Heldon/Richard Pinhas

French prog/minimalism icons Heldon, featuring Richard Pinhas, have been on my mind lately. Or rather, deep inside my mind, seeping into every pore like creamy Thousand Island dressing. I just found out about Heldon and these past couple days have been a doozy.

This short Heldon song is the last on their first record, "Electronique Guerilla" (1974). "Ballad Pour Puig Antich" is a little slice of proggy ambience that would be full-on synthesized were it not for the pleasant guitar and bass sounds floating over the mania of laser guns and warm, crashing waves of fuzz.

Then we have this incredibly gorgeous ambient piece from Heldon's Richard Pinhas, released shortly after the band dissolved in the late 70s. If the ocean dreams, this is what it sounds like.

Heldon "Ballad Pour Puig Antich" (1974)
Richard Pinhas "Ruitor" (1980)

Chris & Cosey

When Throbbing Gristle split in 1981, members Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti cranked out some killer industrial recordings under the name Chris & Cosey. Their first album "Heartbeat" is a bleak masterpiece; 1982's "Trance" embraces Detroit techno, Medieval chanting and forehead sledgehammering.

But as the 80s progressed and the duo moved closer to pop, Cosey began to sing more and more-- this was, fundamentally, the musical equivalent of dumping cold gravy onto a pile of diamonds. With all due respect to Cosey's obvious musical talent and clever name, her flat and off-key voice often ruins otherwise quality tracks.

Nevertheless, one of their most blissful recordings appears in the middle of this new wave aberration on the '84 album "Songs of Love & Lust." Cosey spares us her voice on this one: "Walking Through Heaven" is an instrumental synthesizer meltdown with a punishing drum track, overflowing and freezing cold at the same time.

Chris & Cosey "Walking Through Heaven"

Yellow Power

If he started kicking major ass only a few years earlier, this POWER JAM would have been the soundtrack to Jean-Claude Van Damme's workout.

Yellow Power "Megawar"

Dominant Legs

The climate of indie pop music is more temperate these days, with bands turning their amplifiers way down and learning how to relax and make beautiful pop music with quiet, small sounds. SF's Dominant Legs do this perfectly.

They've got some of the Ariel Pink atmospherics with less noise and zero snottiness. Really heavy on the Arthur Russell influence, but with more budget, karaoke booth synthesized sounds. Such a pleasant listen. Visit their Myspace to absorb.

Isnaj Dui

Tiny, enchanting sounds from London's ambient mistress Isnaj Dui (Katie English). These little movements are slight and winking as puzzle pieces, but rich and entrancing as a whole. Can't stop listening to this around two in the morning. From the 2007 limited edition EP "Amacrine" on Smallfish.

Isnaj Dui "Gently Severed"

Daryl Hall

I got the Hall & Oates box set last week and it's been a heavy listen ever since, particularly the first disc, which gleans from both guys' early soul groups, various Daryl solo recordings, Whole Oats, and full-fledged Hall & Oates before their first hit ("Sara Smile").

The first time I listened to this disc I was dozing off in bed. I woke up quickly when I heard the fourth track, "Perkiomen," a song Daryl wrote and produced in 1970. The song's title refers to a creek that ran halfway between his and John's houses in Pennsylvania.

I love H&O's 80s hits and almost all the latter material for which they're best known, but this type of R&B-tinged pop songwriting is the side of them that made me bonkers for H&O. I'd post more but I don't want to get sued. Buy the box set.

Daryl Hall "Perkiomen"

Snips/Steve Parsons

In honor of this most magical day, Friday, I give you a few songs from the awesomely fun 1981 pop album "La Rocca" by Snips, a.k.a. Steve Parsons. You may remember Snips from 70s rock band Sharks.

DC hedz: I read somewhere on the vast Internet that "Tight Shoes" was a favorite on WHFS back in the day.

I'm trying out this new media player... let me know what you think...

Snips "Nine O'Clock"
Snips "The Rain"
Snips "Tight Shoes"

Black Mustang & Kerrier District

Another selection from the 2007 comp Milky Disco... I recently re-listened to this and found another fav jam (second to the Quiet Village track). Swear to God there are only a few good jamz on this collection... but the good ones are quite good!

I have yet to pick up the 2009 Milky Disco, actually, and that was released in May. Hehe. Once I finally get that I'll post a fun highlight.

Black Mustang vs. Kerrier District "Mad As Hell (Dub)"

UPDATE: I decided that I think this track is corny and not that great.

The many faces of Denise LaSalle

The multi-talented Denise LaSalle has been killing it since at least 1971. In the most literal sense she's been kicking ass since 1939, when she was born in a small Mississippi town and began preparing for her lifelong musical journey.

Her first great soul single "Trapped By a Thing Called Love," a #1 R&B hit, followed her for the rest of her life. Her voice-- recorded at its youngest and least aggressive-- captures her in an age of meekness she never achieved again. The song is smooth but smoldering, and it's apparent why some people consider "Trapped" her best.

And as the 70s marched on, Denise just sunk her teeth into the decade. The disco influence seeped into her songwriting and produced mixed results. But it was all worth it in the end, because by 1980 she'd come up with the bodacious "I'm So Hot," a filthy disco jam that has a 41-year old LaSalle boiling over like a pot of noodles. It's wet and wonderful.

At the turn of the millennium, LaSalle is in her 60s and she's only getting nastier. Nearly 40 years after "Trapped By a Thing Called Love," she felt the time was right to release "Lick It Before You Stick It." As far as lyrical content I guess it's pretty obvious where she was going with this one. Musically speaking, her voice is powerful and undeniable, especially when she chides men for their sexual naivete and offers them the crucial advice that could only come from an experienced 61-year old woman: "Some men think a little titty kissin'/Is the answer to every woman's dream/But let me tell you how to kiss her/If you really want to hear her scream." Tell them what they need to hear, Denise.

First photo from 1971 LP; second photo credit goes to Dorothy Hill.

Denise LaSalle "Trapped By A Thing Called Love" (1971)
Denise LaSalle "I'm So Hot" (1980)
Denise LaSalle "Lick It Before You Stick It" (2000)

Scotch

"Pictures," the punchy, poptastic single from 80s group Scotch, is a favorite among Italo heads out there. I can't get enough-- it is a blast to listen to. The album mix is on YouTube, and below is the pumped-up mix that appears on The Best of Italo-Disco Vol. 9.

Scotch "Pictures"