratchy beat of the intro just grates on me. Luckily Ian is here to solve that problem, keeping the smooth parts of the track intact and arranging them over an even smoother backdrop. A treat to listen to. And with that it's back off to work I go!



-Claude Van Foxbat