Mashup pioneer DJ Z-Trip’s posted a free mix on his site that includes speech/interview comments from Barack Obama and several left-leaning, politically oriented tracks by Public Enemy’s “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos,” Saul Williams’ “Not in Our Name (The Pledge of Resistance),” DJ Vadim’s “The Terrorist,” Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up,” the Doors’ “Tell All the People,” the O’Jays’ “Give the People What They Want,” Eric B. & Rakim’s “Eric B. Is President,” Chemical Brothers’ “Leave Home,” Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” the Five Stairsteps’ “Ooh Child,” something by Gil Scott-Heron, a Jello Biafra rant (of course), and more.

So, you know, if you were planning to vote for the McFailin ticket, this mix might just sway you to a pro-Obama mindset.

About the mix, Z says: "The only thing I ask in return is that you spread this link everywhere.... Blogs, forums, emails, MySpace, Facebook, everywhere. We've only got a month left to really make some noise, and it's crucially important that we get things right this time. Please download this mix and PASS IT ON!"

Tip: Groovin Kim

Waves and Wires has a freely available recording of last week's My Bloody Valentine show in San Francisco. I'm surprised how decent the recording is, since I was certain that any microphone would be demolished by the loudest band on the planet.

I know I’ve been jocking the hell out of DJ Struggle on Line Out, but dude deserves it for the killer sets he lays down during the Deep Wednesdays weekly at Vito’s (Madison & 9th) and those he uploads to the internets like a philanthropist of rhythm. Struggle joins forces with fellow Seattle underground-dance obsessive D’jeronimo (Jeremy Grant) to form Made Like a Tree. Their latest mix submerges techno and house in a crepuscular aura, at once burrowing and spacious. These moody, midtempo cuts radiate a subliminal, cerebral sexiness for the post-rave set. The section from Moodymann to Vakula is especially butter. These guys know how to build momentum gradually and their mixing is supremely tight.

The track list for Struggle in Progress (2)
-------------------------------------------------------------
1. Omar S - Tecky Alexander [FXHE]
2. Patrice Scott - Motions [Sistrum]
3. Luke Hess - There Is Hope [FXHE]
4. Morphosis - Baal [Morphine]
5. Patrice Scott - Azteck [Yore]
6. Cassy - Poem [Uzuri]
7. Moodymann - Dem Young Sconies [Planet E]
8. Recloose - Walk Through Turquoise [Rush Hour]
9. MD/LOW - MD [Out To Lunch]
10. Vakula - Loop For My Friends [Uzuri]
11. KSoul & Ra.H - Turning Point [Sistrum]
12. Korsakow - Make U Crazy [United States of Mars]
13. Omar S - Psychotic Photosynthesis [FXHE]
14. Ra.H - Fall of Justice [Morphine]

As election time nears, THE CRYSTAL METHOD—who are Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland—have remade the song utilizing a sample of Obama’s “Now is the time…” statement from his speech. Fans will be able to obtain the song as a free download through The Crystal Method’s website at: www.thecrystalmethod.com. Corresponding artwork for the song by Shepard Fairey, a revision of his popular Obama portrait logo, can also be viewed at the site.

“Like 38 million other Americans, we were transfixed listening to Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. It reminded us of the creative process we went through all those years ago, listening to samples of inspiring old civil rights speeches and creating the original ‘Now Is Time,’" states THE CRYSTAL METHOD. “We don't often revisit old songs but we've been spending so much time looking forward as we work on our new album it seemed appropriate to take a minute to look back at the beginning. Plus, right now no American could be hurt by hearing another inspiring message, whether it's on the morning news or at the club later that night. This is a song we just want people to hear.”

The original, you may recall, sampled Rev Jesse Jackson.

Update: Just to clear up any confusion, this is a laughably cheap retread of an already cheesy would-be rave anthem, but you should still vote for Obama.

Go to www.greenlabelsound.com to get it.

This summer, one of dubstep's biggest breakout singles has been Joker's "Snake Eater."

Bristol's 19 year-old Joker grew up, unbelievably, in the middle of turn-of-the-millennium U.K. garage and his gradual conversion to dubstep and bassline is far away from the credibility cash-ins of some of his fellow genre-chasers.

With "Snake Eater," DJs have been banging out his name to new levels, whether it's been positive or negative.

And for good reason.

"Snake Eater" is a thunderous and silly, nothing-held-back beast of a single, without a fear of arrogance or stupid tricks. It's the kind of song that puts its chin up in front of a flag of John Barry spy-horns, looped soul vocals, thuggish dubstep rhythms, and a club peak or three, and asks what you're going to do about it.

Every time I hear it, I can't think of anything but Adam F & M.O.P.'s "Stand Clear" or Oxide & Neutrino's "Shoot To Kill," both from the beginning of the decade. If those took drum & bass and 2-step, respectively, and blew them out of great hip-hop-caricature proportions, "Snake Eater" seems to be trying to pull off the same for dubstep.

The worst thing to happen to any genre is for it to take itself too seriously, which dubstep has always been in danger of, so a dumb thing like this can only be a force for good.

Everyone uses the word "ridiculous" around it.

But at least this time it's a compliment.

[30-Minute Joker Mix For Skream's Rinse FM Show]
Download

"Nonpareil of Favor"

No, the CD (uh... MP3) is not skipping about halfway through the song. Of Montreal's just crazy.

Also of note, there will be a listening party for the new album on Friday, Sept 12 at the LASER DOME! Full details to come.