remember when the brainfreeze mix by dj shadow knocked you sideways with its deft use of unknown (at the time !) soul and funk joints and excellent dj skills ?
well, the blueprint has been revisited this time by finders keepers label, who having released 20 records contacted gaslamp killer with the idea to create a mix.
subsequently, gaslamp killer has mashed up, fused together, layered and generally cut the funk up over 55 minutes (his own copies as being a follower of the label he already had all the records to hand – thereby saving on promo costs !), meaning that for people like me who have checked the labels website from time to time and wondered what on earth a 70s psyche record from bulgaria actually sounds like, can now have an earful without too much pain.
for newcomers to the story, there is no denying it, the results may prove to be a mad mad mad listen with everything from jazz, 70s funk, psychedelia, and twisted folk being thrown into the mix.
at times the excess is a little too freaked out, as the mood swings from gorgeous flower power 60s psyche to out there headrock, via a funk basslined steel band, and back again within a matter of moments.
there is no point in highlighting any particular track as across the 12 sections are 64 tracks all layered and blended together, so novices like me are unable to really isolate what’s what.
however, if you fancy experiencing an album in which you have no idea as to what’s going to happen next other than the bizarre (albeit with an underlying party groove), then this album should be tracked down.
of course, the albums purpose is to tease and tempt us into parting with our cash and listen to the originals, in which case, job done.
i for one need to hear more from any band that call themselves, vampires of dartmore.
truly fascinating, and easily my favourite mix of the year.
mp3 snippet : here
more detail : here