Signage: Leon Furs

Overhanging signs like this were once very commonplace here in Hamilton. (And I’m sure many other North American cities.) Now they are a rarity. Regulations and insurance did them in. This derelict example on James St. N. is one of the few left. Curious how long it will be before it’s gone like the hundreds of others that used to exist.

S.o.t.D. - Pieces Of A Dream (Roger’s Raw Dub) – Incognito

Pieces Of A Dream (Roger’s Raw Dub) – Incognito

I’m guessing Roger is Roger Sanchez.

Soulful and funky.

S.o.t.D. - Shadows – AIЯLIИES

Shadows – AIЯLIИES

Love how this genre has managed to turn the snap, crackle and pop of vinyl not into something integral to the sound.

S.o.t.D. - Jade (Orphx Remix) – Svreca

Jade (Orphx Remix) – Svreca

Orphx are from the city I live in, and do a style of music that I’m not sure if it could be classified as techno or industrial.

S.o.t.D. - W.Y.H.I.W.Y.G. – Front 242

W.Y.H.I.W.Y.G. – Front 242

If I wasn’t already a huge fan, getting this album in 87, and reaching the 2 minute mark of this first track – yup...I’m a huge fan.

Signage: Custom Signs Westdale Display

A new sign, but a very nice one.

S.o.t.D. - Obedience – Jonny L

Obedience – Jonny L

Rolls along nicely, but with a bit of menace to it.

S.o.t.D. - By Your Side – Azaleh x Eikona

By Your Side – Azaleh x Eikona

Gorgeous. Love the mood this evokes.

S.o.t.D. - Skyfall – Malaky, Satl & Silence Groove

Skyfall – Malaky, Satl & Silence Groove

Names that keep popping up, and keep being consistently fantastic.

Signage: Private Property No Trespassing

The more faded and weathered a sign is, the more my love for it increases.

S.o.t.D. - Never My Love – The Association

Never My Love – The Association

Bit of a lesser known act from the 60s.

Signage: City Motor Hotel

The City Motor Hotel is gone. While the sign alludes to a 50’s retro future of hopeful optimism, by the end it was a squalid dump filled with addicts, dealers and hookers.

S.o.t.D. - Expand – Jazz Cartel

Expand – Jazz Cartel

Blissful.

S.o.t.D. - Revelations (Essence Of Aura Remix) – Tango And Fallout

Revelations (Essence Of Aura Remix) – Tango And Fallout

S.o.t.D. - Drop It On The One – The Specialist

Drop It On The One – The Specialist

After yesterday’s track I just had to play this steamroller. One of Dillinja’s many guises.

S.o.t.D. - Deep And Rolling – The Specialist

Deep And Rolling – The Specialist

I like it when a song announces what it’s going to be. Like if Oasis released a song called Mopey and Whiny.

Signage: Private Property

Nothing that thrilling, but it’s a solid and stolid sign, one that the “get the hell off my lawn you little bastards!” curmudgeon in me can appreciate. And I find it interesting that the red fades before the black, and that some of the structure, how the sign painter did it, is revealed thusly.

S.o.t.D. - Nightlife – Jonny L

Nightlife – Jonny L

This fella was way ahead of the game.

S.o.t.D. - Contrast – PhD

Contrast – PhD

From 1998 on Good Looking. Predictably creamy.

Signage: Amsterdam Bicycle Club

If I spent any amount of time in Toronto, and wanted a hangout, this would be it. No idea about the staff or the food or or the decor or anything. But this just seems like a natural fit for me. On the Esplanade.

S.o.t.D. - Scarlet – Phelian

Scarlet – Phelian

Just can’t get enough of this genre.

S.o.t.D. - Planet – Four Tet

Planet – Four Tet

One of the only things I got excited about at the SuperCrawl 2 years ago was Four Tet. Super fun to dance to.

Signage: Giant Yard Sale

I’ll bet this giant yard sale was a giant success because of the giant letters they used to inform potential customers. 

No spidery, thin letters done with a marker, hard to read driving by. This? What it is! Where it is! Boom! No date, but likely put up in the nieghbourhood the morning of.

S.o.t.D. - Raise The Pulse – Portion Control

Raise The Pulse – Portion Control

Definitely sounds almost 35 years old, but this stuff really had an effect on my musical interests back in the day.

S.o.t.D. - Side To Side (Beau Collins Remix) – Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj

Side To Side (Beau Collins Remix) – Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj

What little I know of Nicki Minaj, makes me think I can’t stand her, but this remix is pretty fun.

S.o.t.D. - Tranquil – J Majik

Tranquil – J Majik

Oh gosh.

Signage: Kids Slow

Not sure it’s necessary to let the entire neighbourhood know about the fact your children are developmentally challe...oh wait...they want you to drive slow because there are kids. Okay. It took me a while, but I figured it out.

S.o.t.D. - Lose Her (Cloud Nine - Skys Above Mix) – Secret Motion

Lose Her (Cloud Nine - Skys Above Mix) – Secret Motion

Not as good as yesterday’s remix, but still pretty darn good.

S.o.t.D. - Lose Her (S Gurley Representations Of Beatz Mix) – Secret Motion

Lose Her (S Gurley Representations Of Beatz Mix) – Secret Motion

It almost seems like the supply of terrific D&B tracks I never discovered when they were released is inexhaustible.

Signage: Old Chum Ghost Sign

An Old Chum (a brand of pipe tobacco from Imperial Tobacco) ghost sign on Queenston Road in Hamilton.

S.o.t.D. - Back To Life (Silence Groove Remix) – HumaNature

Back To Life (Silence Groove Remix) – HumaNature

Terrific mix and nice video.

S.o.t.D. - Angelic – Silence Groove

Angelic – Silence Groove

S.o.t.D. - If I Could – Basic Forces

If I Could – Basic Forces

S.o.t.D. - Halo (Hyperspd RMX) – Depeche Mode

Halo (Hyperspd RMX) – Depeche Mode

Signage: No Smoking

Explored an abandoned building for a potential photo shoot location and found this on the ground. Had to be about 5' long.

S.o.t.D. - Cleopatra – The Lumineers

Cleopatra – The Lumineers

What I’d really like to show is the video of my nephew playing this on acoustic guitar and his girlfriend and her amazing voice singing this. But apparently I’m not allowed to since it was filmed in their school auditorium, and the school logo appears. Not sure I understand the reasoning, but hey.

So, in it’s place, I’ll show the original.

S.o.t.D - Deep Deadly Subs – Dillinja

Deep Deadly Subs – Dillinja

Not all that subtle, but dear god that bass.....

S.o.t.D. - Forever – High Performance

Forever – High Performance

The tune is good, but I especially enjoyed it because of all the footage of Greece, where my brother is moving to soon.

S.o.t.D. - Im Rhytmus Bleiben (CardioRhythmRMX by EDOBOT) – Front 242

Im Rhytmus Bleiben (CardioRhythmRMX by EDOBOT) – Front 242

Really want to go see these fellas when they come to Toronto later this year.

Signage: Tony’s Clip Joint

Sign at my barber.

S.o.t.D. - The Russian Are Coming (Take Five) – Val Bennett

The Russian Are Coming (Take Five) – Val Bennett

Took me a second to realize why this sounded familiar. It’s a rock steady cover of Dave Brubeck’s iconic Take Five. In a different time signature too.

S.o.t.D. - Chainsaw (Josh Wink Remix) – Skinny Puppy

Chainsaw (Josh Wink Remix) – Skinny Puppy

The pups seem to be my fallback Canada Day song. But hell, why not?

S.o.t.D. - Substance – Evasion feat. Lori

Substance – Evasion feat. Lori

Insistent, driving beat, but with lots of subtle touches layered over top.

S.o.t.D. - Memories of You (Pola & Bryson Remix) – Alyx Ander

Memories of You (Pola & Bryson Remix) – Alyx Ander

S.o.t.D. - Pacer – Jesper Ryom

Pacer – Jesper Ryom

Only thing that would make this better is slowing it down just a smidge.

S.o.t.D. - Twilight – dBridge & Fierce

Twilight – dBridge & Fierce

Rinse it.

S.o.t.D. - Moroccan Jack – The Modwheel

Moroccan Jack – The Modwheel

Another guise of the great Tom Middleton. Stomper.

S.o.t.D. - The One – Silence Groove

The One – Silence Groove

Liquid wholesomeness.

S.o.t.D. - Mellow – Netsky

Mellow – Netsky

S.o.t.D. - Sweet Little Supernova (feat. Rochelle Parker) – Blu Mar Ten

Sweet Little Supernova (feat. Rochelle Parker) – Blu Mar Ten

Consistently strong act.

S.o.t.D. - The Dark Robotic Orchestra – Soul Intent

The Dark Robotic Orchestra – Soul Intent

I dig this. Nominally has some drum & bass elements, but really dense, and dare I say, dark. Bit of a doom influence.

S.o.t.D. - Samurai – Bonobo

Samurai – Bonobo

Figured since it’s the first day of summer, and my birthday, something as juicy and effervescent as Bonobo should be the song of the day.

The man is brilliant.

S.o.t.D. - Mumbo Jumbo – Quivver

Mumbo Jumbo – Quivver

Yesterday I mentioned that Skanna was an early 90’s drum & bass oriented project from one John Graham. Learned that he has since been doing stuff under the name Quivver. Totally different genre, and the name was new to me.

Checked it out and the first track I clicked proves that man is talented no matter what he decides to tackle. Will have to investigate more.

S.o.t.D. - The Greatest Thing (Summertime Mix) – Skanna

The Greatest Thing (Summertime Mix) – Skanna

Remarkable to me that Skanna was putting stuff like this out in 1993. Way ahead of its time.

Skanna was John Graham, who is now operating under the name Quivver.

Freaky Clouds

Jogged to a friend’s house last night, but had to stop a couple of times to photograph these clouds.

S.o.t.D. - Money – Doom Side of the Moon

Money – Doom Side of the Moon

A project from the Sword’s guitarist Kyle Shutt, covering Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.

Sacred Geometry Tiles

S.o.t.D. - First In First Out – Front 242

Circling Overland – Front 242

Saw that it was the 242nd birthday of the U.S. Army a few days ago, which reminded me that that was a perfect excuse to play some Front.

Nerves connected to the center
We are tied to the machine 
Invisible and silent
Circling overland 

Signage: Authorized Personnel Only In Clean Room

Tightly kerned.

One of the more interesting aspects of my workplace is the clean room where sewing for the aerospace industry is done. You have to wear a Tyvek bunny suit, booties, surgical mask, the whole bit.

S.o.t.D. - It’s Only (feat. Zyra) – ODESZA

It’s Only (feat. Zyra) – ODESZA

The song seems a bit scattered at first, but after the halfway mark it really gels .

S.o.t.D. - Careful What You Wish For – Coil

Careful What You Wish For – Coil

Still one of my very favourite musical acts of all time.

It shows their ability to be both accessible and off-putting all at once.

The film used in the video is Barbet Schroeder’s 1969 More.

“God please fuck my mind for good”

Bibliophilia: The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst

The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst

Quite possibly my favourite book ever. If judging the number of times I’ve read it is any indication.

I bought the first edition in 1992, immediately realizing it as the authoritative book it was. That it was beautifully designed, and written with the sort of grace a poet is capable of, just made it more appealing. (Bringhurst is a remarkable man, and this exemplary treatise on the subject is just one of his many achievements.)

I read that book cover to cover, over and over. The section on the Golden Section was worth the price alone.

I’d bought more recent editions as gifts for friends over the years, but never treated myself. While I was in Swipe in Toronto recently, I grabbed the fourth edition. I may not be as involved with graphic design and typography as I once was, but given how much I’ve enjoyed and gained from this book over the years, a second copy 25 years on was worth it.

Anyone who works with type to any degree, needs to own this book, and put the teachings in to practice.

S.o.t.D. - Just For You – Shogun

Just For You – Shogun

Like flying on a magic carpet.

S.o.t.D. - Infectus - Chris & Cosey

Infectus - Chris & Cosey

From the album released for their short stint with Nettwerk - before that label’s suckage really took hold. Nice Steven R. Gilmore cover too.

S.o.t.D. - s o l u s – mrlbshrmrlbshr

s o l u s – mrlbshrmrlbshr

I think this is the first time I’ve featured a Malaysian artist. Fine stuff.

S.o.t.D. - Police State – T Power

Police State – T Power

Surprisingly upbeat for such a gloomy subject.

Sterile Flower by Nathan Moody

Impressive (and creepy) stop motion animation from Nathan Moody.

Scottish Rite Stained Glass

Had a tour of the Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge last weekend. Undeniably beautiful building. One of the things that caught my eye was this stained glass.

S.o.t.D. - Simon from Sydney – LFO

Simon from Sydney – LFO

I made the acquaintance of a Simon from Sydney. Simon Holmes from the Hummingbirds. 

S.o.t.D. - Phobetor – Rift

Phobetor – Rift

Dirty beats.

S.o.t.D. - Spaceship – Garage Skills

Spaceship – Garage Skills

It’s got that spooky vibe, but catchy at the same time.

Undulatus Asperatus Sunset by Mike Oblinski

Mike Olbinski is a photographer that chases storms in the United States. Earlier this month he took a time lapse of an Undulatus Asperatus at sunset in Bowdon, North Dakota. Gorgeous stuff. Bet you’ll watch it more than once.

S.o.t.D. - Nocturnal – Rogue Unit

Nocturnal – Rogue Unit

Another day, another D&B track I’ve never heard from an artist I’ve never heard of.

S.o.t.D. - For My Soul – Azaleh x Sublab

For My Soul – Azaleh x Sublab

S.o.t.D. - Butterfly – Carl Craig

Butterfly – Carl Craig

Some of the distinctive, percolating Detroit techno Carl Craig does so well.

S.o.t.D. - Early Again – Logistics

Early Again – Logistics

Good breakbeats.

S.o.t.D. - Stripped (Kaiser Complex Reconstruction Remix) – Depeche Mode

Stripped (Kaiser Complex Reconstruction Remix) – Depeche Mode

Great song, great remix.

S.o.t.D. - Chicago’s Nites – Gasoline

Chicago’s Nites – Gasoline

S.o.t.D. - Black Horse And The Cherry Tree – KT Tunstall

Black Horse And The Cherry Tree – KT Tunstall

One of those songs, that I think is familiar (heard it in the grocery store or something like that) but since I rarely listen to commercial radio on purpose, I’m not certain. I gather it’s at least a decade old. 

S.o.t.D. - Sugar (Jeff Spooner Mix) – Marshall Mandroid

Sugar (Jeff Spooner Mix) – Marshall Mandroid

One benefit of having to get up early early every day.

S.o.t.D. - Me & My Social Anxiety – Frivolous

Me & My Social Anxiety – Frivolous

Any anxiety you may have will melt away as you listen to this and it compels you to move along to it.

S.o.t.D. - No Tomorrow – Mirage

No Tomorrow – Mirage

Another of the seemingly 500 or so different guises of Source Direct.

Barefoot Hiking (Involuntarily)

Well that was one of my more adventurous hikes.

My dear friend Michelle came down from Toronto to go for a hike. Decided to wander along the north shore of Cootes Paradise.

Opted to wear my old Bates M-6 boots. I think about 8 or 9 years old by this point. I’ve been really happy with them, and they’ve seen a lot of clicks. They’ve largely been relegated to back up duty, but decided to wear them today.

(The aforementioned boots about 5 years ago.)

Lake Ontario is at its highest level in a century. Several wooden board walks sink a bit when you walk on them, getting them wet. Couple that with old foam, some steep inclines and declines, I started to notice that they weren’t doing so well. By the halfway point it was obvious they were completely disintegrating. To the point of the whole bottom on the left one coming right off. The right one was well on its way to being there.

I’m usually always really prepared on hikes. On longer trips I’ll have a pair of paddling shoes for wear around camp or for crossing streams. Usually have a repair kit. Today? “Meh. Casual hike, not too far from home. I’ll be fine.”

So...opted just to ditch the boots altogether and walked back to the car barefoot. (Not before saving the laces though, since they were fantastic.)

Kinda sucked, those little pebbles especially. But there was a margin of grass at the edge of the trails that made it doable. Just shy of 2½ kilometers.

Adapt. Improvise. Overcome.

I know what I’ll be buying with my next pay cheque.

S.o.t.D. - Broken – Lazarus Moment

Broken – Lazarus Moment

One to watch.

S.o.t.D. - Ominous Clouds – Interception

Ominous Clouds – Interception

S.o.t.D. - Infinity – Heavyweight

Infinity – Heavyweight

Not too subtle, but that’s all right.

S.o.t.D. - Bold – Dustycloud

Bold – Dustycloud

Super fun!

S.o.t.D. - I’ll Be There – Baraka

I’ll Be There – Baraka

Play this out, and I’ll happily be there.

S.o.t.D. - Motoc – Loscil

Motoc – Loscil

S.o.t.D. - Your Mind – DJ Boring

Your Mind – DJ Boring

Definitely not boring.

Thor’s Hammer Bracelet

I found an example of one of these in an Encyclopedia Britannica when I was a teen. Thought it as pretty neat. Found in Iceland, from around the time “pagan” beliefs were giving way to Christian beliefs. It combined elements of both. A few years later I saw ... I think it was one of the members of Coil wearing one ... or maybe it was Current 93 ... or perhaps it was Douglas P. from Death in June. Can’t remember for sure. Then I found one somewhere.

It’s pretty much sat in a box for a few decades. Came across it and even though I’m not Icelandic, Christian or Asatru, decided to use it as a closure for a bracelet.

S.o.t.D. - The Hitman – Marvellous Caine

The Hitman – Marvellous Caine

Built around samples of Renegades’s “Terrorist”, Cutty Ranks’ “Limb By Limb” and the 1980 film Babylon, a classic from the early days of jungle.

S.o.t.D. - Babylon – Splash

Babylon – Splash

The first minute and a bit of this are just lethal, but it loses focus after that. 

“All of the youth shall witness the day that babylon shall fall. I and I know that.”

S.o.t.D. - New Beginnings – Singular Mind

New Beginnings – Singular Mind

Combines really chilled elements, with powerful, booming drum sounds.

S.o.t.D. - Dream of You (Rework 2) – Flynn & Flora

Dream of You (Rework 2) – Flynn & Flora

One of those acts that I think was very under-rated. Part of that whole Bristol scene in the late 90’s.

S.o.t.D. - The Unofficial Ghost – Doc Scott

The Unofficial Ghost – Doc Scott

I thought this was yet another D&B track that sampled Japan (Ghosts, in this instance). But apparently this is a re-working of Ghosts Of My Life by Rufige Kru. Which is another guise of Goldie. Confused yet?

What I do know for sure, is that this track is just a monster.

S.o.t.D. - Night & Day (Dusky Remix) – Hot Chip

Night & Day (Dusky Remix) – Hot Chip

Pumper.

S.o.t.D. - Hyperglycemia – Tarquin

Hyperglycemia – Tarquin

Weird but kinda fun.

S.o.t.D. - Empyrean – Bija

Empyrean – Bija

Signage: A. G. Gaul

A. G. Gaul was a jewelry store that operated in downtown Hamilton for 50 years. A sign that had been placed over this ghostly remains of their signage was taken down recently, revealing it.

S.o.t.D. - Find You – BLVCK MVK

Find You – BLVCK MVK

Apparently, this is “liquid witchhouse.” Okay. It’s pretty chillaxing, no matter how thinly parsed music gets.

S.o.t.D. - Nymbo – Mojoman

Nymbo – Mojoman

S.o.t.D. - Guidance – Synkro & Indigo

Guidance – Synkro & Indigo

I should just become the president of the Synkro fan club.

S.o.t.D. - Bad Man – Blues Saraceno

Bad Man – Blues Saraceno

Gritty.

S.o.t.D. - Drifting Shapes – Silence Groove

Drifting Shapes – Silence Groove

So much emotion in this.

S.o.t.D. - Promises (CloZinger Remix) – Monophonics

Promises (CloZinger Remix) – Monophonics

Soul.

S.o.t.D. - With You – Phelian

With You – Phelian

Smoothness.

S.o.t.D. - Sacred Astral Voyage Dub – Jah Acid Dub

Sacred Astral Voyage Dub – Jah Acid Dub

S.o.t.D. - Like We Do – Bara Bröst (feat. Capey Cash)

Like We Do – Bara Bröst (feat. Capey Cash)

S.o.t.D. - Naive – Tom Glass

Naive – Tom Glass

Damn good.

S.o.t.D. - Space – Free4orm

Space – Free4orm

S.o.t.D. - Forever – Kontigo

Forever – Kontigo

S.o.t.D. - Blue Driver – Michael Hurley

Blue Driver – Michael Hurley

S.o.t.D. - Rock Stone – Stephen Marley (ft. Capleton, Sizzla)

Rock Stone – Stephen Marley (ft. Capleton, Sizzla)

S.o.t.D. - Coming Jah – Guitoud

Coming Jah – Guitoud

Stellar production.

S.o.t.D. - King Without A Crown – Matisyahu

King Without A Crown – Matisyahu

I’ve known about this guy for ever, but never bothered to check him out before. Pretty good.

S.o.t.D. - By Any Means Necessary (Original Mix) – DJ Trace

By Any Means Necessary (Original Mix) – DJ Trace

Not nearly as dark as what I’ve come to know him for.

S.o.t.D. - Black Mask – Lowlands

Black Mask – Lowlands

A band not from my homelands, but a half hour’s drive from here, Guelph, Ontario. Really dig this, even though I don’t usually swing that way.

S.o.t.D. - War (EmoBoys Remix) – Julien Jabre

War (EmoBoys Remix) – Julien Jabre

April 7 Dusk Wander

Went for a walk down to the Valley Inn Road bridge and back on a Friday night, before stopping in the spot in the cemetery where I do calisthenics. Windy and cold, but the light was gorgeous. And other than about a half dozen people walking their dogs in Dundurn Park, didn’t see anyone. (Cars passing by don’t really count.)

The cockpit and Dundurn Castle.

Dundurn Castle and the promenade.

The promenade.

Burlington Bay.

Gnarly roots.

The coach house.

Burlington Bay.

Burlington Bay and Carroll’s Point.

Moon over Hamilton.

Moon over Hamilton.

Looking back towards the High Level Bridge. The restored turtle habitat on the right.

My phone takes lousy night time shots, but I kinda dig the weird scuz in the night sky it creates. Looking out across Cootes Paradise.

YouTube’s Skewed Priorities

I watched something yesterday about the controversy regarding the YouTube channel of one “Daddy O 5”. (For those of you not in the loop, white trash parents have five kids who they include in “prank” videos. From what little I saw, most sane people would regard what they do as being verbally and emotionally abusive to these children.) I’m not sure whether I found their treatment of those children more appalling, or that 3 quarters of a million people regard this as “entertainment.”

But my friend Ryan made a great point.

YouTube has recently been de-monetizing channels that feature weapons. Forgotten Weapons, a very informative channel that discusses old, rare, prototype, etc. firearms, takes them apart, shows what makes them interesting, was just one example. Joerg Sprave, and his always entertaining Slingshot Channel was threatened with a ban because he demonstrated how a supposedly stab proof vest was anything but, and that people shouldn't trust their life to it. The geniuses at YT claimed that this was a “training video” for terrorists.

Watch either example for a few minutes, and it quickly becomes apparent they’re harmless.

Yet a channel devoted to emotionally scarring children in a low rent attempt at reality TV stardom - that’s just fine.

Guns? They might harm children! Children being harmed? Meh, no big deal.

S.o.t.D. - Everything Around Us – Submerse

Everything Around Us – Submerse

Mathematics and beats.

Wickedness Loves Company

New piece up at Cottage 13 from Old 5 and Dime Sign Company.

S.o.t.D. - Love Becomes She – Sines

Love Becomes She – Sines

Very upbeat.

S.o.t.D. - Enjoy The Silence – DMK

Enjoy The Silence – DMK

I’ve been aware of the huge smile inducing efforts of Dicken Schrader and his two children, Milah and Korben, and their Depeche Mode covers for a while now. Can’t believe something this awesome has taken me this long to post.

Can’t not love this.

S.o.t.D. - Down – ST!LER

Down – ST!LER

Perfect song for today.

S.o.t.D. - Knotty Pine - Dirty Projectors & David Byrne

Knotty Pine - Dirty Projectors & David Byrne

S.o.t.D. - Tomorrow’s Child – Ghostek & Roof Light

Tomorrow’s Child – Ghostek & Roof Light

Positively swingy.

S.o.t.D. - Shift – CiM

Shift – CiM

Floatalicious.

S.o.t.D. - No Ordinary Love – Sade

No Ordinary Love – Sade

Loved this album.

S.o.t.D. - Beating The Retreat – Test Dept.

Beating The Retreat – Test Dept.

Had to laugh when I watched Children of Men for the first time and this was the intruder alarm when the Fishes approached Jasper Palmer’s (Michael Caine’s character) house.

S.o.t.D. - Fuck the USA – The Exploited

Fuck the USA – The Exploited

Never much of a fan of them, although I did get to see them live in, 1984 I think. Don’t agree with the sentiments expressed in the tile, but a fun example of the era and style.

S.o.t.D. - White China – Ultravox

White China – Ultravox

My tastes by the time this album came out were already veering towards a lot of darker and more experimental stuff, but still loved this album.

S.o.t.D. - Stillpoint – Orphx

Stillpoint – Orphx

Shocking that I haven’t had these home town favourites on. And also shocked that I only discovered them maybe a year and a bit ago too, when a friend in Toronto mentioned them. For an act with an enviable international reputation, certainly. Straddle the line between techno and dark industrial.

S.o.t.D. - Tour De France – Kraftwerk

Tour De France – Kraftwerk

Possibly the purest thing ever associated with the Tour De France.

Damn Dirty Hippies!

I went into the bathroom at the library and recoiled in disgust.

There was an individual of indeterminate gender identity in there.

Is this what disgusted me?

No. Not in the slightest. Don’t care.

Was the fact that this person was wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt and had a bunch of predictably left wing buttons on their bag, what disgusted me?

Well, yeah, that generally disgusts me.

But what really disgusted me was this soap dodgers pungent, hit you from 5 paces away, quickly clamp your mouth shut, immediately expel all the air in your lungs through your nose, BO.

Holy hell, did this scumbag stink!

“Wash, you sack of shit!” was the not particularly articulate comment I gasped out, before quickly turning on my heel.

I can just imagine the conversations in the antifa, SJW, Marxist club house.

“Okay, our next attack on the foundations of civilization needs to be the tyranny of washing. This culture’s unrealistic hygiene standards need to be destroyed. Laundry is simply a conceit of the privileged white people. Poor people from marginalized communities can’t afford a bar of soap, so it’s unfair to make them feel bad with the micro-aggression of smelling nice.”
“Precisely comrade. This revolutionary struggle requires us to stand in solidarity with the downtrodden members of the great unwashed masses. Since we’ve bullied everyone into silence on all the other issues, our next campaign needs to be about wino rights.”
“Exactly! While some of them may well be from the unpeople class of white males, we should make an exception and include them on the intersectionality scale, creating a special victim class just for them. And of course, we should adopt their mode of dress and radical rejection of modern bathing habits.”

Fucking stinky hippies.

S.o.t.D. - Faux Monsoon – Giyo

Faux Monsoon – Giyo

It may have faux in the song title, but the appeal of this track is very real.

Owl & Squirrel Taxidermy

New piece up at Cottage 13.

S.o.t.D. - The Light In Your Eyes – Polaris

The Light In Your Eyes – Polaris

A producer from Toronto, originally from Bucharest, Romania, by the name of Vlad Tiron. He manages to pack more juiciness into one track than many producers do into an entire album. From a Hospital Records e.p. called The Future Sound of Canada.