Archive for the ‘UK’ tag
Robot Rock du Jour: Hooray For Earth – True Loves (Cereal Spiller Remix) (2011)
While this song is uncomfortably close to mainstream for my circuit boards, this deconstructed remix by NYC incognitos Cereal Spiller is just off the beaten path enough to ensure safety. The real winner here, tho, is the animation created by UK-based artist Cyriak Harris.
SCHEMATIC: True Loves (Album Version) with another great video… Read the rest of this entry »
Robot Rock du Jour: Tik & Tok – The Tube (1982)
This is probably the last robot dance outfit I’m going to post for a while.
UK’s Tik & Tok were pretty far out there, looking more like Fischerspooner predecessors than robots. Luckily for them, their darker, more minimal synth tracks were way, WAY better than their robotic dance routines. The only place I’ve ever seen The Tube is on a 2004 Rephlex pressing that has all of Tik & Tok’s better (i.e. more minimal) tracks and sells for under $10!
SCHEMATIC: A couple more videos and some album artwork…
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Robot Rock du Jour: Fotostat – Fotostat (1983)
Machines that think they’re human pretending to be robots. I-R-O-N-Y. Love it. The track is decent, but nothing mind-bending.
SCHEMATIC: Fotostat strut their circuits to Kraftwerk, more vids, technics ad, 7″ tracks, album artwork and label scans…
Snort: Robot Dance Competition (1983)
Metal Mickey calling the shots in this UK dance competition from 1983. Peep those costumes! The red heads get my vote…
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Robot Rock du Jour: Malaria! – Your Turn To Run (1982)
Hot chicks singing over synth punk???!
Sexually charged lyrics, punk angst and synthy goodness earn Malaria! (and others like Honey Bane, The Slits and Pylon) a cherished place in my cybernetic heart. It all happened during a very brief period of time when hot, punk-rocking chicks teamed up with dub producers and took the disco by storm.
SCHEMATIC: A veritable cornucopia of punk disco…
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Robot Rock du Jour: Freeez – I.O.U. (1983)
This video somehow manages to aggregate nearly everything that was so boss about the early 1980s: 7″ records; boomboxes/ghettoblasters; BMX bikes; popping and locking; synthesizers; fashion; and even a healthy dose of naïve sexuality. If this song sounds like a cross between Afrika Bambaataa and New Order, that is because legend Arthur Baker produced it! Thanks to fellow nerdbot Tom in the UK for the heads up on this one.
SCHEMATIC: Acapella & Dub Versions…
Robot Rock du Jour: Thomas Dolby – Windpower (1982)
The future was indeed 1982. Nerd of nerds Thomas Dolby laid out “Windpower” on his seminal LP The Golden Age of Wireless, which featured the über hit She Blinded Me With Science. This song is an intellectual call to arms; a utopian nerd manifesto. If anyone wants to build a new city (or take over a cool one like Denver) I’m IN!
SCHEMATIC: Two more versions and inspiring lyrics…
Robot Rock du Jour: Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me With Science (1982)
This video was an integral part of my nerdlinghood. Visually rich to the nth degree: Besides the sweet sidecar motorcycle and lunatic scientists, you have the superhot lab assistant, Ms. Sakamoto, who doubles as a cello. Classic nerd track. BTW, Dolby has been the Musical Director of the TED conferences since 2001.
SCHEMATICS: Album artwork and other gems from Dolby… Read the rest of this entry »
Party Time: Saturday Robot Party @ The Idle Hour (Baltimore, MD)
VIGR is in the house. 4+ hour rare vinyl set. Need I say more? Hope to see you there! I’ll try to keep track of the setlist…
Vintage Vocoders Youtube Playlist is Live!!
Warm up the robot! Any one of these vintage machines presented in our youtube playlist will transform you (or a loved one) into a Cylon. To start it off, let Giorgio Moroder magically transport you to the wonderful world of vocoders in this Casablanca Records promo video…
SCHEMATIC: Want more? Check out the entire playlist…