Periodically I like to shuffle through the used bins at Amoeba in a complete hypnotic trance. During my last visit I found this gem. If you didn’t hit the link, discogs says: “This CD was released as a gift at Gsus first store in Amsterdam (Holland). Limited to 1000 copies.” Hot damn, I guess it’s a really good find, considering it doesn’t suck. Actually, its pretty far from sucking. . .
One of my favorite parts of coming back from any sort of prolonged record shopping is listening to the various question marks I purchase. To expound, during the shopping exercise itself, I consistently gamble with a healthy percentage of my purchases in an effort to expose myself to music I wouldn’t ordinarily come across. Buying compilations is a good way to do this because usually I can identify a few tracks that would make the purchase worthwhile even if the accompanying tracks happen to be garbage. In the case of this comp I was buying it on the strength of “Moments in Love” by Art of Noise, a Thomas Dolby track I’d never heard (actually overlooked from my vinyl of “The Flat Earth”), the novelty of “Jesus is Just Alright” by the Doobies and “Family Affair” by Sly and the Family Stone.
Thomas Dolby - “I Scare Myself”
After a few listens, I found the awesome Dolby “I Scare Myself” was just the beginning, and I loves myself some Dolby (blogging & touring – check for local shows). Whoever supervised this comp gets major points with me, it is remarkably refreshing and well rounded IMO. Lots of loungy, funky and kitschy stuff, a great overall mood with liquid 80s production a few tracks, hyper-organic bossa/salsa/Mancini sounds on others plus some smooth, 70s cream to glue it all together. There is far too much on this comp to write about in one post, plus I owe it to myself to research the bands I am clueless about lest I sprain my bullshit muscle trying to sound informed.
Basically I bonded pretty hard with the Lewis Taylor track “Lucky” first… turns out he’s a real find, every write up I’ve found on the web has been overwhelmingly positive, lots of comparisons to Marvin Gaye, the Beach Boys and Stevie Wonder with the words “psychedelic soul” peppered about. I can see some of that in the track “Lucky” but apparently it’s off his debut album and there are a number more newer releases to investigate. I’m definitely hooked after this track, perhaps some Lewis Taylor albums might be able to help my stave off the wait for new Cody Chesnutt material.
Another obscure find for me was “Waterfall” by Wendy and Lisa, yes that Wendy and Lisa. This their first single from their 1987 self-titled debut and the pop craftsmanship is easily on a par with Prince’s material from that era - maybe a little more restrained but no less melodic or carefully produced and arranged. Plus their voices are just so classic, it’s hard to wrong there. Great track overall, doesn’t jump out at first but the power chorus + the sentiment pays out more than the price of admission. I’m definitely going to be looking into their discography, the the 1991 Re-Mix-In-A-Carnation relase featuring mixes by Gangstarr and Nellee Hooper will probably be the first thing I seek out.
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