50 years of Cab Calloway

Jumpin Jive



Reefer Man



Minnie the Moocher

Through far marches of acres wild

Yesterday at work I listened to Jethro Tull's entire 70's catalogue. I'm not actually a fan, it was just there on my hard drive, and I haven't used it up yet as work music. By the end of the day, I had written a lot of code, and also picked out my two favorite Tull songs:

Jethro Tull - Acres Wild



Jethro Tull - Crossfire

Vain yksinäinen vire tuulen soi

Moonsorrow - Raunioilla



Ensiferum - Sword Chant



Manticore - The Rise of the Black Moon (if I'd found a good version of the Archgoat original on YouTube, this would have been an all-Finnish post)

Of the cold northern breeze

Bathory - A Fine Day to Die



Anaal Nathrakh - Castigation and Betrayal



Immortal - Throned by Blackstorms

Hear the nocturnal howling of the wolves

Tartaros - The Ruby Mine



Emperor - Beyond the Great Vast Forest



Mayhem - Funeral Fog



Hm, what? No reason. Any day is a good day for Norwegian black metal.

Echoes

I've had a fragment of a tune in my head for 16 years. It began with the intro to the PC game Syndicate, in 1993:



Later I learned where they stole it from:

Gustav Holst - Mars, Bringer of War, 1914-16



Turns out everybody's stealing from Holst. Listening to The Planets is like listening to a modern movie soundtrack. Did you hear bits of Star Wars in there? This one is more blatant:

Hans Zimmer - Barbarian Horde, 2000



Hans Zimmer churns out all these aggressive and pompous soundtracks for aggressive and pompous Hollywood movies. I think I dislike him more than I like him, but it's close, and anyone who steals this fragment from Mars has my approval. To me, it'll always be that tune from Syndicate.

Evil barbarians without discipline

Turisas - As Torches Rise



Justice - Genesis



Infected Mushroom - Change the Formality



Notsensibles - I'm In Love With Margaret Thatcher



S.P.O.C.K. - Never Trust a Klingon

Reveal the gnosis of Borora

Therion - Lemuria



Therion - Summer Night City



Therion - Schwarzalbenheim



Therion - The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah



Btw, a musical challenge: Where did Therion steal the tune for Trul from? (Answer.)

Keleis gjekk da til møste alt i ei vending

Borknagar - Grimskalle Trell



Falkenbach - Heathen Foray



Windir - Ætti Mørkna

Ready to lay shots nonstop

Whenever I hear music like this ..

Notorious B.I.G. - Things Done Changed



.. or this ..

Scarface - No Tears



.. I always feel a need to imitate this scene from Office Space:



It would be hilarious. It's a strong urge. The only thing that stops me is that 1) I don't know any lyrics, and 2) I don't have a car, or a driver's license.

Still, just imagining it is enough to crack me up.

Horrible, evil music

Oh god, I had forgotten that this horrible horrible tune existed. You may have, too, but misery is better when shared.

Richard Clayderman - Ballade pour Adeline



This is one of the most idiotic, pretentious songs ever made. I hates it, I hates it, (and like it).

Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street



It's not just this track, I hate everything about OK Computer, that truly great and truly awful album. To me, OK Computer stands for everything that's wrong about people, in general. Whenever somebody says "well, people aren't so bad", I reply: "Then how do you explain OK Computer?" And that settles it. Among this album's many crimes, it inspired Coldplay.

Radiohead - Fitter, Happier



To prove I don't live entirely in the past, here's a song I heard from a cellphone the other day. I play it here in the hope of preventing it from becoming some sort of monster hit that eats everything in its way.

Alexander Rybak - Fairytale (Cthulhu version via Dodofuglen.)

And a wanderer by trade

This touches my programmer's heart. Kraftwerk - Die Roboter:



My favourite Dylan song, sung by some guy in a weird hat. Bob Dylan - One More Cup of Coffee:



This is why MTV doesn't play music videos any more. Jethro Tull - Steel Monkey:

What do you mean, "no lyrics"?!

Justice - Stress



(Then watch the parody.)

Justice - Planisphere part 1



Justice - Planisphere part 2



Justice - Planisphere part 3



Justice - Planisphere final

I believe in the Lamb who was crucified, and hung between two thieves

If you take me apart, piece by piece, one of the corner stones is the 1990 album Beyond Belief by the Christian group Petra. For one thing, it introduced me to rock music.

Petra - Armed and Dangerous



You see, I'm not from around here. I'm a cultural immigrant. The Christian subculture is far stranger than the secular majority realizes. A paralell society. To me, this isn't just good music, it is the best of the world I left behind when I abandoned the faith. A memory from the Old Country.

Petra - Creed



In 1990 I expected Jesus to return within the decade. I misheard the title of the next song as the "Last Days", and it was one of my favourites. The choice was appropriate: The song is about believers who lose their way in the fog, and "never return to the fold". People like myself.

Petra - Last Daze



When I have returned to Petra since, it is partly for nostalgic reasons, but also because their songs were genuinely good, exploring an area of music that was closed to the nonbelievers. I have no nostalgic memories of their earlier material, but it too is good.

Petra - All the King's Horses



This is the world I lived in, and left:

All the King's horses and all the King's men
Gonna ride down from heaven from where they've been
All the King's horses and all the King's men
Gonna put this world back together again

Petra - Beat the System

Metal, screaming in Lightning

Dream Evil - Fire! Battle! In Metal!



.. because once in a while some bloody stupid hair metal is exactly what you need. I mean: Bloody! Stupid! Hair!(?) Metal!

Spetsnaz - Plaything



.. because all music should have such basslines.

Collide - Violet's Dance


.. because slightly out of tune can be slightly better.

Mors stupebit et natura, cum resurget creatura

Juno Reactor - Tanta Pena



The Arch - Ribdancer



Juno Reactor - Conquistador I



Juno Reactor - Conquistador II

A perfect moment, (a recipe)

Ingredients:
1. A new pair of ear plugs that block out surrounding sounds and sit comfortably in my ear.
2. Two albums with a high nostalgic value: Neil Young's Harvest, and Tangerine Dream's Tyger.
3. An hour or so on the bus, with a good book to read.

It's raining. Traffic is slow. The bus scratches another car, stops for a while, throws everybody out. New bus, more waiting. None of it matters. Traffic stops and starts, it's all just part of the scenery. I'm not even reading any more, just looking out the window, smiling.

If there's anything you want, anything at all

Juno Reactor - Guardian Angel



Juno Reactor - God is God



Laibach - God is God



Orbital - Choice

Because even psytrance sounds better when you add Anne Clark

Electric Universe - The Prayer (2009 version)



Electric Universe & Space Time - Experiences Outside Time



Electric Universe - Tune Up

And then I'll do as I please

Gary Numan - Rip



Infected Mushrom - Becoming Insane



Hanzel und Gretyl - Komm Zu Uns

[Insert random meaningless lyrics here]

There's good music, and there's bad music, and then there's eurobeat, which is both.

You know McDonald's strawberry milkshakes? I love McDonald's strawberry milkshakes. It both isn't food and transcends food, creating a delicious synthetic world of its own.

Now imagine a 0,4l cup of espresso that tastes like strawberry milkshake. That's eurobeat. Sometimes, when I really, really need to get things done, I listen to this stuff at work for hours. Days, even, but that's putting a strain on my sanity.







There are only two possible reactions to this music: 1) God, that's terrible. 2) God, that's terrible, (but I still haven't pressed stop.)

Han bytte bort kua, fekk fela igjen

I played the violin when I was a kid, for seven years. I gave it up because I didn't want to practice for hours every day. If you want to be a good violin player, you have to practice. A lot. I had other things to do, (what with puberty arriving etc.), so I put it away.

That was seventeen years ago. I haven't touched a violin since, until a few months ago, when I bought a Yamaha SV-150 electric violin. It's sold as a silent violin, which isn't really true - even without a body, violin strings are quite audible. But it's more silent than a normal violin, which makes it neighbour-friendly.

The SV-150 sounds good, is practical to use, and has many nice features. I like it.

Besides, electric violins are awesome.

But here's the amazing part: After all those years, I actually remember how to play. I've forgotten a lot. I don't hit the notes right. I'm nowhere near good enough to perform - like I said, playing the violin well is hard. But I remember enough to enjoy myself. The ability has been stored in muscle memory all these years. I can even almost hear my old violin teacher gently reproaching me.

I still don't want to be a good violin player. It costs too much time. There are other things to do. But I love having the ability to pick up a violin and play something just for myself.

Night driving on the motorway

Client - Pornography



Client - Drive



Client - Lights Go Out



Client - Can You Feel



Client - It's Not Over

Gammal vise, tunge ord

Khold - Hundre år gammal



Tartaros - The Ruby Mine



Gary Numan - Pure



Seabound - The Promise

100% gitarrenfrei

Container 90 - Bollox



Spark - Skull and Bone



Elite! - Der bomberpilot

Emergency Broadcast Network

What is this?! I almost don't want to know.

Burn, burn, burn, burn, fire, fire, fire

Nitzer Ebb - Join in the Chant



Windir - Martyrium



Nitzer Ebb - Getting Closer



Stahlhammer - Der Mann mit dem Koks

Another year will start to pass

The Sound - Winning



Front Line Assembly - Mindphaser, the sing-along version!



Into a Circle - Evergreen



VNV Nation - Beloved

Can't resist the strange attraction

Covers. Whee!

Therion - Summer Night City



Umbra Et Imago - Rock Me Amadeus



Laibach - Life is Life



Doro - Breaking the Law



Jim Carrey - Somebody to Love



Inspired by Radio Goethe.

Ain't it fun when you know that you're gonna die young

Dead Boys - Ain't it fun



Stiff Little Fingers - Suspect Device



Corporate Avenger - Fault the Police (I Don't)



Frank Black - Bullet

Blacker than the blackest black times infinity

Metalocalypse is a cartoon tribute to metal, and should be played at high volume.



Dethklok is the world's most brutal band. They live the metal dream in Mordhaus, a mountain fortress built like a viking ship:


Dethklok does everything every metal band ever sang about, times infinity. They're that brutal. Their anti-piracy scheme is to visit your house at night, kill your family, and take you away to Mordhaus to be tortured. Dethklok's concerts frequently lead to the death or mutilation of their fans, but that's okay, because the fans don't mind:



Dethklok gets away with this because they're immensely rich and powerful. And because a secret society of leaders believe they'll play a role in a prophecy. Satan is also involved somehow.

Befitting the world's greatest metal band, Dethklok has two Scandinavian members, Skwisgaar Skwigelf and Toki Wartooth. (Yes, Skwisgaar and Toki are common Scandinavian names.) Some of the show's Scandinavian metal references are mean:


I do not approve. Well actually I do. That's hilarious. So is Burzum's, the diner, and Finntroll's, the supermarket.

Dethklok is good for a fake cartoon band, and have released a real-life album called The Dethalbum. Series creator Brendon Small sings the lead vocals. They actually go on tours. This is This is Spinal Tap for metal fans.

Så fann han ej mer än en blodiger arm

Weekend music selection: Walk-on music; off-key and off-rhythm; Germans singing Swedish; Germans singing German.

Lords of the New Church - New Church



Collide - Violet's Dance



Saltatio Mortis - Varulfen



Saltatio Mortis - Prometheus

So you think you know what's going on

Weekend music selection: Yin; yang; hippies; commies.

Front Line Assembly - Prophecy



Delerium - Terra Firma



Randy Alvey and Green Fuz - Green Fuz



New Model Army - You Weren't There

I scratch but you don't itch

This weekend's music selection, a varied mix: Nobodys by name and reputation; angry people in a ruined factory (wouldn't you be?); medieval queens were probably not great singers; and no that isn't Ricky Gervais.

Nobodys - I Scratch



Front Line Assembly - Millenium



Faun - Königin



VNV Nation - Legion

Skweee like a pig

Music reviews have become pointless. Why describe, when you can link to a video and let people decide for themselves? This weekend's music selection is all strange Scandinavian funk with a horrible but Google-unique name.

Mesak - Popkumm:



Beem - Muni:



Uday - Ghetto Bomb:

I'm in the loop I am the loop

Weekend music selection: An electronic kitten, and ravens with bagpipes (yes!)

Miss Kittin - Wash 'n' Dry:



Miss Kittin - Professional Distortion:



Corvus Corax - Suam Elle Ires



Corvus Corax - Hymnus Cantica:

Sorted, snorted, munted, blunted

Today's music selection: Asimov-ignoring robots; recommendations in media technology; German lessons for party drug users; and a commentary on Chinese politics.

Anthony Rother - Destroy Him My Robots:



Pukka Orchestra - Listen to the Radio:



Lützenkirchen - 3 Tage Wach:

>

Japan - Visions of China:

Skalat maðr rúnar rísta, nema ráða vel kunni

Today's selection of music: Metal without electric guitars, music for and by machines, and a girl singing into a large cellphone.

Korpiklaani - Kadet Siipina



Section 25 - Looking from a Hilltop



Faun - Egil saga



Unheilig - Herz Aus Eis



Kehrwert - Maschinenmusik



About the title: It's used in the Faun song, and they took it from the 13th century Egils saga. It means something like "don't write runes that you can't read / control". Or as Lovecraft wrote in The Case of Charles Dexter Ward: "do not call up any that you can not put down".

Men WE skal faen meg være de som spiller høyest

Det var mye tannløst på Øyafestivalen de to dagene jeg var der, (liker ikke Turboneger, og bommet på dagen Mayhem skulle spille), men det var to norske band jeg ikke har hørt før som forårsaket spontane hakeslepp og Keanu-whoa's: Animal Alpha og WE. Enjoy.

Animal Alpha - Pin You All



Animal Alpha - Trouble



Animal Alpha - Billy Bob Jackson



Animal Alpha - Fire



WE - Hurdy Gurdy



WE - Carefree



Og til sist et band som aldri har spilt på Øya, og aldri kommer til å spille på Øya, men som for tiden holder mange private opptredener på mp3-spilleren min:

KMFDM - Stars and Stripes

Put out the lights on the Age of Reason

Here's some more hummable music (and some of it not-quite-so-hummable) to brighten an already fine summer day:

And One - Speicherbar:



Front Line Assembly - Mindphaser:



Not wishing to make this an all-synth post, here's New Model Army - Here Comes the War:



Laibach - God is God (which, believe it or not, is a cover of Juno Reactor):



Seabound (yes once more) - Castaway:



Lard (side project of Dead Kennedys' Jello Biafra) - War Pimp Renaissance:



And the best for last, Dust of Basement - This big hush (the album to own is Meridian):

The Mind of God _is_ Cosmic Music Resonating Through 11-dimensional Hyperspace

A couple of songs I'm humming on these days:

Avalost by Seabound, from No Sleep Demon v2. Sorry about the cellphone quality, this song deserves better. (Here's Transformer, another good song from the same album.)



In the same vein, but more anthemy, Ritual Noise by Covenant, from Skyshaper.



And on a lighter note, Mind of God and Tune Up by Electric Universe, from Silence In Action.