The Signal Music Weblog

The Signal: EP027 - Back again with a selection of tunes that don't really have that much in common. We're John Peel-ing it this time out. A few of our favorite bands make return appearances and some new ones get paraded out.

The playlist is behind the MORE cut. These songs are provided for promotional use only. I'm hoping to introduce you to something you really like. Let me know if I succeed. The mix will be available only for a limited time.

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For months, The Arcade Fire were a band that lots of people whose taste I respect were into, but their music just wasn't clicking for me.

But I kept listening and listening and letting it grow on me... and now it makes sense.

The whole thing might have gone faster had someone pointed me to this video link of The Arcade Fire playing "No Cars Go" live. There's a lot of power in that clip.

Awhile back, I bookmarked this page of David Bowie talking about working in a record shop when he was younger because at the end of it, he's compiled a list of music that he's listening to. They're all linked to sites where you can hear the music, whether MySpace or YouTube.

And granted, it was music he was listening to in March, so we're now a month late, but being a month behind Bowie can still be like being six months ahead of the world, so...

Anyway, I still haven't sat down and watched them, but maybe if I post it here, I'll get to it. That's the plan, anyway.

Kid Koala. Six minutes. Jazz turntablism. Video. Dig it.

Are there really still people out there who don't feel turntables can be an instrument?

Blentwell.com, a group weblog for electronic music mixes, is curated by Mr. Blentwell himself, who highlighted several mixes recently that stand out.

#1 - Filastine: An international blend of beats, breakcore, dubplate stuff and incidental noises (like Spanish-speaking radio announcers promising more music, etc.) from one of the artists on Signalstation-favorite DJ /rupture's label.

#2 - Virus Syndicate - Deep bass sounds and UK MCs blend together from one of the UK's premiere dubstep crews.

#3 - Sick Girls - A fun blend of hip-hop, grime and other party sounds.

Two of these mixes are Blentcasts, which are mixes solicited my Mr. Blentwell from DJs and electronic artists he likes. To listen to more of the same (and maybe pick up hot mixes from DJ C and Maga Bo), check out the Blentcast page.

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime: any kid who watched Looney Tunes growing up might remember some of their favorite characters growing quick whiskers for a gag so they could look forlorn and ask "Brother, can you spare a dime?"

What was that all about?

It was all about The Great Depression and, to a lesser extent, Bing Crosby sounding like one of the saddest men on the planet. Ignoring some of the now-dated vocal tics, isn't the story it tells just heart-breaking?