& i don't know you, baby, you don't know me.

Yesterday, I found out through Twitter that Voxtrot has posted a new song on their Myspace. Ramesh released the track on his second DJ installment for the Portuguese radio station RADAR Liboa 97.8 FM.

In contrast to the last single, electronic-driven "Trepanation Party," Berlin showcases a more minimalistic sound. Classic piano and strings stand out behind interspersed foreign dialogue. There is a purposeful dissonance as if the track was meant to sound a bit haphazard and articulate a more intimate "in the moment" feeling. Vocals are sometimes off-key, but in a way that fits in with the nostalgic melancholy of the lyrics. It is clear that Ramesh has put a lot of his emotions into the vocals even though the melody and lyrics are on the simpler side. It all has an understated coolness to it. I enjoy the more grown up sound that is developing with these new releases and I look forward to seeing where they go next.

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we swim with sharks.

...and fly with aeroplanes out of here.



Cat Power is my current trying-to-go-to-sleep music. "Lived in Bars," off of The Greatest (2006), is in particular one of my favorites. This somber track features Chan Marshall's deep airy vocals set to a building backing band. I am attracted to the doo-wop aspects and backing vocals, which take the track from a tortured mood to a more upbeat jazzy tone.

hey mr. dj...

With the help of local artists, Adrian Loving is the spearhead of an alliance to bring recognition and respect to career-DJs. The Deejay's Coalition is an organization formed to create an awareness and understanding of social and professional issues within DJ culture. This collective hopes that the "Deejays Are Not Jukeboxes" Campaign can bring important matters to the forefront in order to create a cultural consciousness amongst both DJs and partygoers.


Loving's concept will integrate local and global music scenes in an effort to educate employers and audiences about what it really means to be a DJ. An article by Karen Sommer Shallett in DC Magazine's July/August 2009 issue further articulates the cause by explaining:

Loving gathered 15 DC Djs together to create the “Deejays Are Not Jukeboxes” public-service announcement, which he hopes will raise the volume on respecting your DJ.

The bold (and even amusing) street-art campaign will be visible starting in mid-July in Northeast and Northwest DC public spaces and on flyers and T-shirts in clubs throughout the city. For photographer Abby Greenawalt, who shot the campaign, the creatives were ideal inspiration. “Being a DJ is part of who they are—it’s very personal,” she says. “I wanted to capture emotions that aren’t always associated with these individuals.”

So check it out, look for more to come, and remember that a DJ is not your personal iPod!

put your foot in my nikes.

A tune as catchy and captivating as it is inspirational, Maino's "All the Above" tells his motivating story. This Brooklyn-born rapper emerged from prison in 2003 and founded Hustle Hard Entertainment. He decided to pursue music and found breakout success in first single "Hi Hater" (2008). "All the Above" speaks about how Maino overcame his struggles and hardships by always hustlin' and keeping his head in the game. He never gave up. The narrative is accented by a fantastic T-Pain hook and Just Blaze's done-up production. This song has been stuck in my head for a good while and will probably remain there.

honey you scared yourself.

I've always liked the atmosphere at Solly's Tavern. I enjoy small and intimate shows, plus when I played there it served as a relaxing environment. As I watched Honey House set up on Monday night, I waited in anticipation for what I would hear. Because this was their first show I wasn't sure what to expect.

This is what they say:

Honey House is trying to bring back American Rock & Roll. The swagger, the danger, the mystery. The House are giving it a go. They're walking down that hallway baby. They've been rehearsing in Chinatown for months, crafting their sound like a blacksmith sweating over hot coals. Frontman Jeremy Mohler churns out poems in a baritone croon, lead guitarist Denmark Luceriaga is incendiary. Matthew Moroney's smooth finger-picked bass grooves with drummer Josh Davis' freightrain of drums.

My first impression was that they were put-together, eclectic, solid, and classic. Though they seem heavily influenced by 90's alternative rock, think Wilco/Jakob Dylan/Ryan Adams, they bring something unique with them. The instrumentation was great. I loved the acoustic-electric, the Rickenbacker bass, and the use of a broad range of dynamics. Vocally it was intense and emotive, with some nice harmonies thrown in by Moroney. I also thought the percussion stood out and was inventive.

photo credit: Maryanne Drury

Overall, it was a great first show. They really got into it with the last two songs and started to jam. I hope to see more of that in the future. Honey House are definitely ones to watch as they continue to feel things out and progress.

unhappy girl, you're out of time.

Another band that has taken on various genres, Primal Scream have been a go-to for me lately. This Scottish group formed in 1982 and continues to this day. Their early & jangly stuff will probably always be my favorite, so I will speak here about their debut album. Sonic Flower Groove (1987) was written by ex-Jesus and Mary Chain Bobby Gillespie, and by Jim Beattie. Beattie left the band after this album, thus accounting for some of the differences in sound.

the anniversary.

Happy 1st Birthday to the Radiobolical blog!
thanks to everyone for a year's worth of inspiration.