07.17.09 show

I’ve decided not to update this blog weekly any longer (although the radio show will continue). I just have nothing to write about, really. If you want any more information on the artists or records played on my show, you can find the playlists here.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for listening.

07.03.09 show

My boss at my first job was fond of saying "Excuses are like a**holes. Everyone's got one and they all stink." So I'll spare you the smelly reasons why this weeks show was so lackluster.

However, yesterday's Fed Ex package contained some great new dubstep and techno releases from Mala, Vista, K1, Frozen Border, and others that will compensate.


I'll be hosting Test Pattern this Friday on the Z, from 6-7pm, playing an hours worth of Roxanne, Roxanne answer records. Joining me will be co-host Brian Coleman, former WZBC dj and author of Check the Technique, and Carly Carlioli, writer for The Boston Phoenix and Roxanne, Roxanne answer record authority.

06.26.09 show

After weeks of not being in stock, and then in stock for one day, and then not in stock again for weeks, the latest Coki release finally arrived in the mail. I wasn't a huge Coki fan back in the day (and in dubstep years I mean two years ago), but with this release, and his latest on DMZ from late last year, I'm interested in his future releases.


Cotti, (who I often mix up with Coki and vice-versa), released a three song record on Studio Rockers last month. The vocal and dub versions of "Warrior Charge" I found kind of dull, but "Lost & Found" is one of those off kilter/wobbly/doesn't sound quite right/I need to listen to it a couple of times records that keeps me interested. Studio Rockers also put out a record by Hackman that I like, but I think I'll wait for the mp3 release.


Z Audio, which is a distributor rather than label, has been putting out some great stuff lately from the likes of Rob Sparx, Bar 9, and the latest from Indigo, on a bunch of different labels that I can't keep straight. Boomkat gave the Indigo record a good review, and wrote that Mary Anne Hobbs supported it, and that was enough for me to check it.



As I wrote previously, I'm a newb to Ostgut Ton records. And like a kid in a candy store, substituting kid for middle aged guy and candy store for, um, record store, I've indulged. The new 2x12 lp from Planetary Assault System (aka Luke Slater) should arrive today. I think I might play the whole release on this week's show.

06.19.09 show

Respect to Leila and Her Weird Friend for filling in and holding it down this past week. Peep the playlist on their blog, and here, and listen again on the WZBC archives page.

I'll be back on air this week, with some new tracks from Joker, Cotti, Milanese, Scuba, and a few oldies too.

06.12.09 show

Some shows are better than others. Last weeks was better than this weeks. Its like that sometimes.

Back in February, I bought a record on the label Do Not Resist the Beat. At that time, juno.co.uk, listed the artist as Minus 126, which was one of the tracks on the record, but boomkat.com listed the artist as Do Not Resist the Beat. Hmm. But DNRTB just released its second record, with a web address stamped on it, which reveals that the artist is Milton Bradley. Hard techno and board games, the guy does it all.



The more techno I play, the more I learn that every techno producer has six different aliases or are in involved in numerous groups. A few weeks back I play a track by O/V/R on the Blueprint label. This week I played a track from the new James Ruskin record, also on Blueprint. Of course, they are one in the same. I'd know this if I did research before the show, not only after when I do this blog.



I'm johnny-come-lately to Osgut Ton. The release from Deuce hipped me to the German label, so to make up for lost time, I played four Osgut Ton releases during this week's show. I thought five would have been overkill.


As I write this, I'm listening to Caspa's Why Not? Special on rinse.fm. Its a must download.

I'm doing my ride this Saturday, if it dosen't rain. Thanks to Leila and Her Weird Friend for sitting in on the 19th and doing proper mixes.

06.05.09 show

After linking to Sarantis' myspace page for last week's blog, I stuck around and checked out some his tunes, and I'm glad I did. Whoa. "Raw and Uncut" is a massive banger. Yes, you will be hearing this tune again. And again.


Joker continues to release great songs. I would even say catchy songs. I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear one of his songs used in a commercial for a youth-marketed car or the new iphone. And I sincerely hope that happens. I have no problem with musicians using their songs in advertisements. Who wouldn't want their music to be heard by as many people as possible, and get paid too? His latest is Purple Ciy released on Kapsize Records.



I'm a sucker for white label records produced by "unknown." If the record is also described as "limited," I must own it. Meeting both requirements for mandatory purchase, I bought Traversable Wormhole Vol. 1. Regardless of its mysteriousness and collectiblity, both tracks are killer. Get it while you can.


While browsing for new records today, I was shocked to see that Loefah had released a track on Tectonic Plates Vol. 2. Why didn't anyone tell me? I not a huge fan of the newer Tectonic releases, and the Loefah track is on cd 2, which is a mixed cd, and I'm not crazy about mixed cds, so I overlooked the whole thing when it was released a few weeks ago. I'm hoping this means that the track, "Just a Beat" will be released as a single. 'Bout time Mr. Livingston dropped some new chest ratteling bass weight.

05.29.09 show

Yes, these blog updates are coming later and later in the week. I intended to update last night, but I was tired after an 80 mile training ride, and then had to wait and wait and wait for a neighbor to finish their laundry, and found myself folding tee shirts at 1:30 am. Not happy.

So, I won't bother re-capping last week's show, but you can check the playlist here.

I'm excited to play some big, new tunes on tomorrow's show including a few grime tracks off the compilation Vocals and Versions Vol 2 out on Senseless Records. I played a track from Sarantis last week, and found the comp while searching his other releases. I'm liking the sound of lablemate Sasquatch too.


If you're into minimal techno and the Berghain sound, you're going to love the collaboration with Marcell Dettman and Rene Pawlowitz aka Shed aka STP. Calling themselves Deuce, their EP on Ostgut Ton records is killer. I'm tempted to play all three tracks in one show, but probably should spread the wealth over the coming weeks.



The a latest from 12th Planet is a two sided monster. Skream played one track on his latest rinse.fm broadcast. Good to see some local cats (and by local I mean American) making good with the dubstep and getting some recognition.

05.22.09 show

This week’s play list contained more mp3s than vinyl. If I really dig a song, my preference is to own the vinyl, but if its just an okay track, I’m cool having a digital copy. These days, some of the dubstep/techno producers release songs only on mp3 (or wav or flac). And mp3s don’t cost $$ to ship. Buying new records every week starts to add up, kids. 99 cents for a digital track, or 13 dollars for a twelve inch. You do the math.

Lick the Wrap is one mp3 only label I recently came across while browsing on juno download. There are only four artist on the label (Rare Dynamic, Intention, Derelict, Eleven8) at the moment, and the website reads they will be releasing vinyl soon. I'm going to delve deeper into their catalog, and most likely will be playing more tunes from this Bristol based label in near future.


Redvolume records in Sweden (not to be confused with Norwary as I did on air) posted a few digital exclusive releases on boomkat last week, including the banger 8 Bit Lover from Vesicle. They focus on releasing records from Scandanavian producers, and have put out stuff from the likes of Tes La Rok and L-Wiz. Although the online pics of their releases are small, I'm liking their design and photography, as well as thier music output.



OQTO is yet another recently discoverd (by me anyway) digital-only-producer (ok, he has released a cd, but no vinyl that I find). And just now, as I googled his name to find the link to his myspace page did I learn the dude's Japanese!


Without even realizing it, I played a bunch of tracks (mp3s again) from the minimal techo Lordag label. They are based in Norway, not to be confused with Sweden.

If everything goes according to plan, I'll be doing three hours on the 29th. I'm not training the next morning, and have an itch to drop some acid. Records that is. Took my last trip years ago. I found it really messed with my knowledge of geography.

05.15.09 show

Leila and Her Weird Friend dropped some serious bass weight this week. If you missed the show, or want to listen again, run don't walk to zbconline.com to download the stream. There were a few technical difficulties, so there will be a minute or so of silence at the start of the show. We hope to have them back again soon.

05.08.11 show

Wow, this blogging thing is a lot more work than work than I anticipated. I don't know how Bike Snob NYC does three or more a week.

So yeah, I don't feel up to posting too much for this week's show. But do tune in to next week's show to hear special guests Leila and Her Weird Friend spin some dub reggae and dubstep. It should be a great show. I'd suggested that those guys do a WZBC summer fill-in show, but unfortunately their talents are in high demand they can't commit to a weekly show on a low wattage college radio station.

I will suggest to prick up your ears for two upcoming releases that I started of the program with (thank you Mary Anne Hobbbs); "Vultures" by Gravious due out 05.11, on Highpoint Lowlife Records, and "Bullet A' Go Fly" by DVA featuring Badness, Riko, Flowdan, and Killa P out soon in Dusk and Blackdown's label, Keysound. M.A.H. gave a dirty wurds disclaimer before playing that track, but I didn't hear anything offensive (but then again I couldn't understand anything because of their accents and slang), and hopefully neither did the FCC, but their flow is great.


When I saw D&B play with Loefah a while back at Love (Appleblim and Scuba there on .05.15), they dropped a few great grime tracks. And played it LOUD. But in a good way. Some of the loudest sounds I've heard; actually felt the bass vibrate my clothing. Although I'll probably never experience anything louder than Judas Priest at the Worcester Centrum, 1982. And I hope I never do.

05.01.09 show

If I do a top ten list at the end of the year, "In tha Place to Be" by Jakes is sure to be in the top five. Its just so...loud. I can't recommend it enough. You can find the vinyl on The Jakes Project Vol. 4, or the mp3 on iTunes. He did a mix for the latest Mary Anne Hobbs show, which should be available until Wednesday.


I'm not too familiar with the work of Rob Sparx, but I did like his remake of the Bar 9 track "Shoalin Style." He just released a new heavy, heavy track on the Audio Freaks label which is coming in the mail, and will hit the ZBC airwaves next show.


Also in store for next week's show is a spotlight of sorts on the Sandwell District label. They just re-relesed a few of 12"s, as well as a new split from Marcel Dettman and Regis. In the tradition of underground techno, the label is "anti-image" and does not have a website or email or much online prescence, but you can read an interview with Dave Sumner, aka Function, on residentadvisor.net here. I hoped to play all the re-releases, but the Female record was sold out as of today. Drats.


As I mentioned on air, I feel my show has been a bit confusing and schizophrenic lately. I'm doing two hours rather than three, dropped playing dub reggae, started playing house, and it just got to be like a pizza with too many toppings served cold.

I'm thinking about how to fit in all the music I like to play and listen to while having a point of view to the show. The main focus is bass. For you face. I don't want to be one of "those" deejays who needs to play his/her entire record collection each show to demonstrate how diverse are their musical taste. Ugh. Who can listen to that?

04.24.09 show

Hatcha and N-Type put together a really good compilation featuring new tracks from Croydon producers Benga, Coki and N-Type, Crazy D, Kutz, Chefal, and some dude I've never heard of named Lost, who produced one of the more interesting tracks. I'll be playing more tracks from this in the coming weeks.


The Australian record label Aquatic Lab put out another great release from Seven. I played Seven's "Drop" for a month straight, and looks like I'll also be playing "Conspiracy/Dark Passenger" to death as well. You can find the wax on boomkat.com or juno.co.uk, and the mp3 on iTunes.


Spinitron.com, the website that hosts the playlists and programming schedule for WZBC and other radio stations, now has a Buy It! link. I'm not sure I feel about this new feature.

I think its great if someone who listens to my show and hears a song they like, can easily find someplace to purchase the song through my playlist and wzbc.org. But I don't do the show to sell product, and don't want FTB or WZBC to be thought of as a home shopping network for underground music. And I definitely don't want artists or label owners "suggesting" I play their records more to help increase their sales. When I was a summer fill-in music director at another radio station, I had to put up with marketing/promotional types who would call me weekly to track their record's play count, and "suggest" that I put their record in heavy rotation. F*** that. And f*** Camper Van Beethoven to this day.

04.17.09 show

As I wrote in the previous post, I'm delving deeper into the Detroit Techno/Chicago House sound, albeit twenty fives years later. While kids were jacking at the Music Box in Chi-town, I was slamming at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence. I just received this cd compilation in the mail, so look forward to hearing Phuture's 12 minute Acid opus "Acid Tracks" next show.

A few years back, I happened upon hearing Japanese Telecom. A few months after that, I first heard Dopplereffekt. Yet only last week did I discover both groups were the work of Gerald Donald. The man is extremely prolific, so I won't list all his aliases or groups here, but if you're interested in learning and hearing more, a lot more, check out the Drexciya Research Lab.



Cloaks bring proper darkness on their lastest release on 3BY3 records. The kind of music you hear in your nightmares, but that you can dance to. I'll be playing the flip next show, fo' sure.


Acid Swagger by Fused Forces is my fav song of the moment. I like the off-kilter bass over the funk-style drumming. Loud and weird, good stuff.


And don't miss the premiere of "Speaking in Code", a documentary about electronic music playing April 23 at the Somerville Theater.

04.10.09 show

Tonight's show featured eight tracks from Tadd Mullinix (not Todd, as I referred to him several times) performing as James T. Cotton and 2am/fm. I recently bought the mp3 of the latest 2am/fm release, having given up finding the vinyl, and was in the mood to play more from Mr. Mulinix, Tadd not Todd, so I did.

I'm on a quest to listen to more of the Detroit/Chicago techno/acid house sound, so look forward to hearing more. Looks like Creme Organization records might be a good place to start, even though they're located in The Hauge, not Detroit. Soul Jazz released this compliation which I just bought on Amazon.

Another song I had to buy on mp3 because I couldn't find it on wax (yet), was by T++ on the Apple Pips label. No matter what format I get it on, its still a great track. Although, I'd really like the vinyl copy.


I'm subbing for ZBC Rock 3 this Monday from 1p-3p. Although I haven't kept up with the indie rock scene for about ten years, I plan to do my best to keep it...well rocking.

Change in time and format

Starting this week, and for the next few weeks, FTB will be on for two hours rather than three, and I’ll be playing only dubstep and techno; no more dub reggae and deejay. I considered doing thirty minutes of reggae music, but what’s the point if for so short a time?

I’m training to do my first century, a bike ride of one hundred miles plus, and want to ride with other cyclists who are training early Saturday mornings. An extra hour of sleep will help.

(this is my bike. older but in good shape, like its owner)

04.03.09 show

Tonight’s show marked a FTB first; a listener request. Three request actually. I’m sincerely appreciative that people are listening. But…I don’t ask for requests. When I give out the phone number and IM name, I preface it by saying something like “if you have any questions about what I’m playing, contact at…” Maybe tonight I didn’t.

I don’t want to come across as a music snob, although I am (but don’t want to come across as one), or an a**hole, which I can be on occasion, but asking for requests creates problems for me. I intended to give the reasons why this is so, but that would make me come across a bigger a**hole than already perceived, and lazy too (which I'm not).

As Shakespeare wrote “I am the DJ, I am what I play,” allow me to command the ship and we will get to our destination safely and in comfort. Just sit back and enjoy the view. And by view, I mean music.

I had been looking forward all week to playing Slaughter Mob’s “Walk of the Wicked” (which I now see is listed as “Treachery” on their myaspace page; again I come incorrect with the wrong info). A slow wobbler; great tune. And then I start it on the wrong speed. D’oh. I prefer playing vinyl, but cds do have some advantages.

(plain white label, but it is slaughter mob, honest)

Ekelon, who is new on my radar although he's worked with Headhunter, put out a new record on Creative Space, that is one of those multi-layered, hypnotizing tracks that grows in sound. I'll be watching for his upcoming releases.



Any suggestions as to songs/artist to play, email is the best way.

03.27.09 show

El-B is an artist often mentioned as an inspiration to many of the dubstep producers I listen to. When I first heard the El-B tracks on Dubstep Allstars Vol. 1, I wasn't impressed, in fact a bit disappointed. I expected a more crushing, louder, wobwobwob bass sound similar to Loefah, Skream, Benga, and the lot. Yet, I kept reading his name as one of the originators of the dubstep sound, along with Horsepower Productions and Zed Bias, so I kept his file open, so to speak.

When Tempa records announced the release of the Roots of El-B compilation, and posted audio clips from the vinyl sampler, and cd, I listened to them. And listened again. And again. And then, finally, I understood; the complex drumming, the sub-bass, and the the swing. Nine years late, but that's me.

boomkat.com has a nice description of the soon to be released cd and some history here.

You can listen again to all four songs from the vinyl sampler I played on this weeks show at the start of the 12am hour, 03.28.09, on zbconline.com audio archives.



A few weeks ago, a listener called asking if I could recommend some contemporary dub reggae, and I replied, "um...Twilight Circus?" And then I went blank. So, I've been trying to step up my game and add some more current dub sounds to my playlist. Although I'm finding it difficult to overcome my bias that dub has to be recorded in Jamaica, during the mid 1970's to early 1980's, and remixed by an engineer from master tapes of rhythm tracks, I did find some artists I like.

I started this show off with tracks by Ticklah from 2007, Dry & Heavy with King Jammy from 2000, Twilight Circus from 2003, 4th Avenue Rockers from 2001. I'll continue searching from some good dub from 2009, but it could take nine years.