The Day Z-Trip Met Radar

In the '90s the ambitious Future Primitive Sound organization set out to pair DJs of note with one another for live performances that would eventually be pressed into limited number CDs. There were only two sessions documented: one matching Cut Chemist with Shortkut and this one that combines the turntable treachery of Z-Trip and Radar. Sad that this brilliant concept yielded just two discs, but damn they are fine listening. And while Cut Chemist and Shortkut are by far superior in skill, Z-Trip and Radar's session is infinitely more enjoyable. The two skilled DJs cut, mix, and match a number of classic records, some of which may surprise and titillate your tired ears.

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Terminator X

Time has shown that the coolest member of Public Enemy was by far Terminator X. He never scapegoated jews, debased himself with a disgusting reality show, and he never sued Notorious B.I.G. This isn't so much a proper solo album as it X attempting use his recognition and skills to launch the careers of some young rap hopefuls in 1991. Perhaps not the most successful venture. I mean Andreas 13, Celo, Dubmaster, and Chief Groovy Loo aren't exactly household names, but this is still the best PE offshoot record out there, mainly because Terminator X was so unique in his approach. This might have been better as an instrumental record. Still, it can rock bells.

Bring The Noise

DJ Chaos X

Another Eye (Boredomes, Hanatarash, Naked City) incarnation. This being Eye injecting his manic styles into the medium of turntables. Lots of weird manipulations of classic punk albums, sound effects records, and whatever else he felt like throwing into his "hyperhard mix." By now you figured that The Hearse loves everything Eye does, and this is no exception.

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Brainfreeze

Two of the best turntablists in the field get together to cut, mix, scratch, butcher, dissect, and paste an amazing collection of obscure soul and funk 45s. Cut Chemist and DJ Shadow dug deep into their crates and dusted off many unheard gems for your hungry earholes and then patched them together into a continuous barrage of retro groove. The packaging has a whole 7-11 Slurpee theme that is irresistable. Brainfreeze sold out fast when it was originally released in 1999. Now it fetches high prices on eBay and Amazon. The duo followed up with the equally enjoyable Product Placement CD in 2001. In the event of an actual Brainfreeze, simply press your tongue against the roof of your mouth and count to ten, you'll be alright.

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PS-seems that the awesome Apocalypse West Coast Blog just posted Product Placement here. Get it!

Uneasy Listening

Heed my words, dear readers: This will either instantly become one of your favorite things or you will loathe it. It's that simple. Z-Trip and DJ P have created with Uneasy Listening Volume 1 a massive cauldron of cheap, archaic break beats and mash ups of pop music from the '80s, all cleverly done and pieced together flawlessly. Bits of Madonna, The Police, Midnight Oil, Metallica, Ratt, and a host of other 1980s MTV regulars are rearranged into a DaDaist stream of conscience salad sprinkled with shimmery cocaine badness. This came out in 2001. As far as I know, a volume 2 has yet to be unleashed. If you're out there Z-Trip and DJ P, hurry up and bring me more waffles!

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Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze

Around 1994 I was at a party here in San Francisco. The kind there were before the dot com boom. You know, one of those where a couple of hundred assholes were crammed into a Victorian. There would be a keg in the kitchen, chicks doing blow in the bathroom, some shitty band playing in the living room. Anyways, I was at this party and I was chatting with some guy about music and whatever kind of drunken small talk you have at parties and he reaches into his backpack and hands me this tape with the cryptic words "Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze" scrawled on the label. That tape sat in my bag for a week or so before I decided to check it out. When I did, I was floored. Well someone had the good sense to press this to CD (no label information is given). And now I am that guy at the party handing you that tape, only now the tape is a batch of shrunken digital files, and the party is the interweb.

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Invisible Scratch Pickles

I don't know a whole lot about the world of underground turntablism and DJ culture, but I do know that I am totally in awe of the Bay Area collective of DJs calling themselves The Invisible Scratch Pickles, especially DJ Q-Bert. The guy is like the Gene Hoglan of turntables. And how fucking enticing are the covers of these two rare Japanese import cds? An obvious nod to Discharge and reminiscent of the Japanese hardcore aesthetic. Be warned, this is serious scratching, with little variation in the breaks. These aren't some cutesy, ironic mash-up party jams, this is deep, these are some of the best turntable wizards in the field doing fucking battle, like Saruman and Gandalf at Isengard. Definitely not for the casual rubbernecking gawker. Respect!

Q-Bert Vs. A Trak

Q-Bert Vs. D-Styles