Episode 11 - "Rigidity is Death"
The one where we become an object lesson on our own theme
There are themes that tell you very little when they are drawn. “School” could have meant just about anything and in fact produced some wildly different takes. And then there are themes that you just know the Dilletante DJs will really be able to sink their teeth into, which was exactly my reaction when we settled on “rigidity is death” for our latest episode.
The theme came to us courtesy our special guest for this episode, Cristóbal Borges, and was inspired by Bruce Lee (from whom it is a direct quote) and the work of trailblazing writer Gloria Anzaldúa. Hearing it, I immediately expected playlists with some experimental works, with some discordant-yet-somehow-complementary pairings, and three very different soundscapes. And I was not disappointed.
What I could not have foreseen is just how much the behind-the-scenes at The Needle Exchange would also reflect the theme, because once again, we are a-going through some changes. Our fellow Dilletante DJs Rob MacGregor and Zach Prewitt have other projects in their lives calling to them, so while they aren’t leaving the TNE family, they are stepping back from being regular contributors.
That left José and I with a question that has often defined my life: What’s next? So, before releasing this next episode, we sat down, talked it over, and shared our plans with all of you here: TNE - A Brief Interlude.
But, you know what? Save that for when you are ready. The real goodies come in the main episode. You should just dive in there. The lists are real good.
Thank you to Rob and Zach for all their contributions and to all of you for being listeners and readers! We hope you’ll stick around to see where we go next.
You can also find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Cristóbal's list:
Johann Sebastian Bach, Virgil Fox | Fugue in G Minor, BWV 578 "Little" | Organ Works: Bach | 1988
Frank Loesser | Fugue For Tinhorns | An Evening With Frank Loesser | 1994
The Beatles | Help! | Help! | 1965
Bob Marley & The Wailers | Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) | Natty Dread | 1974
Takénobu | Toki Doki | Conclusion | 2019
Anthrax | Antisocial | State Of Euphoria | 1988
Coleman Hawkins | Under Paris Skies | The Hawk In Paris | 1956
Ryuschi Sakamoto, Jaques Morelenbaum, Everton Nelson | Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence | 1996 | 1996
Hermanos Ayala | Yayabo | Bomba De Loiza | 2006
Dirty Revival | Dirty Love | Dirty Revival | 2015
Zach's list:
Little Comets | A Little Open | Life Is Everywhere | 2013
The Smiths | The Headmaster Ritual | Meat Is Murder | 1985
The Kinks | The Hard Way | Schoolboys in Disgrace | 1975
Dead Kennedys | Take This Job and Shove It | Bedtime For Democracy | 1986
The Clash | Career Opportunities | The Clash | 1977
Todd Rundren | Bang the Drum All Day | The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect | 1982
Erasure | Chains of Love | The Innocents | 1988
Radiohead | House Of Cards | In Rainbows | 2007
From Monument To Masses | Comrades and Friends | The Impossible Leap in 100 Simple Steps | 2003
Dario Marianelli | Evey Reborn | V For Vendetta (Music From The Motion Picture | 2006
José's list:
David Bowie | A Small Plot of Land | 1. Outside (The Nathan Adler Diaries: A Hyper Cycle) | 1995
Odd Nostum | Freakout 3 | Level Live Wires | 2007
Saul Williams, Cristian Scott aTunde Adjuah | Encrypted & Vulnerable (feat. Cristian Scott aTunde Adjuah | Encrypted & Vulnerable | 2019
Karima Walker | One Moved Slowly Through This Place | Hands in Our Names | 2017
Danger Mouse, Sparkle Horse, David Lynch | Dark Night of the Soul (feat. David Lynch) | Dark Night of The Soul | 2010
Nurse With Wound | Ketamineaphonia | Huffin' Rag Blues | 2008
Sun Ra | I Am Strange | I Am Strange / I Am An Instrument | 2009
Mount Eerie | I Know No One | No Flashlight | 2015
Cristobal Tapid Da Veer | What's Gonna Happen To Us? | The White Lotus: Season 2 | 2022
Ben von Wildenhaus, Von Wildenhaus | Aluminum | Anna Sonata - Von Universe 1 | 2023
Can’t wait to share our first episode in the new format with you all. Stay tuned!
Once again, a great podcast. I so appreciate the different "takes" on the theme, and, as always, the commentaries. Awesome job!