Well hey there! It’s been a while, we know. I’m living in Portland now, from Seattle. It’s been an enjoyable, but busy transition. I get a little homesick for my friends, but it’s only a few hours away, so I can go back more often than if I live in, say, Marfa Texas. I’m not bragging, but I know there are a couple of handfuls of folks who really enjoyed my DJing back in Seatlle. I really miss my old gigs, but that’s what they are, old, over, and done with. DJing at the same clubs seemed to have made me a little complacent. I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up straight away here in Portland. I am DJing regularly at the most amazing Aalto Lounge in the Southeast neighborhood, and even though it’s on hiatus, a gay dance night called “CUB POP.”
The gigs are total opposites. One requires me to use my laptop, something I never thought I’d be doing. It’s actually fun to turn off all the “auto-pilot” stuff that makes it sound all slick; I can actually emulate my personal imperfections, which have always been a “charming” part of my sets. The other, at Aalto, requires my vinyl, which I really, really, miss – well maybe not the carrying it from place to place part! But the crackle, the warmth, and my collection to choose from has been really fun to play in the gorgeous space they have. Here’s what I played last night!
Múm – There Is A Number Of Small Things & The Ballad Of The Broken Birdie Records (µ-Ziq Straight Mix), DJ Food – Nocturne, Mahogany – Chance, School of Seven Bells – Face to Face on High Places (Jesu Remix), Ulrich Schnauss – In All The Wrong Places, Cocteau Twins – Lorelei, Chris & Cosey – October Love Song (’86 Version, from Funky Alternatives), Blonde Redhead – 23, Tones on Tail – Lions, OMD – Maid of Orleans, Even As We Speak – Bizarre Love Triangle (Sarah 7″/New Order cover – duh), New Order – Thieves Like Us, Light Asylum – A Certain Person, Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy, Marianne Faithfull – Broken English, Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (Extended Version), Glass Candy – Beautiful Object (Warm In The Winter 12″ version), Abecedarians – Smiling Monarchs, New Order – Procession, The Chameleons – Up The Down Escalator, Lush – Sweetness and Light, Dykehouse – Map Ref 41º N 93º W (from “Idol Tryouts, Vol. 1), My Bloody Valentine – Soon, Broadcast – America’s Boy, Stereolab – Ping Pong, Styrofoam – A Heart Without A Mind, Glass Candy – Rolling Down The Hills (Spring Demo, from After Dark Vol. 1), Chromatics – Nite (super rare, recent find, from 2006!), Human League – Seconds, Depeche Mode – Get The Balance Right, Yaz – Nobody’s Diary (12”), Kraftwerk – The Robots, Camouflage – That Smiling Face, Boards of Canada – Aquarius (John Peel Version), Soft Cell – Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, Siousxie and the Banshees – Quarterdrawing of the Dog (B-side from “Cities In Dust” 12″).
Here’s a link to the Spotify playlist; I had to omit or replace a couple of covers with the original. Still, I was surprised at how much of this stuff was available on Spotify. Hope you enjoy the playlist.
