Theremin Vs. Turntable: Paisley Babylon Equipment Test

Just as with my former fellow bandmates in Crevice, when it’s time to do Paisley Babylon stuff in the rehearsal space, it’s an EQUIPMENT TEST rather than a rehearsal. Well, perhaps that’s not ENTIRELY true–Paisley Babylon does have an improvisational aspect to it but it’s not ALL off-the-cuff…plenty of structure hiding in there.

Here’s one shot recently with the new theremin. Paisley Babylon’s gear list for this video includes a portable, battery operated turntable with a vinyl LP of DJ battle breaks supplying the drum track, all other noises produced by theremin and MicroKorg.

Hit 65 Retro Album Cover

This most excellently retro album cover from 1965 comes courtesy of the delightful LP Cover Lover, which is a favorite of mine. One of the awesome things about this particular look is the “future now” vibe. I’m a sucker for those squeaky-clean whites and the rounded corners that let you know this girl just might have arrived from a space ship or time machine a few minutes ago.

We have the space race to thank for a lot of that futurist design and fashion, methinks…and I’m soooo glad it happened. Where would be we today if not for Sputnik, JFK’s moon landing ambitions, and UFO hysteria?

DJ Paisley Babylon Spins Zombie Disco 2 July 24 @Lucky Number Grill Chicago

It’s true–Zombie Disco 2 is a DJ Paisley Babylon night of evil disco treats. While it’s true that HorrorSociety.com has me listed as DJ Joe Wallace instead of the more wildly exciting name I DJ under these days, it’s still a DJ Paisley Babylon gig, make no mistake.

It’s true that I do gigs more or less by word of mouth–I prefer to be more selective about my gigs–I do pimp myself out from time to time for cash. As it happens, right after Zombie Disco 2, I have some availability, so if you’re looking for something different than what the club kids are spinning, do drop a line. You can download a 40-minute long sample of the sonic madness I conjure up to see what all the fuss is about. Not much disco on this one, I’m afraid, but I do have a large library of the stuff. I also have a massive amount of retro 60s/70s lounge, 80s electronica & new wave, trippy shagadelic music (look out, Austin Powers!) and a huge catalog of dub.

Back to Zombie Disco 2–it’s July 24 2010 at the Lucky Number Grill. Get advance tix or pay a tenner at the door. See you there!

Download Paisley Babylon Midnight Hallucinations

Paisley Babylon’s Midnight Hallucinations is a trippy journey through the dark underbrush of the subconscious. Founding member Joe Wallace says the new CD is full of strange vibrations–the sort of feelings you get in fever dreams and chemically altered states of mind.