Kid Catharsis flies solo once again, dropping humanitarian-aid packages in the form of excellent tunes for the people. It is a quietly awesome show, without much incident--few mishaps, and no angry callers. We should note that Eric Random doesn't get as much love from listeners as The Breeders, but it was ever thus.
I often feel, with scant reason, as though BOMBAST could go completely off the rails any given week. I remind myself often, "you've had [fill in number here--currently 17] shows, and that's good, ...
Kid Catharsis flies solo once again, dropping humanitarian-aid packages in the form of excellent tunes for the people. It is a quietly awesome show, without much incident--few mishaps, and no angry callers. We should note that Eric Random doesn't get as much love from listeners as The Breeders, but it was ever thus.
I often feel, with scant reason, as though BOMBAST could go completely off the rails any given week. I remind myself often, "you've had [fill in number here--currently 17] shows, and that's good, no matter what happens." It is good. I can't say that I have 17 cassettes of the old programs from long ago, or that they would sound as varied and interesting as these programs have. When I say that the reasons for these elegiac musings are "scant," I mean: I have only heard positive things about the show, and the "updating" of WRFI's live schedule is happening at a pace that would make a glacier laugh, if glaciers could laugh.
The creeping doubt must be caused by workflow issues. As I write this, for example, I don't know whether the number of future shows I have planned is "zero" or "three," but am certain it is not "one" or "two." Does that make sense? Of course not. I have no idea how the Great Ones do it, but it was ever thus.
Certainly the Great Professionals had/have "producers," but, like the Prime Mover, I apparently produce myself. One live host on WRFI has
interns, which initially strike me as a good idea, until I consider that these fresh-faced youngsters earn "academic credit" at a local institution of "higher learning." HA HA I AM NOT GOING DOWN THAT PATH. "FTS," as the kids say. Still, I could exploit the hell out of some youthful enthusiasm, because I never know how this show is going to come together each week until somehow it does.
If I might channel Oprah momentarily, a thing I "know for sure" is that "Physical Evidence" is my port in the storm. The next few installments are set, with a good mix of un-assimilated treasures from epochal bands and woefully under-appreciated salvos from bands known only to "the 500."
Which brings us to Eric Random, percussionist to the stars. IIRC I first saw him credited on a Cabaret Voltaire B-side, which seems as plausible as anything else. Pick up any early-80s record by an avant-funk-industrial band from the North of England, and there he seems to be. We can only hope he got paid up front, because I would think the royalties from these records, and his own, probably finance a rice bowl or two every month. It is not justice; it is simply life. Nevertheless Time-Splice is unique and multi-faceted, and well worth the extended time tonight's program gives it. I previously assumed, given his connection to CV and that this LP appears on the Doublevision label, that Random recorded this at Western Works--it has that same unusual, late-night ambiance that suffuses all of the great Cabs records--but have discovered that it was instead recorded at a place used by Eric Clapton and Take That! The apparent lesson is that style conquers all. By the way, how the hell have we produced 17 broadcasts without playing Cabaret Voltaire?! This is what interns would be good for--saving me from yelling at myself.
BOMBAST playlist, 2013 February 20, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
- Massive Attack: "Be Thankful for What You've Got" [Wild Bunch / Virgin]
- Night Plane: "Gold Soundz" [Soul Clap]
- Pavement: "Two States (Live at Brixton Academy) [Matador]
- The Fall: "Nate Will Not Return" [Cherry Red / MVD]
- X: "True Love Part 2" [Elektra / Rhino] / "Listening Parlour"
- Tony Allen: "Asiko Revisited" [Comet]
- Steve Hauschildt: "Accelerated Yearning" [Kranky]
- Dominik Eulberg: "Die Blaue Sekunde" [Traum]
- Savage Republic: "For Eva / Anatolia" [Les Temps Modernes]
- The Born Losers: "Angels Never Die (Dirge)" [Mean Disposition]
- Wild Billy Childish and the Spartan Dreggs: "Lemonade Stand" [Damaged Goods]
- Eric Random and the Bedlamites: "Second Sight" [Doublevision] / "Physical Evidence"
- Eric Random and the Bedlamites: "No-Man-Trash" [Doublevision] / "Physical Evidence"
- Eric Random and the Bedlamites: "Father Can't Yell" [Doublevision] / "Physical Evidence"
- Eric Random and the Bedlamites: "Himalaya Sun (Setting)" [Doublevision] / "Physical Evidence"
- Chico Mann: "His Favorite Thing" [Soundway]
- Religious Girls: "Charity (Old Arc Remix)" [Alien Transistor]
- Bessie Smith: "Faraway Blues" [Columbia / Legacy] / "Listening Parlour"
- Stereolab: "Brakhage" [1972]
- Jessica Kenney and Eyvind Kang: "Ordered Pairs II" [Ideologic Organ]
- Brian Eno and David Byrne: "Regiment" [Sire]
- Bunny Clarke: "Be Thankful" [Attack]
- The Upsetters: "Dubbing in the Back Seat" [Attack]
- Starkey: "Distant Star" [Civil Music]
Next time: a hastily-made classic. Enjoy the music! --kid catharsis
