MEDIA ROOTS– I love music that not only makes me want to dance, but that forces me to. This week’s set is all about music that I have to move to– I hope it does the same for Media Roots listeners as well.

All the featured music on the mix can be found through searching discogs.com or by emailing me: [email protected].

Akkad the Orphic Priest aka ATOP

Artist List:

Joker – The Vision
Snow Ghosts – Thrice
Vax – Relations
NHKyx featuring AthenA – Invite Only
Africa Hitech – Spirit
Kode9 & The Spaceape – The Cure featuring  Cha Cha
Hyetal – Beach Scene
J:Kenzo- The Roteks
Appleblim & October – Fountains of Paradise
LOL – Face Me
Silkie – Techfunk
NastyNasty – No Names
Spor – Pacifica (Kito & Reija remix)
Zomby – Nataliaís Song

MEDIA ROOTS– This week’s mix is a tribute to the artistry of melodic composition by artists who use music as a medium to relay their most intense emotions.

These tracks I chose exemplify how the composition within every piece of music can be compared to the unique qualities of fingerprints. Every one of us has our own voice, sound and style. It takes guts to express that voice– these artists do it well.

All the featured music on the mix can be found through searching discogs.com or by emailing me: [email protected].

Akkad the Orphic Priest aka ATOP

Artist List:

Arve Henrikson – Opening Image
Bill Callahan – Universal Aspect
King Crimson – I Talk to the Wind
Zola Jesus – Stridulum
Pocahaunted – You Do Voo Doo
LA Vampires & Zola Jesus – Searching
How To Dress Well – Ready For The World
James Blake – Wilhelms Scream
Gavouna – Sherman
Jim O’Rourke – Please Patronize Our Sponsers
Panda Bear – The Preakness
Bibio – Artists’ Valley
Christine 23 Onna – Acid Eater
Cat Power – Metal Heart
Blind Willie Johnson – God Moves On The Water

MEDIA ROOTS– In this week’s set I try to discredit the notion that electronic music is not organic or emotional. Most electronic music that has been integrated into contemporary music sounds robotic and lifeless. The tracks I chose for this week’s set feel organic, yet maintain the unique timbres and intonations of electronic music.

This set is for people who may still think that only traditional instruments make the only acceptable sounding organic sounds available to us. With the invention of the computer, and the blending of real instrumentation with electronic ones through sampling or playing, I feel this attitude is no longer relevant.

I love electronic music, because of its infinite nature- with the right amount of imagination, an electronic song can be just as beautiful and engaging as any traditional instrumentation. All the featured music on the mix can be found through searching discogs.com or by emailing me: [email protected].

Akkad the Orphic Priest aka ATOP

Artist List:

ISAN – Salamander
Marcus Intalex – TB or not TB?
Instra:mental – Thomp
Pixelord – Kiwi Dream
Kryptic Minds – Alone
Fluorescent Grey – Gomez Childs Shult
Boxcutter – Moon Pupils
Amon Tobin – Bedtime Stories
Prefuse 73 – The Only Trial of 9000 Sons
Freeform – Saigon
Jake Mandell – Pan Culture Workup
Autechre – 6852

FG: If you are an avid listener of Media Roots Radio, you may have noticed our frequent use of obscure electronic music in our intros, and segweys. This mix is dedicated to the electronic music that influenced me as a child. I was born in 1981, so a lot of this is from before my time. However, echoes of these songs can be heard throughout 80s film and television. 

I was introduced to Joel Van Droogen Broeck’s ridiculously prescient song ‘Robot Tiger’ when I was halfway done making this mix by Reid Dunn AKA Wisp from Rephlex Records. In one fell swoop, Mr. Van Droogen Broeck invents minimal techno the same year Dj Pierre was writing ‘Acid Trax’, pulls the rug out from under Rustie- not just with a time machine but by being bad ass, and takes Aphex Twin’s balls out of his wife’s purse on ‘Space Line’ (this is not actually a reference to RDJ, but to one of the best lines in ‘The Burbs’ who’s opening title song closes out this mix). We don’t want to forget about great groundbreaking artists like Tom Ellard AKA Severed Heads, who covers all genres of electronic music before they were even invented (perhaps Ellard is Van Droogen Broeck’s long lost Australian cousin).

I have to also personally confess that the main reason Dawn of the Dead is such a memorable movie for me is because of the film’s use of Goblin’s synth masterpiece ‘La Caccia’ in the film- not the political commentary or gore.  So kick back, take a break from your Oneohtrixpoint Never marathon and dive like Scrooge McDuck into a sea of actual retro 70s and 80s electronic music gems.

Fluorescent Grey

Artist List:

Roedelius – Von Ferne Her  (1981)
Roedelius – Von Fliegen (1981)
Harold Grosskopf – Emphasis (1979)
Tangerine Dream – Rubycon part 1 (1975)
Jerry Goldsmith – Rec room  (1981)
Li De La Russe – Quest Fast (1972)
Giorgio Moroder – Utopia (1977)
Yellow Magic Orchestra – Behind The Mask (1979)
Synergy – Phobos And Deimos Go To Mars (parts I & II)  (1978)
Alan Hackshaw & Brian Bennett – Driving Force (1974)
Goblin – La Caccia  (1978)
Harold Faltermeyer – Fletch Theme (1985)
V.D.B. Joel – San Diego Industry (1988)
Severed Heads – All Saints Day (1989)
Tom Ellard – Cheesecake 3  (1982)
V.D.B. Joel – Space Line  (1987)
Joel Van Droogen Broeck – Robot Tiger (1987)
Skinny Puppy –  Splasher (1984)
Joel Van Droogen Broeck – Drum Program  (1987)
John Carpenter – The President Is Gone (1981)
Tangerine Dream – Love on a Real Train (1984)
Frank Zappa – Night School (1986)
Alan Silvestri –  Elaine (1984)
Trevor Jones – Into The Labyrinth (1986)
Giorgio Moroder – Fantasia  (1984)
Jerry Goldsmith – Night Work (Main Title)  (1989)