ANDRONICUS - MAKE YOU WHOLE

Written, Produced, Arranged By Jonothan Blanks.
Andronicus - make you whole
http://www.zshare.net/audio/13465154c25435

EVOE - ESTE AMOUR

E.V.O.E. - ESTE AMOUR
http://www.zshare.net/audio/13464557ea

Balearious!

Twenty years ago, the word Balearic meant nothing more than a collection of islands huddled near the Mediterranean coast of northern Spain. It was the sort of place you might go to if you favoured package holidays or booked your breaks from the pages of a Thomson’s brochure. But then something strange happened. British DJs, holidaying on the island of Ibiza, discovered a DJ called Alfredo Fiorito and before we knew it, the Balearics – the location – also became a musical genre: the Balearic beat.

So what is Balearic? Is it an actual place or is it an idea? We know about the island of Ibiza, but what is the other Balearic, the Balearic that is a fuzzy and scattered set of records that may or may not include Wang Chung, Phil Collins and Simply Red. Did it ever exist outside of the confines of DJ Alfredo’s record box circa 1989? And is it, as dance writer Frank Tope once jokingly referred to as, “pop records that sound good on pills” or a jumble sale of crap masquerading as gold?

The music that Alfredo and a cadre of island DJs began to discover and promote over the next few years formed the original Balearic playlist (many of which were later codified on the FFRR compilation Balearic Beat Vol. 1). Although many of these records were mainly European and often English, they’d remained a mystery to many of the travelling British contingent – mainly because they were all soulboys for whom the idea of listening to music made by white people, especially white English people, was anathema.

Now while it’s true that the Balearic beat was born in Ibizan clubs, such as Amnesia and Pacha, its breeding took place in a small, sweaty, strobey, smoky south London club called… The Shoom,” wrote Terry Farley, in the sleevenotes for Balearic Beats Vol. 1, a compilation that was entirely based on the playlists of DJ Alfredo. “The hardcore original Shoomers, along with another London club The Future, had discovered the joys of Balearic beats, during several previous ‘summers of love’ (sic), and had brought the music and the attitude back to London with them. The kinetic style of dancing now associated with Balearic’s ugly brother, acid house, is pure Ibizan in origin. The loudest screams at Spectrum are always reserved for Nitzer Ebb and the Residents while hearing Enzo Avitabile booming through the smoke at Joy is an ecstatic experience one step away (some say forward) from sex.”

The ‘theory’ behind Balearic is that any record could be made to work on a dancefloor provided it had the right feel (that fantastically nebulous word that means one man’s Funkadelic is another man’s Dana International). But it’s also because the idea of a bearded misery guts from Wigan who had never been further south than Macclesfield calling himself a Balearic DJ was intrinsically funny (it still is).

So the new Balearic – or The New Balearic, should I say – is both a myth and a reality. It’s a myth in as much as there is no specific genre of Balearic as there is for, say, house or happy hardcore or even hardbag. But it’s also a reality, an alternative reality, admittedly, in which records from any genre can be Balearic if someone has the chutzpah – or the stupidity – to claim so. Balearic is like the giant rabbit in the James Stewart movie, Harvey, a preposterous notion to some, but to Elwood P. Dowd, a very real six-foot fluffy animal. You either get it or you don’t. Thus Wang Chung can be Balearic (well, if you’ve got cloth ears, they can), as can Simply Red or Jamiroquai. The list is endless, as is the debate.

For some DJs – like the Idjut Boys or DJ Harvey – it’s simply about taking some foggy notion of what it is and interpreting it their own distinctive way. The most important thing about becoming a Balearic DJ is to have a sense of the absurdity of your chosen role. You should take great pleasure watching faces drop on a packed dancefloor as they realise they have been dancing to Cliff Richard or Lieutenant Pigeon for the past three minutes.

I canvassed opinion on some message boards as to what Balearic really means: “Harvey playing Easy Lover in the a.m. at New Hard Left,” said one; “Hearing Donna Summer’s State of Independence on a pill for the first time,” countered another; “Love of music for its own sake, free of puritanical bias and entrenched prejudice, free of marketing pigeonholes…” But this put it more succinctly and more ludicrously than anyone else: “It’s a state of mind,” wrote Barry Devan. “It’s a group of islands. It’s sand in your foreskin but not caring. It’s Clark’s comfy shoes. It’s corduroy. It’s a lazy place. It’s warm. It’s Wellington boots. It’s knowledge. It’s Moonboots. It’s carpet not laminate. It’s Van Halen not Europe. It’s council not Hilton. It’s Jason Boardman. It’s the M10. It’s borrowing not buying. It’s me, it’s you, it’s everybody. It’s bollocks. It’s great.” Absurd, but true.

© Bill Brewster, 2008

halluginocenic

Some years ago i bought an Chaka Khan remix Lp called ''Life is Dance".Recently i was listening to X press 2 ''Choice'' and on the second cd the last track blew me away.It was Chaka Khan's Ain't Nobody remixed by Frankie Knuckles.I rushed to put my remix collection on the decks and have a listen only to find out that the version i had on lp was a another version with vocals and quite short.The version i was looking for was Halluginocenic mix and could only be found on the 12'' remixed vinyl.I think its one of the best remixes Frankie ever made.And since speaking of Frankie Knuckles lets have a look at another masterpiece of his.The Whistle song.Words are not enough to describe the feeling of this tune.This version is from the album ''Beyond The Mix'' and not the 12'' Eric Kupper mix.I think everybody has really fond memories of this song in any version.I guess i will always love it.This is a small tribute to the best lad in house music.Mr Frankie Knuckles.

Chaka Khan-Ain't Nobody(Frankie Knuckles halluginocenic Mix)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/134475739d272e

Frankie Knuckles-The Whistle Song(Album Version)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/134478802b2d

woman

Nice hat and matching ties..All i know about these two guys is that they are a group called Double and that they had a minor hit with the track ''Woman of the world".If it hadn't been for dj Harvey and his legendary Sarcastic mix 2 i would have never heard of them.But luckily there is a god out there because "Woman of the world'' is a classic.Its like blending Laidback with Wally Badarou or something.This is the short version.I prefer it than the longer instrumental..

Double-Woman of the world

http://www.zshare.net/audio/134108690b839

don't stop the dance

Bryan Ferry is the epitome cool.If i should find a word to describe him that would be sharp.Here he is in a kind of flamengo move dancing picture.Well what is he doing in Balearic month??Well a lot of people are gonna argue on what is balearic or not.You can read an interesting piece on balearic music in the blog site of the Guardian newspaper.So what is balearic and what is not?The thing is that here we are not trying to list every single track dj Alfredo played at Ibiza.It would be silly to do that.Its just a feeling.More like a cosmopolitan summer thing.It can be mainstream and it can be obscure.There is an interesting piece in this article i told you about that describes what happened to dj Terry Farley when he played Phil Collins' ''Two Hearts'' at a London club after hearing it in Ibiza.The truth is the crowd tried to mob him..So with the fear of getting mobbed we decide that one of todays track is Bryan Ferry with his amazing hit ''Don't Stop the Dance'' in a special 12'' mix.

Bryan Ferry-Don't Stop the Dance (s.o.s 12'' mix)

http://www.zshare.net/audio/13

paradise

There was another huge track in the mixtape i mentioned on the last post.With dolphins swimming in the video..And a beautiful lady.Its Sven Vath with L' Esperanza.Well credit should been given to his partner at the time Ralf Hildenbeutel as most of the work on this song is his.Maybe this is why its so good.So good that i think it is one of the best dance tracks ever in my humble and modest opinion.

Sven Vath-L' Esperanza(single edit)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/1336008487de6

Saint Etienne - Pale Movie

So this Saint Etienne again.Its hard to choose only one song from this band.They are like a balearic band without being balearic at all.Well in my head they are.So many songs of theirs have this certain feeling i consider balearic.Junk the morgue,Stoned to say the least,People get real,Hug my soul,Join our club,cool kids of death(underworld mix) to think of a few.And last but not least my ''Pale Movie".Apart from the spanish guitar on the song,the video for the song was shot somewhere in Spain Marbella or something..Its so cosmopolitan and Sarah Cracknel looks divine.First time i saw this video i was stunned.They became my one of my favourite bands from that moment.I was just 14 years old.Later i found out i had a mixtape with "Pale movie" on it. at that time.The next song was Atlantic Oceans "Waterfal".Maybe another potential Balearic classic.Who knows..

sunrise

Since its Balearic month this is another adittion to the list.The next two tracks are two of my favourite ''indie'' early house chill out tracks ever.Every single summer there was a special vacation cd compilation i used to put around with all my favourite tracks to hear after sunset.One of the classic mixes of the cd was these two tracks playing one after the other.These two tracks were Saint Etienne's Junk The Morgue and The Beloved's The Sun Rising.That was the sound of the summer when the sun was falling down or rising.

Saint Etienne-Junk the Morgue

http://www.zshare.net/audio/13352668684

The Beloved-The Sun Rising

http://www.zshare.net/audio/133

SLIP AWAY

Released:29 June 1989.
Still fresh after 19 years.
Get out on a highway near the sea,
get up to a good cruising speed
and turn this up.
Have listened a thousand times
and will listen a thousand more!!!!!
Pat Metheny - Slip away
http://www.zshare.net/audio/133067830

Now that's what i call balearic rock!

Take my hand, my child of love come step inside my tears
Swim the magic ocean I've been crying all these years
With our love we’ll ride away into eternal skies
A symptom of the universe, a love that never dies

Woman child of love's creation, come and step inside my dreams
In your eyes I see no sadness, you are all that loving means
Take my hand and we'll go riding through the sunshine from above
We'll find happiness together in the summer skies of love


Believe it or not,this one is from Black Sabbath back in 1978.
This is the second part of the original song edited with by Lexx.

Black Sabbath -Symptom of the Universe (Lexx edit)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/1

e2 e4 extra guitar

This beautifully balearic track from 1989 it's been remixed
inside out in the last 18 years by Derrick May and Carl Craig.
Sampled 'Manuel Göttsching’s E2-E4' from the early 80's.
This one is Todd Terje edit with extra guitar on it.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/1322276
Sueño Latino – Sueño Latino (Tango Terje guitar edit)

Ma quanno ascimmo fora sarra' primavera.

Tullio De Piscopo - Stop bajon primavera
http://www.zshare.net/audio/131898302a315054/
pe' cchi nun se fa' male rieste'na samenta
e si pierde a' pazienza. Song'guaje 'e morte
e allucca cchm' forte. E allucca cchiu' forte.

E allora uhe' oh' lievete 'a sotto ...

E allora uhe' oh' lievete 'a'nnanze:
stanotte aggio durmuto senza mal' 'e panza.
Quaccosa t'haie magnato ca t'ha fatto male.
Tengo a televisione trentasei canali
si parlano tutti'nzieme so'tanta capere.
Ma quanno ascimmo fora sarra' primavera.
Ma quanno ascimmo fora sarra' primavera.
Ma quanno ascimmo fora sarra' primavera.
Primavera
primavera

nu balearic sound

http://www.zshare.net/audio/1316
Smith and Mudd - shulme

june is balearic month

June is announced balearic month.So every once in a while the choice of music will be well..balearic.So another addition is today's track.Its a surprising sundrenched balearic favourite from Dr Robert and his band.And what a title!!La Passionara.The photo is again from an island where i usually spend summer.Listening to songs like this one.

Blow Monkeys-La Passionara
http://www.zshare.net/audio/131

bardot

This is not a song from Brigitte.Its one about her.And the first time i listened to it, it blown my mind away.Its Marden Hill with "Bardot".I believe its a masterpiece in its own right.And god created Bardot.

Marden Hill-Bardot
http://www.zshare.net/audio/131085

summer madness

This is a song for my mate vags who's getting one year older today.Its Chris Rea with his classic summer hit Josephine in a special festivity mix just for the occasion.The picture is from a summer not so long ago on a island i truly love.

Chris Rea-Josephine (la version Francaise)

http://www.zshare.net/audio/13046

love 2

Here is a song about love by the man who gave the world "Candle in the wind".It's one of the best songs about love ever.Maybe Elton isn't that crap after all..Or maybe he is..The picture is from a great movie about love.But we will talk about that on another day..

Elton John-Love song
http://www.zshare.net/audio/1300

the flying lilis brothers

Plaid likes to be social.So it gives friends the opportunity to showcase their work here.The Lilis brothers are two fine young lads that are djing in the same vein as the infamous soulwax crew and have a trained eclectic ear.So watch out for them!!They are doing a pretty good job.So we are hosting a great mix they did.

THE FLYING LILIS BROTHERS SUMMER FEST MIXTRACK LIST:

1."Kids" - MGMT

2."Rio" - BUMBLEBEEZ

3."Big Money Comin' " - CROOKERS

4."American Boy" - ESTELLE (Soul Seekerz Club Mix)

5."Be VS Show Me Love" - LAIDBACK LUKE & STEVE ANGELLO VS ROBIN S.(bootleg)

6."Get Your Self High" - CHEMICAL BROTHERS (SWITCH REMIX)

7."Shawty Get Loose" - LIL' MAMA Feat. Chris Brown & T- Pain (DON-ZEE REMIX)

8."Cheap & Cheerful" - THE KILLS

9."Starlett Johansson" - THE TEENAGERS (RORY EDIT)

10."Everyone Nose" - N.E.R.D.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/125253664cc54aee/summer

IT'S IMMATERIAL

This is one of my favorite balearic song ever.
It's Immaterial - Ed's funky diner [friday night,saturday morning]
http://www.zshare.net/audio/13006