Mahjongg "Hot Lava"

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Mahjongg
RaYDONcoNG 2005
CD
(Cold Crush Records, 2005)

Mahjongg opened for Pretty Girls Make Graves and the Constantines here several years ago. Despite only catching their final two songs, I was impressed enough to pick up their debut EP, Machinegong, that night. I saw 'em again (a full set, too) when their first album, RaYDONcoNG 2005, came out and they were even better. This track is from the album, and was one of the two that I really dug at that first show.

Since then, they've released a couple more excellent albums, Kontpab and The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger, but their MySpace hasn't been updated in two years, so I'm not sure what their status is.

They switched it up on instruments, so I'm not sure which members are which, but the guy who played bass on this song (I think) was wearing a t-shirt with two, intersecting, pink triangles the first time I saw them. When I bought Machinegong at their merch table that night, I asked him if he was gay, based on the shirt, and he said he was.

Mi Ami "Ark of the Covenant"

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Mi Ami
Ark of the Covenant
12" single
(Lovers Rock, 2008)

Mi Ami are another group I've featured previously on the jukebox, with the title track from their debut 12" EP, African Rhythms. I'd apologize, but . . . no, to heck with it . . . I shan't!

Today's tune is the A side of their second 12" record, Ark of the Covenant (the b-side is a trippy, dubby version). While it might be ever so slightly less frantic than African Rhythms, it's certainly not by much. They're in the spotlight this month as at least one, and possibly all, of them is/are openly gay. They're also just plain fierce.

Since this record was released, there have been some changes. Bassist Jacob Long left the group after the release of two full-length albums and three more 12" records, thereby slimming Mi Ami down to the duo of Damon Palermo and Daniel Martin-McCormick. They still kick up a great, dancey fuss, however, on their two releases since the slimmin': the limited-edition 12" EP Dolphins and their 2012 full-length Decade.

Rip Rig & Panic "Go, Go, Go! (This Is It)"

Rip Rig & Panic Go, Go, Go! (This Is It) 7" single (Virgin Records, 1981)

Today's song is the debut single by Rip Rig & Panic, who became Rip Rig + Panic by the time of their next single, "Bob Hope Takes Risks," hence the née tag. RRP featured Gareth Sager and Bruce Smith, both formerly of The Pop Group, and vocalist Neneh Cherry, daughter of free jazz trumpeter Don Cherry I've got only the first two of their albums, God and I Am Cold, plus some singles, and they're all killer. Skronky jazz horns, funky bass, sheet metal guitar, etc. I only don't have their third album, Attitude, because I have yet to see a copy for sale.

Mi Ami "African Rhythms"

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Mi Ami
African Rhythms
12" EP
(White Denim, 2008)

I found Mi Ami's first album, Watersports, in a bargain bin. The cover photo of what looked like a gay Mummers' parade caught my eye, so I bought it. I loved it! It became one of my favorite albums of 2009, in fact. They strike me as a cross between the avant garde punk funk of The Pop Group and ___________________.

I did some research and found that, at that point in time, there were five 12" singles and EPs, in addition to the killer full-length. I found the two more recent than the album (Techno 1.1 and Cut Men) at a local record store, the third (Echononecho) at Amazon for a super cheap price, and the second 12" (Ark of the Covenant) at Goner Records' on-line shop, of all places. Their debut, however, eluded me. The fact tht it was a limited pressing of 400 copies didn't help, either!

I happened to mention on a message board that I was looking for it. A friend involved in independent music distribution read my post, and stuck a copy in a box he was putting together to ship to my favorite local record store that very day! So, here's the title track, in all its glory. Enjoy!