For Starters #02: Kirk Degiorgio (’97-’04)

(Degiorgio on stage with the reunited Eramus Hall at the Michigan State Fair, Detroit, 2005)

01. As One - “Away from All of This” (Mo Wax, 1997)
02. As One - “The Electric Hymn” (Clear, 1997)
03. As One - “Problems” (Ubiquity, 2001)
04. Super-a-Loof - “Covetous” (Obsessive, 2001)
05. As One - “The Path of Most Resistance” (Mo Wax, 1997)
06. As One - “If It Ain’t Broke” (Ubiquity, 2001)
07. Endemyk - “Mizellian Thoroughfare” (Wansel Wand, 1998)
08. Critical Phase - “The Phase Effect (Uptown Reshape)” (New Religion, 2002)
09. As One - “Hope” (Ubiquity, 2004)
10. Critical Phase - “The Voice of Phase (Maurice Fulton Remix)” (New Religion, 2004)

So let’s get this over with before the rest of the HIaF crew comes out of the deep-sleep spell cast by the last post. Degiorgio’s work pre-’97 deserves its own For Starters -- no lie -- and I suppose there’s something symbolic about the period covered here in that it involves an album -- the third-best album -- released on Mo Wax, meaning -- I think -- that Mo Wax is now the most mentioned label on this blog. So, yes, the last post was a gambit to incapacitate my fellow bloggers (except Vahid, of course) in order to ensure more mentions of Mo Wax. And now this post serves a greater purpose: to spring the anti-Mo Wax faction into posting more often, because I am positive they don’t want to be associated with a weblog about music – especially one called House Is a Feeling, with a motto of “100 BPM and Up” -- that has mentioned Mo Wax more than any other label (no Luomo).

01: Night sweats-inducing broken-beat prototype with Luca Santucci in a quiet storm role, much different from the one he played in Playgroup’s “Number One” (acoustic bass thrums, lapping stutter-shuffle breakbeat, humid swarming/prodding keyboard effects). 02. Graceful-yet-bluefaced breakbeat attack. 03: Fucking bizarre throwback to some lost late ‘70s/early ‘80s CTI record, though it’s sort of like a PT Cruiser with spinners and hydraulics, with Jinadu’s lead vocal treated to sound like a silky growl (his backing vocals are untreated, making it all the more unique/riveting). 04: Misty memory-triggering workout that incorporates Herbie’s “Raindance,” a co-production with the Weather Channel’s Ian O’Brien (it deserved to be an A-side, but it was unfortunately relegated to one of Degiorgio/O’Brien’s crate digging Soul of Science comps). 05: Similar in set-up to 02, if a little less dramatic, with jabs, sprinkles and flecks of Rhodes, synthesizer, etc. 06: ARPtacular, ultra-repetitive, slowly developing 21st Century Soul track (vinyl version only), sort of like Titonton Duvante screwed ‘n’ chopped (only somewhat fast), which should’ve taken the place of the 2-step mishap on the CD version of the album. 08: Not currently fresh in memory, but recall enjoying it quite a bit. 09: Intricately-shaped nine-eight swings into spring-boarding four-four, our hero at his most anthemic and uplifting. 10: A Maurice Fulton remix, so it’s very percussive and duly ornery.

Parents and future parents should also know that Degiorgio has scattered a handful of gorgeous lullabies throughout the past few years, including “Music Box,” “Reunion,” “In the Arms of You,” “The Daisy Picker” and “Luca’s Smile.”