The Studio - West Coast

Hi Dere,

Late to the party on this one, but after much considered listening, I can conclude that West Coast is utterly classic (and that's after initially hating the vocals).

The opening and closing tracks are monumental.

I can honestly say this is the best recommendation of something that I was previously totally ignorant about that I've had since frequenting this site (narrowly pipping Maurice Fulton), so thanks a lot.

And on that basis I'm hotly anticipating A Mountain of One.

I bought this over the weekend (the reisssued West Coast LP, not Yearbook One). It's great. Sounds more Oakenfold-produced Mondays than anything else, but that is no bad thing. Lush.

I HAVE JUST THIS MINUTE FINISHED LISTENING TO THE OPENING TRACK OF THIS ALBUM AND IT IS SO GOOD

OH MY FUCKING GOD I TYPED THE WORDS 'SO GOOD' AND HE SANG THOSE WORDS LIKE 2 SECONDS LATER

THIS RECORD AND I ARE PSYCHIC BRETHREN

OK 'Origin' is something truly beautiful.

Imagine giving something sincere praise. More fool me.

Louis is sincere, I hope.

This is certainly my fave and most listened to LP this year. So good in every circumstance.

I have typed 'so good' too.

Louis is sincere, I hope.

Of that I have no doubt.

I'm totally sincere! I'd have never come remotely close to knowing about this but for ILM, but radio silence from the music presses has contrasted starkly with a 200+ post thread here!

I've also obtained Strategy's new record, and now they sit together in my iTunes, many consecutive plays awaiting them. Studio's is the more immediate, that's for sure.

The Strategy record isn't bad, but if you wanna compare, Studio trounces them.

HEY GUYS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT GOOD MUSIC THE STUDIO REMIX OF AMO1'S "BROWN PIANO" IS A GOOD PLACE TO START

There's another Studio mix here. I haven't listened to it yet though.

I saw these guys DJ the other week and they were really good. I only know it's them now though as this is the first time I've seen a picture of them.

this only makes any sense to me when it's sunny

probably intentional

am i the only person hearing shades of Screamadelica in this?

all the brits and anglophiles on this thread make me sick

:(

don't worry, i like you

'origin' will be my obsession for the next week

who are the anglophiles?

This is one of those records I hardly ever listen to in its entirety because I can't stop playing Out There.

Aw, 'Out There' is good, but when I type its name into iTunes search, it's only the second-best long-form electronic odyssey that comes up. :-D

It is, however, one of those songs that actually keeps getting better throughout its run-time, and for that I love it.

Agreed - the key to the success of this track is that every different sonic motif seems more magical than the one that preceded it.

am i the only person hearing shades of Screamadelica in this?

Screamadelica the song, definitely; Screamdelica the album, not so sure.

who are the anglophiles?

people comparing this to primal scream, happy mondays, cure, disco inferno, ar kane. all bands (besides maybe the cure) that i would never listen to. what i'm hearing is closer to this description from the warm HQ blog

Taking its influences from the rhythmic structure of Krautrock, mixing electronic beats with beautiful looped cosmic guitar work, Ashra / Gottsching style and at other times tracks are reminiscent of early 80s work by Arthur Russell, having a similar kind of post-punk alt-disco fragility. Part Balearic, part cosmic, part new wave, part Krautrock, "West Coast is one debut not to be missed!

plus lots of roxy music (yes i know they're british)

Well, you should listen to Disco Inferno but that's a separate matter (as I mumbled above, I didn't quite hear them in West Coast). The Cure connection in the vocals and bass at a couple of points is pretty clear, I think, and AR Kane were Russell freaks so there's that. Anyway, larger point -- rather than saying, "Instead of THAT batch of influences I hear THIS (because I like it more and therefore I am validated)" wouldn't it make more sense to say, "This can all be part of it."

Jaxon let us know when Ned webmails you to get your address for mailing the D.I. cdrs.

if that was ever gonna happen, it woulda been 3 years go
Does one need to be British to enjoy Disco Inferno, Bark Psychosis & AR Kane?

jaxon, the influence of the mondays and the cure on he record is pretty large on this record - just because you don't like them, or think you don't, doesn't mean it's not a big part what's going on here. "i hear good times calling me... solid good times!" is pure sean ryder as is the vocal on the next track. No Comply could so easily be reconfigured in my head as a mondays tune.

srsly, the guitar hook from kinky afro could fit pretty easily play over self service.

lol jaxon u on ILM.

i meant loose fit riff not kinky afro riff.

Hmm, not so sure about the Mondays. For me the that "solid good times" is pure Cure (say Japanese Whispers era).

"i hear good times calling me... solid good times!" is pure sean ryder

Reminds me more of Flowered Up "Weekender", perhaps because there's a slight cockney lilt to the accent. ( I do realise they're Swedish)

Thing is "Part Balearic, part cosmic, part new wave, part Krautrock" is a perfect description of the Mondays. So it might be a matter of shared influences. I mean, it was Oakenfold in his post-summer of love ibizan incarnation who produced pills and thrills, you know. Have you heard Bob's Your Uncle?

Studio def have more lead guitar and the slight reggaeish thing.

Anyway, it's a great record.

There;s definitely a faint thuggishness about the vocals sometimes, that may be a borrowed thing, too. Leaning on a vocal style from another language without quite realising the feel - maybe you US/Aus people don't pick that up, but it's (and I shudder to write this) almost reminiscent of Hard-Fi or something at times.

OK - Studio has been doing some great remixes (or remakes as they call it themselves)recently. Shout Out Louds "Imposssible", Rubies "The Keyes" and most recently the B-side to A Mountain of Ones new 12 "Brown Piano". The latter can be found here:
http://www.discobelle.net/2007/09/18/a-mountain-of-one-studio-remix/

Good stuff while you're waiting for a follow-up to West Coast/Yearbook 1

I don't know wtf "balearic disco" is, but I'm surprised no one has compared this to Out Hud.

i cant believe you didnt hear this til now

(because its so jaymc-ish!)

I think I must've overlooked the thread because the name of the group/album sounded so generic.

too bad you found it

cause now yr talking about out hud and shit

u had to realize a lot of this stuff doesnt have quite the same resonance when taken out of balaeric context

Out Hud is awesome! RIP.

I mean, Tim mentioned Arthur Russell in the opening post, and Out Hud were compared to Arthur Russell a lot, too.

6 degrees of out hud

Cutty is in Holy Hail.
Cat from Fannypack is in Holy Hail.
Fannypack recorded on Tommy Boy Records.
Capone-N-Noreaga recorded on Tommy Boy Records.
The Neptunes produced Noreaga.
The Neptunes are in the band N*E*R*D.
The DFA remixed N*E*R*D.
James Murphy of the DFA is in LCD Soundsystem.
Tyler Pope used to be LCD Soundsystem.
Tyler Pope was in Out Hud.