Midweek Beats + Pieces Vol. 45

A Weekly Update From Me 2 U

Selected Works is a regular newsletter by the Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa (Wellington, New Zealand) based freelance music journalist, broadcaster, copywriter, and sometimes DJ Martyn Pepperell. Yes, that’s me. Most weeks, Selected Works consists of a recap of what I’ve been doing lately and some of what I’ve been listening to and reading, paired with film photographs I’ve taken + some bonuses. All of that said, sometimes it takes completely different forms.

WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING:

Last week, I recorded a new 60-minute DJ mix of 90s UK Street Soul records called There For You and uploaded it on Mixcloud. You can listen to it here or here via Soundcloud.

I also spoke with the very soulful and open-eared South Carolinian singer, composer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Teddy Bryant. His new album, Dinner For Two, is out now. Read my interview with Teddy here.

Four times a year, I write a new music column for Dazed & Confused, looking back at ten great EPs and albums you may have missed over the last three months. The latest edition of my column is live on the site now. Read here.

Isle of Jura has just reissued the UK proto-street soul/lovers rock obscurity ‘She Wants’ by The NM Band. I wrote about it for Test Pressing. Read here.

WHAT I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO:

Probably the greatest environmental music album of all time, and weirdly, still rather unsung? I get that the celebrated Japanese composer Hiroshi Yoshimura’s Green album is the internet’s big pick, but I can’t help but feel like at least some of that status was essentially awarded to it as a byproduct of being part of the glory days of the Youtube recommendation algorithm. Spend some time with Surround playing in the background and see what you think.

Analog hardware heavy abstract turntable composition from longstanding Christchurch DJ and producer James Meharry aka Duplokit (better known as Pylonz). These pieces are fascinating to listen to, but the process through which James created them is even more fascinating to watch. When and as more live videos and live performances hit the table, I’ll be sure to let you know. This one comes certified by Strictly Kev aka DJ Food’s Infinite Illectrik imprint.

Wait, a collection of electronic music compositions recorded at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India, between 1969 and 1972? Sounds interesting, right? For my money, The NID Tapes: Electronic Music from India 1969​-​1972, curated by the British artist and electronic musician Paul Purgas, is hands-down the most important archival release of the year.

As Joshua Minsoo Kim observed in his recent review of the collection for Pitchfork, “The NID Tapes directly challenges Western conceptions of Indian culture. Three years after the Beatles drew from Indian classical music for Revolver, an architecture student named Jinraj Joshipura looked not to old musical forms but to the next century, composing science-fiction pieces inspired by James Bond flicks and Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.”

WHAT I’VE BEEN READING:

A Northern Sound, The Story Behind Bassline's Revival: Long marginalised outside the North of England, the genre is back en vogue thanks to a post-pandemic surge of interest. The scene's key players unpack the story so far. For Resident Advisor, Doug Markowitz. Read here.

Discogs’ vibrant vinyl community is shattering: A home for music diehards has been fractured by increased fees that are pushing sellers and shoppers to other platforms. For The Verge, Natalie Weiner. Read here.

The "Phunky Drumma" Behind Countless Hip-Hop Beats: As hip-hop entered into its first golden era (say, 1986–'89), the introduction of sampling instruments like the E-Mu SP-12, or Akai's MPC60 and S900, dovetailed with—and in some cases propelled—the stylistic evolution of rap music. For Reverb, John Morrison. Read here.

Various Artists, “¡Con Piano, Sublime!: Early Recordings from the Caribbean 1907​-​1921”: As the 20th century rolled in, technology was evolving at a breakneck pace. Though still in their infancy, film and radio were transforming into commercial industries by the first decade of the 1900s. The recording industry, too, was crystallizing during these critical years. For Bandcamp, Shy Thompson. Read here.

Film Show 038 Hal Hartley: An interview with the New York filmmaker about Irish ballads, the musicality of language, hating opera, and the influence of Joni Mitchell on his works. For Tone Glow, Joshua Minsoo Kim. Read here.

Play De Record was ground zero for Toronto vinyl lovers: The documentary “Drop the Needle” recounts Eugene Tam’s role in developing Canada’s hip-hop and dance music scene through his Toronto store Play De Record. For The Star, Nick Krewen. Read here.

HAL HARTLEY:

Thanks to the Tone Glow newsletter, I recently discovered that pretty much everything the American film director and screenwriter Hal Hartley has created over his storied career is up for pay-per-view streaming on Vimeo. Hal’s one of those directors I think people either really know or don’t know at all.

An independent giant who emerged in the late 80s/early 90s with a fully-formed auteur vision focused on platonic romantic comedies and awkward family dynamics playing out against the backdrop of Long Island, New York. Over time, his work evolved into something most impressionistic and surreal, but whenever he wants to, he can pull it right back as well.

If you haven’t watched his films, I’d suggest starting with The Unbelievable Truth (1989), but Trust (1991), Amateur (1994), and Henry Fool (1997) are favourites as well. And if you’re really keen, he sells boxed sets on his website.

BONUS:

Curtis Mayfield’s 1985 breakdancing/nervous breakdown anthem, ‘Breakin’ In The Streets.’ Honestly, I love it.

FIN.