An hour of jaw-dropping 80s bliss, African beats and Dutch electronica in a special guest mix by Jameszoo
Each month, a killer DJ graces the Synth Hero radio show, selecting and mixing some of their most personal, formative electronic tunes. Stepping up to the plate this time is Jameszoo, an electronic artist hailing from the Netherlands with peers that include Nicholas Jaar, Modeselektor and Dorian Concept. Cool and collected, this Dutch DJ's musical repetoire stretches the limits of the electronic genre boundaries, taking cues from Brazilian music, European jazz and foot-stamping 80s beats.
This particularly Synth Hero mix, narrated and produced by Jamezoo, highlights his eclectic nature with some of his seminal tracks: expect some African-inspired, reverant hits from Nacho Patrol, trippy German wave and classic retro house courtesy of Haroumi Hosono. Here, Jamezoo tells us the story behind each of his top picks, whether they're dive bar classics or arena-fillers.
BRUNO SPOERRI – “ON THE WAY”
“Bruno is something else, one of the nicest persons I’ve met and I’m pretty sure the only 79-year-old that created a drum triggering tap dance machine and effortlessly uses it as well. Please check out the compositions this Swiss genius made for the short film Lilith, to be found on the Finders Keepers release Gluckskugel.”
BRUNO SPOERRI – “HYMN OF TAURUS”
“Equipped with a caddy full of electronics (including Lyricon, Prophet5, Synthi100, Ems Vocoder and Vcs-3) this was made a few years later then the Lilith compositions. Not including the ex-Can band members, this was more of a solo project. Turned out great!”
DIMLITE – “SUN SIZED TWINKLES”
“I would say the most inspiring and interesting musician and producer that is walking this ball of mass right now. The way he creates and sculptures sounds feels like there is no limitations to what he does. Where most of us find ourself roaming in the same little creative space we have created, Dim just goes anywhere with a finesse never seen before.”
TONTO'S EXPANDING HEAD BAND – “RIVERSONG”
“Malcolm Cecile and Robert Margouleff are most known for their production on albums like Stevie’s Innervisions (Stevie at his best) and more then one Gil Scott Heron project. Their own project included one of the most beautiful (mostly) custom modulars existing. The expanding head band released two albums: this song is from their first and it is synthesizer holiness.”
NACHO PATROL – “SOUL SMACKOSSA”
“Danny 'Legowelts' project covering African music. Mostly released by Kindred Spirits and all of it is amazing. The quirkiness of these projects shines through every time. It makes much sense for me as an electronic artist to cover African music in this way. It feels hands on and a clash of instruments, just like most African music sounds to me.”
SUZANNE CIANNI – “LIXIVIATION”
“This composing Don Bucla collaborator is quite the legend in her realm of electronics. Her electronic compositions are quite brilliant and reach the emotional half of your brain within a second. There is something about electronics that can make it cold, Not in Suzanne's compositions though.”
TOM DISSEVELT AND KID BALTAN – “SONIK RE-ENTRY”
“Arguably was Philips with Dick (Kid Baltan) the first to create electronic music. Eindhoven is still an inspiring place but a small part of me would have loved to live in that era to see these two scientists create something completely new and far beyond what was known at that point in history. Not only their methods were far beyond what was happening at that moment also their compositions were quite amazing.”
JASPER VAN T'HOF – “ASSOCIATIONS”
“This man is a legend over in Holland. Mostly playing dorian scales and always being on point. Played with a few of my favorite European jazz cats (Zbigniew Szeifert, Pierre Courbois) and made some beautiful albums. The fact he was using synthesizers was not always accepted in the jazz community. Luckily we live in a different era right now.”
FUNKADELIC – “ATMOSPHERE”
“Bernie Worrell at his best. Moog and organ is all you need for a epos of this magnitude. You can hear Bernie’s signature classical references and shifting between styles and comedy parts. Apparently this was a one-taker, never revised after recording.”
TODD RUNDGREN – “BORN TO SYNTHESIZE”
“Taken from the album Initiation it’s true this legend was born to synthesize. This man went on combining his voice with electronics and did so quite sturdy and brilliantly.”
AARDVARCK – “1”
“Taken from the first Bloom record i love a bit of electronic dub from time to time. Aardvarck most known for his famous techno record (Cult Copy) and his work with Steven as Rednose Distrikt, but his bloom series was what really got me back then. All of them are definitely worth checking out!”
DER PLAN – “OH, OH, OH! (START)”
“This is some stuff my buddy James Pants gave me. This 80s piece of bliss is really interesting from start to finish. This new German wave group was quite the start for the scene over there back then. It reminded me of the Residents at first listen.”
FELIX KUBIN – “MOTHER IN THE FRIDGE”
“Apart from having the best song title I’ve ever came across this song is just a quirkyness masterpiece. Felix made amazing stuff in his career. Currently working with James Pants as well. One of his most fun releases in my opinion would be ''the tetchy teenage tapes'' which is all recorded when he was about 13-years-old. Quite the living legend this guy.”
JAMES PANTS – “KA$H”
“Speaking of living legends: Pants is one of my fave musicians and producers at this moment. This guy knows more about records then I know about mayonaise (and I know quite the thing about mayonnaise) his new album Savage is coming and yes its amazing!”
HAROUMI HOSONO – “PICNICEX”
“Apryl Fool band member made this bizarre little piece back in the start of the 80s. His discography is a lot of amazingly well done extravaganza. Please check out Haroumi Hosono! His Hosono House album is a masterpiece as well.”
STEREOLAB – “THE FLOWER CALLED NOWHERE”
“Electronics being just a part of the music in this one. Stereolab at its best, such an amazing band. The synthesizer stuff in there never takes over its just part of it all and really well executed. One of my favourite Madlib beats sampled this song by the way.”
THE RESIDENTS – “TOURNIQUET OF ROSES”
“While waiting for their documentary please enjoy these few minutes. This band is not just a statement when it comes to music. It’s much more, and i hope this documentary is gonna bring light to all the aspects that made this band a cult movement. All of their albums are classics in their own little way. And please go see a show and you will be a fan for eternity.”
HARMONIC 313 – “WORD PROBLEMS”
“My mate Mark made some of the most amazing stuff as Harmonic313. Apparently this was quite hard to make as the speak and spell wasn't really working along. I can remember this being a jam at my go-to bar for a minute as well. Dimm Grimm's Zoo In Fluttering Red is another bright beam of Dimlite's creativity. An insane composition he made for a Japanese Zoo.”
LIL UGLY MANE – “END YA WHOLE SHIT”
“This man made some of the most interesting hood minded hiphop I've heard till this day. I believe he stopped so that is a shame. But please enjoy this little piece and check out his Mista Thug Isolation album.”