Whole Lotta Love - Pickin' On Zeppelin

Martin Haerle became obsessed with American country music during his childhood in Germany during World War II, eventually moving out to Nashville by the time he was twenty and climbing the ranks of the legendary Starday Records. His passion for traditional American music led him to founding CMH Records in 1975 with 'Dueling Banjos' composer Arthur Smith. Over the years they signed a superstar list of bluegrass artists, accumulating numerous Grammy nods and roots music critical acclaim.

Sadly Haerle passed away in 1990, passing the company into the capable hands of his son David. One of David's first actions as President was the creation of the 'Pickin' On' series of albums which take popular recordings and rework them in a bluegrass style performed by the excellent roster of session artists and musicians CMH has accrued over the years. The series has covered a wide range of bands over the years from Aerothsmith to Coldplay to the Beatles, and in the case of today's Best Song Ever- Led Zeppelin.

The roots style grips naturally with the blues based thunder of Zep. Yowling fiddles and squealing slide step in for the howls of Robert Plant, washboards and muted mandolins chop out the ballistic Bonham beats, and a whole slew of acoustic guitars, banjos and dobros build up the propulsive leads and rhythms crafted by Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

Under the control of CMH's pickers and pluckers riff-ready roarers like 'Black Dog' become woozy-bloozy slow burners, 'Whole Lotta Love' beats down with the dry heat of the Alabama sun, and 'Rock and Roll' turns into an excellent Dukes of Hazzard chase song. The songs simultaneously gain new life in the style transition, while having their traditional bones emphasized and strengthened.

Pie IX - Suuns

Picking one song from Montreal based Suuns debut album Zeroes QC is an incredibly difficult task. The album is coated with black rubber liquid sounds which bubble and burst against the grain of MASSIVE guitar riffs while spare clockwork drums klick and clack the time. 

At times it feels like they've taken a well known song or style and turned it inside out. From the Zep ready riffs of opener Armed for Peace to the burbling synths of Arena, there's an endless supply of potential Best Song Evers.

But it wouldn't be That Song Blog if we didn't go with the mildly unnerving difficult song. So! Pie IX.

The bass of Pie IX feels like it's oozing through the walls of a club as you stand in a back alley, listening to wet drum footsteps clack ever closer till they're right on top of you. Guitar wires twist and twine your tension higher and higher while alien baby talk coos from the shadows. There's something disarmingly cool and overwhelmingly rotten about the entire experience.

The aural equivalent of being molested by aliens.

Big River - The Secret Sisters ft. Jack White

The Secret Sisters are about to slug Johnny Cash in the mouth while blowing kisses.

Real life sisters Laura and Lydia Rogers cut this cover of Cash's Big River at Jack White's Third Man Studios, with White pulling double duty as producer and guitarist. 

The track is absolutely torrential. You can feel a dam slowly cracking with each whack of a snare before the water roars forth in the form of dueling guitar solos that gently give way to the Rogers winking harmonies.

Your left with the distinct impression the Sisters would love you up before drowning you deep down on the banks below. And you'll love every minute of it.

Banks of the Sacramento - Salty Dick

Jerry Bryant is a folk music performer/archivist with a particular interest in maritime songs. He's released a number of traditional folk albums, and is particularly well known for his song 'The Ballad of Harbo Samuelsen' which has been covered by numerous performers.

In 2004 he released an album under the pseudonym Salty Dick titled 'Salty Dick's Uncensored Sailor Songs.' For the album Bryant pulled together the bawdiest, rudest and sex havin-est sailor songs he could find and laid them down with aplomb and gravitas.

So enjoy the rolling sea worthy harmonies of the 'Banks of the Sacramento,' a song that espouses valuable life lessons about STDs, whores and wiping your ass with grass. Ah those noble seafaring men.

Can You Feel It - Ken Ishii presents Metropolitan Harmonic Formulas

Music For Daydreams takes the pulse of an urban landscape and blends it with house beats and jazz licks. It's music which exists in multiple decades at once. You'll be gliding along to smooth jazz piano as it begins to modulate quicker and quicker before bursting through the ceiling of the club to the sound of digital angels who begin a shuffling snare line through the skyscrapers. 

Ken Ishii is a Japanese techno DJ who's been crafting house gems since the early nineties. This release comes under the umbrella of his latest musical endeavour: Metropolitan Harmonic Formulas, a crossover of electronica with a wider array of genres and styles. The beats have gotten softer, but they're carried along by a subway like urgency.

The album is fantastic, comprised of original compositions and reworked house classics, such as the track we've pulled out for today: 'Can You Feel It.'

With its gently blended sounds of a city waking up rolling across pingponging choirs partying with smooth saxophones, 'Can You Feel It' is in many ways the ultimate expression of the albums intent: Daytime techno that exudes sunrises while pushing you out the door into the bustle of your own metropolis, even when you're just listening at home.

Palimpsest - Yasunao Tone & Florian Hecker

Today we are going to stretch the term song to its breaking point. I would highly recommend headphones for this one- both for the experience and also to protect the sanity of those around you.

Yasunao Tone is a Japanese artist chiefly known for creating digital sound collages by damaging CDs and capturing the fractured sound as it's desperately attempted to be read by older CD players. Much like noise artist Christian Marclay, he physically engages with (read destroys) the machines we use to experience music and crafts new soundscapes in the process.

Today's Best Song Ever, Palimpsest, is a collaboration between Tone and electronic music composer Florian Hecker. In order to create the piece, Tone converted the symbols of the Man'yoshu (the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry) into data encoded onto CDs and recorded the sound of that data being interpreted by a CD player. Basically. The important thing is it sounds pretty nuts. These are the schizophrenic ramblings of electricity recorded for your listening pleasure.

As with much sound art/noise music, the piece isn't a song so much as an experience. By the end of its twenty eight and a half minutes my head had turned completely horizontal. My brain was bombarded with images of metal floss being yanked between my ears, an electric beehive, fleas dying at hyper speed, and the distinct impression my teeth were falling out. It's like walking through an arcade with highly selective tinnitus.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's pleasant listening, but it's endlessly fascinating. You'll hear a violin for a moment before it turns into a digital toilet flush which rapidly disintegrates into the shattering of an invisible wine glass. How many other songs can lay claim to something like THAT?

Songs of the Robocalypse Vol. 3 - Phantom of the Floppera

So this is a bit ancient in Internet terms, but that doesn't mean we can just ignore all the signs of the coming Robacalypse. Today we present Phantom of the Floppera: Tocatta and Fugue performed entirely on Floppy Disk Drives.

Using what creator George Whiteside has dubbed a 'Diskette Organ,' the machinery takes advantage of the groans and whines of the mechanisms used to spin the innards of a floppy disk in order to create beautifully terrifying music.

George has created a whole webpage devoted to explaining the mechanics behind the machine, presumably so we know how to defeat it when it rebels.

Chiptune Chuesday: What Child Is This - Rush Coil

It's Chiptune Chuesday! And it's April! Know what that means? THAT'S RIGHT! CHRISTMAS MUSIC!

Look I know it's out of season, but this song has been stuck in my head since last December so maybe this'll finally exorcise it. Chip artist Rush Coil put out the album 8-Bit Christmas a few years back, and it's awesome- a bleep and burble burst through your favourite Christmas carols.

What Child Is This is a carol written in the mid 1800s by William Chatterton Dix, a hymn born of out of a near death experience later set to the traditional tune Greensleeves.

The song feels like a slow motion pistol duel on a misty morn in the English countryside crackling from the confines of a NES cart. And it can be yours! Right now! Along side eleven others! For three bucks! That's like £1.50 in real money! Go geddit here: http://rushcoil.bandcamp.com/album/8-bit-christmas

Cramming For College - Pornosonic

You're about to let Dick Dagger into your ears. I hope you're sitting comfortably.

The origin of Pornosonic: A band of non-discloure agreement shackled musicians write music for some of THE BEST porn films of the last thirty years. A cache of lost recordings is recently discovered by Ron Jeremy, who immediately releases them onto an unsuspecting public. Some even say Pornosonic was created by Ron Jeremy in 1971 after a chance meeting with an LA session musician named Don Argott.

This is where the story begins to get a little fuzzy. Y'see, Don Argott was born in 1972. He's a documentary filmmaker first and foremost who plays in a number of bands on the side- including a project called Pornosonic whose music was featured in the film Old School.

Dig a little further and you find the second Pornosonic album- Cream Streets: Music From the Unreleased Motion Picture starring Dick Dagger. Except... The film never existed as far as anyone can tell- and neither did Dick Dagger!

So. Fake porn music for fake porn. Why should you care? Because- against a whole slew of odds- it's excellent. Eargasms my friend.

The music struts and spins on twelve inch platforms across pavements that bounce and boogie to each pounding beat of a fuzz bass sexing WOCKACHOCKA guitars barely contained by massive (Clavinet) organs. Just hit play on today's Best Song Ever- Cramming For College and you'll see what I'm talking about.

The musical references and sign posts are all over the map- from Stevie Wonder-fried blaxploitation to wah-wah tinged diva ballads (see the incredible Spider Pussy Slight Return). It's a wonder the band pulled off the music without it becoming a pure novelty act. The intercut skits from Ron Jeremy push it further into the land of tongue-in-cheek, but not dangerously so.

If the music had been a little less catchy- more like the equivalent of porn elevator music- this could have been one of the most groan inducing records on the planet. Thank christ that Don Argott and his friends are skilled musicians with an obvious love and understanding of the music they've decided to craft.

So let's go out and enjoy the sweet melodies and romance to be found in new classics like Sex Starved Secretaries, Laying Pipe and (of course) Her Magic Carpet.

I'm Han Solo - Kinect Star Wars

As you may know if you're a long suffering That Song Blog devotee, I have a love of parody and novelty songs. An old school form of flattery- you knew your song had made it when someone took the piss out of it. I also love Star Wars and have a giant man crush on Han Solo (I mean who doesn't?).

So then we have this:

And my head explodes.

I think my favourite move has to be the shoulder brush, but it's all amazing. It's a parody of Ridin' Solo by Jason Derulo (only one million times better) as featured in the video game Kinect: Star Wars.

Also, does Lando seem like the more natural dancer to anyone else? Han's incredible but I sincerely doubt the dude has rhythm. But Lando! Lando could dance you straight into his boudoir for some late night gas mining. *geek swoon*

Songs of the Robocalypse Vol. 2 - Star Scat

It's Wednesday so that can only mean one thing! Robots singing scat! Right? Everyone? RIGHT.

Caravan Palace are a Paris based electroswing band who started out making music for silent pornography. Of course.

Their whole output is an ear melting blend of block rocking beats dancing with Django and Grappelli- the soundtrack to robotic fever dreams covered in the melting wax of a gypsy jazz record. This is particularly true of today's Song of the Robocalypse- Star Scat.

I picture a black suited robot holding court at a cabaret, it's head hanging off its neck like a bobble toy belching and bleeping scat songs. This is surrounded by heavy striding rhythm and fiddles. It's amazing how well double bass clambers atop processed beats, like rubberbands iceskating down a subway track.

It's reassuring to know that even after the machines rise up and take over we'll still have some damn fine dance floor grooves- just don't do the robot. I'm serious. They will destroy you.

Chiptune Chuesday: Bouncing - Multifaros

There's something about the music of Multifaros that makes me think of bubblegum. Not the genre mind you- actual bubblegum. It's in the sound I think, all plastic and glisten held together by twangs and wind.

The opening sub-bass tones of 'Bouncing' are round and rubbery bubbles that shift and burst to the sound of drums exhaling in reverse. Pingponging chip bleeps echo across the structure like a digital likembe while free wheeling guitars funk there way into the shape of squares and triangles.

Multifaros is the stage name of Swedish chip/bit/electronic/indie wizard Bård Ericson. Today's track 'Bouncing' is available on his 2010 EP Dreams. He has many more EPs and albums of his genre crossing musics available from his website.

Chiptune Chuesday: Small Regrets - Tugboat

Tugboat is a New York based drummer and electronica musician who, up until retiring from the genre two years ago, was one of the more prevalent and talented chiptune artists. For those who need a refresher, chiptune is a genre of music based upon using the soundboards of old video game consoles to create new pieces.

Our personal favourite track by Tugboat is Small Regrets, which can be found on his career spanning compilation album Man Of The Year available for free from CalmDownKidder Records.

The mood of Small Regrets undeniably wears its heart on its sleeve, but that's exactly what I find so awesome about it and more broadly what I find awesome about chiptune. It's music which has taken the sound of an entire generations collective childhood memories (specifically I suppose a generation of children who played video games in the eighties and early nineties) and creates new emotionally resonant compositions out of them. It melds and morphs the harsh electric squalls of archaic technology and gives them a new lease on life. It's a genre which is seeped through with nostalgia, both literally and figuratively, in every bleep.

Yet it also manages to be a fresh and attention grabbing sound. The viral popularity of free demake albums such as 8Bit Side of the Moon or Kind of Bloop have shown there is a wider public thirst for the style of music. Even radio friendly hits are getting in on the action! Most likely tied into the long running eighties aesthetic revival pop and rock music have been going through for the past ever, the use of chip sound boards has become more prevalent than ever before.

It's a rapidly growing genre with an enormous amount of diversity contained within it, and we want to help more people hear it. If you enjoyed today's song, check back each Tuesday for another dispatch from the land of chip.

Tunes of Terror Vol. 5 - Monster Mash

So we needed to have a Halloween novelty hit. It wouldn't be That Song Blog without one. However choosing just one is almost impossible. If you're at all interested in these and other novelty hits I highly recommend the compendium Wacky Tunes. Anyway, after much consideration it was deemed best to go with the original and most ubiquitous Halloween smash, Monster Mash.

Did you know that when singer/songwriter Bobby Picket was shopping Monster Mash around, nobody wanted it? It was only when award winning producer Gary S. Paxton was played the song that it was picked up and turned into the holiday devouring smash we know today.

Anyhow. I just thought you'd find it interesting that we might have never, ever heard this song. What a world.

Also! Legos! They make everything incredible! I approve of CaptainBulldog's video.

Tunes of Terror Vol. 4 - The Witch

'The Witch' makes me think of the Batman theme song on steroids. In fact the titular Witch would make the best super hero ever. A garage rock heroine roving the city late at night in a long black hearse fighting villains with sex, hair and a massive shotgun she calls her BroomStick. Goddamn yes. What was I talking about?

Right! The Sonics are old favorites here on That Song Blog. We've spoken about their brutally percussive brand of sixties rock before, so you know what to expect. It beats the shit out of you while forcing you to do a violent twist.

You know the drill- load it up and make it LOUD, because it's illegal to listen to The Sonics if your ears aren't beginning to bleed.

Tunes of Terror Vol. 3 - Naked In The Afternoon

Halloween simply isn't Halloween without a little Jandek:

The history of Jandek is convoluted and confusing. In an attempt to put simply: the performer known as Jandek has been self publishing his own brand of crypto-goth blues since the late 70s behind many layers of obfuscation and intentional misdirection. Since late 2004 he has finally begun performing (reasonably) consistently in public.

Yet even with the artist making public appearances nothing can take away from the sense of dread and rot ground into every note of 'Naked In The Afternoon,' the opening track from Jandek's 1978 debut Ready For The House.

Tunes of Terror Vol. 2 - A Cold Freezin' Night

This is the song where a six year old threatens to chop off your toes and work his way up to your brain.

The Books are a New York based duo known for slicing and mixing spoken word pieces into rhythmic dance collages.

The track 'A Cold Freezin' Night' from their fourth album The Way Out isn't an obvious choice for a Tune of Terror. However there's something undeniably unsettling (played upon endlessly in the head-spinning video above) about the increasingly violent confrontation between a young brother and sister. And really, what's more terrifying than children? I wouldn't mess with these kids. They'd chop my hair off!

Tunes of Terror Vol. 1 - She's My Witch

She's My Witch - Kip Tyler

Terrifyingly toe-tapping! Right!? Am I right? Guys?

Well anyway. Happy Halloween everyone. Throughout today we will be putting up some totally holiday appropriate songs for your freaky pleasure, starting with little known rockabilly roarer 'She's My Witch' by Kip Tyler. Kip was a fixture of the Los Angeles rockabilly scene, commanding a dedicated cult following for his manic live performances and wild man attitude often incorporating bongos ( I ask you- what wild man is complete without bongos?).

'She's My Witch' was the B side to his 1958 single 'Rumble Rock,' both tunes particularly notable for the contributions of veteran sax player Jim Horn (largely known for his work with Duane Eddy). His blowsy lines are almost melting atop the icy guitar strums and echoing drum claps.

It's a song of woozy sex, witchcraft and drag races. What more could you ask for on Halloween?

UPDATE: Crikey that was quick. Apparently we don't love music as much as Warner Brothers love copyright protection and we now can't show the Kip Tyler video to you. We've replaced it with a Spotify link, hope you can still enjoy it.

A Little Bit of That Sky - Ken/Mattel

This summer I had the pleasure of visiting Le Musée de la Poupée in Paris, a tucked away museum celebrating the history of dolls and puppets. There, alongside the unnerving glassy eyed stares and lavishly curated display dioramas, was a special exhibition dedicated entirely to the history of that penis-less wonder- Ken 'Barbie' Carson.

Hidden among the many evolutions, makeovers and career shifts Ken has gone through since his introduction in 1961 was his stint as a pop singer: Live Action Ken On Stage, including the packed in smash single 'A Little Bit of That Sky.'

So let's get this out of the way first: No, it's not very good. Surprised? Me neither. It's musical Wonderbread- assembly line fluff in the vein of Bobby Sherman or The Osmonds. From the pieced together rhythmic styles to the 'OOOH-WAAAAAHHH' backing vocals the song feels like a banal Frankenstein sewn together with 'choice' cuts of bland sixties pop. Dig those oh-so-fluttery flutes, the softshoe pianos, beebopping bass, the absolute facemelter of a solo at 1:30. Ken himself sounds about as stiff and Colgate smiled as a singer based on a doll would sound (though not as authentically castrati as it should be). What's really awesome is how much of a hippie Ken proves himself to be, cheesing his way through lines like 'Life is the learning way / and there is a beautiful wizard in man.'

The song hasn't really stood the test of time, but then not many sixties branded animated bands have- with the possible exception of The Archies. In any event, it's a fascinating listen to hear what the folks at Mattel felt was a good cross section of popular music for young girls. I can't find any listings of who the session musicians were for the recording (rather unhelpfully the song is usually credited to either Ken or Mattel), so if any of you out there have some info on it's origins please drop us a line.

Otherwise enjoy what feels like a slightly too long three and half minutes of inspiring your inner wizard to desperately grasp a little inch of the sky, safe in the knowledge that after this single Ken never really dusted off the mic ever again.

Angry Songs About Food Vol. 2 - Birthday Cake

Cibo Matto like writing songs about food. I could fill up many more volumes of ASAF focusing squarely on the howls and beats laid down by Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori. However 'Birthday Cake' is probably the angriest, and really that's what's important. Granted they're not angry at the birthday cake, but then it's hard to be mad at birthday cake.

The song is probably about a mother making a cake for her son on his thirtieth. It's also a violent recipe. But it's mainly about Shutting Up and Learning To Eat.