Random Thoughts

Music I’ve bought in June.

A couple years ago, I started buying all the records that Ze Records had released, but when I got to 1983, I forgot to buy the rest. I’ve now remedied that unfortunate situation, and the last few albums are pretty good? But not as interesting as the ones from the prime era (i.e., 1979-81-ish).

I don’t think anybody has written a book about Ze’s history? They have an interesting output — starting off very New York downtown with Arto Lindsay, James Chance, Lydia Lunch, Suicide and Mars, but also with songs like Disco Clone by Cristina and, of course, Kid Creole and the Coconuts.

So they were at the intersection between post-punk and the jokier end of dance music — and in the end, the latter basically took over completely. And not everything they released was great, of course, but it was fun and interesting while it lasted.

And one of the last albums I bought was a James White (of James Chance fame) album, which was very apposite since he died last week.

Here’s his most famous hit, I guess:

But all the albums are great.

Let’s see… what else did I get.

Oh yeah!

Beth Gibbons (of Portishead fame) finally has a solo album out, and it’s great.

The Adult Jazz albums is very nice.

The new album from Caroline Shaw & Sō Percussion is wonderful.

And the collection of live tracks and oddities from Gastr del Sol is great, too.

Yeah, it’s been a really good month for music! So there.