Dif Juz

Soundpool sounds a lot like an instrumental version of Metal Box blended with Vini Reilly-esque guitar (although it's much edgier than what you'd hear on The Durutti Column's records). I can never remember what Who Says So? sounds like because it's impact on me has been so minimal. Extractions is more CT-esque indeed because of Robin Guthrie's production -- it's like Soundpool with a fair amount of reverb to make it sound more distant and less upfront.

"Hu"
"Cs"

Actually, "Channel" is pretty nice, but the remainder doesn't leave much of a mark when I listen to it.

I say the best starting point is the album Extractions, particularly if you are a Cocteau Twins lover. Incidentally, that's how I discovered them, as well, was through that album. Robin Guthrie produced it so I guess that does help. But keep in mind that on their other records they did very different, more spare, dub reggae-ish kind of stuff on their other records, which has never bothered me in the slightest, even though I'm only a casual fan of said genre. Anyway, so yeah, just start with Extractions. Robin Guthrie's lush sound (did I just say that? The irony is killing me...he produced Lush) really suits them perfectly, and they were in top form. Check how the drums are produced especially.

Anyway I just wanted to clarify for anyone who didnt know (since Im guilty of assuming these sorts of things sometimes) that of course Liz Fraser does vocals on "Love Insane" (though I dont think thats one of the better songs on the album). So my point is, a Cocteau Twins fan really has no excuse for not owning Extractions or or at least hearing it.

(I apologize that my browser is once again not letting me type apostrophes)

How's it going, Bimble?

Although I confess I'm now lazy and/or cheesy enough to be listening to Kajagoogoo. Okay I know it's stupid, but give me a break. I just had to hear that whole album again once in my life since I was...12? I'll likely never touch it again, I swear.

Jesus H., David what year was that? Do you know what day it was or month? If so it would really help me, thanks.

I'm pretty sure it was May 1984. I just looked that up on Wikipedia, and it specifies the 8th. Hmm. Can neither confirm nor deny that, but I do remember walking out onto the Embankment accompanied by mad coincidental fireworks (after such intensity) over the London night sky, which someone said were for the Queen (birthday?). Aside from the unreal intensity and weird mix of introspection and community at that show, I already had stars exploding in my eyes being in the Big Smoke as a Northern Monkey, ha ha. Did they celebrate the Queen's birthday earlier in the year back in the mid '80s, because I know they do that in June nowadays? I don't know. Oh, and I also have a bootleg cassette of the Cocteau Twins (sadly no Dif Juz) part of the concert, which I'd have to dig out to see what the date says. It features (from memory) Liz Fraser stating her desire to be a cockney, among other highlights (the Festival Hall people didn't like anyone getting out of their seats, and a very embarrassed Robin tries to get the unruly rock fans [okay, that's priceless!] to sit back down or they won't be allowed to continue, etc).

Sorry, not trying to derail this thread.

David A....May 1984...I will now look to see what gigs I have of Dif Juz...but as I suspected you have predated me by 2 years. You lucky bastard.

Robin trying to get them to sit down, that's funny. Well I tried to see him with Harold Budd last year and it was boring as FUCK. Sorry but it really was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHhlzDGxFas

Anyway, the video for "No Motion" is on the 1987 "Lonely Is An Eyesore" 4AD artist compilation VHS cassette for anyone who doesn't know who would care. It also includes Colourbox, Wolfgang Press, Throwing Muses, Cocteaus, Dead Can Dance, and (Clan of) Xymox.

Anyway, yeah, in my opinion music doesn't get any better than "No Motion".

Also, the This Mortal Coil video on that - "Acid, Bitter & Sad" especially throws for a loop, along with that last video by Dead Can Dance, which seems to say humankind will exist only briefly on this planet. It's scarier to watch now than it was then. That song was called "The Protagonist".

And look at his hair in Xymox - he had pretty good hair for the 80's, no?

Just stumbled on this, via youtube.
Dif Juz - Hu (live)
What a great band.

i liked them more before i learned that their name is pronounced 'diffuse'.

AAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!
LIVE DIF JUZ ON YOU TUBE!!!!!!!!

Christ, it's Friday and I haven't even had a drink yet. This is fantastic. Thanks, Ned!

thread reminded me to get extractions from emusic

nO YOU DON'T UNDERSATND THEY WERE MY FAVE BAND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD
BETTER THAN THE COCTEAUS
HOW MANY BANDS CAN SAY THEY WERE BETTER THAN THE COCTEAUS?
AND YES RECEIVED HISTORICAL ILX WISDOM WILL SAY THAT nEW oRDER/jOY DIVISION ARE MY FAVE BUT
HERE IS A CLOSE #2. i'VE NEGglected MY blohg. But I shall rectify this tomorrow.

Too many people around me for too long. Need solitude. Need to cut the cord and just be with myself for awhile. Everyone has to do that sometimes.

For the love of a non-existent god, when will Dif Juz reform? In heaven? Must we wait that long?

Also! Take heart the poor soul who interpreted their name as "DIF J-uh-z" for I pronounced it that way for a long time in high school before somewhere along the way realizing that the way my friend had been pronouncing it all along was correct: "Dif Yooooze" Almost Philly style. Hahahhahahaahah. Americanizing pronunciations. Christ. Now I'm really cooking. The humble anglophile shows his true embarassed colours!

No but seriously, Diffffffuuuuuuuuuseeeee

etc.

Main Entry:
1dif·fuse Listen to the pronunciation of 1diffuse
Pronunciation:
\di-ˈfyüs\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Middle English, from Latin diffusus, past participle of diffundere to spread out, from dis- + fundere to pour — more at found
Date:
15th century

1 : being at once verbose and ill-organized <a diffuse report from the scene of the earthquake> 2 : not concentrated or localized <diffuse lighting>
synonyms see wordy
— dif·fuse·ly adverb
— dif·fuse·ness noun

(please don't any Brits get on my case, Bimble sez...I like Radiohead and I'm a reasonable man, get off my case...)

No, but seriously that YouTube clip of "Hu" makes my heart/stomach do what happens when you go over the top of a ferris wheel, over and over and over. I'm serious. Butterflies are only the start. Jesus.

I'm thinking someone must have some more somewhere?
I haven't heard much of their post DJ careers, any good?

I'm embarassed to say I've never read the Wikipedia entry on these guys until now but WOW. I mean WOW. This stuff makes my head spin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dif_juz

I don't know that I've heard any of the post-DJ career stuff. I was aware that Richard Thomas went on to drum for several other folks, but that's about it.

Lee Scratch Perry sessions...crikey!

Also I'm completely stunned to realize that the same guy who played the drums was the same guy who played the sax. I mean that throws me for a fucking loop.

i have that "who says so?" 12", i need to rip it to mp3.

"the last day" is the prettiest song i've ever heard.

also my roommate in college hated "crosswinds" whenever i played it but liked "lazy calm" from victorialand. go figure!

i heard crosswinds for the first time yesterday and i gotta be honest the phrase 'new age shit' did flow through my head briefly

"The Last Day" reduced me to slow, silent tears earlier this afternoon.

Sure. Crosswinds is "new age shit" but I defy anyone to call anything ELSE this band did that!

A one-off song of new age shit...not much to forgive a band who had so many other songs.

well yes indeed

whatev, i like crosswinds.

i have Who Says So? ripped. i'll try to post it.

FETISH FOR THE VINYL of WHO SAYS SO?

Don't push me or I might play my vinyl copy.

Electricsound is right, it's all about the surfacenoise.

i mean, how can you possibly play extractions and skip crosswinds? it just doesn't make any sense.

The saxophone solo on Felt's "Final resting of the ark" is from the bloke from Dif Juz.

Dude!! Your kidding!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/DIF-JUZ-huremics-four-pieces-SEALED-EP-4AD_W0QQitemZ350097463324QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

I saw that record for far, far cheaper a few years ago in a record shop. It probably wasn't unplayed, but I steered myself away from buying it because I just felt I didn't need it. I didn't realize it was going for the likes of $500 though! Oh well.

This is GOD right here, and I'm an atheist, but you know what I mean. Jesus would be jealous of this band, I think. I'm sorry but it doesn't get any better than this, does it?

Dif Juz - No Motion

Listening to this^^^ now is so sad. But thanks Bimble, wherever you are, for posting it.

found this just now:

http://siysmam.blogspot.com/2009/04/lonely-is-eyesore-1987.html

i've seen this just once before - rented it at the tower video store my freshman year in college.

i've always loved this comp and think 'no motion', as already stated upthread, is def one of my favorite dif juz tracks...

"i gotta be honest the phrase 'new age shit' did flow through my head briefly"

this is a good thing - i dig on some new-age shit my damn self.

see here

this thread should have like 900 more posts than it already has

Extractions is killing me tonight. it's part of that imaginary genre that includes Roxy ca Avalon, solo David Sylvian, Dolphin Brothers, late period Talk Talk, the Blue Nile (there was a thread on this last year I think but I can't remember what it was called). i love the production, lots of early digital pitch shift fx and modulated reverb embellishing the minimal arrangements. seems like people back thread were slightly lukewarm on it -- have opinions changed over time?

Liked them a lot but haven't listened in a long while, I imagine because the music is kinda low-key people's reactions to it, however positive are similar.

There was a band from the late 90's called The Workhouse iirc, who took that baton and ran with it, dunno if they are still going or whats available.

An hour interview with Gary Bromley and a link to an interview with Richie Thomas!
http://radiobombast.podbean.com/2013/07/02/gary-bromley-of-dif-juz-full-interview/

Correct pronunciation is Diff-Juzz!

This is GOD right here, and I'm an atheist, but you know what I mean. Jesus would be jealous of this band, I think. I'm sorry but it doesn't get any better than this, does it?

Dif Juz - No Motion

― It's hrd bein a man, livn' in a garbage pai (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Monday, 27 October 2008 06:39 (6 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

bimble otm x 1000. some moments in that song are so beautiful it just crushes all the breath out of me

there's nothing else quite like it certainly. not even in their catalogue.

Correct pronunciation is Diff-Juzz!

― Spencer Chow, Wednesday, May 6, 2015 6:32 PM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink

I have been saying 'dif-yooz' for years! It isn't "diff-yooz??!"

of course it's Dif-yooz.

Not according to that interview with Bromley. Wonder if the other members have a different idea. I didn't listen to the Thomas interview.

Did you respond to some kind of indie batsignal?

I guess it's possible it's pronounced 'dif-juz' given the reputed origins of the name being a (likely stoned) variation on 'different jazz,' but 'dif-yooz' is such a cool name and 'dif juz' is so clumsy

anyway this band is long overdue for a lavish deluxe box set

.gifjuz - Is it pronounced "Gif Juz" or "Jif Juz"?

Could get a nice 4-CD box set... Extractions + No Motion on disc 1, Who Says So? + Vibrating Air + Huremics on disc 2, Time Clock Turn Back + whatever other demos and odd tracks are available for disc 3, and then the fabled album recorded with Lee Scratch Perry for disc 4.