Epitonic Newsletter: Vol. 4, No. 4 'No More Obits Except the Grammys'
02/01/02
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It's been brought to our attention that the Epitonic New Music Newsletter has become a bit morbid recently, so we will do our best to avoid obituaries in the future (we might point out, though, that we failed to acknowledge the deaths of both Joey Ramone and John Fahey last year). We reserve the right, however, to renege on that promise should Keith Richards kick the bucket.
Our next subject, The Grammys, doesn't count as an obituary, though as an awards show it certainly does come dead on arrival. Now, it goes without saying that the Grammys are an entirely vacuous, meaningless affair, but they do remain the biggest awards ceremony in the music industry, and with that in mind we'd like to congratulate a few Epitonic faves who received nominations, including PJ Harvey, Ryan Adams, Gorillaz, Allison Krauss + Union Station, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Bjork, Danny Tenaglia, Radiohead, T-Bone Burnett (producer of the marvelous O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack), Fatboy Slim and Spike Jonze (for the hilarious "Weapon of Choice" video featuring a flying Christopher Walken), and the incorrigible and indomitable Bob Dylan. We're also very eager to see the results of what should be a fierce competition for the year's Best Polka Album award.
Watch out for some great new stuff scheduled to land on Epitonic early next week.
"How Can I?"
by
Nick Santillan
Slick and soulful house music is the specialty of Chicago DJ and producer Nick Santillan. In addition to his own releases, Santillan has engineered for the likes of Boo Williams, Glenn Underground, and Chez Damier.
"Monday Night At Fluid"
by
King Honey
Up and coming abstract hip hop producer King Honey lays down dark, twisted beats over which new-school MCs Kurious, MF Doom, and King Ghidra furiously spit.
"I Want To Tell The World I Love Dub"
by
Jah Warrior
Under the Jah Warrior banner, London dub professor Steve Mosco produces, DJs, manages a sound system, and maintains a successful label. His electronic-heavy production veers towards that of Jah Shaka, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and Augustus Pablo.
"Key To The City"
by
Nor Elle
Nor Elle is Norman Feller (aka Terry Lee Brown Jr.) in slinky, downtempo mode. Under the guise, the German house-meister fashions delicate and soothing grooves for mellow evenings in with a bottle of vino and a fat spliff.
"Intuit (Charles Spencer's Zebra Basement Mix)"
by
Rick Gehrenbeck
Palindrome loving Rick Gehrenbeck (aka Mr. Egg Germ) plays keys for a number of Chicago funk bands including Robert Cornelius 7, Poi Dog Pondering, and Bootsy Collins. His organic, floppy disco house has been released on labels such as ILI, Loveslap!, and Bass X.
"Clint Eastwood"
by
Gorillaz
Gorillaz, the world's first two-dimensional band, is a wildly entertaining, genre-bending ride through Brit-pop, hip hop, dub reggae, and experimental funk. Featuring the copious talents of Dan the Automator, Blur's Damon Albarn, and many more.
"Susan Identifier"
by
The Nectarine No. 9
Ambitious Scottish group Nectarine No. 9 shapes slabs of whimsical pop wizardry that sound like the strange musical experiments of a drunken magician.
"Verandi"
by
Bjork
In her decade-long career since parting ways with the Sugarcubes, this famous Icelandic diva has changed the way we think about pop and electronic music. And with her every move, she keeps on surprising us.
"The Ghost Of An Unkissed Kiss"
by
Trembling Blue Stars
A loose ensemble headed by Robert Wratten, formerly of the Field Mice and Northern Picture Library. Melancholy, airy post-Sarah Records dream pop.
"Superpowers"
by
The Dismemberment Plan
The Dismemberment Plan mixes tight, distracted post-punk with snotty, wise-guy vocals, staccato guitar attacks, and propulsive time changes. They often move from frenetic screech and skronk to power-pop melodicism to sultry funkified rhythms within the space of a single song.
"Desert Melody"
by
Miguel Frasconi
Though his haunting melodies come from such earthly sources as glass bowls and cassette tapes, Miguel Frasconi creates soundscapes that are both organic and dreamlike, resembling nature as much as music.
