Riding the porcelain god is not so much fun. Saying it without slang: I had the runs. The most merciless ever. Stuck to bed nearly two days. „Montezumas Rache“. I would’ve preferred Ingolstadt to NYC. At least, in an hour of relaxation (kind of) I watched the Brooklyn movie „The Drop“ on my small screen, a brilliant drama, low key, top-notch acting by Tom Hardy and the late Mr. Gandolfino. All based on a short story of Dennis Lehane. A million times better than Martin Scorsese’s bullshit version of Lehane’s „Shutter Island“.
Finally, daylight found me again. Sitting in Bryant Park, a boat journey to Staten Island. In Greenwich Village, I entered „Other Music“, the kind of record store I love. From new electronica to old and new jazz, from deep Old Africa (the first two Fela Kuti recordings ever out now!) to Jamaican rarities – and the really new hot shit, everything’s nicely stored in a quite small room.
At the entrance (I registered it with a broad smile) I saw (side by side) the covers of the new Mountain Goats and Sufjan Stevens albums (I played two songs of these amazing song cycles on my last late night show, in a row with Aidan Moffat, Franz Schubert and Federico Mompou). Squarepusher, Alabama Shakes, Björk, every item in glorious vinyl. Now double-click on the photos, and you’ll see God is in the details. Ding-Dong-Dinger is part of the game: to place the cover of the first NEU! record under the ceiling reveals a thoughtful mind behind this collection of antiques, novelties, classics and curiosities.
But, what strange record did they play when I was strolling through the place? A freaky saxophone, psychedelics from ancient days, creepy exotica and slightly paranoid voices mixed up to one weird journey! I asked the man behind the counter what this stuff would be, and he said with a whisper: – From our teenage days, my friend! He showed me the album. Yep, he was right. A gem for my next „time travel radio hour“. London 1970, Trident Studios. One year later, i had been there, sweet sixteen, seeing Steamhammer rocking the Marquee Club (sigh) …