MEDIA ROOTS – This set is dedicated to people working to gain happiness in their lives. Hopefully those who suffer from anxiety, stress and trauma will gain peace of mind through trying times. 

Love,

ATOP, Akkad the Orphic Priest

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

Track Listing:

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MEDIA ROOTS – Thievery Corporation, a DC-based music group, released their sixth studio album last year titled Culture of Fear and continue to receive rave reviews among followers of this genre. Its electronic beats are expertly fused with several acoustic sounds which are the hallmark of this recording artist and DJ team.

The black album cover, featuring only a remote surveillance camera, reminds listeners of the current state of diminishing control of personal privacy in modern society. Tracks titled “False Flag Dub,” “Tower Seven,” and “Culture of Fear” invoke a perspective that is not only highly uncommon in the music industry but virtually unexpressed anywhere in general society.

The influence of this group, formed in 1995, cannot be understated. They performed last month at the Fairgrounds in Washington DC for a capacity audience and are appearing next Wednesday in Kansas City before heading to Austin City Limits the following weekend.

We have taken the liberty to feature below the official video of Culture of Fear featuring Mr. Lif as well as the song’s lyrics. Check them out and let us know what you think about this group of music activists.

Oskar Mosco for Media Roots

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The official video of Thievery Corporation’s Culture of Fear featuring Mr. Lif.

Culture of Fear 

Seems to me like they want us to be afraid, man.

Or maybe we just like being afraid.

Maybe we just so used to it at this point that it’s just a part of us,

Part of our culture.

Security alert on “orange.”

It’s been on orange since ’01 G.

I mean what’s up man?

Can’t a brother get “yellow” man?

Just for like two months or something?

God damn,

Sick o’ that.

Mic check –

The groove is dead so I’m a rhyme like a lunatic.

I do this shit with an unassuming wit.

The corporation conjured up the bass and the tempo.

My name is Liff – that’s the intro – now let’s go!

The flow of life, throwing strife into the mix,

The big dark condition and the world is sick.

The powers that be

A power in me

To speak a cause

Stress and strife that I see every day

And more to speak upon.

Culture of fear:

It’s up in your ear.

They’re telling us terrorists about to strike

“Maybe tonight?”

Right….

Let me back up slowly

With critical analysis of those who control me.

It used to be we just had a screen in the crib — on the TV,

But now we carry screens when we leave, see?

Laptops, smartphones, now we’re never alone.

A new affliction I call it “media dome.”

But on the road famine is the programming

You want to watch a favorite show because it’s so slamming

Hold hands and let’s gaze into the beautiful glare

While we’re here so immersed in this culture of fear.

Yo – we fear the IRS, fear the INS, fear God.

But we’re more afraid of the credit card than the terror squad.

That’s really all — sending weapons overseas

Yet Mastercard and Visa want to buy me the greed.

They deceive, the enemy is in the fine print.

They assassinate, sell-it, with no single assailant.

Forms, I’m stealing, to give a view of blue sky.

It’s beautiful, then a couple choppers flew by.

Represent an element ahead

A sentiment that you feel on the road, for real,

The deal stars with a spark, concludes with a handshake.

Physical to alter your subliminal landscape

Relief thinking I can really trust that guy

To be honest could have, should have really punched that guy.

Now it’s operation shank a banker

Thank you for the loan

See you when you come to repossess my home.

Alone at night sweating with visions of Armageddon

I never seen the threat yet I feel threatened.

Parts of our society designed to smear

Freedom: don’t succumb to this culture of fear….

Don’t succumb to this culture of fear…

Don’t succumb to this culture of fear.

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Photo provided by cesereperdomo.

MEDIA ROOTS – This set is dedicated to a real person emerging to lead the world’s resistance against imperialistic hegemony–a person not caught up in materialistic ideals or selfish desires. Hopefully this leader will be able to bring the world peace for centuries to come.

Love,

ATOP, Akkad the Orphic Priest

***This mix wasn’t made by Fluorescent Grey

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

Track Listing:

Nathan Fake – Old Light
Team Doyobi – The Luminous Image
Holy Other – Tense Past
Blue Daisy X Unknown Shapes – Bedtime Stories (Don’t Stop)
Throwing Snow – Perca
Slugabed – Mountains Come Out of the Sky
Outer Space – 11:38
Hautlle – Feel Good Track of the Year
Yeasayer – Henrietta
Tinariwen – Tenere Taqhim Tossam (Four Tet rmx)
Lil Silva – Quest
Jam City – How We Relate to the Body
Keyboard Kid 206 – Live Righteous
Rustie – After Light (featuring Aluna George)
M Geddes Gengras – Air Solo
Tubeway Army – Praying to the Aliens
Animal Collective – Monkey Riches

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MEDIA ROOTS – This set is dedicated to humanity: the establishment of peace and the eradication of intolerance. I believe this can be achieved once we have taken away the power from elite politicians and CEOs that have the most influence over this world. Once we reclaim our power as free human beings, we can make this world as amazing and as hospitable as it should be toward every living thing. 

Love,

ATOP Akkad the Orphic Priest

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

Track Listing:

Gavouna – Three
Clams Casino – Angels
Keyboard Kid 206 – Burn One, Pass it
Lorn – Ghost
Cloaks – #00148 (Dead Fader rmx)
Radioactive Man – Flying F**k
The Hundred in the Hands – Faded
Nathan Fake – Sense Head
A Produce & Loren Nerell – String Theory feat. Robert Anton Wilson
Third Eye Foundation – I’ve Lost that Loving Feline
Yppah – Never Mess With Sunday
S U R V I V E – Omniverse
Lofty305 – Cybrpunk Police Killr
Can – Millionenspiel
Protect-U – Lawndog

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MEDIA ROOTS – With famous Italian producer Giorgio Moroder (who also produced Blondie and Nina Hagen), Donna Summer created some of the most ground breaking proto techo music that came out of the 70s.  New Order even sampled the beat for ‘Blue Monday’ off the track ‘Our Love’.

Donna Summer is mainly unassociated with electronic music history, but she should be. The album ‘Bad Girls’ in particular, has some of the catchiest and ahead of their time electronic dance music productions that Moroder was ever part of.  When America heard her hit single ‘I Feel Love’ it was probably the first time the general public heard ‘electronic music’  in pop form. Kraftwerk was pioneering electronic music before Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer, but their music never achieved mainstream success like Donna Summer, which by our estimates catapulted electronic sounds into the world of popular music. 

‘Sunset People’ especially is a fantastic energetic fast tempo dance song and one of the best electronic music rarities from the late 70s.  Most historical overviews of electronic music only mention her single ‘I Feel Love’ while neglecting to mention the excellent double LP ‘Bad Girls’ which ends with 3 completely electronic proto techno/house songs.  The album also features inside cover art of Summer posing as a street walking prostitute, and even reaching inside a flashing man’s overcoat (who happens to be moroder) alluding to his penis size, a far cry from the ‘born again’ Christian image she cultivated later in her career.

Please enjoy this sampling and remembrance of the greatness of Donna Summer. We include the last 3 songs off ‘Bad Girl’ as well as  ‘I Feel Love’ her most popular single.  May she rest in peace.

Robbie Martin for Media Roots

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