Having your blog pulled by the powers that be is, by far, the worst-case scenario for those of us who choose this medium to talk about music. So, I don't want to say what has happened to me compares to that nightmare, but I have had a bad run. The operating system on my laptop simply stopped working. Thus, the laptop stopped working. For more than a week now, I have been scrambling to make repairs and retrieve everything stored on the hard drive. That includes the music I have been ripping from my vinyl since the beginning of the year. I have found the whole ordeal quite depressing, and there have been days when I have ignored the whole thing and watched baseball instead. So, that's why you haven't heard from me in a while.
As of today, the new operating system has been loaded and most of the hard drive is back. What's still missing are all of the applications, and there are many, and that means the software I use for ripping vinyl isn't on here right now. While I'm putting the final touches on fixing this fiasco, I thought I would spend a couple of posts touting some recent releases that have my attention.
Let's hit the floor with two bands separated by an ocean but joined by a love for vintage synthesizers and dance music from the '80s and '90s. First up is Le SuperHomard, straight outta France and distributed by my pal Chris at Seattle's Jigsaw Records. You'll hear lots of Stereolab and Saint Etienne, but I also detect a bit of Sean O'Hagan's electronic side. There isn't a duff note on
'MapleKey,' and this one is sure to make my best of the year list come December. Here is my favorite from the album.
Kurt Feldman is a New Yorker who you might know from his days with the Depreciation Guild and the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, but don't expect his project Ice Choir to sound like those bands. As the opening notes of the song below illustrate, Feldman's pure heart must have fallen for When in Rome's "The Promise" in his youth, and I bet he has a thing for middle '80s Scritti Politti too. In fact, his vocals will have you thinking of Green Gartside in the most perfect way. Shelflife has already gone through their limited stock of
'Designs in Rhythm' on blue vinyl, but I see that
Jigsaw still has some copies. Quality.
10 comments:
Glad you are back up and running Brian
Our dependence on technology can be quite scary at times
I must admit, I was beginning to wonder if all was well at LTLHQ. Sounds like you've been through my idea of hell. I'm glad that you're gradually getting things up and running again and, most importantly, that you haven't lost anything. Coincidentally, just last evening, out of nowhere, my own humble laptop made an awful noise the like of which I've never heard before. The screen went blank and it started to perform some kind of self-diagnostics (again, never seen this) before issuing all kinds of dire warnings. At this point I did what any sane person would - I turned the laptop off and on again.....and held my breath. It slowly booted up and has (thus far at least) continued to function. This morning I purchased a new external hard drive. Nothing on the laptop is backed up and the thought of losing just the music alone is more than I can bear.
Good to have you back Brian. I really enjoyed the Le SuperHomard tune.
Good to see a new post Brian. Watching baseball??Man alive you must have been in a bad way.
Also glad you have come through Brian. And what wonderful music to return with! Le Super Homard is on its 5 play right now! I think we may both find this one on our year end lists....
Playing that first track I thought it sounded a lot like Stereolab. On re-reading your post you did, of course, say that. Must Pay More Attention!
Sorry for your troubles! These things have minds of their own. Know that all your efforts & extra efforts are appreciated, Brian. Keep the faith. Maybe it was the music gods in retribution for not featuring Buzzcocks & Buzz of Delight during your B set. (Hehehehehehe.....)
My sympathies too. My own pc is definitely on its last legs and regularly crashes when I'm mid-post. I've transferred all my music to an external drive so that when the inevitable happens, at least I won't have to worry about recovering that.
My sympathies too. My own pc is definitely on its last legs and regularly crashes when I'm mid-post. I've transferred all my music to an external drive so that when the inevitable happens, at least I won't have to worry about recovering that.
Thanks for your apathy/empathy, gents. A few things. George, I'm American. Baseball is in my blood. Kevinpat, I did feature Buzzcocks in the Bs, but I don't have Buzz of Delight... on vinyl anyway. Rol, always good to be backing up. I do that from time to time, but I haven't for almost a year. Big regrets there. Hope to back to ripping vinyl by the end of the weekend. Fingers crossed. CC, Hope the vacation is going well. Echorich, Thought and hoped these songs might be up your alley. That CD on Jigsaw is $8 and worth every penny. Swede, A little behind on my reading at your place. While my laptop was down I checked out the blogs on my phone some, but I hate sending comments via thumbs.
If George is reading this.....I'm a Brit and I love baseball too!! It's a superb sport.
B....you have my total sympathy on this. I lost a few hundred songs a few years back due to a technoligical malfunction. External drive now backs things up once a week. Also resolved to replace laptop/PC every three years at the most
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