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Monday, Apr 29 2024, 7AM
Good morning and welcome to the Morning Show with John!
Duke Ellington was born on this day in 1899. American composer, pianist, & bandleader, he lived a long life, passing away in 1974.
Endtroducing.... is the debut full-length from DJ Shadow. The album is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first completely sampled album.
The voice clip on this track comes from a 1974 interview with jazz drummer and percussionist George Marsh.
djshadow.com
New Music Reviews (3/18/2024) including new releases from Four Tet!
Each week, KEXP's Music Director, Chris Sanley, and Associate Music Director, Alex Ruder, share brief insights on new and upcoming releases for KEXP's rotation.
Here's the review on Four Tet:
"The 12th studio album from renowned London-based electronic producer Four Tet (aka Kieran Hebden) is a brilliant showcase of his immaculate and expansive palette as he weaves together blissful downtempo tracks, hypnotic skittering house grooves, and meditative ambient moments with a masterful, melodic, painterly touch. Early singles 'Three Drums,' 'Loved,' and 'Daydream Repeat' shine bright in this expanded context, with the new songs adding an atmospheric, intricate, and enveloping depth." — AR
www.kexp.org
Brand new music from Canadian singer and songwriter Margaret Osborn, known professionally as Alice Glass. She is the co-founder and former frontwoman of the electronic band Crystal Castles. This is a cover of the Smashing Pumpkins.
www.alice-glass.com
"Nia Archives is making soft-hearted lo-fi jungle for introverted extroverts." This is off her debut full-length:
niaarchives.bandcamp.com
Emancipator, aka Doug Appling, was born and raised in Virginia, where he studied violin from ages 4 to 12, progressing to electric guitar, drums, and bass as a teenager. He cites his father's "eclectic music collection" as sparking his interest in electronic music, while his mother "who'd volunteered in the Peace Corps," exposed him to "African thumb pianos and sounds from beyond the Western palette." emancipator.bandcamp.com
Ruth Radelet is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She is best known for her work as the lead vocalist in the electronic band Chromatics. She'll be in Seattle with STRFKR, playing Showbox SODO on July 26, and then with Chromeo in San Francisco on September 11
www.ruthradelet.com
Catch Grace Cummings, LIVE on the Morning Show, this Friday, May 3rd at 9:30am.
gracecummings.bandcamp.com
Faith Crisis Pt 1 is the third studio album by Australian band Middle Kids. - middlekids.bandcamp.com
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Middle Kids are touring:
-San Francisco's August Hall on Sat, June 15.
-Portland's Mississippi Studios on Mon, June 17.
- Seattle's Neumos on Tuesday, June 18.
- www.middlekidsmusic.com
"Hi!
Saw Rufus Wainwright at the Belly Up in San Diego on Saturday. He was brilliant, of course! Just him and the piano/guitar. His music really got me through quarantine and I was hoping you could play something by him, particularly "The Art Teacher" which he played Saturday or "Going to a Town" which he did for an encore. (The version he does with Anohni on "Folkocracy" is superb.) Been a KEXP Amplifier for years and a listener since 2009 or so. This is my first request! You guys are the best!
XOXO
Maggie"
"Hi, long time listens and amplifiers from crown hill here Mo, Kirsten and Sage (8). Thank you for the music and community. In honor of Willie Nelson’s 91st birthday we ask that you try and fit in his version of “rainbow connection” if possible today. Through all the rain blanketing Seattle right now there must be a rainbow somewhere. And even if not KEXP and the life and music of Willie are rainbows enough in our lives when we need them. We would Willie appreciate it if you could work it in this morning.
Much love,
Mo and Sage"
Happy birthday to Willie Nelson, American musician, singer, songwriter, author, poet, actor, and activist, born on this day in 1933!
Happy birthday to Tom Smith of Editors, born on this day in 1981!
www.editors-official.com
Released on this day in 2002!
In a 2009 interview, band member Jez Williams said that the songs came quickly and effortlessly: "I had this little house in Northenden where my makeshift studio was. It took a couple of nights to get the backing track with the top line melody to "There Goes the Fear". Literally the next night I had "Words" coming out of the speakers."
Mick Ronson, Guitarist and producer, died on this day in 1993 aged 46. Ronson recorded and toured with David Bowie from 1970-1973 as part of the Spiders from Mars. Ronson co-produced Lou Reed's album "Transformer". He was also a member of Hunter Ronson Band with Ian Hunter. Worked with Morrissey, Slaughter & The Dogs, The Wildhearts, The Rich Kids, Elton John, Johnny Cougar, and T-Bone Burnett during his career.
This masterpiece was released on this day in 2003!
Fever to Tell is the 2003 debut studio album by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
The band wanted to finance their debut album themselves and chose to record at the low-budget Headgear Studio in Brooklyn. "It was really important for us to do it on our turf, on our terms", lead singer Karen O later told Spin. "We were all living together, and all the money we used to fund it came out of our pocket."
www.yeahyeahyeahs.com
Brand new music from Fontaines D.C.!
Their new album Romance will be released August 23rd.
fontainesdc.bandcamp.com
And you're lucky if you'll be in Europe later this year--check out their tour schedule! fontainesdc.com
Per his bandcamp, "Project Gemini is the alias of musician, producer and writer Paul Osborne. Drawing on a wealth of influences, Project Gemini’s second LP 'Colours & Light' is out now on Mr Bongo, a majestic collection of folk-rock, psychedelic soundtracks and hazy cinematic funk "
projectgemini.bandcamp.com
A La Sala (“To the Room” in Spanish), the fourth studio album by Khruangbin, is an exercise in returning in order to go further, and do so on your own terms. It extends the air of mystery and sanctity that’s key to how bassist Laura Lee Ochoa, drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson, Jr. and guitarist Mark “Marko” Speer approach music.
khruangbin.bandcamp.com
Happy birthday to Otis Rush, blues guitarist and singer, born on this day in 1935. He wrote this song, "I Can't Quit You Baby", which Led Zeppelin later covered.
Cover of the Otis Rush song! Otis Rush born on this day in 1935!
From their recently released album, "Ohio Players". "This Is Nowhere" was written by Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney, and Beck. - www.theblackkeys.com
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The Black Keys is touring!
Playing Mountain View, CA's Shoreline Amphitheatre on Sunday, Sept 29.
Playing Portland's Moda Center on Wed, Oct 2.
Playing Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday, Oct 3.
- theblackkeys.com
The chorus of "Soy un perdedor" is Spanish for "I'm a loser." Beck grew up in a Latin section of Los Angeles and most of his schoolmates were of Mexican descent.
Beck moved to New York at 18, then went back to Los Angeles a year or so later, in 1990. He started making up outlandish raps both to amuse his friends and to check the pulse of the crowds at his bar and coffeehouse gigs where most people wouldn't pay attention.
He signed to the independent Bong Load Records in 1991, which connected him with Karl Stephenson, a producer who had done work with the Geto Boys. At Stephenson's house, they wrote and recorded "Loser" in a few hours; Beck hit on the title and chorus after doing some raps and exclaiming, "I'm the worst rapper in the world - I'm just a loser!"
Bong Load didn't release the song until 1993, by which time Beck had released some singles, including one called "MTV Makes Me Wanna Smoke Crack." The song earned airplay on college radio and on some of the more adventurous alternative stations. Beck signed with Geffen Records in an unusual deal that let him issue his wares on indie labels as well, including Bong Load. It was far from the highest offer, but gave him the creative freedom he was after. tinyurl.com
Happy birthday to Tammi Terrell, soul singer who collaborated with Marvin Gaye on classic duets such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "You're All I Need to Get By," born on this day in 1945, died March 16, 1970 aged 24.
New Music from Aaron Frazer, you may know from Durand Jones and the Indications. His second solo album "Into the Blue" will be released June 28th.
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Check out the official music video for "Payback" here, enjoy:
www.youtube.com
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aaronfrazermusic.com
Aloe Blacc got the idea for this song after listening to field recordings from the Smithsonian. Hearing these recordings of people singing their tales of woe, Blacc decided to write one of his own, and came up with the title "I Need A Dollar." To develop the lyrics, he asked friends to trade verses with him and then join him on the chorus. bit.ly
www.aloeblacc.com
Released on this day in 1968, 'The Temptations Wish It Would Rain' was the final release from the group's "Classic-5" era, during which David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams constituted the Temptations' lineup.
Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band is a German funk music ensemble founded by members of the Mighty Mocambos.
bacaorhythmandsteelband.bandcamp.com
The Amsterdam-based rock/rap collective Urban Dance Squad began in 1986, playing and jamming together on an informal basis. They played a gig at the Utrecht Festival and, surprised by the raves their performance drew, became a more serious project.: www.allmusic.com
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This song sampled multiple elements of Ray Barretto's 1968 "A Deeper Shade of Soul." Want to hear the original from the conga drummer, bandleader, and percussionist?: www.youtube.com
Latin jazz musician Ray Barretto was born in New York City on this day in 1929. He was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. His song "Deeper Shade of Soul" was sampled by Urban Dance Squad (that last song we played)
Ray Barretto, a percussionist who helped define the role of the conga drum in jazz and became an influential figure in both jazz and Latin music during a career spanning more than 50 years, died in 2006 at age 76. Read his NY Times obituary: www.nytimes.com
Born on this day in 1929!
This song was sampled in Deee-Lite's release "Groove Is in the Heart," which was put forth unto the world in 1990.
Rafael Leon René (March 30, 1927 – November 25, 2007), known as Googie René, was an American musician, bandleader, and songwriter.
See Bruce Foxton on bass, Rick Buckler on drums, and Paul Weller performing this great song live: www.youtube.com
From the, like, Valley Girl soundtrack, which was like, released on this day in 1983!
Paramount, California band The Plimsouls formed in 1978. They released two full-length albums before splitting up in 1984.
Released on this day in 1983, Hootenanny was mostly recorded from October 1982 to January 1983 at the Stark/Mudge Mobile Unit warehouse in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, which was described in the liner notes as "a warehouse in some godawful suburb north of Mpls".
"Long message! We went to the Seattle children's museum yesterday and when we left we walked passed climate pledge on the way to the gathering space. We could hear a soundcheck going on as we passed. No music just sounds. We went into the gathering space, got some coffee and checked out the gig poster display that was going on. While we had our drinks Charlie said it was to loud so we went back outside into the courtyard, and that's when we heard Dark Matter playing. We listened, then another Pearl Jam song and it became clear that they were inside the arena rehearsing! We hung out and listened for 20 minute, and they were playing something slow and quiet and we couldn't really hear anymore. Could you play some live PJ for everyone! Hoping to make both shows, but our new baby is due on the 24th! Hoping he shows up a little late!
Brian in Kent"
On “Brand New Woman”, Brimheim and eee gee fantasize about breaking free from restrictive gender roles, letting the inner beast prevail, and escaping from a suffocating normative existence. With this single, she announces the release of her sophomore effort, RATKING, which is set to be released on March 22, 2024.
www.brimheim.com
Released on this day in 1991, Whirlpool is the debut album by British shoegazing band Chapterhouse.
We just got our hands on the new four song EP from Toronto's Bliss Fields. No US shows planned until, as the band tells us, they update their visas. The Bliss Fields EP is out now on Sunday Drive Records.
blissfields.bandcamp.com
Prior to its being released as an official single, "Stars" received heavy airplay on the Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "KROQ jumped on the song so soon that RCA had to rush release the song nationwide, a full month before the scheduled release of [the] single." Hum's drummer Bryan St. Pere credited KROQ with making the song so popular, saying in an interview, "Yeah, I think [KROQ] helped us out the most, because from what I gather, that's the station in the country, and when they decide to add a song, all the other stations kind of follow suit." Gotta love radio
Happy birthday to Debora Iyall, born on this day in 1954! She is a Cowlitz Native American artist born in Soap Lake, Washington (but grew up in Fresno, California) and is best known as the lead singer for Romeo Void.
Another track from the Valley Girl soundtrack, which was like, totally released on this day in 1983.
"this valley girl actually came up in the time when the sherman oaks galleria was constructed and opened.
like, OH MY GOD!
i will look forward to something from the soundtrack but if you can manage throwing on some go go's, it'd really make the morning.
thanks so much for the willie nelson and middle kids.
so far, monday is looking pretty damned good.
signing off from the admiral district where the sun is now shining through my classroom windows! Yes!
Joy"
Playing Climate Pledge Arena on October 29!
www.ticketmaster.com
Check out Live Video from Chastity Belt's February 2020 KEXP In-Studio, hosted by Cheryl Waters: bit.ly.
chastity-belt.bandcamp.com
Adrianne Lenker (of Big Thief) will perform at Oakland, CA's Fox Theater Monday, June 17th, and Seattle's Paramount Theatre on Saturday, June 22!
www.adriannelenker.com
Waxahatchee (Katie Crutchfield) will play Oakland's Fox Theater on Saturday, May 18th and at Sonoma's Gundlach Bundschu Winery Sunday, May 19th. Later in the summer, she'll play Seattle's ZooTunes at Woodland Park Zoo (Sunday, August 18th).
Here's Live Video from Waxahatchee's September 2021 KEXP Gathering Space performance: bit.ly.
www.waxahatchee.com