Airwaves

by Brian Goslow

Electronica can be hard to find on local radio, but Thursday nights from 10 p.m. to midnight Kid Kosmos and DJ Atari bring the Intergalactic Hoe-down to WCUW (88.1 FM). Not only do they lay down an awesome soundscape, but complement it with lots of background information on the artists they play.

On last week's show, they welcomed back two of the earliest DJs to integrate sampling into dance music. Matt Black and Jonathon More set the standards, others have followed ever since, with "Beats and Pieces," a dance hit that turned the duo into much-in-demand remixing specialists for many of the planet's top artists, including Lisa Stansfield, James Brown, Queen Latifah, Blondie, and They Might Be Giants. Coldcut's modernized "More Beats in Pieces" shows magical skills at the mixing board that haven't gotten old. "This is the rehatch," Kid Kosmos told listeners. "They put out the original in 1987. It was such a ground-breaking song. It's influenced everybody." The track's included on Let Us Play (Ninja Tune), which also includes "Atomic Moog 2000," "Noah's Toilet," and "I'm Wild About That Thing."

After spending a few years in London, Carl Craig has returned home to Detroit, where he hopes to lay the foundation for a Motown for the 21st century, electronic style. "RKS Less" from Songs About Food and Revolutionary Art (Planet E) is soul-riveting. "He credits Larry Heard, the Deep House master, for influence on this one," said Kosmos.

For his new CD, Let's Get Killed (Go! Beat/1500), David Holmes tapped into an unsuspecting part of society, turning them into recording stars in the process. "He walked around New York City on blotters galore of acid and audio-taped every psycho he could find on the street," explained Atari, half-apologizing for airing a track containing a person with Tourette's syndrome.

Equally as cool is Dimitri from Paris's "Sacre Francaise" from Sacrebleu (Atlantic), a cocktail-laden, acid-jazz filled disc that also contains "Un World Mysteriouse," a track that uncovers a sample from "The Theme Song from the Girl from U.N.C.L.E."

Other tracks spun on last week's Intergalactic Ho-down included Archive's "Skyscraper," Voyager's "Voyager," Sirius's "Drop the Break," and a selection from Air's Moon Safari (Source/Caroline).

AFTER BEING AWOL for a good part of the fall semester, Fitchburg State College's WXPL (91.3 FM) has returned to the airwaves. Since the station broadcasts on the same frequency as WCUW, you have to be in North Worcester Country to receive the station.

WXPL's current Top 10 features Pee Shy's Don't Get Too Comfortable (Blue Gorilla/Mercury), Unwound's Challenger for a Civilized Society (Kill Rock Stars), Kristin Hersh's Strange Angels (Rykodisc), Mary Lou Lord's Got No Shadow (Work/Sony), the Pastels' Illumination (Up), Momus' Ping Pong (Le Grand Magistry), DJ Shadow's Preemptive Strike (Mo Wax/ffrr-London), Charm Pops' Unavailable (Throwrug), Derailers' Reverb Deluxe (Watermelon/Sire), and Pest 5000's Palimpsest (Derivative).

Recent additions to the WXPL playlist include new releases from Feeder, Sukia, Curve, Gerald Collier, and the first solo CD from Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, Let It Come Down (Virgin).

THE CERCIE MILLER QUARTET, who'll be at the Acton Jazz Cafe on February 20, are featured on this week's Studio 3. The last of three broadcasts on the quartet airs Thursday at 9:30 p.m. Ed Saindon and Swing, featuring Dick Johnson and Herb Pomeroy, are in spotlight the week of February 23. Studio 3 airs Monday at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., and Thursday at 9:30 p.m.