GET SMARTER - VARIOUS ARTISTS

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Track 1 - Isbergues 2AM / Tony & The Mulestation

Track 2 - Freakout! / Les Merseys

Track 3 - Le Winston / The Nilsmen

Track 4 - Baseline / The Beatstalkers

Track 5 - I Was A Persian Fly / Jerry Allen

Track 6 - Slightly / Slamcreepers

Track 7 - Sleppin' / David

Track 8 - What'd I Say / The V-Rangers

Track 9 - Here Comes The Boot / The Johnny Harris Orchestra

Track 10 - Underworld / The Reg Guest Syndicate 

Track 11 - Black Olives / The Bad Boys

Track 12 - Night Rider / The John Schroeder Orchestra

Track 13 - Arcipelago / The Underground Set

Track 14 - Come On Back / The Wild Ones

Track 15 - Sweet Bacon / Julian Covey & The Machine

Track 16 - Pepsi / The Mohawks

Track 17 - Watermelon Man / Artie Scott Orchestra

Track 18 - Pinball / The Van Doren Hawksworth Collection

Here is a collection of funky 1960's grooves that fits somewhere inbetween "Blow Up: Exclusive Blend Vol.2" and the rambunctious sounds which have emanated from various Northern Soul compilations over the years. There's a healthy amount of go-go grooviness but many of the tracks feature a rock and roll snarl which gives the music a welcome oomph. Unsurprisingly two of my favourite pieces have a library music connection - "Pepsi" by Alan Hawkshaw and his Mohawks along with "Pinball" which was co-compsed by Johnny Hawksworth are both loads of fun.

This compilation is not for the pipe smoking, beard strokers out there. Rather it is a joyous and infectious celebration of sound that wills you towards the dancefloor. Many thanks to the original uploader.

FLIPPER PSYCHOUT - VARIOUS ARTISTS

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Track 1 - Megattera / Sandro Brugnolini
Track 2 - Omnifarius / Roberto Conrado
Track 3 - Save Up / Piero Montanari
Track 4 - Spleen / Luigi Lopez
Track 5 - Magia / Oronzo De Filippi
Track 6 - Acromatic / Roberto Conrado
Track 7 - Ready Money / Roberto Conrado & Piero Montanari
Track 8 - Lustful / Amedeo Minghi
Track 9 - Pledge / Roberto Conrado
Track 10 - Marsuino / Sandro Brugnolini
Track 11 - Trip / Emma De Angelis
Track 12 - Orca / Sandro Brugnolini
Track 13 - Ticklish / Roberto Conrado
Track 14 - Castello Stregato / Oronzo De Filippi
Track 15 - Lamantino / Sandro Brugnolini
Track 16 - La Via Della Droga / Amedeo Tommasi
Track 17 - Likewise / Roberto Conrado & Piero Montanari
Track 18 - Stenella Dubia / Sandro Brugnolini
Track 19 - Chase / Pasquale Castiglione & Casa Paolo
Track 20 - Balenottera / Sandro Brugnolini
Track 21 - Asincronia / Alessandro Alessandroni
Track 22 - Globicefalo / Sandro Brugnolini
Track 23 - Suspence Magico No.1 / Amedeo Tommasi
Track 24 - Tradimento / Gerardo Iacoucci
Track 25 - Overcraft / Alessandro Alessandroni & Sorgini Giuliano
Track 26 - Lo Strangolatore Di Boston / Franco Bracardi & Giorgio Bracardi

With the amount of music I've bought/downloaded over the past few years it's been easy for some albums to get overlooked in my collection. "Flipper Psychout" is one such example but thankfully this post has given me a reason to fully immerse myself in the pleasures contain within this wonderful compilation.

What we have here are 26 tracks from insanely rare Italian library music labels such as Canopo, Deneb, Flirt and Octopus. The sound is completely removed from what most of us would associate with library music ( i.e KPM, DeWolfe, Telemusic etc.). The majority of tracks have elements of rock or jazz and as the title of the comp suggests there is also some excellent psychedelic moments to be found. From a production music standpoint it's hard to figure out how some of this music might have been used, due to the cinematic qualities at play it was probably more likely to find its way on to film scores rather than advertising or television.

"Scoctopus: The In Sound From Octopus Records" was my first ever library music purchase 15 odd years ago so it's no surprise that I love this compilation aswell given the similarities ( there's even a little bit of crossover between the two ). It's 70+ minutes of pure joy and an absolute must have for any library fan. Enjoy!

WIZZZ! VOLUME 2 - VARIOUS ARTISTS

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Track 1 - J'aime Ou J'emm / San Antonio

Track 2 - Je t'aime Normal / Jean Et Janet

Track 3 - Maintenant Je Suis Un Voyou / Bruno Leys

Track 4 - Des Arbres De Fer / Guy Skornik

Track 5 - Dans Son / Chorus Reverendus

Track 6 - Je Suis Inadaptee / Brigitte Fontaine

Track 7 - Bonne Nuit Chuck / Philippe Nicaud

Track 8 - Herr Doktor Reich / Zorgones

Track 9 - L'Electocute / Jesus

Track 10 - 4 Cheveux Dans Le Vent / Bianc Didonc

Track 11 - Crazy Girl Crazy World / Alain Boissanger

Track 12 - KKK / Serge Franklin

Track 13 - Amstramgram / Isabelle

Track 14 - Hallucinations / Bruno Leys

Track 15 - Un Soir D'Ete / Nelly Perrier

While it might not be to everyone's taste, there's certainly some interesting stuff going on within this compilation of 1960's French pop and psych rock music. It has a somewhat similar off the wall vibe to the Popshopping advertising comps with sugary sweet vocals being teamed with fuzzy guitar and uptempo drumming to create sub 3 minute pop nuggets. I quite like the more rock 'n' roll orientated tracks such as "Des Arbres De Fer" by Guy Skornik and "Amstramgram" by Isabelle who sounds like she was about 10 years old when the track was recorded. Groovy!

 

EDDIE WARNER - PROGRESSIVE PERCUSSIONS VOL.1+2

Download Volume 1 here
Download Volume 2 here

VOLUME 1

Track 1 - Big Bell Boy
Track 2 - Cold Shower
Track 3 - Getting High
Track 4 - So What?
Track 5 - Funny Kid
Track 6 - Brutus Drums
Track 7 - Woodpecker Waltz
Track 8 - K.O
Track 9 - Shut Up
Track 10 - Xylo Spleen
Track 11 - Impatience
Track 12 - Latin Pop
Track 13 - Beach Beat
Track 14 - Why?
Track 15 - Drug
Track 16 - Telex

VOLUME 2

Track 1 - Devil's Anvil
Track 2 - Very Bell
Track 3 - Stop Stottering
Track 4 - Keep Running
Track 5 - Xylophagus
Track 6 - Vibra Trick
Track 7 - Piano Obsession
Track 8 - Syncopated Motion
Track 9 - Easy Bass
Track 10 - Scrape It
Track 11 - Strike The Keys
Track 12 - Beat It
Track 13 - Eccentric Trick

After my little holiday I've been suffering from the flu and haven't had the time or inclination to update Funky Frolic. However my digital crate digging has unearthed 2 incredible gems which I simply must share!

Library music fans should be fairly familiar with the work of Eddie, his tracks have appeared on compilations such as "Luke Vibert's Nuggets", "La Guepe Vol.2", "Music For Dancefloors: Cream Of The Chappell Music Library Sessions" along with "Le Jazzbeat Vol.2" which borrows heavily from these two collections. The albums, which were released through the L'Illustration Musicale label are overflowing with Warner's typically heavy drum sound mixed with vibes, wah wah and a range of electronic instruments. The results are uniformly brilliant, in fact I would be hard pressed to think of a single track that I don't love! Whether your tastes lean towards jazz, funk, rock, psychedelica or beyond there is so much pleasure to be had.

I could go into my thoughts on individual tracks but that would simply hold you up from downloading these albums immediately. "Progressive Percussions Vol. 1 and 2" easily slot into the top 10 best library music records I've ever heard, so do yourself a favour and check them out today!

Please note - it looks like the last track on Volume 2 "Spiel The Glock" is missing from this rip so if anyone out there has it then let me know. Cheers.