A random section of my cd collection.

OK so here is shelf 3 of my little cd holder which is one of many shelves and collections I have.
I'll talk you through it.

A Certain Ratio: To Each...
This record is a reissue from Soul Jazz records and features the very early Manchester sound of Factory records. You'll see these weird jazz/dub/pop hipsters on the excellent film 24 Hour Party People with their trumpets. Joy Division fans go and get this record and hear a true contemporary to them.

the streets: a grand don't come for free
Such a natural, Mike Skinner. About the only album I have from the last 10 years which actually tells a story. I guess that makes it a concept album - music is nothing flash, let me tell you. The beats are far better imho on the 1st record Original Pirate Material. But the amazing thing is his delivery and lyrics. So listenable, so easy to empathise with his world of inner city London day to day life.

THE DIVINE COMEDY: Absent Friends
The most recent album from a long time favourite of mine. Neil Hannon another one man auteur from the UK and one whose romanticism and musical genius never fails to sway. The title track I was coincidentally playing a lot when Dean passed away. He sang the song So Long And Thanks For All The Fish on the recent Hitch Hikers Movie.

R.E.M. : Reckoning
Their second and best album. All you fans of current R.E.M. go back and hear where they came from. Is still in my top 3 records of all time. Especially the re-issue with Tighten Up, Moon River, and Wind Out. "Jefferson I think we're lost..." My good mate Rod named his Volkswagen car after Jefferson Holt, R.E.M.'s manager.

THE SAINTS: ETERNALLY YOURS
Powerful guitar music from a seminal Australian rock group. I saw Ed Kuepper (guitars) live recently with Jeffery Wegener on drums and as ever, Ed blew minds. The track that did it for me that night was actually Honey Steels Gold, swaggering massive guitar song that it is.

Broadcast: Pendulum
5 track single from Ha Ha Sound. If you're in the slightly off-key mood for Broadcast they can be transcendent. Beautiful use of keyboards and the 1960's "proper" female English vocalist sound.

V8: NO MORE NOISE
A Jazz CD of local muso from Sydney Ben Savage. Have only heard it a couple of times, Ben's wild sax and consummate musicians makes for a fun listen. I find it hard to wrap my head around jazz at the moment. My dad Greg thinks in all seriousness that all music is moving towards jazz. Hmmm. No time to debate that here, Greg...

2 Many DJ's: As heard on radio soulwax v2
What a party disc. Electroclash (which I always thought should have been called the slightly more sensually descriptive Electrolash. Great collection.

massive attack: protection
I have been bought this cd at least twice. Not that I'm not appreciative, I am a big fan of Tracy Thorn's vocal on the title track and many other lovely grooves on this one. But I prefer Mezzanine. Personally. I know many will prefer Blue Lines. But I got into them too late.

Dredge: Suppressed Technology
Actually an instrumental disc of my music from the analog 4-track bedroom days. Healthy improvisations, tacky drum sounds, understated charm. And some unabashed hero worship in me ripping off wholesale an Underground Lovers riff and making it into some weird electro 808 track. Kind of like looking at awkward teenage photos of yourself.

CAN: CANNIBALISM
Collection from the Krautrock wonders. Actually I like this, but prefer Ege Bamyasi and the CAN dvd, which I completely recommend to everyone interested in hearing some WILD music. You think the Red Hot Chilli Peppers are WILD? heh... Delve, mate, delve.

JAY-Z: THE BLACK ALBUM
Once again, I prefer something else by this guy - or actually by him and DJ Danger Mouse, the Grey album, Beatles (white album) vs Jay-Z (black album) which is a banned record you can download here.

COLDER: AGAIN
A real treat from a Frenchman. Got onto them through 2ser and DJ Gemma here in Sydney. I didn't like much French music apart from Stereolab, who most French hate anyway. But M83, Colder, Francoise Hardy, Air and others have shown I was not really on the case. This record is such a lovely mellow post dub excursion with the clean French lines and nonchalant vocals lost in the mix.

THE SOFT PINK TRUTH: DO YOU WANT NEW WAVE OR DO YOU WANT THE SOFT PINK TRUTH
The only record title that won't fit on in one line with that font size. What a complex, gutsy, hilarious, ROCKING slice of electro-grit this is. A homo edge to it which will put off a lot of people, but no need, it's just a great stomping bunch of cover versions of new wave rock tracks done with electronic instruments by one half of Matmos. And it's a triumph because he has real respect for the tracks, but messes with them in the interpretations, oh yes.