Friday, June 29, 2007

Mister Trend's Random 10

This week's seventh song comes from Christian Marclay. I really don't like the term, but "electronic" is the best way to describe him - he works with samples, loops, turntables and synthesizers. However, he also incorporates free jazz elements and style, and symphonic samples and sounds, into his complex soundscapes, making him as much experimental as electronic. Marclay's work is pure avant-garde, and he often collaborates with other musicians from other areas of the avant-garde (such as joining with Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo and jazz musician William Hooker on "Bouquet"). Marclay's solo work can be about as nightmarish as anything, and as experimental, too. I've said this before, but it's unfortunate popular music conceives techno as either (but not exclusively) the Fatboy Slim/Prodigy/Chemical Brothers (though I also enjoy all 3 of them) blowup of the late 1990s, or as a bunch of music for kids on acid. Marclay's work, particularly the collection "Records 1981-1989", just shows how complex and fascinating electronic music can be.

1. "Dr. Baker" - Beta Band
2. "Bird Song" - The Instruments
3. "Three-Part Sectional Love Seat" - Sonic Youth
4. "Life Like Weeds" - Modest Mouse
5. "Porque É Proibido Pisar na Grama" - Jorge Ben
6. "Number One" - John Coltrane
7. "One Thousand Cycles" - Christian Marclay
8. "Segue o Seco" - Marisa Monte
9. "Tempo Rei" - Gilberto Gil
10. "Dry Bone Shuffle" - Blind Blake