Phil’s Throwback Music Picks for November

Pizzicato Five | MADE in USA (1994)

Unless you are a music fanatic, you may have breezed over the Japanese group Pizzicato Five, who came together in 1985 and split in 2001. Over the course of their 16 years together, the group released several albums (only in Japan) that continued to make waves in the music world—their style ranging from jazz to the down-tempo, now-forgotten Trip Hop.

Purchasing all of their albums could get pretty expensive, but thanks to Matador Records' 1994 release MADE in USA, you can sample the best of the best from the group in 11 songs that will transport you to a feel good place with a laid back groove that you may often find hard to return from. Think Deee-lite “Groove Is In the Heart” retro hipster, toss in a little Big Band, Jazz and Hip Hop, and you have a great album for those grey days that are to come.

Señor Coconut | Yellow Fever (2006)

At this point, you may thinking to yourself, “What is Phil on!?” But those of you who know me know that when it comes to music, everything is an option.

Enter Señor Coconut (born Uwe Schmidt b.k.a. Atom Heart), the only German/Chilean who has the “electrolatino” music genre under lock and key. In 2006 Schmidt released Yellow Fever, an album that covered songs by the band Yellow Magic Orchestra (Japan’s answer to Kraftwerk) and took them from the cold land of electronics and warmed them up in the tropics. Which is not to say that the originals themselves are not good; I quite enjoy them, but if you are not into retro-electro, then this is a window into their world with a twist.

Unlike his previous album (which actually re-conceptualized songs from Kraftwerk), in which all instruments were sampled, this time Señor Coconut works with a live orchestra, taking his sampling and glitch electric skitters to new levels with a human feel. In addition to his orchestra, Schmidt has enlisted the assistance of fellow electronic producers such as Towa Tei, Burnt Friedman, Mouse On Mars, Akufen, Schneider TM and Nouvelle Vague's Marina. The album also includes appearances by the original members of Yellow Magic Orchestra—Haruomi Hosono, Yukihiro Takahashi, and Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto—completely rounding out the album for sheer audio excitement. Whether you are familiar with either of the artists or not, give this album a chance. You are sure to enjoy it and lose yourself in the process.

DJ Andy Smith | The Document (1998)

I have to throw in one of my all-time favorites for November throwbacks. Everyone is familiar with the Bristol-based band Portishead, but many may have forgotten about their touring deejay, DJ Andy Smith. Back in 1999, Smith released The Document. a mix album that embodied the very idea of what a DJ should do (mix music, not just play songs). For just over 45 minutes, Smith effortlessly blends funk, soul and R&B with accents of Hip-Hop, featuring artists such as The Jungle Brothers, The Meters, and Marvin Gaye, delivering a set that closely mirrors his opening sets for Portishead.

Now, some may say that it's rare to return to an album like this one, but I disagree… This album is more intimate; it that has a certain appeal that offers a window to an era where a mix was something you bumped on your discman on your way to work or class. You didn’t always make it to the end, because there was a moment in the mix that caught you off guard and made you stop and say, "DAMN!" You might find yourself doing the same… Just like a good book that has a beginning, middle and end, so does The Document. So, go grab your favorite pair of headphones, sit back, vibe, and see if you can make it to the end… You’ll be glad you did.