inner nerd » UK

Robot Rock du Jour: Hooray For Earth – True Loves (Cereal Spiller Remix) (2011)

beaker — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:28:53 +0000

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…

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Robot Rock du Jour: Tik & Tok – The Tube (1982)

beaker — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:51:54 +0000

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…

Crisis (1982)

Soulless Synthetic Heart-Steps Of Unconcerned Androids (1983)

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Robot Rock du Jour: Fotostat – Fotostat (1983)

beaker — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:56:44 +0000

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…

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Snort: Robot Dance Competition (1983)

beaker — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:42:11 +0000

Metal Mickey calling the shots in this UK dance competition from 1983. Peep those costumes! The red heads get my vote…

end of line…

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Robot Rock du Jour: Malaria! – Your Turn To Run (1982)

beaker — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:39:28 +0000

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…

Honey Bane – Guilty (Dub) (1980)

Honey Bane – Guilty (Vocal) (1980)

Pylon – Cool (1979)

The Slits – I Heard It Through The Grapevine/Bassline (1979)

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Robot Rock du Jour: Freeez – I.O.U. (1983)

beaker — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 04:24:24 +0000

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…

These versions are included primarily for posterity rather than actual musical interest.

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Robot Rock du Jour: Thomas Dolby – Windpower (1982)

beaker — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:32:09 +0000

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…

Windpower (Top of the Pops Live Version) (c.1982)

Crappy sound and video quality, but a great version nonetheless!

Windpower (High Powered Extended Play) (1982)

This particular cut is off the eponymous 12″ single. Readily available on vinyl and cheap.

Windpower Lyrics

Switch off the mind and let the heart decide
who you were meant to be
Flick to remote and let the body glide
There is no enemy !
Etch out a future of your own design
Well tailored to your needs
Then fan the flame and keep the dream alive
Of a continent
A continent a continent a continent a -
There is no enemy !
Switch of the mind and let the heart decide
We’re a continent
A continent a continent a continent a -
Shatter the lens and grind it into sand
One measured exposure
Scatter the seed and furrow in our land
The future is roses! Roses!
Switch off the mind and let the heart decide
There is no enemy!
Lift up the hearts of this your only tribe
We’re a continent
A continent a continent a continent a

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Robot Rock du Jour: Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me With Science (1982)

beaker — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:03:12 +0000

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…

Hyperactive! (12″ Version) (1984)

The beginning of this track always makes me think of The Bestie Boys. Great video.

Hyperactive! (Album Version) (1984)

Taken from Beta tapes, which is really cool. This version is much more in the vein of The Talking Heads.

One of Our Submarines (Live) (1982)

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Party Time: Saturday Robot Party @ The Idle Hour (Baltimore, MD)

beaker — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:52:53 +0000

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…

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Vintage Vocoders Youtube Playlist is Live!!

beaker — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:18:07 +0000

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…

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