SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED highlighted episodes for May

The standouts this month include a numbers theme, three (or four) of the apparently ongoing Lessons Series and more than a couple new sound collages featuring President Barack Obama. Lots of good stuff this past month, but if you only have time for one episode this time around, I’d point you to Episode 231. Check it out HERE.

When Double Dee and Steinski entered Tommy Boy’s remix contest, with “Lesson One” in 1983, I wonder if they had any idea that over twenty five years later, artists would still be adding to the mix. DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist and others have contributed to the series within the past couple of decades, long after the original Lessons 1-3, and this year saw the release of “Lesson 7” by Ohio’s Ruckus Roboticus. Check it out in Episode 231 (along with “Lesson 2”), HERE.

Speaking of numbers, check out the theme of Episode 50. Artists such as The Avalanches, Cut Chemist, Christian Marclay and John Oswald contribute tracks with numbers in the title… You’ll hear tracks with names like “XT92-007” by The Tape-beatles and “T424PLU” (part TWO), by People Like Us, along with "Lesson SIX," by Cut Chemist. Download Episode 50 HERE.

By the way, and coincidentally, you can also hear "Lesson 4" in Episode 143… Check it out HERE.

Finally, possibly the strongest episode this time out, Episode 231, features fifteen tracks by artists from across our broadly defined spectrum of sample based music and audio art… Sometimes it all just comes together a little bit better than usual, and I’ve been spending more time listening to this episode than is typical, post-production, perhaps at least for the three new President Barack Obama tracks towards the beginning of the show. David Weir sent his cautiously celebratory track, titled “Mouth Music,” just a few months ago, responding directly to the election of our new President, and I threw in a couple of similar tracks by fuTuRo and Wax Audio, for fun. Also check out B’O’K’s “196ish” and something off of the Bran Flakes new Illegal Art release, “I Have Hands.” It’s all good. Download Episode 231 HERE.

Stay tuned, next week, for the Some Assembly Required interview with Wobbly. We’ve got Q&A’s with artists such as Cagey House and Laso Halo on the way as well. Lots to look forward to…

Thanks for listening!
Jon Nelson


About the show: hosted by Minnesota artist Jon Nelson, Some Assembly Required features sample-based music and audio art by a variety of artists and groups working with bits and pieces of their media environments, giving something back to the cultural landscape from which they so enthusiastically appropriate.

Since its inception in 1999, Nelson has produced over 100 artist features, and interviewed everyone from John Oswald, Steinski and The Evolution Control Committee, to Christian Marclay, Negativland and DJ Spooky, providing a variety of unique perspectives on the nature of this daring and creative style of expression. Visit Some Assembly Required online for more information, including a complete list of interviews, artist features and the weekly podcast. You can also listen to an extensive archive of back episodes here, on mnartists.org.

Digital Art, Mixed Media, Music, Performance, Unclassified