Saturday, November 01, 2008
Blood From My Soul
I'am writing this from a hotel in Seattle, I have been spending the weekend wandering around waterfront, dodging in and out of shop doorways to avoid the rain and digging around through punk record stores to find to find the one or two black LP's that slipped through the net. If you are a Seattle native and know where I should have been looking and are willing to share, then by all means hit the comments button.
It seems fitting that seeing as my weekend has been slightly introspective and out of context that my offering today is also.
Around two summers ago I was riding my bike deep through the avenues, heading toward sunset beach, when I came by chance accross a garage sale. A gentleman was stood inside the garage door next to untold boxes of records, mostly marked 'funk', some marked 'disco', and I was casually told that he was clearing out some records to 'make space for more records'. It was a treasure trove, I remember being sold a clean copy of the Kebekektrik ep for $2 as well as a bunch of other cuts I still play out to this day, simply so the man could have an extra bit of room in his apartment. This is how I met DJ Om, part of the Bay Area's digging royalty.
Om can be credited with discovering and breaking many of the soulful funk jams found on the slew of Bay Area reissue compilations that came out over the last decade. He has traded or sold to DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Keb Darge, Jazzman Gerald, Soul Sam, John Manship, Egon, just to name a few, as well as playing out alongside acts such as Madlib, the Gza, Flying Lotus and Pharcyde. I only mention this so the proper weight can be attributed to the selection chosen for the new mix he debut's with Beatelectric today, many of these soul 45's are so completely off the radar that even if I did have a name for them it wouldn't make any difference, your not finding them, others are truly being broken for the first time, and a couple are simply classics.
Despite my pleading to the contrary he decided to give no playlist, but if you look into the broken heart depicted on the cover you can perhaps make out the writing on some of the records spilling out from the centre. As per usual, if you do a commendable job of ID'ing the tracks there is a Beatelectric t-shirt in it for you. Here is what Om had to say:
This is a chance to look into the mind, thoughts, and feelings of Deejay OM and experience the soul-wrenching and heart-shattering experience of my "break-up" or "heartbreak" mix. A mix which has great personal meaning, and was made as a means of healing my own pain. It is intended to be a panacea, a medicine which helps to heal others going through the same struggle. I've offered it as a free download so that it may spread and help to heal the wounds inflicted by those caught in the heat, or aftermath, of the hearts battle for love. It is a concept mix which is patterned after the thoughts, feelings, mixed emotions, and changes one goes through once the break-up begins and carries through to the end by dealing with what truly came to be...like it or not, it's about putting yourself on the line, being heart-broken, and learning to pick yourself up and move on. Each and every song has been hand picked because of content, feel, and overall message and was then placed in the mix corresponding to the stage of where one is at processing their lost love, and most importantly their own broken heart...music heals....and whether it's the music and bitter tears of Jesse James, the very rare Jackson 5 song and their hopeful search for something to fill that void in your heart, the anger of the Berwick Players, or the encouraging words of Frankie Beverly to dry your eyes and stop crying...I guarentee this mix will make you feel something deep down within. It is the blood from my soul...music for a heartbreak.
Posted by Black Shag | 16 comments
Labels: Beat Electric Guest Mix, boogie, Mix
November 4, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Really looking forward to this one. Thanks alot!
November 5, 2008 at 8:20 AM
Great mix! It flows like a conversation.
November 9, 2008 at 3:14 AM
Possibly one of the better mixes I've heard in a minute.Good job OM.
Peace,
Adrian
November 11, 2008 at 4:01 AM
Didn't I by Dorando - good lord that's about as good as it gets. Must be 6 tunes in.
November 18, 2008 at 3:36 PM
OMG THIS MIX IS SOOO GOOD.
didn't i by dorando...jeesus.
the song at 16 minuts is ridicoulus. what is it???
November 18, 2008 at 8:47 PM
it seems that the one at 16 minutes resonates with a lot of my friends...I'm glad you all have enjoyed the mix...it makes me very happy :)
Please share the link/mix with your friends...I will be selling a higher quality version soon, and if you are interested in getting one...please feel free to contact me.
November 22, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Next time your in seattle check out platinum records on capitol hill, easy street records on mercer, there are a few shops in ballard and fremont as well- just can't remember the names. Cheers,
Kerry
Ps thanks loads for introducing me to such great music!
November 25, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Tracklisting???
January 5, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Reiterating, Darondo track is devastating!
I couldn't place the artist till I read through these very comments. So, thanks...think I'll pick up that
"Digs America" comp by Gilles Peterson, which includes the very track...
January 18, 2009 at 3:16 PM
this is incredible!
February 14, 2009 at 12:20 AM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
February 25, 2009 at 7:57 AM
Gorgeous mix, love the subtlety of the transitions and every song is even better than the last. The Darondo track is fantastic, as is the instrumental immediately following. Beautiful stuff, Deejay Om.
March 11, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Didn't I FTW, great mix here dude, great stuff.
October 4, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Amazing mix!
The track after Dorando is Our Love Will Grow by Sunrise Ltd. Beautiful!
Cheers,
Thom
March 29, 2010 at 6:56 PM
I love this mix. Amazing song selction. Has anyone figured out the complete track listing?..I think its a bit selfish of the djs to not list the tracklisting.
The dj is getting ther own personal exposure from these artists music which I think is fine but to not list the tracklisting is a insult to the artist. These artists deserve to be credited.
April 13, 2010 at 4:05 AM
Great mix! It flows like a conversation.