One of my favorite things about co-hosting the long-running monthly WE FOUGHT THE BIG ONE music party in Washington DC is bringing together so many different and deliciously geeky perspectives on what we loosely refer to as “left-of-center” music — music that you’re unlikely to hear through most mainstream channels.

This 15-track YouTube playlist with commentary perfectly encapsulates what I’m talking about. With five tracks each selected by The Caribbean’s Michael Kentoff, Chester Hawkins and Chris Videll, this playlist runs the gamut from abstract minimalist techno and obscure tropicalia to dub-infected krautrock and classic Slumberland faves.

Good news for us, then, that Michael, Chester and Chris will all be taking turns behind the turntables at the March 1, 2019 edition of WE FOUGHT THE BIG ONE. Enjoy whetting your appetite with their smashing selections below…

MICHAEL KENTOFF

Bill Ding – “Make It Pretty” (1997)

Michael: “At a record store in Chicago in 1996, I heard the record Bill Ding and The Sound of Adventure and was like WTF? It sounded (and sounds) like nothing I’ve ever heard. Turns out Bill Ding was a project by John Hughes III and Dan Snazelle. My former group Townies wound up recording an EP with John in 1997 (still a favorite of mine) at the Hughes family compound on the Illinois-Wisconsin border. John picked us up at Midway in his white Ford Bronco and promptly played us the new, yet-to-be-released Bill Ding record, including the first single “Make It Pretty” – it was a memorable drive. The weekend recording session, from which I learned a ton, included dinner with John’s family wherein I had the opportunity to discuss Kubrick with John’s dad, the director and writer of Sixteen Candles. Bill Ding music takes me back and thrusts me forward.”

The Whatt Four – “Dandelion Wine” (1967)

Michael: “I’m not necessarily old enough for this to take me back. I discovered this recently on an amazing Ace Records comp Happy Lovin’ Time. The Whatt Four, a quartet from Riverside, CA, recorded this beautiful, mysterious song with the legendary Bakersfield producer Gary Paxton in 1967. I listen to it constantly – like a mental patient.”

Monster Rally – “Vaqueros De La Isla” (2017)

Michael: “Monster Rally was probably a WIRE magazine discovery for me. Ted Feighan of Cleveland, OH is Monster Rally. He obviously crate digs lovely exotica and makes it even more magical through samplers and sequencers. If I had this album (Flowering Jungle) on vinyl, I’d play it at WFTBO.”

Arpanet – “Wireframe Images” (2002)

Michael: “Arpanet is a project by the surviving member of one of my favorite groups, the Detroit techno duo Drexciya. Gerald Donald made this record as Arpanet in 2002. His work has become progressively more abstract, but no less cool. I love Arpanet, though, because it still swings like a motherfucker.”

Jane Weaver – “I Need A Connection” (2014)

Michael: “UK songwriter Jane Weaver’s most recent album, Modern Kosmology, is one of my favorite records of the past couple of years. I play it often and I’ve played it quite a bit at prior WFTBOs. Rick went fucking ape the first time I spun it, so I thought I’d throw in an earlier song that’s just as addictive as her most recent stuff. Dying to see Jane live.”

CHESTER HAWKINS

Moebius & Plank – “News” (1979)

Chester: “First heard this LP at age 12 and it re-wrote my brain immediately. It was also my introduction to the work of Dieter Moebius, who remains a huge influence today.”

Hawkwind – “Opa Loka” (1975)

Chester: “Another one from early childhood that stuck with me for a lifetime. Perfect blend of motorik rhythm + classic 2-note bassline with atmospheric flourishes. It could go on for hours… it SHOULD go on for hours.”

OSE – “Orgasmachine” (1978)

Chester: “Heldon-related project (Pinhas & Auger from Heldon + Hervé Picart) — A charming bit of late-70s French electronics which holds up beautifully.”

Chrome – “New Age” (1980)

Chester: “Infinite classic. I found Chrome during DC’s suffocating late-80s hardcore era and it was a breath of magical clean air. Dystopian anti-wave for Ballard readers and irredeemable acid eaters.”

Qluster – “Perpetuum” (2018)

Chester: “Saving this for last in honor of the lateness of the hour when WFTBO closes shop. A perfect balm for 3am space travel, Qluster’s latest marks a return to sequencers and electronic patterns. Roedelius & co. never fail to deliver unique stretches of headspace.”

CHRIS VIDELL

The Normal — “T.V.O.D.” (1978)

Chris: “A brilliant single, Warm Leatherette b/w T.V.O.D. BLK TAG recently did a deconstructed live cover of T.V.O.D.”

The Lilys — “February Fourteenth” (1991)

Chris: “A favorite on Slumberland. I’ve played this one before at Marx. And another one with a fantastic B side.”

Stereolab — “Cybele’s Reverie” (1996)

Chris: “We were talking about favorite singles from the ’90s the other night, and this Stereolab came up.”

Flying Saucer Attack — “Wish” (1993)

Chris: “I have almost everything Flying Saucer Attack released, but not the ‘Wish’ 7 inch. I really hope for a singles collection from FSA one day.”

The Chills — “Rolling Moon” (1982)

Chris: “Realized the other day I hadn’t listened to this in a bit. And since The Chills will have played here by the time this is out…”

Want more? Be sure to check out the Friday, March 1st edition of WE FOUGHT THE BIG ONE at the Marx Cafe (3203 Mt Pleasant St NW DC)!