DF Tram - DF Tram – Illegal Lingo LP
“Illegal Lingo” is the wondrous debut solo artist album by DF Tram, an enigmatic DJ/Producer from San Francisco who is already highly regarded within the North American underground electronic music scene. This album is the joyous culmination of a 20-year musical journey that has come to fruition on Subatomic UK after a chance meeting with label boss and chillout aficionado, Steve Miller (aka Afterlife).
“In the last 20 years, I have collaborated with many different artists, played in various bands, and released a lot of music. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed those experiences, and I learned a lot from them. But there were still many stories that I held close to my heart, that I had not yet told.” – DF Tram
Fragmented words written on scraps of paper, dusty records and old samples that had been saved for this artistic moment, were all subjected to the cut and paste collage technique that is DF Tram’s preferred method of music creation. His style comes from his passion for art, especially music and film, but also the art of collecting, sourcing sounds from wherever possible, to reach a desired result. Living in Haight-Ashbury (San Francisco’s historical psychedelic heartland) has been highly influential for DF Tram, as art and individuality run deep in the veins of a city that encourages different views and ideas, and diverse, innovative music.
“There are a lot of themes running throughout – love, death, hope, break-ups, the environment, time, comedy, and psychedelia – so creating this album was a trip in and of itself. I think those who listen, will hear an album bathed in smoke, soaked in red wine and then sprinkled with psychedelics – all ready to be cooked in your heady oven…” – DF Tram
Let the musical journey begin… Opening with “Nightcrawler” – an experimental homage to Film Noir movies with a bit of Charles Bukoswki and Jim Morrison thrown in for good measure – creates a mood that is perfect for the beginning of a true magical musical mystery tour de force. “The Hands of Time”, a quirky number featuring the beautiful voice of fellow SF visionary, Coppe Sweetrice, follows, along with “The Idea”, a chillout lounge masterpiece (inspired by Afterlife) that is equally suited to laying on a beach, or walking in a city. A bossa nova rhythm and guest keyboards from Jonah Sharp (aka Spacetime Continuum) breathe playfulness into “The Mystery”, before the amazing Coppe Sweetice returns to add her vocal contribution to the psychedelic daydream that is the album’s title track.
“I like to tell stories, and music is the perfect outlet for that. Like a movie, my mixes and songs many times have a beginning – middle – and end, and are often filled with drama, and comedy – not unlike a film. I love the idea of creating something new out of something else. Using found sounds, or samples, to tell a new story. I am also a big fan of spoken word, and poetry. I’ve been writing poems for as long as I can remember – I think the spoken word adds an interesting dimension, especially when put over the right piece of music. It can transport you to another time, or place.” – DF Tram
A love of Middle Eastern and Asian musical influences, over a dance beat and bouncing bassline, give “Road to Shambala” its distinctive edge, while “Whale Song” touches on heartfelt environmental issues and “Sunflower Jam” – a jazzy chillout track, with a comedic edge and psychedelic twists – features Tram’s friends Ted Metzger (bass) and Willie Rusert (Rhodes).
The super-playful “Foxfur” (based on a track Tram originally created for a film) incorporates his love of psychedelic music and also the distinctive electronic sounds of Krautrock, whilst “Soul Exchange” once more features the beautiful voice of Coppe and is already a firm favourite in the DJ sets of chillout legend Mixmaster Morris. The musical journey nears its end with a simple ode to positivity in “Mind Just Right”, before the soundtrack and spoken word influenced “Finale” draws proceedings to a close.
“This album is 100% honesty, a culmination of different styles of music that I have loved over the years. The music on this album is something I would listen to at home, in a car, or on my headphones around town, yet it still has tracks on there that are suitable for a club (which I think is nice). Each track tells a different story. All of them are very personal to me. All of my life experiences have moulded the person I am and the music I create today.” – DF Tram
