Boy Eats Drum Machine new CD, The Battle, coming out soon...

I've you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know I'm a big fan of Boy Eats Drum Machine, aka Jon Ragel. Jon, who is based in Portland, has been firmly established in the vanguard of the alternative breaks genre for years, so it's always fun to hear his latest release.

Jon's getting ready to release his latest, The Battle, and you can preview and preorder it right here. For those who aren't into some of the newer dub genres, BEDM is an excellent starting point since Jon melds crazy and unique samples, awesome beats and a pop-friendly song structure. A virtual one-man band--he performs alone with two turntables and a microphone plus drums and a saxophone--he has a powerful yet classic crooner's voice that makes him different from everyone else out there.

I've sampled a few of the songs from The Battle and was immediately charmed by the tight song structures and romantic yet edgy beats. He's hard to classify, but his talents will put a smile on your face. As usual, I will strive to get his latest on vinyl. I already have Booomboxxx and Hoop & Wire on both CD and LP, and his vinyl is always special because each album cover is a unique, hand-painted work of art. The Battle will be available on September 3, but I hope you'll check it out now and pre-order!

American Vinyl by Jeanne Lorenz

My friend Margaret Craig, who's an artist and chair of the printmaking department at the Southwest School of Art and Craft in San Antonio, sent me this YouTube video of fellow artist Jeanne Lorenz and how she uses LPs in her work. I love her art, but I have to admit that I winced whenever she made comments such as "everyone's throwing their LPs in the garbage," "no one's listening to vinyl anymore" and "people are fetishizing vinyl."

Compare this to the work of Jon Ragel (of Boy Eats Drum Machine) who buys old records from used record stores, hand paints the covers and puts his own LPs inside--all for $15. Jon has a true love for vinyl as a playback medium, and that love shows in his art. I'm afraid that Lorenz's pieces may capture an ennui that really doesn't exist, at least in my world. At any rate, I wouldn't mind owning a couple of her pieces. Maybe I'll shoot her an email and tell her about the love (not fetishism) we all have for vinyl!

Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYOJir0DddE

You can check out more of her work at her website: www.jeannelorenz.com

Boy Eats Drum Machine -- 20 Beats

In 1978, I bought an album called Music for Films. It was by some guy named Brian Eno. I didn't know much about Mr. Eno or his new album, but the idea of a collection of "New Wave" soundtrack pieces for imaginary films intrigued me enough and I wound up taking it home. As I listened to these haunting, moody pieces, a whole new world of music opened up to me...an almost visual genre that produced distinct images in my mind. As someone else once said about the album, I sure would have liked to have seen those imaginary films and those imaginary scenes. A few of the songs did make it into the movies...everything from John Woo's A Better Tomorrow to Derek Jarman's Jubilee to Rock 'n' Roll High School. But the secret to enjoying Music for Films is wondering what kind of films were running through Eno's mind when he composed each piece.

32 years later, I have that same feeling listening to 20 Beats, the new release by Boy Eats Drum Machine (aka Portlander Jon Ragel). While the newer album is much more dynamic and cheery and danceable (Eno's masterpiece would surely be filed under hyperdub or some other grime-induced sub-genre if released today), these 20 instrumental pieces still evoke very specific images that seem to be culled from contemporary films. From the staccato bird chirps that end Shells to the twangy '60s guitar samples from 4 Parts 6  to the exotic Middle Eastern vibe of the closer, En Farruda, Jon reveals mood after mood, scene after scene, film after film in a fluid, punchy and thrilling attack.

20 Beats comes on the heels of Jon's earlier release this year, Hoop + Wire. That release is probably Jon's most accessible to date, with his smooth and passionate voice taking center stage among his wild, frenetic samples (mixed, of course, with Jon's live drumming and saxophone playing). Beats, however, seems to be a bit freer and open, prompting images of Jon escaping from the confines of his studio, going for a long inspired run through the Portland rain and coming back to record with his wet hair dripping all over the mixing board. And, as the title implies, Jon is much more dependent upon the strengths of his drum beats (supplied by the ever exciting Bridgetown Beats) to produce a work with more momentum, drive and style. I do miss Jon's voice, but I still love the direction in which he's heading with his music.

And as readers of this blog already know, Jon gives you 20 different album covers to match each of the 20 beats, and the scared-bunny-vs.-angry-carrot motif is the best artwork I've seen on a album cover this year. And because it's available right now as a digital release (other formats will come later), it's only $7.49...roughly half of what you would spend on a CD. You can download it here: http://boyeatsdrummachine.bandcamp.com/. You can also get it on Amazon for $7.99...if you're in the mood to hand them 50 cents for no particular reason.

I credit Jon for opening my eyes to what turntablists/Djs are capable of doing in the 21st century, and he has introduced me to an entire world of music I previously and wrongfully shunned. So even if you're not "into what the kids are listening to," grab your old LP copy of Music for Films, download 20 Beats and be prepared for one great double feature.

20 Beats -- All the Covers!

I asked Jon Ragel if I could post all of the album covers to his new digital release 20 Beats because I'm nuts about the artwork. (Bunny!) He said OK...so here they are! Enjoy!

 Very cool!!!

New release from Jon Ragel of Boy Eats Drum Machine -- 20 Beats

Jon Ragel, the super-talented turntablist/singer/drummer/saxophone player who performs under the moniker Boy Eats Drum Machine, has just announced a new release titled 20 Beats. Here's the press release that Jon sent me:

"20 beats is up for streaming and buying at http://www.boyeatsdrummachine.bandcamp.com/ (!)

100% of sales from bandcamp go directly to the artist. I ♥ bandcamp. it will also be up on I-tunes on Sept 20th.

This is a digital only release. no CDs will be harmed in the making of this album.:)

20 beats is an all-instrumental collection of 20 songs and features 10 of Portland's BEST drummers along with samples from vintage vinyl, groovy guitars, and electro-pop goodness. The album even comes with 20 album covers--a different one for each song.

Thanks so much for the support! Jon."


If you've ever heard Jon's albums Booomboxxx and Hoop + Wire, you'll know what a gift he has for mating powerful beats (courtesy of Portland's outstanding Bridgetown Breaks) and unusual samples to his own live performances. You can download 20 Beats--all 20 of 'em, for just $7.49. Plus, each song has its own bunny-themed cover, so if you think the one above is cool (and I really do), then imagine how cool it is to have 20! It's an absolute bargain!