Ok, so I went to this event at the PS1 space out in Long Island City (yeah that’s definitely in Queens, and it definitely took a while to get there). I didn’t really bother reading the hype, because I pretty much thought I knew what it was. See, Kraftwerk did this retrospective thing at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) like last month or something and it way sold out bigtime. I think some people even made videos of the online waiting. Actually, here’s a hilarious one… not a screen grab of the actual torture, but much funnier: Dude turned off embedding, so that sucks.
Anyway, I was tipped off by a coworker that they (MoMA) were going to be milking the Kraftwerk magic for a few more dollars from those of us who want a piece of that action at a series of Kraftwerk-themed weekend events at their hip space out in LIC. Ok, well, it’s Sunday and I could either bake some bread and stare at it again, or I could head out there and maybe even see some people I know. What the hell, tickets were only 10 bucks, right? Sunday Sessions.
I went. It was Questlove doing a DJ set loosely inspired by the music of Kraftwerk. Pretty interesting concept. I could yap on and on about it, but the point is this: I soundhounded the whole set. What’s soundhound? It’s shazam. Only I like it better. Anyway, I’ve put up a playlist on spotify for people who know who I am. For those of you who don’t, I’ll paste it below.
I suppose I could give some of my impressions of the event…. Hmmmm… It was an amazing place to meet single hipster chicks. Inasmuch as the hipster chick is no longer an incredibly desirable distillation of Hollywood’s and Literature’s most fascinating muse archetypes, but rather a run-of-the-mill girl in her mid-20s to late-30s with some bold lipstick choices, a couple of oddly fitting pieces from her wardrobe, and probably a tattoo or three. So. Some lovely ladies wandering around, a nice comfy place to sit and get blasted by a weird mix of the history of electrosynth “rock”. I think Questlove did a really good job, considering. A whole set inspired by Kraftwerk (yawn, sorry!), spun for an art museum crowd in NY on a Sunday afternoon, in a big dome bubble with a large platform couch in the middle and a projection on each wall (8). Not exactly the best kindling to light a party fire on. But even I got up and moved after a while… The Miami Vice Theme broke something loose in me, I have to admit. Bravo, QL, bravo.
Before you get to the list, here’s a few warnings:
- Programs like Soundhound can mess up when they identify a song, so I have many a track that QL actually played the instrumental to, or a 12″ remix, or whatever, or one that’s completely wrong, see track 2 and 3 (heheh).
- The music was so effing loud and sometimes fairly primitive (monotonous) that the more “minimal” tracks probably only registered basic kick drum beats used in trilllllions of songs, so I didn’t get a reading on them. In other words, this list is not complete by maybe 10 tracks.
- Usually, QL did not play the whole track. In fact I would guess he averaged about a minute and a half for most. So don’t be afraid to skip when it gets old. This stuff resembles Kraftwerk in that regard as well. Oh shut up, you know I’m right.
- The PS1 staff, in a fit of giddy celebrity-loving elitism, decided when the next act (James Franco and his new book) arrived, they would no longer let ticket holders re-enter the performance space. So. Having gone to get a beer, I was locked out for the last two tracks. They are missing from this list, and I hope you all burn in hell, jerks.
And now, the playlist:
Stereolab – Come And Play In The Milky Night
Guilty Simpson – I Must Love You
Busta Rhymes – Turn Me Up Some
J Dilla – Big City
Jaylib – Heavy
Joyce Sims – All And All
Cat Stevens – Was Dog A Doughnut?
Newcleus – Jam On Revenge [Remix]
Herbie Hancock – Rockit
Michael Jackon – Bad
Double Dee & Steinski – Lesson One: The Payoff Mix
Break Machine – Street Dance
Art Of Noise – Beat Box (Diversion One)
Kraftwerk – Trans Europe Express – 2009 Digital Remaster
Prince – D.M.S.R.
Ollie & Jerry – Breakin..There’s No Stopping Us (Breakin)
Man Parrish – Hip Hop Be Bop – Original Version
Jan Hammer – Miami Vice Theme – Miami Vice/Soundtrack Version
Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F from Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Connie – Funky Little Beat
Paul Hardcastle – 19
Paul Hardcastle – Rainforest
Hot Streak – Body Work
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force – Looking For The Perfect Beat – 12″ Vocal Version Remastered
Information Society – Running [Extended Version]
Midnight Star – Freak-A-Zoid
Hashim – Al-Naafyish (The Soul) [The It’s About Time Remix]
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam;Full Force – Can You Feel The Beat
MC Cool Rock & MC Chaszy Chess – Boot The Booty
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Rhythm Trax – House Party Style
2 LIVE CREW – Throw The ‘D’
M.I.A. – Bucky Done Gun
Deise Tigrona – Injecao
Diplo, Sandra Melody – Diplo Rhythm
Major Lazer, Vybz Kartel – Pon de Floor
Nero, Alana Watson – Promises [Skrillex & Nero Remix]
Radiohead – Idioteque
The Gladiators – Pocket Money
Kraftwerk – Tour de France [Original 1983 Kevorkian Extended 12″ Remix]
If I get bored or there’s enough interest (you can let me know through comments below) I’ll try to work out some way for you to listen to this without doing any work other than clicking.
On my walk home I saw this in the sidewalk in front of my apartment:
How much more symbolic and apropos does trash GET?