#juliana illanes

[dustedmagazine]

Listed: Mountain Movers

For the best part of a decade Mountain Movers has been singer-guitarist Dan Greene and bassist Rick Omonte; drummer Ross Menze and lead guitarist Kryssi Battalene joined up in 2011. For most of that time they’ve kept to their home base in New Haven CT, recording albums that map out a terrain bounded by early True West, 1960s garage swagger, and your favorite PSF freak-outs. In 2017 the quartet gave an especially expansive, self-titled LP to Trouble In Mind Records, and this summer they hit the road in support of it, thus this road listening-themed list.

Dope/Fresh Mix 

This is a mixtape given to me by a friend in 1989 that is stacked with 1980s hip-hop. My interest in hip-hop grew in the mid-1980s when punk clubs would blast Public Enemy to amp up the crowd before the bands took the stage. By 1988 I was hooked. This mix features jams by Eric B and Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Stetsasonic, EPMD, MC Lyte, De La Soul, and the Jungle Brothers. Instant dance party when this cassette hits the deck. (DG)

The Feelies — Crazy Rhythms 

In 1986, when The Feelies released The Good Earth, I was moved enough to write them fan mail. They sent me a signed press photo which I taped to my locker at school. A year later, when I sat on the stage in Providence watching them play live for the first time, I was moved enough to want to start a band. Immediately, I began teaching myself guitar by playing along to Feelies records. (DG) 

Kraftwerk — Radio-activity 

Like many other fans: Bowie led me to Eno, Eno led me to Kraftwerk, Kraftwerk led me to Can, and Can introduced me to all the other German experimental groups. There is something so mesmerizing and comforting about their minimalism and homemade beats. When people say Kraftwerk’s music leaves them cold, I never understand what they’re talking about… (DG) 

Syd Barrett 

This is a mix of Syd songs given to me by a friend in high school packed with heavy hitters: Baby Lemonade, Rats, Gigolo Aunt, Wined and Dined etc. In those days, I was mostly listening to music on SST or Dischord. Syd’s mysterious songs led me directly into new music coming out on labels like Homestead, Shimmy Disc and K Records.  (DG) 

Cabaret Voltaire — Mix-Up

Mix-Up is Cabaret Voltaire’s first studio album.  They are my favorite most psychedelic industrial group. I love how they could sound so unsettling and also floaty and free at the same time. Richard H. Kirk is shredding echo-y leads on woodwinds and guitar the whole time and it rules. (KB) 

Crystalized Movements — Mind Disaster 

I learned about Crystalized Movements thanks to Joe from Willimantic Records giving me a 7��� comp he put out with them on it. They’re from CT! Wayne Rogers sounds incredible here even as a high schooler his leads are raging and they are getting far out. (KB) 

Heron Oblivion — S/T 

Heron Oblivion by Heron Oblivion

Easily my favorite album of 2016. It’s a really beautiful album from beginning to end. (KB) 

Hiiragi Fukuda — Personal Server 

Both me and Rick have brought this tape into the car on different occasions. The cassette features seven dreamy solo electric guitar pieces recorded live to a handheld cassette recorder. His guitar tone is very clean and you can appreciate how beautiful his guitar playing is. (KB) 

Julia Illanes — Sol Radiante 

There is a very special place in my heart reserved for huayno music from Peru, especially huayno accompanied by Andean harp. Julia Illanes is a folkloric singer that has, for decades, been a voice of the working class people who sacrifice everything to make a living. Her beautiful voice sings of politics, economy, loss, love, and other social conditions that play a large part of migrant workers' lives.  I first fell in love with huayno music on a very long bus ride throughout southern Peru, so it always feels like music to travel to. Melancholy but upbeat, bitter but sweet, tortured but alive, if tezeta, rembetika, or folk-blues are your thing, huayno might be your next favorite bummer. (RO) 

Omar Souleyman — Bahdeni Nani 

On permanent heavy rotation, it seems me and D. Greene are always coming back to Omar Souleyman. One of Syria's greatest known exports, Mr. Souleyman tours the world and collaborates with superstars. Blinding fast drum beats, dizzying synth sounds, and Omar's smokey/smooth voice are the perfect party blend. When this cassette is played, things are turned up a few notches. (RO)