DJ Limbs and Butter
"Mad Jazz Noodle" b/w "The Wimp"

I just wrote a quasi-sappy post celebrating the tenth anniversary of my Tremble Under Boom Lights blog, but after climbing into bed for less than sixty seconds, I realized that all the girls were asleep and that I should probably seize the time to divulge another record of the week. I'm wearing pajamas as I write this, the garbage and recycling still need to go out and around 2am the six week old Mabel will wake up needing to be fed (or changed, doesn't matter) invariably waking up the three year old Violet, who will either wet the bed or need to go to the bathroom or climb into our bed and that's when you know you're really living the life.

But that's still two hours away....a veritable lifetime for a father or two who, for far too long, was drunk on free time. I now have to steal away sips of time whenever I can, like an alcoholic with airplane liquor bottles stashed in nooks and crannies around the house.

I dig out the soot-stained portable Vestax (I don't want to wake anyone up now) and after rooting around the record room using only the flashlight from my iPhone 4 (yes, I know...I need a new phone AND I need to fix the overhead light in that room...but who has the time to do that shit?) after about five minutes I finally find a pile of singles that's remained purposefully unfiled for quite some time.

This was sent to the TMR HQ a LONG time ago. Four years ago maybe? I can't remember exactly how long ago I first listened to it, but it's safe to say a couple of years. So many of the packages that arrive come from musicians who just don't get it...folks are just ripping off the White Stripes without adding any of their own ideas or think that the mere idea of being folksy or old-timey is novel. Let me say right here...it's not. I am far more moved by creativity than I am by genre or familiarity.

So in complete honesty...the DJ Limbs and Butter tracks struck me as extremely original. Discogs lists it as "downtempo" genre, a designator I have heard OF before, but I would be hard-pressed to define or list examples. As for this single, I would say it is extremely well-produced, constructed composition...so much so that I can't tell what's sampled, what's programmed, what's live. It could just as easily be a live band as much as it could be artificial intelligence samples conversing with each other as our benevolent Frooty Loops overlords will surely be doing someday soon, praise be upon them.

In terms of comparisons, the instrumentation and arrangement on "Mad Jazz Noodle" is reminiscent of Dilla's "Donuts" and the pairing with sultry soulful vocals recalls Propellerheads version of "History Repeating" with Shirley Bassey. Just an overall great vibe, I absolutely have no complaints or suggested improvements for this song...dare I say it is perfect.

The flip, "The Wimp" is similar along all of those vibes while still maintaining an originality.

Do you guys understand how exciting it is to receive something that makes me this happy, for free, in the mail? THIS is why I purposefully did not file this single for years. I wanted to make sure I told the world about it. Isn't that what great music is supposed to make you WANT to do? To work so that others know about it?

I know nothing about these collaborators other than they also included a copy of their "Fake Rubies" LP in their care package which I am also equally impressed by. This record feels vaguely timeless...I don't necessarily think that it could've come from the 70's or even 80's, but it portrays itself as unencumbered from distinguishing or embarrassing production hallmarks. Highly highly highly recommended.

A lot of the writing here is of the nature of stuff that used to populate the blog, and surely all of these pieces will end up there eventually (paywall be damned). And this single lets me harken back to times when I could stumble upon a record I knew nothing about and then immediately, quickly, that day, put my thoughts out to the world. Now...taking a couple of years to do so almost feels embarrassing, but to finally get it done feels refreshing. This is EXACTLY the kind of record that keeps me excited about opening unsolicited packages, so keep on sending them.