This is an accidental set, pure happenstance, in which I somehow, for cryptic, subconscious, free-associative reasons, collected examples of the myriad forms of the krautrock modus known as motorik. I've written of it many times before, how, from Neu! to Kraftwerk to Stereolab to Circle, the forward momentum rush of travel-by-thought, incarnate as sound, as music, as rock 'n' roll, informs so many aspects of non-blues derived modern music (possible only since the postwar industrial age inspired art to reflect technology). It's one of those things... you know it when you hear it. And without getting into another academic discussion of what it MEANS, this set comprises a number of songs/styles in accordance with the ethos. Then we diverge, or perhaps more accurately, MERGE, into avant motorik jazztronica (with a vocal and song oriented slant), then culminate with a finishing flourish of experimental/instruMENTAL electro-psych-jazz. Sssshhh... just listen...
Soft Circle is Hisham Baroocha, formerly a noisemonger with Black Dice, now exploring mantra-as-motif, and on this latest one even getting a little dancefloor-friendly. Holy Fuck are a juggernaut of a live four-piece who dare anyone to sit still while they play. Woodsman came out of left field (Denver?!?!?) to surprise us with ebbing and flowing psychedelia like Animal Collective channeling vintage krautrock. Mogwai finally admit how much they listen to Neu! The arch druid Julian Cope has admitted it all along. The Church offer up an atypical track from an obscure and sadly overlooked mid-career album. Phil Manley breaks out of Trans Am and The Fucking Champs and busts some Klusterish kraut-homage. Jackie-O Motherfucker drop one of their most cohesive improvs ever, sounding more freight train propulsion than their usual ramshackle clamor. Swell Maps got the voodooooooooo...
Then...The Phantom Band have always incorporated motorik in their Scotch balladeering, but in a subtle way. LCD Soundsystem sound more like Eno on their latest than Eno does. And Talk Talk are mostly known for a couple cliche' 80s pop hits, but put out three albums of atmospheric avant vocal-jazz explorations that only critics and collectors seem to know about, from which this track has been culled. Which provides a nice transition for...
...a diversion into the realm of experimental jazztronica... sometimes difficult, not so accessible, but rewarding for those with the patience. So don't give up: if you like being transported to other worlds via the vehicle of space rock (and if you're here, you must), these tracks from Radian, Trapist, Supersilent and The Necks have the same principles and properties. Go with it... you'll be glad you did.
For you traditionalists who don't mind streaming from this site, the following tracks should appear in the player below:
The Spacerock Continuum Theme - bRambles
Bonzer - Soft Circle- Shore Obsessed
Super Inuit- Holy Fuck - LP
Dikembe Mutombo - Woodsman - Collages
Mexican Grand Prix - Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
Kolly Kibber's Birthday - Julian Cope - World Shut Your Mouth
Angelica - The Church - Sometime Anywhere
Night Vision - Phil Manley - Life Coach
The Cryin' Sea - Jackie-O Motherfucker - Ballads Of The Revolution
Full Moon In My Pocket/Blam!!! - Swell Maps - A Trip To Marineville
The None Of One - The Phantom Band - The Wants
All I Want - LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
Desire - Talk Talk - Spirit Of Eden
Feedbackmikro/City Lights - Radian - Chimeric
Time Axis (Part 2) - Trapist - Ballroom
11.4 - Supersilent - 11
Fatal - The Necks - Chemist
But don't forget, you now have the option of spacerock to go:
1. Click on the Divshare logo instead of pushing the play button.
2. Click "download" when redirected to the Divshare site.
3. Once downloaded drag it to yer iTunes and sync it with yer pod - simple!
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