Translator - "Everywhere That I'm Not" (forgotten song)

Another day of driving with Danette in a rental car with satellite radio (see previous posts on Split Enz and Ultravox), and another forgotten song on the 1st wave station.  This time it's San Francisco's Translator, with "Everywhere That I'm Not" off their 1982 debut LP "Heartbeats and Triggers". 

I did not recognize this song at first, but it was only about half way through that I recognized the song from the chorus.  I assume I'm familiar with it from the early days of MTV, but the video wasn't really familiar.  Did this get airplay on local radio stations?  I'm certain I've heard this song before (it's actually pretty good, in an early 80s way) but I can't quite place it.  I wish I could tell you more about the song, the band, or anything but the primary point is: 1) I remember the song, and 2) but only just barely.

Translator: "Everywhere That I'm Not"

Andy Stott - "Luxury Problems" (LP Review)

For a while I've been searching for the words to describe Andy Stott's 2012 release "Luxury Problems".  His two 2011 EPs, "Passed Me By" and "We Stay Together", are darkly mesmerizing but "Luxury Problems" represents a significant step forward.  There's still the vast, rich, looming soundscapes that Stott paints that only occasionally veer into the realm of conventional song structures (the title track being perhaps being the closest thing to a "song"), but the thing that really sets this LP apart is the expert sampling of Alison Skidmore's vocals that give this LP a Julee Cruise / Elizabeth Fraser aesthetic while at the same time crafting a unique sound.  The result is an angelic touch to an otherwise menacing, bleak movie soundtrack where Skynet is the hero instead of the villain. 

The professional reviews are more eloquent (Pitchfork, Allmusic, Tiny Mix Tapes), but words are ultimately insufficient. 

Standout songs: all of them. 

Skip 'em songs: none.

Final Score: 10/10, including the rare "beyond music" label.