Mother Tongue Music

5 years in the making, Saturnine is a dark, atmospheric down tempo and trip hop mix. It is musical enough that people without a familiarity or interest in DJ culture will enjoy it, but the mix has enough of an edge to it that even seasoned trainspotters will be able to sit through it. Check out Dan the Illuminator’s radio show Friday’s at midnight (EST) at www.testtone.net.

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May 5th, 2009

moving to new york has been everything i had hoped it would be. this city encompasses what has to be one of the most vibrant and stimulating energies of any city on earth. of course it may not be the most natural vibe, but regardless of where it falls on the spectrum between completely natural and completely synthetic, the energy here is positively inspiring and extremely addictive.

The following has been my experience lately. As this first CD release gets closer to the finish, I must say I have moments of doubt and uncertainty.  And that is just what I have to leave them as, moments of doubt and uncertainty.  Nothing more.  I have been noticing that they have been increasing as I get closer to the finish line.  I have come to accept that it is quite normal and that it is just going to be a part of the process.  I have been letting these thoughts run through me and just moving forward.  I think the mental part of releasing art holds many back.  Seems like the ones who do it just think a lot less and do a lot more.

It is a rainy, cloudy, march morning and I have to admit there is something about weather like this I really like.  Maybe its because I am looking at it from my bedroom window and I am not outside .. I have a cool view from my bedroom of the old mill town that I live in. I took 10 minutes when I first woke up to sit back and enjoy the view of the canal, the old mill town, and the cars going by. It really put me in a good head space.

Well I am really hoping to have this project finished by Monday. I only have two shows this week so I have a lot more time to work on it.  Here is a tune that I have been enjoying lately, it actually sounds like my view from my bedroom window this morning.  When I first heard it and the drums began, I thought I was about to hear a recent cover or interpolation of Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues.” This spazzed me for a second as I have been working on a cover of that most recently.  Anyway choice tune here Second Sky, great sound and really feeling the vocals. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Second Sky – Under The Line (Vocal Mix) – Rhythm and Culture Recordings

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music is art and there are no limitations to what is can be, sound like or become.

my passion for music comes from my love of music. all types of music hits me in that special spot that connects me. i just love it, love it, love it. i live for it.

i can sit in front of my computer all day long listening to music, finding new music, discovering artists not found yet, getting to the underground music, and coming upon old tunes i have nevere  heard yet. i love to research the artist and read their stories. it is a dedication, a sacrifice. and when we connect to one another because of music, that connections becomes stronger.

my closest friends i have now are ones that i found through music.

whether it has been playing with, dancing with or listening with, these people also have found that refuge or that inspiration from the feelings music provokes.

yet again i am surprised at the unlimited possibilities out there.

there is a genre now known as folktronic,  coined in 2001.  it does seem about time for these two genres to combine forces.  there is though, a level of difficulty i can imagine.  you do not want it to be too folky and you do not want it to be too electronic.  there has to be a symbiotic relationship so to not hear more of the other.

like hip hop and house, folk and electronic appeals to the masses.

telepopmusik does it just right.  there are certain producers that just have stood in a place of their own for so long now and telepopmusik is standing strong.

i was visiting a friend’s myspace page the other night and was looking through his comments to find some info i was searching.  i came upon a post from “little kitten space girl”, kim wayman.  i was curious to check her out and to my amazement, i found a track she sings vocals on with telepopmusik.  and so i thought, how nice.

telepopmusik (vocals kim wayman) – “ghost girl” – catalogue/capital

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there are many many reasons why i love music.  

one of these reasons is the special moments that can only seem to exist when a bunch of people get together and dance. we are able to disappear from our crazy hectic lives and feel free for a little while. together trusting the dj and the sounds and beats they decide to play.

not always is it what we wanted or expected, by many times it is an opening of a door to a new groove.

the karminsky experince is just that.  i found this write up on vikslounge.com while doing some research and thought it perfectly portrayed the experience that i love and live for.

“In a small, packed Soho basement in the early months of 1991, a group of bohemians, seasoned clubbers, international jet setters and Japanese modernists gathered to dance away the winter blues. The slamming of Tequila glasses exploded through the air like voodoo percussion. DJ’s James and Martin Karminsky were playing head to head mining a groove that seemed to be beamed in from another dimension. And as eyes met through the heavy blue smoke a secret sparkle of understanding and pleasure passed between everyone. They weren’t dancing to this music because it was funny or cheesy or even different, they were dancing because they loved it, like they loved life itself. ” (vikslounge.com/karmin.html)

the karminsky experience are two fellows named martin dingle and james mums. a london base dj duo.  before signing to thievery corporation’s eighteenth street lounge label and putting their own tracks on their label, patterns of behavior, the karminsky experience are  best known for their compilation brilliance.  four compilations that came out on deram/polygram label to critical acclaim.  inflight entertainment, espresso espresso, dig it! the sound of phase 4 stereo and further inflight entertainment.

sit back and enjoy the ride.

karminsky experience – “exploration”- esl/patterns of behavior

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burial is a one man producer from london who had stayed hidden and mysterious up until september 2008. he has claimed that only 5 people outside his family knew he is a producer.

i like his view on the connection between the listener and the tune. there is something about a track that is just a track and gets its’ attention only from the vibe and quality.

burial is on the label hyperdub and has released 2 albums. burial (2006) and untrue (2007). i am definitely keeping my ear out for the next release.

i heard this tune by burial back in march 2008 while listening to jason benley’s show metropolis on kcrw. i enjoy his show because he plays a wide range of material and i usually walk away with a new tune to add to my collection.

as soon as i heard archangel i went to itunes and found no such artist. then i went to myspace to see if there was a profile. for sure there was and to my surprise a free download of archangel. hollah!!

burial – “archangel” – hyperdub

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i am constantly surrounded by the most amazing musicians, producers, djs, artists, photographers and poets.

today i have been nestled in one of the corners of “the wedge” ( one of my amazing artist friend’s home), in the game room to be exact. sitting and working alongside another one of these brilliant people. with a western massachusetts sunset in the background, golden and slow.

all of us brought together because of the one love we share, music.

never before have i had such a community of people. people who work towards an inner feeling of completion which then only leads to yet another feeling of completion. and this cycle continues, like the way our lungs breathe in the air.

not everyone understands this pull, this way of life, and to trying to explain is quite impossible. the only thing i have found that can genuinely give insight to this world is through music.

whether it be laying in bed listening, driving in a car, sitting in a cafe, salon or restaurant, walking through a store, dancing on a dance floor, music provokes an emotion through the vibration it creates in the brain. which then leads to a feeling.

it is this feeling that has guided me through my self journey and how i found my way to my the people in my life that i not only consider my dear friends but also my true family.

canotoma is dj/producer phil mison.  mison began his career at the milk bar in london and got is break after submitting a mix tape to underworld’s darren emerson.   inspired by jose padilla and his cafe del mar work, mison became a resident in ibiza for 2 years before returning to london to continue producing and touring.  over the years his  collection of tracks are known for their spanish guitars, reggae bass lines, bossa nova, latin percussion and chilled out electronica.  to add to his already romantic, exotic sound,  ”essarai” is graced with the beautiful vocals of tanja thulau. 

cantoma – “essarai” – quango/music for dreams label

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ken harman, a friend of mine began a blogsite dedicated to obama art work, obomaartreport.com. he was inspired by the amount of art being created around barrack obama’s message of hope and change and he began blogging and sharing these pieces of art with the public.

as i looked through his many brilliant pages of information and inspiration, i came upon pete yahnke’s, “uprising” print.

for some time now i have felt we as an entire world, needed to unite, to create an uprising to give energy to all things fair and true. well, it is the day following the presidential election and barrack obama has been called by the people of the united states to be our 44th el presidente!

i am finding that i do not have much to say today. this print and bonobo’s, “days to come”, reflect on my inner emotions.

i believe. i have hope. i am change.

and i take a deep deep breathe, with a gentle, soft smile.

bonobo – “days to come” – ninja tune

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i have been up since 7:30 am. i have so many thoughts running through my head as far as work, responsibility, personal things and yet i have been unable to get through any of my desired tasks today.

every morning i have a routine of enjoying my first cup of coffee while listening to npr and following the presidential election as well as the current issues facing the united states.  throughout my day i listen, discuss and watch.  i then finish my day with the rachel maddow show,  moveon.org and democracy now.

i have been attached to this election like none other i have experienced so far in my life.

today i am frozen. today is election day.

my main reason for the freeze comes from the fact that i know how wrong the last two elections were. i know, my friends know and the entire world agrees, those elections were bullshit. this is what alarms me as i watch and listen for the results tonight.

what i have been reminded of through these days of listening and watching, is about the real voices out there and the real issues we live in at this moment. we must fight for what is right, we must help each other during difficult times and we must believe in our future.

an election at this time, for what it is worth, has provided the space for many discussions about what matters and people coming together, finding common ground.

music is one of these common grounds that bring people of all differences together and music is our refuge from this crazy world.

today as i was listening to www.downtempo.org, i found such refuge in the sounds of, a mighty black forest. as i await the results to the next president of the united states, i meditate on the hope that resonates in the beautiful sounds of “till the end” .

we here at mother tongue endorse…..dennis kucinich, i mean al gore, i mean john kerry i mean barack obama!!! (wink wink)

sidenote: remember walter mondale?

a mighty black forest – “till the end” – compost records

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as i drove through the hills of western massachusetts yesterday, i came across an old track by kruder and dorfmeistrer, “high noon”. it was a 1994 release on their g-stoned – ep.

i have always been in love with music and i have a committed relationship to it and continue to learn and grow from all it teaches me. i remember when i first was introduce to the genre of “downtempo”.

it was the mid 1990’s, i had found my church, my holy house, my zen state. it was on the dance floor and it was with in the many different beats that surrounded me.

i had made it through a fantastic night of dancing, of meeting other energies matched with mine, and i was not done. i wanted more, but i could not imagine keeping the motion i had been rocking for the last 4 hours. i was still fairly new to the scene and decided to follow the crowd to another place. in my mind i was not sure how much longer i could stay awake or even dance.

to my surprise in the late night/early morning, still dark out, we made our way to the top of a building in brooklyn, outside. there on the roof were lounge chairs, candles and a dj set up. the sounds were soft and melodic. my next guess was this was a place designed for chilling out and saying goodbye to the splendid night and to the events that had just taken place.

i was wrong. the place filled up, people mingled and stretched and within the next half hour i was introduce to an entirely new expierence. the experience of a sunrise set. and so we collectively moved gently and softly to the beginning of a new day.

just when i thought it could not get more beautiful and the music could not lift me any higher. there in that moment, with the sun beginning to show its radiant light, i witnessed “high noon”.

and….. i saw the light.

kruder and dorfmeister – “high noon” – g-stoned recordings/ioda

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