The Other Side of the World
Well, friends, I’ve returned from Japan and my little hiatus. Thanks for sticking with with me through a little newsletter downtime. It’s always nice to unplug. I, admittedly, have felt a tad adrift since settling back into my normal routines, but (as always) music is helping me find my place again.
Japan is a whole other world. Some parts feel incredibly foreign, while some feel intensely familiar. No shock here: it’s a wonderful trip to a wonderful place filled with wonderful people and experiences. I won’t bore you to death with all the little details of what I ate and how many steps I took each day, but I’ll say our trip was filled with beautiful shrines, baseball, sake, konbini treats, incredibly efficient trains, menswear shops, stamp collecting, and Google maps not showing accurate hours.
I shot a whole bunch of photos while there, and I hope you’ll enjoy them.
If you’re dying for more, you can check out the full collection here.
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Xylitol
Created for the crystalline sweet.
I’ve never been into the club scene, but I do wish I could travel through time to the Limelight in the 1990’s for one night of uninterrupted dance. I’d love to pop into Chicago’s house or Manchester’s rave culture just to experience it.
I’m 37 and well beyond my capacity to immerse myself in whatever iterations of these scenes still exist, but that doesn’t mean I’ve lost my love for dance music. As I’ve documented before, after my college improv shows, I’d often take djay duty at our parties, and we were known for putting on one hell of a sweaty dance floor. I celebrated my 21st birthday at B-Side Liquor Lounge in Cleveland Heights during “Indie Dance Party Night,” where I lost myself in the music of Death From Above 1979 and a pineapple upside-down cake shot.
For my generation, dance punk and electroclash (which were heavily informed by disco, house, new wave, and more before them) brought dance music to college playlists everywhere. It took me a while to catch up to how great straight up dance music can be, but I’m here, and I’d love to find a spot that starts the party at… like… 8pm.
This mixtape is an exploration of some recent dance music that lives in the wake of those traditions. I’ve called it Xylitol after the artificial sweetener. I think electronic dance music can be very pop sugary-sweet but feels more manufactured and plastic than music from older folk or pop traditions. While this can be inhibiting for lesser artists, those that break through and find ways to express their humanity are all the more transcendent. This is some of the most magical music in the world.
A few notes on songs:
NEIL FRANCES - I can feel the pressure - Aidan Kennedy Remix
Aidan is a buddy of mine. He djayed my wedding. He’s unbelievably talented, a gem of a man, and I can’t wait for you all to hear this song (and what he’s cooking up next - I got a sneak preview and it rules).
Manhunter - Body Double
I saw Manhunter open for Q & Not U in high school and my friends and I bought their EP of electronic dance music. It was very much different than anything I’d ever listened to, and the songs seeped their way into my unconscious. This is the only proof of their existence that I can seem to find, and I’d kill to have those songs on the EP again.
Michael Mayer - Amanda
I believe Tim Mahoney showed me this song during the pandemic lockdown, and I was instantly smitten. It is one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard. A steady groove and a perfect sample. There is one particular moment that takes my breath away every time I hear it.
Out Hud - The L Train Is a Swell Train and I Don’t Want to Hear You Indies Complain
Out Hud is the precursor to !!!, and you can clearly see the evolution. I never got the opportunity to see them live in high school, but to this day !!! is one of the greatest live music experiences of my life. This album was a revelation for me in high school, and the songs still feel very special to me today.
*****
Love you all. Hope you enjoy!
Join Me: Hayden Pedigo @ St. John’s Lutheran Church, Saturday, Nov. 29, 8 PM
Hayden Pedigo used to (still does?) struggle with crippling stage fright, but I was lucky enough to see him play a small, intimate show at Union Pool a few years ago when he decided to give it another go. He’s since blown up a little bit and has toured quite a great deal. The shows are quiet and meditative and beautiful — a true respite from the noise of the world. In my opinion, Hayden’s one of the most emotive instrumental guitarists who has ever played, so I can’t recommend this enough.
I’ve seen one other show at this church: my favorite instrumental guitarist of all time, Mark McGuire. It was a transportive performance in a beautiful setting. I know Hayden’s a fan, because he shared a playlist of his own (via the great Deep Voices newsletter) with an Emeralds track. Makes me really happy.
I don’t wish summer to race by for anything, but I’m really looking forward to this.
RIYL: John Fahey, acoustic instrumental guitar, non-religious meditative experiences in traditionally religious spaces
Check out the video for Hayden Pedigo’s “Long Pond Lily.”
Some Records I Bought in Japan
(that you might love too!)
Happy End’s Kazemachi Roman - This is like going to London and buying Abbey Road or visiting NYC and picking up The Velvet Underground & Nico. Happy End transformed Japanese rock music, and their members went on to have illustrious careers outside of this band. This album, probably considered their best, is a dream and was on my Discogs wantlist for close to a decade.
Haroumi Hasono’s Philharmony - Speaking of Happy End’s prolific members, Haroumi Hasono (also of Japanese legends Yellow Magic Orchestra) has an impressive library of solo releases. I bought this one for the album art alone, which reminded me of Twin Peaks. The music is such weird left field electronic music that it feels decades ahead of its 1978 release.
Yumi Arai’s Cobalt Hour - Another record that has been on my wantlist for a decade, I was thrilled to finally pick up this pop gem. I first heard her songs (and you probably first heard her songs) on the soundtrack for Studio Ghibli masterpiece Kiki’s Delivery Service. I’ve included her songs on a few mixtapes already, but the whole record is worth a spin.
Donna Summer’s Bad Girls - Look, sometimes you want the Japanese pressing of the 7” single, because look at it.
These photos are awesome! The shrine is my favorite.