As Malicious Vinyl's first signing, Excel played pure Venice, California bred balls-to-the-coping skate rock, charged from the same creative wellspring that fueled the peerless Dogtown skateboard team of the mid-1970s, and Excel's Venice bros Suicidal Tendencies. That spirit — epitomized by the Glen E. Friedman photo of Dogtown pioneer Tony Alva that graced the cover of original vinyl pressings Seeking Refuge— is in the album's every unflinching groove. Excel's third and final album, Seeking Refuge contains some songs that had been in the band's repertoire as far back as 1991, but by '95 they were recording with a more metal-minded line-up, updated from their original '80s incarnation. On Seeking Refuge, the band is clearly possessed by a propulsive energy that doesn't allow for melodic nuance, although singer Dan Clements' voice has sonorous uplift, and lyrics to go with it. Subverting the assumption the music so aggro must be bent on destruction, Clements delivers lucid, unencumbered messages ("don't deny your brother/ don't deny one another" goes "Riptide") over Brandon Rudley's shreddymade guitar leads and the tribal-minded pounding of no-last-name drummer Max. Befitting their titles, "United Naturally In True Youth" and "Take Your Part Gotta Encourage" are mercuric monuments to positivity embedded in seriously burly riffage, while the wah-wah intro of "Riptide" sucks the listener in and under like the Venice beach breakwater on a dangerous day. The album peaks with the focussed quickness of "Unenslaved", a five-and-a-half minute emancipation proclamation ("feel unenslaved now/ they can never rule me") with a dreamtime breakdown evoking the mystical surf experience of shooting the tube...before breaking right back into the churn. EXCEL, "Unenslaved" Excel, "Unenslaved"

If you are a freak-a-zoid, Bobby Evans is your friend. "Freak-A-Zoid Robotz (RMXXOLOGY Theme)" is his new single, so get ready for some serious electro-pelvic gyrations. The song sports whip-it-good drums, ass-clapping bass, and synapse-snapping synthesizers...but not today, not here, not now. Instead we're freaking on one of the single's bonus cuts, the Freakapella, reveling in the isolated voice of a loving droid as it gives props to the pioneers of Miami Bass music: Freak-A-Zoid Robotz Acapella. FREAK-A-ZOID ROBOTZ (RMXXOLOGY THEME) ACAPELLA And now for a word from the Bobby Evans:  "While making 'Freak-A-Zoid Robotz' I was taking in a steady diet of bass and early electro, Afrika Bambaataa, Gucci Crew II, Maggotron, DJ Smurf — a lot of the artists who wound up getting name-checked on my song. Even the SP-12, TR-808, and TR- 909 are mentioned on the chorus. Those machines were the foundation of the music so I knew I had to work them in. Musically 'Freak-A-Zoid Robotz' is steeped in Bass references, the drums are 808s, there's arpeggiated synths, and of course the Vocoder! Also everything in the mix was touched by the same classic reverb that Prince used on 'When Doves Cry'." Thanks Bobby. Freak!

On Tuesday, Sept 23, Los Angeles is the place to be. Or to be exact, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., one block below Melrose. That's where the fine-feathered folks at Cinefamily are hosting the special Delicious Vinyl night of Word Is Born: Hip Hop At The Movies. 8pm, chill'un! You'll catch ultra-rare footage of Ramellzee and graffiti artist Jean Michel Basquiat at the Rhythm Lounge on Melrose--a rare pocket in the advent of L.A. hip hop culture.  Also, Soul Brother "Legendary" will present highlights from 1982-1989 (from the Freak Beat to the Golden Era), from his upcoming Suns of James Brown documentary, which features footage of Uncle Jam's Army, Jam City, Ultrawave, and underground dance crews including early moves from members of The Pharcyde.  Next, Delicious Vinyl artists (Tone Loc, Young MC, Def Jef, and Body And Soul) appear in a 1988 Electronic Press Kit made for the label by director Tamra Davis.  Plus music videos, a live dance performance by the Soul Brothers, DJ set by KDAY Grand Mixer M-Walk, and some other very special guests! To top it all off, Peanut Butter Wolf will be in the house to VJ pon de replay.