#the loop doctor LP

[doctorbrown]

I think any time anybody calls Doc Emmett—you know, his name—over the formal Doctor or Doctor Brown, it throws him for a loop.

And not always in a bad way; it's just surprising. Like oh, people remember I have a name and they use it. Wow. Doc's not so deeply attached to his title where he'll get fussy if someone calls him Mister Brown, for example, but save for Clara in canon and maybe Lorraine and George in the LP timeline later on, given that I personally think they have a closer relationship with Doc compared to the one they (didn't) have in TP, nobody particularly calls him by his name, Emmett.

If Doc makes the effort to correct one of his peers in a way that doesn't have an underlying reason behind it, emphasising that it's Doctor Brown, then that's absolutely a sign that his opinion of you is startlingly low and he won't tolerate kindly being called anything else. It's a distant, strictly formal relationship.

He does still appreciate the nickname Doc, though, and always will. And it's always amusing if/when someone else chooses to call him Doc (he allows this if he likes the person, why not?) because he'll always be reminded of Marty suddenly calling him that for the first time.

[plus-low-overthrow]

ARTWORK LP: Van McCoy and his Magical Movie Machine (Hugo & Luigi)

This LP contains three Medley's across both sides with a common call out in the intro to each, "Disco Movies...", side Two for example contains a single medley mashing up; Theme from Shaft, Doctor Zhivago and the Magnificent Seven, though perhaps not prolifically nor to my taste, the potential for looping and extending sections has kind of been orchestrated for you.

arr. Van McCoy, 1977. Other musicians include Richard Tee, Cornell Dupree, Phil Bodner, Urbie Green, Gene Orloff and vocalist Zulema with female soul trio, Faith, Hope & Charity.

Cover Art by Jim O'Connell.

[girosnegros]

Reyes sin coronas

Cuando hablamos de quién personifica la escena moderna de rap indie tanto en raps como en beats, es posible que un par de nombres resuenen por allí: Roc Marciano y The Alchemist, pioneros introvertidos del hip hop responsables de regresar la cultura a sus raíces, revitalizar el diggin', y la rima compacta. Despu��s de esperar casi una década, por fin las ansias de sus fans han sido calmadas con su primer álbum a dueto.

Compartiendo una experiencia humana

Roc Marciano es uno de los MC's más influyentes y uno de los artistas independientes más exitosos del género en la última década. Tiene el porte de un buen muchacho y estructuras líricas tan complejas como las de MF DOOM. Al igual que sus compañeros de primer nivel (JAY-Z, Rae & Ghost, Jadakiss, Nas, Ka) entiende que la elección de palabras y la atención al detalle son la clave que elevan su estatus de un rapstar a un letrista de élite. 'Deja Vu' estuvo lejos de ser el tipo de sencillo de garito sucio que se esperaba como primer adelanto, pero demostró que Roc y Al pueden incursionar en otros terrenos en los que sus pares no.

Lo que parecía un acto común de fanfarrronería a mitad de un verso en 'The Eye of Whorus' (coca hasta mis codos/ todavía tengo los huesos del Hombre Elefante/ las piedras en mis manos hacen que parezca Thanos) tuvo la suficiente pasión como para volverse el título final del primer LP de Roc Marci y el tio Al, «The Elephant Man's Bones» (2022).

A ciencia cierta, no se sabe lo que motivó el nombre del título, pero se cuenta que fue por aquel viejo rumor de que el mismísimo rey del pop, Michael Jackson, conmovido por la trágica historia de Joseph Merrick, "El hombre elefante", intentó comprar los huesos del por un millón de dólares. Fascinado por la idea de la exclusividad, esta noción de darle valor al arte quizá fue lo que indujo a Roc Marciano y, desde su perspectiva, fragmentos de la propia vida de Merrick tal vez inspiraron al hombre que ha afirmado nunca haber encajado en las expectativas de la música convencional.

Conocido por ser un especialista del relato con una personalidad inexpresiva, verlo adaptar su personaje de capo chulo por uno más vulnerable es lo divertido. No obstante, el hombre que afirma haber "creado a Dios a su semejanza" jamás baja la guardia. «Mi Uzi y yo parecemos una pareja acurrucándose», advierte entre campanadas y tambores palpitantes, en 'Rubber Hand Grip', el tema de apertura.

Nombres y marcas como la ropa Champion en 'Trillion Cut' (con Boldy James, otro colaborador frecuente del Alquemista) aparecen en sus historias. En 'Quantum Leap' afirma tener un Bentley incluyendo su propia versión personal de Fonzworth Bentley. Guiños en el tema principal a Billie Holiday, al show de televisión Good Times, asoman humor, drama, y mitos personales. «Tengo heridas que el doctor no puede sanar/ estoy avergonzado, mamá/ no me puedo mirar en el espejo como un vampiro». Y sí, aunque hay citas de sobra, las mejores están por el final del disco.

Mientras tanto, detrás de los tableros, el viejo Alan se monta un viejo salón polvoso de jazz. Los proyectos de Marci de su entera autoria raras veces sobresalen por sus loops sin punch de cajas que van desde pequeñas hasta inexistentes. Alchemist en cambio maneja aquí cada canción con una elegancia siniestra. La mayor parte del álbum está dominada por teclas, es decir, pianos, órganos, sintetizadores, clavecín, y baterías que provocan una vibra lúgubre que rara vez se disfruta en un disco de Marci. Si bien no es tan vers��til como lo fue en «Haram», la producción no deja de tener sus puntos altos.

En el mejor de los casos el tío Al en «The Elephant Man's Bones» defiende su sublime química con un colaborador de toda la vida. En el peor: una adición sólida a su catálogo.

No todo son emojis de fuego para dar. Si hay algo que sobre todo hay que señalar es la falta de variedad. 'Rubber Hand Grip' , 'Quantum Leap', 'Bubble Bath', y 'JJ Flash' son lo que se espera escuchar en un disco de Roc Marciano. Sin embargo, canciones inesperadamente funky como 'Daddy Kane' demuestran el tremendo potencial que tiene la dupla.

Hay un chiste recurrente que dice que Marci tiene muchos hijos en este juego, raperos underground que intentan ganarse el pan imitándolo. La cosa es que ya están creciendo. Las referencias a Talib Kweli mientras les pega como Blu Cantrell están chidas, pero no son de ayer.

«Propensos a la caña como coca en el juego de las drogas»

A lo largo de los años, Roc y Al han madurado como artistas. Sin embargo, no se necesitan uno al otro, al menos no creativamente. Roc Marciano es el último en necesitar de The Alchemist. A Roc no le faltan recursos cada vez que emprende un proyecto (DJ Muggs, Animoss, Don Cee, Element, Q-Tip y unos cuantos más) pero «The Elephant Man's Bones» no tiene la intención de ser igual. En todo caso, para los fans es su vuelta de la victoria, una celebración por estos dos prolíficos músicos que en el rap han sido caballos de batalla durante años con pocos signos o ninguno de oxidación.

Ni Roc Marciano ni The Alchemist han alcanzado el nivel de influencia necesaria como para comprarse los huesos del Hombre Elefante, pero indiscutiblemente son los reyes de su propio sonido, como debe ser.

[chorusfm]

AJR – The Maybe Man

There’s something to be said for a band who knows how to make a well-crafted, thought out, and carefully mapped out  album. AJR may have just made their early-career masterpiece on The Maybe Man, a record that is brimming with purpose, an ultra-personal touch, and better structurally organized than any of their previous four LPs. The Maybe Man finds the three brothers (Adam, Jack & Ryan Met) at a crossroads: they’ve just made their most commercially and critically successful record in 2021’s Ok Orchestra, the band recently announced their first arena tour, and yet the material found on this record is dripping with self-doubt. For a band that got famous with songs like “Bang!” “Weak” and the ultra-viral “World’s Smallest Violin,” the opening song/title track finds lead singer, Jack pondering vulnerably, “Wish I was a stone so I couldn’t feel / You’d yell in my face, it’d be no big deal / But I’d miss the way we make up and smile / Don’t wanna be stone, I changed my mind,” while getting into heavier material (lyrically) with “God Is Really Real” that comes to terms with their father, Gary’s, untimely passing. As close as I am to my dad, I can’t imagine going through life without my own mentor, and I commend AJR for tackling this concept head on with grace on The Maybe Man. After the crisp production of the vulnerable opening statement, “Touchy Feely Fool” follows with a more upbeat song about Jack’s own social awkwardness. Lyrics like, “Life is pretty cruel / For a touchy feely fool / I would give anything to not give a shit, but I do / I would give anything to not give a shit (about you),” paint a person focusing on the cards life has dealt him, and coming to terms with his next step forward. “Yes I’m A Mess” opens with a whistling melody before Jack’s trademark croon sets the listener at ease. The bouncy rhythm supplied by bassist, Adam, paired with the great keyboard-laced production of Ryan make for a memorable song on the front half of the LP.  “The Dumb Song” comes up next in the track sequencing and features a stellar trumpet solo in-between the verses to give a vibrant texture to the song. It slowly builds to the self-deprecating chorus of, “When we go down / When kingdom come / Don’t look at me, don’t look at me / I’m just too dumb.” Fan favorite, “Inertia,” nearly didn’t make the final cut of the record, and it’s hard to see why not. It’s one of the more creative songs on The Maybe Man and lives up to its name by providing just the right push to the finish line.  “Turning Out Pt. III” continues the self-exploration found on AJR’s last three records, and offers some additional context on the three brothers’ headspace and their reflection on how life is “turning out” for them. One of my favorite songs in the set comes in the form of The Beatles/Beach Boys-inspired “Hole in the Bottom of My Brain” that bounces along with a pop sheen to it that makes it one of the most memorable tracks the band has crafted to date. “The DJ Is Crying For Help” was one of the first songs to be released from The Maybe Man, and features an electric-charged fiddle solo in the early stages of the song, that continues to be looped throughout the interspersing of lyrics as the single unfolds. The crowd-pleasing anthem of “I Won’t” is sure to be a live favorite when AJR maps out their setlist for The Maybe Man arena tour, which has already sold out one date at NYC’s Madison Square Garden. While the experimental “Steve’s Going to London” may play off as filler for some casual fans, it offers a brief reprieve from the heavy lyrical material found on their dad’s tribute, “God Is Really Real.” On this song that will likely be tough for the band to play live due its ultra-personal tone, Jack mentions, “My dad can’t get out of bed / There’s something in his lungs / I think that’s what the doctor said / I gotta leave for Paris now / My band goes on at 10 / And my dad can’t get out of bed.” It’s so fucking heartbreaking to listen to, as it nearly unfolds in real time, until the closing lines… https://chorus.fm/reviews/ajr-the-maybe-man/

[aniron48]

🎶 and 🛠 for the writer emoji ask!

::waves:: hi @silverbrume! Thank you for asking!

🛠What tools/programs/apps do you use to write?

I always love hearing other people's answers to this, because I think what works for people can vary so much, and other people's processes are fascinating to me! I am, personally, a little bit obsessed with Scrivener. I got the desktop program years ago with a NaNo discount, and quickly fell in love, but the real game changer for me was when I bit the bullet and also got the mobile app, and synced my writing folder to Dropbox, so that I can switch back and forth seamlessly between writing on my phone and on my computer. It's enabled me to really take advantage of any free moment where the mood strikes to write--on my commute, on my lunch break, in the waiting room at the doctor's office, wherever. Even if it's only a few words, or the chance to jot down an idea or plot point before I forget, it's been so essential to finishing, well, anything. And sometimes snatching even a couple minutes to do something (else) I love in the middle of a busy day feels really refreshing.

🎶 Do you listen to music while you write? What song have you been playing on loop lately?

I don't listen to much music while I write--something about having other people's words in my head can sometimes make it hard for me to focus. However, I am a huge fan of making playlists for the things I write, and listening to them on my commute, when I'm exercising, etc., as a way to keep thinking about what I'm writing, and set the mood! Sometime maybe I'll post one of my 00q playlists, but for now, here are a few of the songs that I have on repeat:

"Die for Your Love" by LP

"Honey and the Moon" by Joseph Arthur (which recently featured in an amazing photoset by @bishybarnaby!)

"Don't Carry It All" by the Decembrists

"I Know A Place" by MUNA

"Beg for You" by Charlie XCX feat. Rina Sawayama (which is also the song Bond and Q dance to in The More Loving One)

"Second Chances" by Gregory Alan Isakov (which lends its title and some of its thematic material to this WIP)

"No Light, No Light by Florence and the Machine

"Hey Jealousy" by the Gin Blossoms

And last but not least, I have no self-control and have started writing something for this Carly Rae Jepsen series, so I have her music going quite a bit. :)

Would love to hear what you are listening to these days as well! <3

[valc0]

My favorite Doctor Who Songs nobody else is talking about

So, since I’m now an authority in music recs (HOW?) I decided to put together this list of songs that I found and that nobody else (to my knowledge) suggested to me or is suggesting for DW playlists. Yes it’s gonna be mainly the Masters and Thoschei because I’m trash, buckle up.

1. Lights Out - MSI

Punch your lights out Hit the pavement That's what I call entertainment Causing problems makes you famous All the violence makes a statement

The Master alternative song to play if his Scissors Sister LP didn’t work. And on this hill I will die.

2. An Unhealthy Obsession -  The Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra

I brought a pack lunch and some coffee for my stakeout in your tree... outside your house Gotta be as quiet as a mouse, or else you'll call the police And I'll get done for somethin' stupid like disturbance of the peace And piece by piece I am collecting all the things you leave behind And when you don't I rummage through your bins to see what I can find

This song is pure crack and absolutely sends me. Someone needs to put it as background music in  World Enough and Time because this is Missy and Simm!Master singing and nobody will ever convince me otherwise

3. Not a Common Man - Matt Smith (Yes, him)

Look at history, open the books There are statues with great looks There are Gods, there are Kings I'm pretty sure I'm the same thing 

Basically Matt Smith singing how his dick is bigger than yours. Big roleswap Smith!Master energy in here.

4. Monolith - Twin Pumpkin

If freedom is the last thing then blood is everlasting But it's hard to let you go Been searching for a truth clear, I'm running on a loop here I will never let you go You better take me down before I

The Master being a weirdo and some midly angsty feelings (it will get worse)

5. Bullet With Butterfly Wings - there are a LOT of versions, pick your favorite

And what do you want? I wanna change What do you got When you feel the same? 

Feeling of isolation, powerlessness, feeling trapped as a rat, what else do you want to convince you this is Simm!Master?

More under the cut...it’s 23 in total folks...

6. Heat Stroke - Black Math

I'm running towards the goal I keep my head low One foot and to the next I passed ya yeah ya too slow You said you like the pressure? Well how you like my back? I'm getting farther from ya Taste my dust No looking back 

Another my dick is bigger song for the Master.

7. Creature - Bones UK

Call me up, call me in the morning Sticking your thorn in If that's what you need You can call me anything, baby It will not change me I'll still be me

It literally says “You can call me woman or call me man (I won’t fucking change, bitch)” and that’s very Time Lord of it.

8. Madness - Ruelle

Feel the fury closing in All resistance wearing thin Nowhere to run from all of this havoc Nowhere to hide From all of this madness 

Yeah, this is Thirteen on Gallifrey destroyed. Are we feeling the angst nearing, kids? It’s gonna get worseee.

9. Meaningless - Pain Of Salvation 

(TW: the video is morbid & can be triggering, watch a lyrics video instead)

I need something of my own I need something cutting to the bone I need something that is mine If that must be guilt, then fine 

Not a lot of people are into Prog Metal, but this is very melodic and I just...this is Missy regenerating into Dhawan!Master and realizing the Doctor left him again and—I’m sorry I got dust in my eye. There are also two previous verses that are just the equivalent of every smut fic plot ever written since Spyfall so... 

10. Control - Halsey

I'm bigger than my body I'm colder than this home I'm meaner than my demons I'm bigger than these bones

Applicable to either The Master, The Doctor (when feeling like a dumbass victorious) or Rose Tyler as the Bad Wolf. Very versatile song, 8/10

11. Violet Hill - Colplay

I don't want to be a soldier Who the captain of some sinking ship Would stow, far below So if you love me, why'd you let me go?

Twelve going on Gallifrey and kicking ass to get Clara back? No? Just me?

12. Mercury // Mars - Sleeping At Last

Rows of houses sound asleep Only street lights notice me I am desperate if nothing else In a holding pattern to find myself

&

We laid our names to rest Along the dotted line We left our date of birth And our history behind

The Doctor regenerating and the Time War respectively. Honestly, these guys are DW fans and wrote an album with planet names about the Doctor and I will never be convinced otherwise.

13. Get Better - Nothing But Thieves

Am I gonna get better, better? Because this feels like this might last forever Will I ever get better?

No, Doctor. You will never get better just fucking stop trying we love when you suffer, the score always gets higher when you suffer, ask the TrUe Dw FaNs out there. (tbf I like when they suffer)

14. Invincible - OK Go

When they finally come to destroy the earth They'll have to go through you first I bet they won't be expecting that When they finally come to destroy the earth They'll have to deal with you first

Eleven being Eleven and going on a rant on how he’s the fucking best and OK Go writing a song about him is something I would’ve never expected.

15. Neon Rust - Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes

Away on the wind being blown to hell What happened, it was all going so well Sweet golden rose, don't ever rust Be ever so delicate, when lending your trust

Listen, I don’t even ship Tenrose and I’m not a huge fan of Rose character either, but this is Tenrose and I love this song! Also, it’s angty and super extra, just like Ten is.

16. A lot of Meg Myers songs:

Some People

Tear Me To Pieces

Make A Shadow

Desire

Sorry

She’s a trove for Thirteen x Dhawan!Master songs and made me start a thoschei playlist just because of that. I mean...

Hurts to love someone, someone like you It's getting hard to find the light in your eyes Your face is a story and I know every line Trying to reach out but you're dancing out of time

Can you PLEASE be more specific with your pain?!? I don’t think this is SPECIFIC enough for Thirteen!!!!

17. Eyes On Fire - Blue Foundation

I won't soothe your pain I won't ease your strain You'll be waiting in vain I got nothing for you to gain 

Anyone remember this being the only good thing about Twilight other than  Hayley Williams’ beautiful face—I mean—voice? Besides that, this is the perfect Twissy song, fight me in the pit. 

18. Hurts Like Hell - Fleurie

I don't want them to know the secrets I don't want them to know the way I loved you I don't think they'd understand it, no I don't think they would accept me, no 

The angst! The pain! The unexpressed feelings...The Fam finding them on the floor, tussling over a bag of Cheetos like the stupid racoons they are...

19. Half Light - BANNERS

When you're in the half light It is not you I see And you live a half life You only show half to me 

This is pure Thoschei feels and nothing else but still manages to give me life.

20. Premonitions - Vaults

Let's take it right back to where we used to go But we never look back, no we only look forward To all the new pain and violence that we blame No we never look back, no we only look forward 

Look at me banging pans together and rant about the beauty of this song and how much it fits in my Thoschei obession.

21. Bad Company YONOAKA

So tell me what you want, tell me want you want Why have you come for me?  'Cause I was fine before you came to my door Now it's my blood you see  

I discovered this the day before The Timeless Children aired and I still stand by the idea that it’s oddly specific and I love it so much.

22. What Do You Want - Nico Vega

You've been lazy Maybe you're afraid Of sleeping in the dark Like a little baby With a nightlight Well baby, its bad You can go ahead and hate me For bringing in news But you could still choose Ain't going to be a party But you turn it all down 

The Master being a little shit to the Doctor and calling them both “lazy” and “a little baby” is now my religion. I’ll name it “Being an hopeless idiot”

23. Come On - Mondo Cozmo

'Cause come on, come on There's a fire in the sunrise Hello, hello, I'm the rider of the storm Come on, come on, we'll be staring at the skyline Hello hello, then we'll watch the city burn Come and watch the city burn

The Master serenading this one under Thirteen’s window with a guitar after he set fire to a car (That coincidentally was hers)

[primeemeraldheiress]

Tagged by

@sarcastic-feminist-witch

Thanks for that tag! I’m starting a new one because the other one is getting super long. 

Nickname: In general I go by Em. Right now in a couple of servers I’m Queen of Tears and Killer Queen. There’s also variations of my real name the public isn’t getting lol

Zodiac: Gemini

Height: 5′10′’ or 5′11′’, depending on the doctor, sometimes I hear 5′9′’ as well.

Last thing I googled: drumlines

Song stuck in my head: Dear Theodosia from Hamilton. (Thanks, @jackdaw-kraai! I cannot believe that is STILL LOOPING! 😂😂😂😭😭😭😭😭)

Number of followers: I decline to answer this.

Amount of sleep: I think I got about 7 hours last night.

Lucky Number: 13

Favorite Song: I have a few! Stricken by Disturbed, The Killing Kind by Marianas Trench, Wasted on You by Evanescence,  Lost on You by LP

Favorite Instrument: I played French Horn in school

Dream Job: Well, I think any writer would probably say author and that’s legit. But also, lawyer and I’m in law school, so... I’m on my way!

Aesthetic: Um... Dark blues and greens, plants, and cool rains. Comfort clothes and dark red lipstick. Stormy days, strong tea and a good book. 

Favorite Author: Stephen King.

Favorite animal noise: Cats purring.

Random: I play D&D and Swing Dance.

Tagging - @wajjs​ @marinaxstudios​ @jasontoddiefor​ @scandalsavagefanfic​ @daemoninwhiteround2​ @garpie64​ @openthingsatrandom​ @thenafics​ @rynae-reblogs​ @ghostwriterofthemachine​ @jackdaw-kraai​ @sirgnomethegiant​

[anarchist-caravan]

(My) TOP Discovered Albums of the year 2019 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Here again, for the fourth year in a row! Ready to go through the list of discovered music that I have found this year. It has been quite a long year. The thing that is different from the other years is that I have felt a little bit more stressed about the list. I don’ t know why. Just is. And that is a good judgement of what my year has been about. Stress. Angst. Hardships. Fatigue. And Surprises.

I always think I won’t be able to find any new music each year. But I am always mistaken. Thousands of albums down the road. And ain’t that the best thing. Amidst the times. 

And thus, a lot of the music I found this year, that has been put on this list is of the more chill side. Not anything too harsh. Just.... a stream of consciousness.

As Usual, Albums I have encountered throughout the year are listed below -with only the last five in a true top order:

40.

Mad Doctor X - Picnic with the Greys (1997)

A picnic we should all attend, -don’t forget the Oui’d!

39.

Tomb Mold ‎– Planetary Clairvoyance (2019)

Dang, that’s death metal done well.

38.

Moor Mother - Analog Fluids Of Sonic Black Holes (2019)

Self-explanatory. 

37.

Darzamat - In the Opium of Black Veil (1999)

Good AF black metal. 

36.

karl sanders - saurian meditation (2004)

Darker than you think. Hypnosis.

35.

The Dolphin Brothers - Catch the Fall (1987)

Richard Barbieri and Steve Jansen plays wonderous synth-pop akin to something... I cannot remember right now. But they are good nonetheless. 

34.

Reiko Kudo - Rice Field Silently Riping In The Night (2019) 

(Dis)harmonious multi-instrumental live-recording’easque music with singing and (soft) noise. 

33.

Michael Stearns - M'Ocean

Michael Stearns makes the most chill music in the universe. Except for maybe that one U.F.O. trip album that can be chill in the scary cold sense. 

32.

Henryk Górecki - Kleines Requiem-Lerchenmusik

Classical album of the year. Górecki always delivers. 

31.

VOIGHT KAMPFF - MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN (2012)

Fast techno-trash metal band. 

30.

Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows - Death And Flamingos (2019)

Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows is a band that will always have a special space in my heart. Their music got me through the most part of high school. The dark ambivalent songs. Yet, never forgetting the ironic twinkle in the eye. 

29.

Earl Slick - Zig Zag (2003)

That edge of the seat feel of rock; next stage to come, just: SLICK.

28.

Kooba Tercu - Kharrub (2019)

You will be grateful I rec’d this jammin’ piece of fast jumping action of absurdity and happiness. :)

27. 

Red Snapper - Making Bones (1998) 

Trip Hop Album of The year. Seeing to what trip-hop releases there were around the time of this album’s release, I am so fucking surprised I had never heard of these before. They are just as brilliant as the all too famous Portishead, if not with an upper edge in a lot of cases. 

26.

Supercar - Three Out Changes!! (1998)

Shoegaze of the year. Lovely. CHILL. Summer evening breathe’

25.

Anna Domino - East & West (1984)

Timeless synth-pop with rich textures of dreamy lyrics that ensnares you into a downtempo that.... goes up.

24.

Troy Gregory - XAVIERA (2018) 

Monumental Prog.

23.

shit & shine - bad vibes (2018)

It is What it Says. Yeah I am on Acid’

22.

Datarock ‎- Face The Brutality (2018) 

Norwegian indie masters. I love Datarock very, very much. I’ve listened to them since the 2007 release Red and I don’t know a band with as much coercive pop in each track. This album was a surprise find, since I was convinced they were out of the loop.

21.

HIZAKI grace project  - Curse Of Virgo (2008)   

Symphonic Metal. Hizaki is a master of the guitar. Such Riffs. If you need to drain your brain to metal and feel energized but still mesmerized, this is it. 

20.

Institut Für Feinmotorik ‎- Abgegriffen (2011)

Coolest Experimental Band of the year. Go check them out on youtube. The making of the music here is truly an Experience.

19.

Deafkids ‎- Metaprogramação (2019)

D-beat, Raw Punk, Downtempo ... band from Volta Redonda, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil. NOISE.

18.

 WipEout Omega Collection OST (2017)

The wipeout games are and will forever be my favorite way of anti-gravity racing. The music to Wipeout Omega Collection is as stellar as ever, a great list of electro and techno musicians. 

17.

Hammer Bros. - Police Story (1997) 

Imagine being at an underground hardcore noise rave party in 1997. Imagine the beat blasts. The speed. The energy. Just the grinding shouts, the beat, and you. Ready to dive. BURN. WATER. REPEAT.

16.

AFCGT ‎– Square Microphone Tapes 

Noise rock galore. Glory. Wonderful. Gnarly. Intelligent. Different. Moody.

15.

Future Of The Left ‎– Human Death (2013)

Great leftist lyrics. Another one of RIk’s rec’s. Just Awesome. Good Music. Hate on capitalism and its endless bringer of deaths. 

14.

Molchat Doma* ‎– Etazhi (2018)

Youtube rec of the year. Darkwave energies en masse!

13.

3.2 - The Rules Have Changed  (2018)

The follow up to the infamous To The Power Of Three album from 1986 by Emerson, Lake and Berry. The first record was hated on by many, but I love it. And this very late follow up is a huge accomplishment and honoring to the late people involved. A record my dad would have liked. I just love prog music. Sigh. 

12.

Saori Kobayashi - Terra Magica (2016)

Ethereal Game Music is not easy to make. Yet somehow, Saori manages it. No wonder really. She was behind Panzer Dragoon. Masterpiece album for what a tribute it is.

“Terra Magica is a love letter from Saori Kobayashi to her fans. Featuring the same rich, melodic tones that defined the iconic soundtracks of Panzer Dragoon Saga and Panzer Dragoon Orta, Kobayashi invites listeners to enter the world she has created, while encouraging them to create their very own story to match the progression of the music.“

11.

ENTROPY CREATED CONSCIOUSNESS - Impressions of the Morning Star (2018)

Symphonic Doom Metal of the year

10.

Sleaford Mods - Divide and Exit (2014)

Rec of the year by @planetsedge​ - Rik has served several discs on this list this year.

9.

Mobile Suit Z Gundam BGM Collection (Vol.1 - Vol.3)  (1985)

The title track to this animé, sung by Mami Ayukawa, and its subsequent soundtrack is probably one of the best I have heard. 80′s animé has the best soundtracks, mostly. 

8.

K2 - Iron Kulture 7' (1996)

Noise artist of the year.

7.

Klaus Dinger + Japandorf (2013)

Surprise find of the year in the sense of knowing the artist in other bands (NEU! and Kraftwerk) but totally missing this somehow. Late late find. Total love. Electronic mists will seep into your ears listening to this. 

6.

Beak - >>>

Pop-like krautrock. Laid back, but with thought behind it. Allé Sauvage is my fave track. Just the perfect amount of mystery and rhythm and synths. First list find of the year. 

5.

The Muffs - Alert Today Alive Tomorrow

20 years ago The Muffs released this album, and I wish... the years had been kinder. This album helped me a lot though when I found it. A lot of nostalgia will arise listening to this. 

Damned if you feel alright ~

4.

BIG STICK - LP (2019)

EARWORM OF THE YEAR!!! Calamari Co Co Butter Calamari Co Co Butter Calamari Co Co Butter Calamari Co Co Butter Calamari Co Co Butter Calamari Co Co Butter Calamari Co Co Butter Calamari Co Co Butter Calamari Co Co Butter Calamari Co Co Butter Calamari Co Co Butter Calamari Co Co ButterCalamari Co Co Butttttttttttttttteeeeerrrrr. 

In the bodega. 

3.

Jesca Hoop - Stonechild (2019)

Indie folk niceties. Chill, interesting blend of rock and singing elements. Not mystical, but still with mysteries. Got third place because I kept remembering it so much. It penetrated my skull. 

2. 

Doji Morita - A Boy (1977) 

This album was an early find and should be my album of the year. Morita’s voice is amongst the softest and kindest I have ever heard. And she has all the wonderful aesthetics to boot! Acoustics with accompanying strings and pianos in most of the tracks. It isn’t, because the N’1 is such an explosion of a surprise. 

The third track, ふるえているネ (One who is trembling) is my favorite. I do tremble at the very thoughts expressed in this track. The bird wings at the end... yeah. Every track on this album is a masterpiece. 

Music as pulling one’ s strings of the heart. That is what this album is about. 

I will keep it at that with the words. No more has to be said. Just listen, you will understand. 

1.

Kagami - Star Arts (2002)

Explosive, Happy, Creative, Constantly Changing Originality.

 Techno. Disco. TeSco.

Toshiyasu Kagami was a genius in his genre. I’ve heard a lot of techno mixes and textures in my life, but not anything like this before. 

Each track slaps you in the head and forces you to the rhythm, only for you to go.... HMMMMMMMMmmmMmmMmMMmmMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM when the flow enters its synergies of musical delight. What else is there to say when your ears are filled with such pleasant sounds. Just when you think it won’t change up, it will change up. Impossible to predict. Dancefloor killer. Intelligent Mixes. 

No philosophical analysis, only my body moving to the most energetic beat EVER.

Concrete Masterpiece. My album of the year in 2019. 

[guettaes]

Same person, different people. @strangerjosie

Music: Sad Piano Music (THIS WILL MAKE YOU CRY / Saddest Piano & Violin Ever!)

or: Jo Blankenburg - Anumati (ft. Uyanga Bold) [Epic Ambient Vocal - Beautiful Emotional Music]

2011; 2 year before the outbreak of tall Oaks, Washington Stare.

Your husband was on a mission, currently not home. You really hoped

he was okay and for him to come home soon.

You were home alone, reading a book and cuddling in your husband's

oversized black hoodie. Only the rumble of the heater ripped through

the silence of the locked down house.

You absolutely despised being home alone. It sent an involuntary chill

down your spine to which made you uncomfortable and you hated it

with a passion. So to keep yourself satisfied and a little less lonely, you

find anything that belongs to your husband and cuddle up to it. Even his

hair brush.

Sighing, you brushed your fallen (H/C) hair behind your ear and set down

your book. You took the covers off of yor body and started walking

downstairs, heaing a crash rip through the air grom the porch.

You froze in your tracks, your brow furrowed. "What the...?-" Slowly, you

started walking toward the locked door, hearing more crashes and now

footsteps.

fear took you over and you breathed in sharply as the windows of your

home burst and in came many many soldiers with guns in their hands.

"Down! Now!" They shouted.

You yelped in shock, your hands shooting up. Thinking quick, bullets

started ripping through the air and you dodged out of the way, behind

the marbled countertop. The vibtation of the bullets hitting the counter

smacked against your back and you covered your ears. You then noticed

Leon's extra gun resting on the countertop across from you and you

took the chance to retrive it.

You closed your eyes. "You can do this, (Y/N)..." Crawling your way to the

hospital counter, you finally made it and grabbed the gun firm in your

hand and checked the chamber. It was a Nine-Oh-Nine handgun and it

had just enough bullestn to get you throughthe unfamiliar group of

intruders.

Tears pricked at your eyes as you breathed heavily. You barely knew how

to handle a gun. You've shot before, but aren't very professional like

Leon is. Of corse, he's done many things psychotic with a gun like that,

but you've never really learned easily. He's also helped you in combet

and you were good at that.

You then took the chance to run toward the doorway. Taking in a breath

before shooting a man down with a bullet to the thyroid. Blood quickly

splattered your face and your eyes widened before you bolted toward

the door. You shot down a few more, the killings ni longer phasing you.

Hiding behind your wall, you kept Leon's gun at your side, pulling a few

stray strands of hair out of your mouth. "Leon, please hurry...I don't

know what to do.." You whimpered to yourself.

Again, you ran toward the doorway, a few now cornering you. One last

trigger pull and the gun clicked. They cornered you even more as you

shrunk down, pleading for them to stop. "Get away from me! Stop!"

But they didn't listen. They knocked you out with ease and you failed

coldly.

"We've got Kennedy's wife."

-

Leon

"(Y/N)!" I continued to search through the household, noticing (Y/N) was

no where to be found. My heart beat increased as i took notice of the

large shards of window glass scattering the ground.

I threw my bag to the side, running throughout the house, calling for

(Y/N), but of course, there was no answer. Resting on the ground was an

agent's patch. I bent down to pick it up and examined it in my hand,

immediately recognizing the armed corporation.

"Neo-Umbrella.." I growled under my breath, crumbling the patch in my

plam. Also seening my nine-oh-nie handgun-on the ground, i picked it

up and frowned, bolting out the door of our destroyed home.

-

Your Pov-

Your eyes fluttered open and you were met with the slap of eerie silence

and white clouding the room. Your breath became wheezy as you took

in sharp breaths and began coughing violently, your body shaking.

"Sir, she's awake," Avoice said and your tired eyes scanned the room.

confusion washed over you as you looked around the room, trying to

think aubot where you were at. But nothing hit you.

You couldn't remember....anything. What your name was, your age, your

love, your favorite color, not even what happened 10 minutes ago.

"W-...Wh.." You tried to speak, but only slurs and syllables came out.

"where are you, you ask? My dear, you are home. Where you actually

belong," A man said softly. He looked as if he was villain. Just a mean,

nasty villain. Your eyebrow ceased in confusion.

"That blasted Agent Kennedy will be here any moment now. I want her

no where to be seen. Hide her. My men will take care of Kennedy." He

spoke to the doctor beside him who gave a firm nod. 'Agent Kennedy?

Who is that?'You thought bitterly in your mind.

So you could talk in your brain...but you couldn't process words aloud.

"The original (Y/N) is dead. She's the clone. But she's everything i've

ever wanted. Keep her safe and secure or else." He warned quietly to the

soctor as your heart dropped.'I'm a clone? I can't be...But i don't

remember anything...'

"M-M-Mis-sterr.." you stuttered out quietly. "Quiet." He snapped and you

attempted to lean yourself up but the chains around your wrists and

neck kept you down. "H-Hel-lp,"

"I said quiet!" He snapped again, this time more louder and fiercer. You

flinched at the sudden outburst.

Sitting completely still, you stared at the white, untouched ceiling as

your eyesight was suddenly blocked with black and white stars.

"Get away from me!"

"Stop!"

Now you remember. Your husband, Leon, was at work and you were

taken by an armed corporation by the name of 'Neo-Umbrella'.

suddenly, something inside of you snapped and hte feeling of

adrenaline and pain flushed your entire body. Your body began shaking

a bit and whimpers escaped your lips. The doctor looked at your

shaking body confusingly, his eyes widening. Your veins grew a very

dark color, you skin turning a sick grey color; there was something

inside of you. Something unstoppable.

More whimpers left your lips as you grit your jaw and yelled out loundly,

bursting up and snapping the metal chains. Springing up where you

were, the chains arond his neck. His hands were placed on your

neck in an attempt to push you away but you were much too strong.

Nothing was stopping you. As soon as you felt him grow limp, your grip

around his neck loosened and your breath shook. The glint in your eyes

disappeared and you blinked several times. "No..No, No, no, no, no,"

Your breath quickened. "Hey, w-wake up!" You slapped his cheeks over

and over until you knew he was gone. "What have i done?" You asked

yourself quietly, staring at your hands as your veins grew normal.

Gripping your head in your hands and groaning, you shut your eyes

tightly, feeling powerful.

'There is definitely something inside me..'

You slowly got up from your seating and picked up a gun from the

doctors pocket.

'I don't have much time..'

-

Your veins grew a dark color again and you began to grow weak as you

breathed in and out in a heavy manner. You placed your hands over your

belly and collapsed to the ground, dropping your gun in the process.

Gritting your fist, your breaths grew very heavy and you shook violently.

Your body shaped into different directions as you screamed in pain,

sweat covering every inch of your forehead.

Loud footsteps ripped through the air and the call of your name was

heard. "(Y/N)!"

Leon. He came back for you.

You continued to scream in pain, screwing your eyes shut as Leon

picked your spasming body in his arms. "Hold on, (Y/N)! We're getting

out of here!"

"Hurr-rry L-Leon, there's not...much..t-time.." You grunted, gasping in

tiny breaths. "Goddammit, There's gotta be a cure here somewhere..."

Leon set you down in a small corner and you shook some more. Leon

frantically looked around the medic room in search for any type of

vaccine to cure the parasite in your body.

"Leon, you have..to..get o-out of h-h-ere.." You managed to get out. Leon

shook his head, resting your head on his thigh. His hands gripped onto

your sweaty face as he kissed the tip of your nose.

"I'm not leaving without you, (Y/N)." He said sadly. Neo-Umbrella J'avo

began filling the first part of the room, close to the location of you and

Leon.

'For the love...of christ Leon, I'm about to die. C-can't you see..that?"

You cried.

Small gurglind sounds escaped the back of your throat ad tears flew

down your face as your face shallowed out. Your veins darkened even

more and your eyes were no longer it's beautitful color.

Your chest weakly heaved with each of your sobs and Leon kissed your

forehead for a good the to twenty seconds with massive force. He held

your in his arms, crying shallowly into your shoulder and you kissed his

solf lips for the last time.

"I'm so sorry, baby.." He lifted his gun from his belt loop and put it to the

side of your head. He shook and cried, your frown turning to a smile as

he pulled the trigger, a bullet piercing through your brain, putting you

down. He held you tighter, his cries now getting louder. He held your

(h/c) hair back, hugging your lifeless body.

He then let go, leaning his head back, a loud cry of pain escaping his

lips. "No!!"

-

Four weeks later.

There Leon sat, at his work desk, his hands tangled in his hair as he

stared at the stack of forms. a loud sigh rang through the air.

Ever since he had killed you, it's been haunting him ever since. He hasn't

gotte any sleep, skippedcountless days of work, lost weight, even

cried himself to sleep each night after the day he left you.

His eyes scanned through each from, another sigh escaping his lips. He

crompled two of the papers, throwing them in the garbage bin. He

scanned through more until something caught his eye and he stopped

in his tracks, his brow furrowing.

It was your form. Your exact name, your occupation, your exact birthday,

everything. It was even newly dated. 'She died for weeks ago, how is

this dated now?' Leon thought bitterly.

'I swear, i'm going crazy.'

Right then, a knock on the door was heard. "Come in?" Leon asked,

more of a question. The door opened, revealing President Benford and a

beautiful, young woman. That woman..was you.

You smiled brightly, happy to meet your new partner.

"Leon, I'd like you to meet our newest agent, Agent-"

"(Y/N). (Y/N) (L/N)." Leon interrupted, a look of disbelief on his face. Your

smile faded and you lifted your left eyebrow in confusion. "How do you know m-"

His mouth was to the ground, his eyes full of tears. "(Y/N)." Leon ran full

speed toward you, engulfing your small body in his arms. He dug his

face into the crook of your neck

as your pat his back awkwardly.

"Uhm, do I know you,..?" You asked, chuckling nervously. "How are you

alive right now, how did you-"

He stopped midway as soon as he heard your sentence. He locked eyes

with you and stared at you in disbelief. "W-What did you just-" He

stopped again.

"(Y/N), do you know this man?" President Benford asked questioningly

and you shook your head, unsure. "N-No Sir, I-I dont't." You shook your

head, your eyebrows still furrowed.

"(Y/N), it's me, It's Leon. don't you remember?"

"I'm sorry, I don't." You whispered sincerely, glancing at President

Benford and then back at Leon. Leon left as if he was about to vomit. "E-

Excuse me," He sped out of the room, bolting into the men's bathroom

ans staring at his messy self in the mirror.

'I'm going insane.'

"she's dead. I killed her."

"A bullet from my gun pierced her brain. She's surely gone."

"was it a dream?"

"It was all real."

"I can ' t lose you, (Y/N)."

Leon let out a loud cry, smashing his into the mirror, the mirror

shattering to pieces. The placed his hands on each side of the smashed

mirror, breathing in heavily through his nostrils.

You and President Benford burst though the door, in worry for Leon.

But Leon hated it when you were there, seeing him such a mess.. Leon

shoved pats both of you, as you looked after him.

"I don't know him, Adam. How does he know me..?" Yo asked gently,

tears threatening to spill down your cheeks.

He brought you outside of the men's bathroom, taking in a deep breath

and wiping his now sweaty forehed. "You, (Y/N), you were kidnapped

about 4 and a half weeks ago when Leon was on a mission in Eastern

Europe. You two were married. you were taken to some sort of military

base for a corporation by the name of Neo-Umbrella. Thay...cloned you.

It turns out, Leon was married to you clone and not the actual...you.At

the facility, a parasite was spotted inside your body and it was only a

matter of time before you were killed by the parasite infecting your body

right in front of Leon. He had no choice but to kill you. It's been haunting

him ever since." President Benford explained to you. You mouth was

agape in shock and your slummped down beside a water fountain.

He was married to your clone and you hadn't even realized it.

"We were married.. I don't remember him.." You crossed your arms over

your chest and your lip trembled as you stifled a weak laugh.

You took after Leon's direction, wiping away your tears. As soon as you

spotted him, you called his name but he didn't even bother to turn

around. Leon sat down against the cream colored wall, his left hand

through his beautiful dirty blonde hair. You seated yourself beside him.

"I'm sorry, Leon. I didn't know that we were...y'know, married."

He didn't answer, nor look at you, so you just continued. "We're two

different people. But thet doesn't mean we don't have the same love."

You admitted. Leon looked at you with a frown but then it turned into a

grin. "We're the same person, but just..two different people."

"I'm not her. But I love you as much as she did." You said gently. You

fingertips came in contact with his jawline and you brought your lips to

his, closing the space between you two. You ran your hands through his

hair, pulling away and leaning your forehed to his. He leaned his chin

in your shoulder and kissed the crook of your neck tenderly.

"I missed you so much, (Y/N)..."

[krispyweiss]

Album Review: The Claypool Lennon Delirium - South of Reality

Les Claypool and Sean Lennon continue their short, delirious trip with their second full-length LP, South of Reality.

The Claypool Lennon Delirium occupy a space where the Beatles dwell via DNA in Lennon’s vocals and by design via tape loops and other studio trickery. South of Reality contains elements of Piper-to-Dark Side-era Floydian psychedelia; Claypool’s singular basslines and maniacal singing bring Primus into the fold by default, while Frank Zappa and Jellyfish nibble at the edges of the music.

This is a concept album of sorts - South of Reality being the place America dwells in the age of Trump. But in a twist, Claypool and Lennon put the blame on the duped.

Desperate measures lead to desperate situations, they sing on ���Easily Charmed by Fools.”

Full of quirky charms, South of Reality is often too quirky for its own good as songs like “Amethyst Realm” seek to be weird for weird’s sake and collapse under their own avant-garde weight.

This penchant for doing too much too often is evident in “Cricket Chronicles Revisited: Part I, Ask Your Doctor - Part II, Psyde Effects,” a track that pulls listeners in with its Bo Diddley beat, sitar and other Eastern influences only to dissolve into gibberish over acoustic guitar and lose its appeal in the process.

It’s something that happens repeatedly over South of Reality’s nine tracks, making for an album that should’ve - and easily could’ve - been better.

Grade card: The Claypool Lennon Delirium - South of Reality - C+

3/6/19

[economistontherun]

Let’s Fix This Hammy (Leg 1)

1. Decision that DNS better than DNF for  2019 Ironman Lake Placid - 😢

2. Move up hamstring surgery and PRP to June and July - ✅

3. Buy and prep lots of healthy foods for recovery - 🍉🥑🥦

4. Suspend Zwift and Coaching for a few months - 🚴🏻‍♀️

5. Make a list of books to read and papers to write 

Well I guess I’m ready to start move toward Jill 2.0. I’ve been struggling with low level hamstring pain since last fall but it presented as glute tightness that would relieve itself a few miles into a long run. It didn’t bother me on my bike and I don’t kick all that much when I swim so I was ok there too. Or so I thought I was ok. I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with proximal (high hamstring) tendonosis. It is when the acute condition of tendinitis becomes chronic and your body will not heal itself. 

This is pain in the ass. 

There were two things that drove me to seek medical help. One, I could not run without pain and feel like my right hamstring was shortening as I ran. Two, driving was excruciating. It felt like a tooth ache in my leg and I found myself popping Aleve, sitting on ice and a heating pad to alleviate some of it. Once I was diagnosed I was sent to physical therapy. I’ve been doing eccentric exercises to aggravate it which is very strange for your brain. After doing this for months with no relief, I had an ultrasound done. This showed severe scarring and the doctor told me that any shot of cortisone would rupture both hamstrings. Back to PT and then back to doctor. After an MRI it was discovered that I tore my right hamstring yet I have not recollection of doing this. We concluded that my pain threshold is so high that I just didn’t notice. That is the downside to badass and now I had to be super careful not to tear the fragile left hammy. 

But Ironman Lake Placid......

My coach and I had a heart to heart. As long as I had permission from the doctor to do the race, I could walk the marathon. Please keep in mind that although walking didn’t create the pain that running did the action of lifting your leg up on a curb was painful. I can best describe it as being forced to think “ok leg, lift up” instead of it happening automatically. This pain at the ischial tube or sit bone was acceptable pain but anything radiating below or causing stress on other smaller muscles was a no go. STOP and turn back! 

The bike was fine and I was up to riding 6 hours so things looked good. Walking a marathon was not the most pleasant thing to think of, but I blew up at IM Lou and had to walk most of the marathon because of belly issues so a planned walk would enable me to take in the fun! 

During this time I went for a second opinion on my treatment for the injury. I wasn’t convinced that scraping the muscle and tendon with a needle and injecting PRP at the same time was the only option. My new doctor confirmed the diagnosis and proposed a procedure called Tenex and follow that up with PRP. This sounded less barbaric and we scheduled it for middle of August after Ironman. 

Is that Pain on the Bike?

My coach has a camp in Lake Placid in June and it is so much fun! Think summer camp for adults. I would not miss it for the world, in fact my husband comes up to run the Lake Placid Half Marathon and we’ve decided it is our peaceful place. So love to be there. 

I had a long ride on the trainer, about 5 hours, on Memorial Day weekend and my hamstring was mad at me. I just chalked it up to riding on the training is pedaling for 5 hours straight and I’ve been riding outside and you can coast out there. I just kept an eye on it and would walk on Sunday at Lake Scranton. 

More heart to heart talks with my coach and we decided that my upcoming planned DNF (I wasn’t doing the run) at 70.3 Connecticut (formally Quassy) and camp would provide us with enough information for me to decide on whether or not I was going to race Lake Placid in July. 

I’m an economist to a quick Cost Benefit Analysis sums it up - 

Benefits

1. I’ve trained since January and had great bike fitness

2. I got my swim down below 2:00/100 

3. Lake Placid is so beautiful and I want to cross the finish line at the Oval

4. I’ve never bailed on something this big

5. 2019 has been emotionally rough for me and my training is about all I had control over

6. My anxiety and mental health suffered much this year and training is the only relief I find

7. I love training and racing with friends. I’ve already miss the time with running friends, this would cut out my time with riding friends too. 

8. Lose payment on hotel and no gear from LP

Cost

1. I could injure myself further

2. I may not be able to train or race again

3. Gaining weight 

4. Later surgery when I’m working could slow down recovery

5. Missing the race

6. Missing my training friends

7. Going Fu**ing crazy because I haven’t been forced to sit still in decades

Conclusion:

In the 75th mile of my 112 mile bike ride at camp in Lake Placid my hamstring hurt above the back of my knee. My doctor was training at the camp and we discussed good pain and bad pain. This one was the bad pain. I turned the bike around and had a good cry when one of the coaches found me and asked how I was doing. I knew my race was not going to start and now I had to deal with this when all about me were athletes excited and training for their races. 

Many tears were shed and I needed some alone time. I told Gerard I needed to go swim in Mirror Lake. I swam only about 500 yards but it helped a bit. Side note: you can cry in your goggles. The next day I cheered for Gerard in the half marathon and then swam the entire loop of the Lake Placid Ironman. I was able to feel free and enjoy every stroke. This was good for my body and soul. 

Letting Go 

I understand that people have struggles in life far more pressing than my injury deciding not to race an Ironman. I get that, but for me training for races whether running or triathlon is more about the opportunity to dream big and challenge myself. It makes me feel alive. The community is wonderful and I find that it helps me do better at the other facets of my life as well. It doesn’t hurt that it gives me a bit of street cred with my students too. 

I consulted with my doctor after the ride and then with my husband and my coach. The race would always be there. I needed to take care of myself and recover sooner rather than later. I cried, wallowed and it is the morning of my surgery and I am anxious, nervous and scared of the future but I am also energized and ready to win at recovery. 

There is something else. This year at camp I was more anxious and put more pressure on every activity where last year I was like the dog hanging out the window of a car. Everything was an adventure and a learning experience. The extra pressure I put on myself made me tight for my swims. I even got sick after some drills and missed the time to do a complete swim loop. I totally enjoyed the first bike loop day and had zero pain but the group left a little early on the big bike day and I was left feeling rushed. So much so that I started to cry and my coach had to snap me out of it with some tough love. I now realize that every pedal stroke was an analysis of a full body check. I was conflicted because I was so much stronger on the bike but I was losing power because I was compensating for the bad hamstrings. Mental pressure creates tightness. I felt the best on my long swim after I had decided that I couldn’t do the race. 

Lessons 

Stress equals stress to the body regardless of the source. My body was getting beat up by physical training and mental stress. That is hard when you are 100% but so much more difficult when you are nursing an injury. Through therapy I learned that I constantly put everyone else’s needs ahead of mine and take care of me last. That isn’t my intention, I just want to help but in doing that I also take on their stress and make it mine. For the first time in my life I suffered from panic attacks and vivid bad dreams. Thank goodness they’ve subsided. I’m a fixer and a doer. I want to move on with things quickly and get it done. This may not seem to resonate with a back of the pack endurance athlete but it does. I know that the training takes time and it slows me down. That is a balance for my brain that goes a million miles an hour from the time I open my eyes until the time I go to bed. 

I’m not sure how the next few days will go, but I know that I will need to put myself first, ask for help and win at recovery and rehab. 

Let’s do this. 

PS It’s only 8:20 am and I’m starving. 

[blckspeedy-blog]

L O A D I N G    I N F O R M A T I O N …

< S U B J E C T : speedy >

< P R O J E C T : initiation >

< D A T E : late 2015 >

< L O C A T I O N : japan >

< E A R N E D : +25 LP >

he felt sore. his entire body ached. every movement, no matter how small, seemed to send sharp shoots of pain through every crevice of his body. the first thing he noticed was the bandages. he couldn’t remember getting hurt. he couldn’t remember much in that moment. he pushed himself up, feeling dizzy. his hand reached out, clinging to the wall. he had no idea where he was. it looked like a storage container.

the need to know more. as if someone heard him, the doors opened. he expected to be greeted with sunlight, but it was just another fluorescent light into another storage container.

he continued to walk, watching as the lights change to neon colors. it led him to a room. it was so strange. he stared at the screen on the wall and questions started to appear. he felt himself answering them. adventurous. fox. jumper cables. speedy. air. adrenaline.

he follows the green light when it appears, surprised at the swimming pool. how did they get a pool into storage containers. his fingers pressed against the walls, knocking on it for a minute. his body still hurt. he ached, but he had to keep going. he was just relieved he learned how to swim as a child.

when he made it, his hands pressed against his legs, catching his breath. he stared at the seven doors. he knew what he was always accused of. he always wanted more. the door with greed on it was the only answer.

he walked through the door and kept walking and walking, watching as the lights changed colors. when it seemed to stop, he didn’t see any other doors, no more challenges. he heard something, like a door close behind him and panic filled his body as gas seemed to fill the room. he yelled for a minute before he felt himself slowly falling asleep.

he knew he was on a bed when he woke up. there was an iv in his arm. how long had he been out? he pulled himself free of the iv, covering the small wound as he picked himself up. his head felt heavy again. he didn’t think he was in too much pain at least. he had to figure out what was going.

standing up again, he headed for the only door and started walking. he seemed to always be walking. when he found a room with a wardrobe, he sighed. he didn’t want to remove his clothes, but he did.

as he walked, he noticed a mirror. the person who stared back wasn’t him. his eyes were a strange golden color, at least for a moment before it went back to brown. his hair was black and short, styled in a way he’d never put the effort into. didn’t he mention that earlier? he seemed more muscular too. he was always fit, but it seemed like he had more muscles. was that possible? he caught a glimpse of a tattoo on his back. a circle, it seemed. he never had a tattoo before.

he started moving again, hoping at some point he would find some answer. he found his new cloths. nothing too eccentric. he’d rather have his jumpsuit back. moving again, he was walking and once again, he was forced to keep walking.

when he came to a door, he realized how threatening the inscription was. what challenges? what was going on?

pushing open the door, he walked in. the computer shocked him. he walked around it for a few times. after inspecting it, he sat down and started answering more questions. after he finished, there was a cylinder beside him. he eyed it for a moment, inspecting it before deciding he needed to get out of there.

the next room was a target room. there were mannequins and targets. the cylinder seemed to know and it changed into jumper cables. it was something familiar to him. he felt the electricity going through it. a small grin appeared on his lips as he whipped the jumper cables like a whip. he remembered saying he’d think having a whip would be good.

he felt exhilarated. he continued forward and when he saw the starting line, he smiled. he felt excited.

however, that high was only short lived after he saw a saw blade passed him. he started to realize quickly this wasn’t a simple obstacle course. he loved living too much. no more close calls, but he felt so strong, so much faster.

after a very exhausting trial, he made it to the end. he was smiling before being blinded. he was out like a light after that.

he felt like he was having deja vu. who kept knocking him out? he was up and at it again, never one to shy away from a challenge. he felt off though. like some things were starting to disappear. he tried thinking of his family, but nothing was coming to him. what was his father’s name? what did his mother do for work? and he felt like he could see better too. what was really going on?

he moved again, making it to the ‘trial by fire’. he was amused and a little terrified at the same time. he took a deep breath and ran for it. he fell to the ground when he reached the end, but it was another pool. he took a few deep breaths before jumping in and swimming. he was exhausted and barely made it out of the pool. he groaned at the hills in front of him. he took a few deep breaths again before he was at it again. he was exhausted, but his adrenaline was bursting.

the next trial nearly took his breath away. he wasn’t scared of heights, but he felt like he could loose his life if he wasn’t careful. he somehow made it to the end and made it to the loop of faith. he took a deep breath before falling down into the net. he took some time in the net to catch is breath before he got himself out and started walking.

making it to the next room, he took a seat and sighed. he looked at the instructions and decides to place his left wrist in the book. his hand slaps down on the box when he felt the pain, but he endured it. his nails clinging to the box. when he pulled it out, seeing the sun on his wrist, he groaned. another tattoo?

once it was over, he moved again. when put up against the robot, he feared his life for a bit as he fought, using his weapon again. he managed to make it out with a few scratches, but he succeeded. he smiled before he was blinded again.

when he woke up, he wasn’t alone and he was chained to a wall. it seems like he was sitting there forever until there was a noise. he was released and they all walked. after grabbing his cylinder, he continued forward. he went straight ahead, while others took different paths.

the obstacle that came next was something he didn’t think about. they entered as three, but by the end, he was the only one left. he wasn’t proud of what he did. it requested teamwork, but he had to make some choices. when everyone gathered, he realized many were missing. he was the only one missing both the people he entered with.

he didn’t think too much of it as they made it to another room with computers. he answered questions again. socializing. they waited for some time before the next challenge began. when it was over, he felt far worse about what he had to do. he betrayed many people to survive and in the end, at least he did.

when he woke up again and realized the challenge in front of him, the guit was nearly too much, but his own need to survive had him running for the gun. he muttered a soft apology before he pulled the trigger.

the sound goes off and he stands there for a brief moment before he continued on. the door with ‘freedom’ called out to him, so he entered it. he sat down, placing his right foot in and holding tightly to the chair as he felt the pain. another tattoo. a compass with freedom.

he moved again and he wasn’t alone. there were only a handful of them now. they were just as guilty as he was. his hands felt heavy with the blood he spilled. the excitement he had when he first woke up was long gone now.

he was getting tired of being knocked out by bright lights after that. the final training… what more could be done.

death felt like it was coming for him, like he escaped it too many times, but through all seven areas, he made it through. he watched people die around him. he wondered who they were. did he know them? it didn’t matter anymore.

when it seemed like it was finally over, he fell to his knees, holding his hands in front of him, his weapon now covered in blood in front of him. the memories of his parents and his sister and his friends came pouring in. his father’s shop. his mother’s smile. his sister’s dreams. he remembered the first car he stole. he remembered the money he made on his last deal. he remembered the thrill of cruising down an empty street until he reached the finish line.

he remembered them taking him. he remembered the masked men grabbing him as he left his home in the middle of the night. the morning to come, he was going to enter his own jail cell. his actions had finally caught up to him. he was going to be locked away, but they took him. they took him to this. he watched people die. he caused people to die. he killed someone because of them.

next thing he knew, he was in a bed. he jumped up. he was pushed down and he only struggled for a few moments. there were people he remembered from the trials. the doctors and nurses were new. they wore masks. when a man came up and grabbed his right wrist, he tried to pull away, but his hand was placed in the box. he tried to pull himself free, but before he knew it it was gone. he stared at the new tattoo.

2301-10-GRD-ENFP-09-96

he didn’t know what it meant. when everyone was done, they were told to move, so he followed. he remembered eating and then they were led one by one. he placed his hand on a tablet, the door opened. he was startled by the sunlight. his eyes burned and he struggled to see. he heard what sounded like a helicopter.

what did this mean?

[jbreinlinger]

The JSV Book Club

My former boss at Upwork, Ed Schaffer, joined the company about a year after I started.  On his first day there, he brought a few copies of “Winning” by Jack Welch and asked me to read it.  It’s a great book - I read it quickly and I’m sure it made me a better manager - at the time I was just 25.  Thank you Ed. My good friend and cofounder, Jason Chicola, has bought several phenomenal books for me over the years, some because I clearly had a gap in my knowledge that he proactively sought to close, or because he just knew I would greatly enjoy David Halbertsham’s book on baseball, "Summer of '49."  Thank you Jason. My first few years in venture capital, I would occasionally buy a copy of books like "The Goal" or "The Ultimate Question" and send them along to founders that I knew would benefit from the book. Giving a book is among the best gifts you can give.  You are imparting highly relevant knowledge - and it’s only $10 - $15.  I can’t think of anything with better ROI. Additionally, we have found that the firehose of tech news via Twitter, LinkedIn, etc - actually devolves our thinking and has a tendency to both waste time and cause consensus based thinking. So, at Jackson Square Ventures, we started a book club. The motto for the club is “Ancora Imparo,” which translates to “I am still learning.”  This was humbly stated by Michaelangelo, at the age of 87.  It’s not lost on me that this can be shortened to AI.  AI usually refers to artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley, and in the field of AI, the more training data you have the better the algorithms become.  AI in the realm of humans and the book club means the constant pursuit of learning, something all of us should strive for as investors, founders, humans, husbands, wives, and parents.  The training data here is a curated set of exceptional books by exceptional authors. 

In the first book we sent out, "The Medici Effect", one of the key lessons is that innovation happens at the Intersection - the place where diverse sets of experience and expertise combine.  Combining fields like science, music, sports, art, and more yield incredible results.  We aim to embody the Medici Effect with the JSV book club.

We send out a book every month or two that we think is a phenomenal book, has relevance to the startup ecosystem, represents a wide variety of subjects, and is not just the top book on the bestseller list.  We send the books to founders, executives, LPs, and other friends and colleagues.  These are gifts that are intended to broaden the mind, train the brain, and foster an ecosystem of founders, investors, and great people.  The books are generously provided by JSV and our wonderful sponsor, McKool Smith. Then, we invite the author of the book or a relevant person from the story to join us at JSV for a special evening event and fireside chat.  We’ve held 3 events so far, with Frans Johansson, author of "The Medici Effect", Dr. Bob Wachter, author of "The Digital Doctor", and Joe Montana, quarterback for Bill Walsh, "The Score Takes Care of Itself." A couple nights ago, we were thrilled to be joined by Joe Montana and Matt Maiocco in a fireside chat discussing the great book, “The Score Takes Care of Itself.”  Stay tuned for an update coming soon w video and highlights from the evening. The next book club event is coming soon, April 19th, with featured guest Dan Ariely, and his new book, "Dollars and Sense."  If you’d like to join the book club, sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. Ancora Imparo.

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5 Battle 29 Billy Ocean: Suddenly (Side 2 ) Vs. Sigue Sigue Sputnik: Flaunt It (Side 1 ) Billy Ocean: Suddenly (Side 2 ) Here is the lowdown on Billy Ocean. Aside from having a pretty cool last name, Billy Ocean (actually born Leslie Sebastian Charles) is a Trinidadian-born English recording artist who had a string of R&B international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British R&B singer-songwriter of the early to mid-1980s, so take that, seal! He was wildly popular in the UK, and eventually had a series of transatlantic successes, including three US number ones. In 1985, Ocean won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his worldwide hit, "Caribbean Queen" which is included on this album. In fact, the middle 80's were quite kind to Mr. Ocean. This album had his biggest hits, and he also had the theme song to the popular film Jewel of the Nile a little later after this album. Billy has been active, pretty much since 1969, and part of that is attributed to his lungs. No, really. Freak fact about Billy- dude has an extra lung! In the 70's a routine doctor's appointment discovered an extra pulmonary node central to his albeit medically normal lungs. This extra lung has been attributed with the longevity of Billy's singing career. Crazy, right!?! Well, anyhow, lungs aside, Billy can also write a pretty mean tune. "Loverboy" starts off the second side. I have always thought this would make an excellent rocked up cover. Gwar has already tackled "Get out of my dreams" so I am calling this one! Mine! Think of the chord progression with some cool rugga chuggas...?! Yeah? You get it. The tune made big waves on the air. "Lucky Man" follows it up. More in a similar vein of the previous tune, but this time with acceptable funk levels. Late night airwaves party! A B-side for sure and very Lady positive so that's good. Billy appreciates his woman! "Dance Floor" contains a slow jam from the ocean man. Tide comes in, tide goes out. The actual tide, not the laundry detergent everyone is eating. What is wrong with you anyways! Call up Lionel, because we are dancin' on the CEILING with these key heavy rhythms! (#seewhatididthere). "If I Should Lose You" is an even slower jam. Real smooth and steady like waves from the ocean (#seewhatididthere). "Suddenly" is an even SLOWER jam, and more famous...since it's the title track and a major hit off the album. A bit of pop and orchestral arrangements. Simple piano seals the deal. Billy's voice is so smooth and flawless. He really is a great singer. Right in line with Ray Parker Jr. And Lionel Ritchey. Billy can kill it. Also worth noting is the impressive line art on the cover. Sigue Sigue Sputnik: Flaunt It (Side 1 ) Sigue Sigue Sputnik were a British new wave band formed in 1982 by former Generation X bassist Tony James. The band had three UK Top 40 hit singles, including the songs "Love Missile F1-11" and "21st Century Boy", both on this LP. The band was formed by Tony James, who had just left the band Gen X, and Neal X(Whitmore), who recruited "post-punk drag queen" Martin Degville. Degville was a clothes designer and supplied the band's wardrobe, and YaYa, the store where he worked, became the band's base. Their first gig was in Paris, supporting Johnny Thunders, with James' former Gen X colleague and then drummer for Thunders, Mark Laff, on drums. The band's name Sigue Sigue Sputnik (pronounced "cig-cig" btw), is a supposed reference to a Russian street gang and supposedly meaning "burn, burn satellite". Themes and imagery in the band's songs were often influenced by futuristic, dystopian or post-apocalyptic films such as A Clockwork Orange, The Terminator, Blade Runner and the Mad Max trilogy. Visually, their image included fishnet masks and brightly coloured wigs. It's essentially a mash up of Max Headroom meets New York Dolls. SSS even went as far as to sell advertisements in between tracks. You may also recognize the name from the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off soundtrack. To say they were unique is an understatement. The previously mentioned "Love Missile FL-11" starts off all the bizarre action. Lots of production, loops, synth, sound clips and fades. Literally, the sound fades from speaker to speaker at points. This is Devo on speed. It's a cool trick, but not mind blowingly amazing. "Atari Baby" is the next tune and it's slower...building techno. Maybe if U2 were an electronica band? Innovative and different certainly...but not actually too different from the previous track. "Sex Bomb Boogie" is back to the up tempo beats. I feel like there are going to be lots of sex noises. This song just seems like a drunken Tokyo all nighter gone awry. Too long for my tastes on this one. Strangely no sex noises, though. "Rockit Miss U. S. A. / Deathwish VII" is the final cut. Eastwood's famous "make my day" line kicks it all off. I Am sure this is ripe with controversy, but I don't get it. Still pretty futuristic and chaotic sounding, but really not that different from all three tunes before it. This is starting to seem like a one trick pony. I appreciate the weirdness for the sake of being weird, but it's just...too weird. It's like Billy Idol and Tina Turner met in Thunderdome and went waaaay beyond. (#seewhatididthere). Village people 2.0 for the future. Literally if the Blade Runner city street scenes came to life and formed a band, this would be it. And that's sad because I love all of those things. It's the reason I picked this up in Vienna, Austria and carried it all the way back to the U. S. A. I saw that cover and said WTF?!? I HAVE TO HEAR THIS!!?! Polysics beta. I think it's one of those cult things. You either get it or don't. DJ's on crack. One thing is for sure, they must have been a site to see live! Maybe the Buggles tripping with the Cure?!? And to clarify I mean tripping on acid, not actually tripping on cords on stage...which could also happen. I *think* I even heard the Willhelm scream! (#lookitup #itsathing) Mr. Ocean put in motion all kinds of commotion, but he burned off 165 calories over 22 minutes and 5 tunes. That is 33.0 calories per song and 7.50 calories per minute. Billy also earned 9 out of 15 possible stars. Sigue Sigue Sputnik not only flaunted it, but also exploded my mind and burned 161 calories over 4 songs and 21 minutes. That is a total of 40.25 calories per song and 7.67 calories per minute. The Sputniks earned 8 out of 12 possible stars in the process. Looks like Sigue Sigue Sputnik can also flaunt a RRW win, too! They beat Billy by .17 CPM! Listen for yourself! Check out the links: Billy Ocean: "Loverboy" https://youtu.be/CmhjXEkI5Lg Sigue Sigue Sputnik: "Love Missile F-11" https://youtu.be/Dn4EOGJMAgU #RANDOMRECORDWORKOUTSEASON5 #RANDOMRECORDWORKOUT

[vapormaison]

Best of 2019 Vaporwave Release 2/4: Hypnagogia by Dan Mason

When I go to vaporwave and future funk shows throughout Asia, I run into many truly serious vinyl collectors and hardcore audiophiles who I respect immensely. They have been, in many respects, my introduction to and informal educators in the hi-fi world. This is not to throw shade at my Western vapor-vinyl friends, but I’ve always felt that there is a natural predisposition — perhaps imbued by traditions of archival curation and letters spanning five millennia — for Asian collectors to have the most discerning taste, and when it comes to audiophilia, the most exacting specifications.

I don’t know any fellas or fems in Hong Kong, Yokohoma, or Seoul with a substantial vinyl collection who rock a set of expensive, vintage B&Os handed down by their father, but are spinning the records on a Crossley suitcase turntable or an ATP-LX60. There’s a sincere reverence for the physical media there would naturally disincline a hobbyist from actively damaging their own material — a form of wax homicide that is all too common with my pals in Brooklyn. I’m able to put in context, however, whenever one of my countrymen mentions the cost of seeing a doctor, of course. Just staying alive is an expensive enough proposition — which explains why hi-fi enjoyment tends to skew boomer in America. Everyone else has a sword of Damocles hanging above their head.

That all said, when a particular artist is held in reverence by those Asia-oriented pals of mine, I take note and listen. Recently, when I stopped off in my usual haunts in Kanagawa early on this year, there was a name that was on all of their lips: Dan Mason. More specifically, his recent work, Hypnagogia. Admittedly, it was a release that had evaded me at first, corresponding with the peak of the IELTS testing season. And unfortunately, while I was jet-setting from university advisement here to consultancy there, the vinyl drop completely fell out of my grasp.

I spent a few weeks on discogs, but to no avail. Not even the scalpers were selling them anymore. It was this that first clued me into the idea that I might have been absent for something legendary. So shortly before I left Japan, I was able to meet a friend of a friend who was in possession of the record. It required a train ride all the way out to Osaka (in context: it’s not all that bad, Honshu’s roughly the size of Cali) to get a listen to this record.

That day, I was treated to one of the warmest, most enjoyable listening experiences of my life. The woman who welcomed us into her traditionally designed home was truly an audiophile extradonarii. As we crossed a sliding doorway into her listening room, I was met with a pair of beautiful Yamaha NS-6HX speakers in rosewood cases flanking a tower of clean, shining, silver-faced Technics separates —the SE-C01, SU-C01, and the S91 power supply. Perfectly understated, mini — but also powerful — especially for a cozy place like hers. Added for good measure was the M02 tape deck and above those was a classic 1200 turntable. It was a family of DJs, I later learned— and her nine year old daughter had recently taking up spinning on their set upstairs!

As the album begun, I closed my eyes and let the almost overwhelming brightness from the technics/yamaha combo wash over me. And after a few seconds, I got past the uniqueness of the set and had my Eureka moment — I was listening to one of the best albums in the genre that I had ever heard. Not just an iconic album for 2019 — but for the genre as a whole. Here are my thoughts on it here:

Part 1: The Music

Insomnia begins in a very iconic Dan-Masonish style. It was exactly what I expected, in a way, and almost comforting. As the track rises like a loaf of artisan bread through its first minute we’re treated with a procession of synth, chimes, a muted drum kit and powerfully distorted, bass-heavy vocals that manage to both lull and unsettle in equal measures.

Melatonin High definitely hits on an unconscious neural pathway related to my own history with hallucinogenic experimentation. The array of synths, skewed vocals, and soft percussion hits feels very apropos for both the title and its position on the LP. Atmospheric tracks like this always just vibe better early, in my view.

Shade feels the most “poppy” of the album, with a clean but entrancing chord arrangement, prominent vocal track, jungle drum loops and the sparingly used but extremely heavy and robust synth chimes. In a rare moment, I found myself enjoying the vocal-less denouement in the last quarter of the track just as much as the rest of the piece.

Fade exists sonically like a relic of dreams of vapor past — like a throwback to Mason’s earlier, much more distinctly “early vaporwave” sound profile. This is not to say that it doesn’t innovate in its own way, with clever vocal layers and an impressive synth array, but it echoes towards an aura that is more like a return to form, or perhaps more artistically realized — a fade away to a flashback. For these reasons, it’s my favorite on the LP and speaks to thematic thrust of the album in what I think is its strongest sonic affirmation.

Go Away is a robust vapor-hop, future-oriented throwback, speaking first to a very distinct “Bridge war” New York flow roughly concurrent to the rap sound I personally grew up with in Queens, NY. But the genius present here is that it takes this very distinctly late 80s/onset of the 90s East Coast flow and merges it with lyrics that feel distinctly at home in a mid-millennial rapper’s sound-cloud. We’re treated to desires of Robatussin lean (not available until the mid 90s in NYC because of some big pharma legal war I was only peripherally aware of) effortlessly weaved in with moments of millennial malaise. This track should sufficiently hit home with that particular crowd born in that ’88-’93 set.

Visions features an arresting synth array that carries you down the contact high of Go Away brilliantly. The vocals here tend to swing towards the sort of low-end distorted profile of Tyler the Creator’s “therapist” character in Goblin — with was made an ever-more prominent association by virtue of the quasi-existential and psychological overtones that developed in the piece lyrically.

Stop Me manifests itself initially as a sort of clever synth-wave throwback, and then slows its chord progression to a screeching halt fleshing it out more fully as a “true” vapor piece — aided by a perfectly arranged vocal track that comes out as W-I-D-E on a good stereo set. This is definitely the type of track whose mastering for vinyl can either be used as a master class on mix & master or a cautionary tale. Thankfully, it’s certainly the former!

Good Night starts with an echo of ghosts of lo-fi’s past, with compressed percussion hits, and tinny snares, but we are treated soon after with a remarkably hypnotic trail of synths that absolutely dance at the high end, sending the Yamaha’s tweeters into overdrive. it’s also one of those tracks that, by virtue of brilliant progression and arrangement, feels much shorter than its run-time — a key feature for any good penultimate LP track.

Hopefully Forever is a remarkable track to end the album on. To take the listener from the “chill” vibes of Good Night and then hit them with the Ryuchi Sakamoto-esque electronic array (Am I detecting a possible ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’ inspiration?) and raspy, almost -screamo lyrics imbued with frustration, dread, and longing is a dichotomy worthy of an article all its own. It’s certainly not my particular favorite sound profile, but even I can recognize it for what it truly is: stupendous.

Part 2: The Vinyl Listening Experience

As stated previously, I’m a pretty firm believer in the “audiophile” bones of Hypnagogia, and obviously many audiophiles have literally and figuratively bought in as well. What impressed me about the mix in my limited listening context is that it somewhat antithetical to the tastes of many local audiophiles there, and the general sound profile of Japanese stereos and speaker systems. Technics especially seems to me to take great effort to widen and max-out the low end of the spectrum — which in principle, would work on something like a french house record, but with something like Hypnagogia requires a bit more precision, in my view. The Yamahas did a bit to neutralize this tendency, I think — and my particular listen retained much of the dynamic range that I’ve appreciated in previous releases by Dan.

Nevertheless, I found myself progressively disarmed by the quality of the mix & mastering work. A vinyl experience this clean — and not to overuse this word — but precise in its appreciation and maximization of dynamic range deserves makes this LP deserve serious consideration whenever it comes up on discogs retailing for $300 or something insane like that.

On the physical quality — I have to say I was not expecting a wax release this nice from Business Casual. Perhaps this is my natural bias, but I’ve always associated them as a high-end cassette label. Masters of that craft, no doubt. But I think this excellent press and physical product (along with sales, I imagine!) sends a pretty clear message to the folks at Business Casual that they should be getting into the vinyl game as aggressively as they do cassettes.

[djkrpt-blog]

One of the wildcards from The Original Doctor Shade album is the disco infused “Bullit” - a sped up funky loop is layered with that 70’s string section and it’s a real party tune - it’s either ironically cheesy or a proper tune, I can’t decide, maybe it’s both - swipe over to decide for yourself - VRS 004 LP ... #dailydnb #dnb #drumnbass #drumandbass #jungle #techstep #jumpup #rollers #neurofunk #liquidfunk #dnbdj #dnbproducer #dnbarchive #historyofdnb #dnbnation #dnbfamily #edrush #optical #bullit #theoriginaldoctorshade #2003 #disco https://www.instagram.com/p/B3xYI90C6Zq/?igshid=1hb0ajjlnyc7t