Astral.  Jazz.

If you are a deep listener of cosmic / astral / spiritual / free / exotic etc. jazz then skip this as there probably won't be any surprises here. I don't for a minute profess to be any sort of expert with regard to this music and know I am only scratching the surface, but what I have listened to is some of thee most transcendental music I have ever heard. Listened to at the right time and the right place, there is no other music i know that will transport me to such a blissful inner space.

I guess my introduction to this music came courtesy of Soul Jazz Records and their wonderful 1995 "Universal Sounds Of America" compilation (http://www.discogs.com/Various-Universal-Sounds-Of-America/release/405103). i'd been desperate to hear Sun Ra for a long time but back then his music was very hard to get hold of. Sun Ra was a revelation, everything I'd hoped for and much more, and so was everything else on the album. At this time, FOPP records in Glasgow was one of the best record shops in the country. The owner was a jazz fanatic and sold an incredible selection of long out of print vinyl and cd jazz albums at very low prices, many of which he had licensed and had repressed specifically to stock in his chain. The prices were low enough that it was possible to risk buying albums one knew nothing about on the off chance they might be great, and most of them were. I discovered wonderful albums by Archie Shepp, Albert Ayler, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Sharrock, Alice Coltrane, Pharaoah Sanders and many more that opened my mind in a different way from any music I had previously encountered. As a result of FOPP's super cheap vinyl policy, these records filtered around Glasgow and records that would be cult favourites in other parts of the world would be heard all over the place here. I remember one Sunday morning going to my local newsagent's to get some milk and hearing Alice Coltrane's "Journey In Satchidanada" rippling through the shop. Allegedly FOPP were selling as many copies of "Bitches Brew" as they were of Radiohead's "The Bends". I sometimes wonder if this had any impact on the music that was being made in Glasgow around this time? Myself and Jonnie did our first and only studio session together back then with a local act who were trying to channel Alice Coltrane, Sun Ra, Keiji Heino and Kim Fowley! Needless to say the results were an unlistenable mess but the spirit of adventure was definitely in the Glasgow air.

As with most music I like, this is all over the place, both in form and with regard to when it was recorded. Some of it will instantly calm your deepest woes while some of it may challenge your ears to the maximum, but, all of it is music that seems to have been beamed to its makers from a dimension the vast majority of us are not in touch with. "Deep" is a much misused and abused word with regard to music but these sonic missives are the embodiment of that word. Immerse yourself.

As usual we aren't making a track listing available for the podcast, simply because we feel that knowing the contents often precludes actually listening to it. But, if you want to know what anything is, feel free to get in touch and we will let you know. The podcast is not mixed, merely segued, contains 13 tracks, lasts 78 minutes and the download is a 192kbps mp3 (107mb).

The other Optimo podcasts are available via iTunes or from here - feed://www.optimo.co.uk/podcasts/index.xml

Optimo Podcast 10 - Astral Travelling

An interview with Throbbing Gristle's Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti at Rough Trade East, November 2011, hosted by the Quietus' Luke Turner

Chris Carter & Cosey Fanni Tutti Interview, Rough Trade East

Anything Above Nothing

"Pinball Wizard" is from Black Dice's forthcoming album 'Mr. Impossible' out April 10, 2012 in the US, and out April 09, 2012 in the rest of the world.

For over fifteen years, the highly influential Black Dice have continuously reinvented and mutated punk music into new sonic stews.The New York based trio of Eric Copeland, Bjorn Copeland, and Aaron Warren have released scores of albums, EPs, and singles on iconic labels (Gravity, 31g,Troubleman, DFA, Paw Tracks), that document their musical travels, from raw brutal thrash to inside-out pop anthems from way out.

<a href="http://www.ribbonmusic.com/mrimpossible">http://www.ribbonmusic.com/mrimpossible</a>
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Dice/59323771359

04-07 Brooklyn, NY - Living Bread
05-03 Brookline, MA - BATV
05-04 Montreal QC - Il Motore
05-05 Toronto,ON - Polyhaus
05-06 Detroit, MI - PJs Lager House^
05-07 Chicago, IL - The Bottom Lounge
05-08 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
05-11 Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern
05-12 Portland, OR - YU
05-14 San Francisco, CA -The LAB
05-15 Los Angeles, CA -Center for ARts, Eagle Rock
05-16 Tucson, AX - Club Congress
05-17 El Paso, TX - Low Brow Palace
05-18 Austin, TX - Red 7
05-19 Dallas, TX -Sons of Hermann Hall
05-20 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
05-22 Atlanta, GA - 529
05-23 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
05-24 Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
05-25 Philadelphia, PA - Emoda Warehouse
05-26 Brooklyn, NY -Secret Project Robot

Black Dice - "Pinball Wizard"

K-X-P - 18 Hours (Of Love) An Optimo (Espacio) mix

"No. 1 Against The Rush" is the first single from Liars' sixth studio release, WIXIW (pronounced "wish you"), due out on Mute on June 5 (USA) and 4 June (UK). This exclusive remix is by People Get Ready, and will be unavailable elsewhere.

Liars - No. 1 Against The Rush (People Get Ready Remix)

Aiieeeee! We've only gone and got a bangin' and stern mix from the almighty Liars thanks to our friends at Field Day Festival, where the band will be playing on June 2nd. For more information on Field Day and Liars, check the Quietus.

Liars mix tracklisting:

Basic Channel - 'Enforcement'
Wire - 'Ahead'
S.P.K. - 'Contact'
DAF - Kebabtraume'
Robert Rental - 'ACC'
Clock DVA - 'Consent'
Einstürzende Neubauten - 'Yü - Gung (Adrian Sherwood Mix)'
The Leather Nun - 'No Rule'
The Legendary Pink Dots - 'Ideal Home'
Herb Alpert - 'Rise'

Liars - Field Day Mix

No.1 Against The Rush is the first single taken from Liars eagerly awaited new album, WIXIW. 
Released on 12" and digital download on 28 May the single features remixes by Vince Clarke, Matmos & an exclusive b-side and precedes the 11-track album, WIXIW (pronounced "wish you"), out 4 June 2012 (June 5 in the USA).

PRE-ORDER "WIXIW" & "No.1 AGAINST THE RUSH" NOW - http://liarsliarsliars.com (SHOP) 
A limited number of the single on 12" vinyl will be signed by the band.

The album, with artwork designed by John Weise, will be available on CD, deluxe vinyl (with CD) and digital download.



Liars - No.1 Against The Rush - Vince Clarke Remix

No.1 Against The Rush is the first single taken from Liars eagerly awaited new album, WIXIW.
Released on 12" and digital download on 28 May the single features remixes by Vince Clarke, Matmos & an exclusive b-side and precedes the 11-track album, WIXIW (pronounced "wish you"), out 4 June 2012 (June 5 in the USA).

PRE-ORDER "WIXIW" & "No.1 AGAINST THE RUSH" NOW - http://liarsliarsliars.com (SHOP)
A limited number of the single on 12" vinyl will be signed by the band.

The album, with artwork designed by John Weise, will be available on CD, deluxe vinyl (with CD) and digital download.

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