For some reason, Valentine’s Day reminds us more of the cheesey, steel drum filled, synth-soaked 80’s than anything else. Which is why, more often than not, we often think of our good friend and master entertainer, Billy Motion around this time every year (pictured, with me, above).
With his smooth stylings and finely crafted Caribbean jamz, it’s impossible not to be put in the mood for love, as they say, and it’s the perfect soundtrack for a day of red cellophane, super-sweet chocolates, and neon palm trees. To my knowledge, Mr. Motion has not yet graced us with what would certainly be sterling, jive-inducing studio recordings, so instead, on this luv-filled edition of Music Monday, we’ll settle for giving you a taste of the next-best thing—the chilled-out funk of Toro Y Moi, AKA Chazwick Bundick. His songs somehow bring in some of the sounds of the early eighties without coming off as totally insincere. And, you’ve got to admit, they are catchy and will make you—ahem—shake your groove thing. In a chilled out Don Johnson way, let’s say. Check out this week’s Song of the Week, “Still Sound,” from Bundick’s second album, Underneath the Pine, out next Tuesday. He and his band will be playing Music Hall of Williamsburg and Bowery in April with one of our (and the rest of the interwebs’s) recent favorites, Braids.
Need more? Check out TyM’s video for the same song. Oh, wait, you need more MOTION! I see. In that case, check out the video AFTER that of Mr. Motion with Loverboy featuring…er…me…on…inflatable guitar. Mm-hm. That’s right.
Thanks to Dennis for the Motion pic and Martha for the Motion vid.
