This is the archive of gabba.cc, one of the first mp3 blogs.
Just a damn good song. Every bit of it from the bassline to the instantly morish chorus is unpretentiously brilliant. Perfect for the summer. They don't make them like this any more, but i wish they did.

The kind of track we're only ever going to hear as an mp3, a Very (very very) rare early Drexciya track, from before James Stinson went sub aqua, genius minimal electro.

A simple, dreamily effervescent song. Those Scandinavians sure know their pop music. Hope you like it!

Don't know too much about this track, although it is one of the quieter bits from these Chilean noiseniks, now signed to Tigersushi.  Punk-funk (dare I say use that term?) with added crunch.  Joakim & Christian Vogel have both added their considerable production talents to some of the band's output of late.  Anyway, hope you like!!

Here's to shameless self-promotion! This is a track from my upcoming release on Skor Records, a laid-back vibey house cut with an emphasis on smoldering subconscious funk and things abstract. This will be the A side on the 'Panresonant Make-Believe' 12" slated tentatively for Fall release.

"Man, Reagan makin' bombs with all the money these days"... then-young DC Go-Go band in the studio (!), 1986

Mu's hubbie proves he is equally bonkers.  When not producing her consistantly unhinged abandonment, he occasionally puts out tasty wee acid-house monsters like this.  I can't really explain to you what to expect, if you haven't already heard it, but you'll be unable to deny that at the very least it's 'unique'.

"I put three bullets in its face..." A gorgeously disquieting folk tune from erstwhile-Rheostatic, Martin Tielli. Haunting, delicate, and just slightly insane.

Twixt their UK ornate psych pop and their US conquering falsetto disco period the Brothers Gibb cut an unsuccessful slew of country songs, Nashville seeming the natural home for their rigorously professional but still waywardly f**ked compositions. Here’s the best, a lazily funky Southern rocker with lovely string arrangements and a twin lead gtr solo. What Beck imagines himself to sound like.

Arty noise's tribute to Wimbledon at a time before Martina had even exited the closet.

This is from A.R.T.1, the first release on Kirk Degiorgio's Applied Rythmic Technology imprint from 1992, and is an excercise in perfectly pitched restraint. I remember vividly being parked up in a field on the top of the south downs at 2am with a couple of like minded friends trying to pick up Colin Dale's Knowledge show on Kiss fm, watching Worthing pier twinkle in the distance and listening intently to this track. It ended, and Colin Dale chipped in "So simple, yet so beautiful..." He was right.

Eight years of war is worth a wedding. Swedish folk at its finest, tributes to the common soldier, valiant unsung heroes and lovers. With a simple sound of banjo, guitar, melodica and the occasional drum and organ, melancholy at its most beautiful....

Feelgood electro funk with a touch of disco. Simple and effective.

I'm too young to remember this the first time around, and I came across it on a soundtrack to a film whose name escapes me at the moment!!  Anyway, it made me track down other material by this 80s group.  Spot the obvious sample used by Moby on his early 90s cod-rave, chart-bothering track of the same name. 

for anyone in a disco mood; infectious instrumention, womanizing lyrics...could be from the soundtrack of logan's run....this is probably not selling; i'm still trying to figure out why i bought it.

for anyone in a sombre mood...haunting/acoustic; loud low sax....

I went to Femi Kuti's show in London last weekend. It rocked, so I thought I'd make a post. Here's a little background. Femi Kuti is the son of late African musician and activist, Fela Kuti. Fela not only pioneered the sprawling big band sound called Afrobeat, but also was routinely beaten and arrested for speaking out against the Nigerian government in his music. He died of AIDS in the late 90s. Following in the footsteps of his father, Femi is credited for ushering in a new chapter of Afrobeat by bringing in contemporary influences such as house and hip-hop. Like most of his father’s music, the song Sorry, Sorry is also a denunciation of the Nigerian government. I'm no baby, but I cried like one when I heard this song at the show. Enjoy.

AnimalMonster are from Toronto. The EP that this is from was immensely popular (for a tiny label), so you won't be able to buy it. It isn't the most innovative track, but it has great melodic ideas that build and develop on top of one another, especially toward the end. Props to Said the Gramophone for the heads up.

Following from rastafarlei's upload, heres some more basic Fela, there something about the horns on this that really remind me of Satta Massa Gana, simple enough for a 10 year old to play, but good enough to want to hear over and over again..

Continuing with the funk theme and at the risk of overdosing on world music here's a political slice of afro-space-funk by Nigeria's William Onyeabor. If at first you don't really like it re-read the title.

Last world music post, promise. It comes off of the soundtrack for the Motorcycle Diaries - a film that "documents" the adventures (and inspirations) of revolutionary Che Guevera as a young med student who ditches school to ride across South America on (you guessed it) a motorcycle. Great flick. The music is used beautifully in the film. But who could expect less from Gustavo Santaolalla, a Grammy winning music producer and composer who has scored and/or produced music for such films as 21 Grams, Amores de Perros and the aforementioned MSD.

Haiku: A Japanese lyric form having 3 unrhymed lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables. Coup D'etat: A sudden overthrow or takeover of a governing body or authority. Haiku D'etat: A rap group comprised of 3 artists -Aceyalone & Mikah 9 from the Freestyle Fellowship, and Abstract Rude of Abstract Tribe Unique (ATU).While it falls short in a few places, most of this song is pure poetry - intelligent and witty. I guess you could say they're staging a coup on Gangsta' Rap.

Nice pop track from San Fransisco based band Deerhoof. At first I thought they were Japanese, but it turned out only the singer is. A very refreshing sound in my opinion. More info here. Behind the buy link below there's a couple of free tracks to download.

Minimal techno from 1992. Edge Of Motion was a Dutch duo that signed up with DJAX-up-beats, a sublabel of DJAX, one of the first Dutch techno labels and founded by Miss DJAX.

Meet Idiot Pilot, two fresh-faced teens (neither is of drinking age) from tiny Bellingham,WA. Last year, they produced the album « Strange we should meet here» (Reprise), a stunnig amalgamation of atmospheric hardcore like Radiohead and Deftones playing sonic tag.

The soundrack of insomnia. Just looking at the screen letting hours fly by and somehow being fine with it.

Filastine is a producer-slash-dj from Seattle who blends political-aware sounds with worldly melted rhtyhms. He also plays in the Infernal Noise Brigade, a varied international samba-sample band which marches and performs at G8 protests.
This track is is a political remix of a song he released on DJ Rupture's Soot label, which brings cut-up arabic flutes over broken djarboukas and distorted spoken word samples. Artistic activism at its earnest.

The first time I heard this song was on a mix David Holmes did for Radio 1's 'Essential Mix', several years ago, before jetting off to LA to do film scores for Steve Soderbergh and the likes.  I like many people had tuned in expecting to hear 2 hours of hard, crunching techno, but instead he started his mix with this, before playing 2 hours of rare soul & funk classics.  Then as now, I can't fail but be moved by the huge sense of occasion that the production on this song creates.  Annoyingly, though I sure its recently been used in a KFC advert.  But please don't hold that against it, because this is a stone-cold classic of the highest order!!

Bill Fay was a UK singer / songwriter. During the 60s and 70s he released several albums which received little attention, and then promptly disapeared. Over time, hes stuff has gained a following, to a point where the albums where reissued earlier this year. Garden Song is my personal favorite. Mostly because of its amazing orchestration.

Straight up neu-folk-electronica from new swedish "super" constellation Conduo Orchestra. Taken from the new compilation cd just out on Nosordo. Bring on the BBQ.

During an era of bland, wine-bar pop music from the likes of Duran Duran & Spandau Ballet, this little beauty was released.  Quirky, funky and the complete opposite of everything else released around the same time!!

The sharply dressed Zoot Woman is a three-man pop group that owes as much to Hall & Oates as Pet Shop Boys. Stuart Price (bass) met brothers Johnny (guitar, vocals) and Adam Blake (keyboards) while at school in Reading, England. Though the group's basic setup is much like a rock band, electronics play a significant role in their sound.

Warning: This song grows on you. really really grows on you. the first time i heard it i was a little "meh" about it, but now it occupies the top spot on my itunes Top 25 Most Played List. the one note guitar/keyboard lines that chime all around the introduction and choruses are maddeningly catchy. It originally appeared on the soundtrack to jonathan demme's married to the mob but gained popularity after being featured in that other jonny demme flick, silence of the lambs (during the scene where buffalo bill is dancing and trying on the skin suit). it was released as a single shortly after appearing in the movie but sadly that single is no longer in print. there's some more background and other information here, and you can buy it from amazon through the link down there (for a pretty penny, i might add).

Oh, is there a better way to start a gloomy monday than a little poetry from our favourite Ivor Cutler? If so, please let me know...."When I do die I shall be glad to get away from loud pop music and motor cars, but I shall miss - insofar as when one is dead one can miss anything - the beautiful kindnesses of those people to whom courtesy comes naturally. Unfortunately there are fewer of those people than of the other kind who deal with their problems in a very anti-social way." - Ivor Cutler

Songs about mobile phones are one of my favorite things, this is Ward 21 over the grimey (no relation) riddim, "send me a text, then clear it, don't talk or your man might hear it".

This is the B-side to the fairly recent dubstep 12" 'South London Boroughs' on Hyperdub - this track comes from a slighty different angle.

...A song full of wonder for a wonderful man. In memory of David Morris.

This is one of the tracks from the Vertigolab EP.  Vertigolab was a DC-area band that unfortunately broke up soon after getting this put together.  This is a great song to listen to when you are feeling bitter and wronged and want to sit and cackle about how much everyone with regret what they've done to you.  <sniff> I miss them.

A handsome trio from Malmö (Sweden) that forces instrumental rock with Led Zeppelin-esque riffs into a post-punk groove of A Certain Ratio and ESG. Boasts elements of minimal groove, rock, kraut and funk.

From the consistantly great "Get Physical" label in Berlin, bubbly and bleepy house, reminds me of the early Warp "b leep" tracks but with a fuller sound, basic and bass heavy.  If you like this go and get the "Boogie Playground" mix on the same label.

A lofi bass heavy trombone parping cut up funk stomper from BigTing's very own mighty R.L.F. This track is from his second e.p. on rex records (are they now defunct?). Over the last few years, both Ralf and Gabba have been hugely helpful and inspiring in my musical education so it seems fitting that they should fiinally meet. If you like this then keep your ear to the ground for his brilliant live Godzilla soundtrack coming to a microplex near you, and hopefully his iminent album. If there is such a thing as Kama in this world then Ralf deserves all the success he could wish for.

Apologies for bl0wing my own trumpet (not that this track features...any...of those...) but here is a track from the computer game soundtrack I've just finished.  The game is called "Determinance" and it'll be out in September.  It's a freeform swordfighting sci-fi epic for PC, Mac and Linux.  An E.P. of the music is now available to pre-order on Oxford's Freedom Road Records.
 
The music is fairly upfront and slightly trancey in nature...I hope that people here enjoy it, as it's not really your normal cup of tea.  Please distribute widely.

Excellent warm and fuzzy electro. Further info is hard to find, so feel free to enlighten me.

Analog synth rock from the USA. Bassist/synthesist Steve Moore and drummer/synthesist A.E. Paterra use old synths from the early 80's. Reminds me a bit of Ozric Tentacles. The Zombi site has some free downloads.

For those of you who are familiar with Radio Slave's strictly unreleased re-edits and remixes, you'll probably know what to expect.  For those of you who are not, you get sparse beats, heavy-heavy bass, and crunchy sound-effects galore.  Oh, and hardly any of the original vocal, which in this case is not a bad thing!!  On this re-edit, Radio Slave crank everything up to 11, and let the various elements battle it out for supremacy.

Right, what we need today in London is a stomper to get us out at the weekend and having fun. heres an early 70's classic that everyone will know, but mibbes not in its original version. This is going out to all the gabba peeps that I have got great music from. hope this briongs as much joy as the Bee gees and Roboterwerke did for me.

The Flaming Lips tackle the Flock Of Seagulls classic. It's live, and it's from a free downloadable EP (hit the link to get 7 other tracks and the cover art) to commemorate the Fearless Freaks movie. I love the original, and this version is pretty nice too - in a crusty, lo-fi kind of way.

Before you go 'Oh, it's Radiohead, nothing to see here…' take a listen. This appeared on a Japanese-only EP in 1998 (and Karma Police CD single, I think) and is a lovely instrumental that foretold the more-electronic noodling of Kid A and Amnesiac. I don't miss Thom Yorke's voice one bit.

Kristine Barrett, a wonderkid studying at Mills College, Oakland, gives us a folky interpretetion of a childhood memory spiced with emotional violins from the past. I love that oriental touch....

It's summer and Gabba NEEDS POP! Some Hey La's, a drum machine and a touch of reverberated surf guitar - simple but effective... to my ears at least.

"This song is a whimsical discourse on the various rural and suburban people that have influenced my reality through their unique and creative, culturally questionable approaches to getting by in life. I like to use the term sophisticated hicks to describe many of these people. Indeed, I consider myself to be one of them if not now then someday in the past or future. The song meanders through what might be called a post-bubblegum americountry soundscape reminiscent of the 1960s singer-songwriter, ala Rod Mckuen, combined with some more contemporary spunk and imagery." -bobby

DJ Hell continues on his quest to re-release and update forgotten 80s classics, this time taking Grace Jones' quirky 'I've Seen That Face Before' and adding his own take on the track, but keeping the vocal in tact.  Far subtler than most of his labels other output, with this release on a more electro-house tip.