One of his latest projects, Nufonia Must Fall, is a perfect example. A story about a robot trying to impress a girl, it’s a comic book with a CD soundtrack and a mini chess set all in one. “When I was a kid, all my 7-inchers had books and pictures to go with them. So I thought it’d be fun to keep that tradition going,” ponders Eric. “If you can understand the humour in the drawing part you’ll probably get the humour in the audio part.”
His approach takes vivid imagination and geek-like dedication, not to mention a talent with the cross-fader. “Making Basin Street Blues was like doing an animated film,” he explains, referring to his turntable cut-up of Louis Armstrong’s classic number from his Some of my Best Friends are DJs album. “Every note on each instrument was found on different bits of records that had to be scratched in and bent. In the end you get music which sounds like the original but moves differently. Like when you see an animated character walking and there’s something slightly distorted about it. I like that.”
For source material Eric goes “digging in dime stores”, picking out bizarre educational and self-help monologues or “treasures” as he calls them. “I dig for those records that people are embarrassed to have, then make records documenting that they exist,” he grins. “Anthropologically speaking, it’s kind of interesting, like audio-voyeurism.”
His charms haven’t gone unnoticed either. Both Radiohead and Björk have asked him to prime their crowds. “It’s funny how making odd noises can get you into strange situations sometimes,” he says, remembering his slot at Madison Square Garden in front of 20,000 Radiohead fans.
Still, it’s obvious from his manner that success isn’t dulling his senses, and his imagination is as potent as ever. “Eventually we want to do a puppet musical with turntables in the orchestra pit.” As I said, he’s no ordinary DJ.
Basin Street Blues
Kid Koala Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the Mississippi
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
Old friends there to greet us
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Basin Street is the street
Where the best folks always meet
In New Orleans, land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems,
Or just how much it really means
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Is the street, mama
New Orleans, land of dreams
In the song "Basin Street Blues," Kid Koala transports the listener to the Mississippi river, inviting them to join him on a boat to New Orleans, the land of dreams. The beautiful city is full of old friends and new opportunities, as the band plays and the proud and elite meet, all in this otherworldly place they call Basin Street. The song speaks of the magical quality of this remarkable street, where the best people gather and the welcome is always free. Basin Street Blues is an escape from the mundane world and a place for the self to lose oneself and let go of one's Basin Street Blues.
The song was written in 1926 by Spencer Williams for Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five. This song has gone on to become a jazz standard, with countless artists covering the song since its release. Basin Street itself in New Orleans is known as the Cradle of Jazz and has a rich history in the development of the genre. The street was named after landowner Abraham Basin and once housed some of the city's most famous jazz clubs. The music and culture of New Orleans continue to inspire artists worldwide, and Basin Street Blues is a prime example of that.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you come along with me
Asking to join on a journey
To the Mississippi
Heading towards the Mississippi river
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Traveling by boat to the dream-like land of New Orleans
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
Cruising through the river towards New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
A welcoming band awaits our arrival
Old friends there to greet us
Meeting with old friends and acquaintances
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
A place for the highest social class to socialize
Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
Describing Basin Street as paradise on earth
Basin Street is the street
Identifying Basin Street as the desired location
Where the best folks always meet
Where the most respectable people gather
In New Orleans, land of dreams
Referring to New Orleans as a dream destination
You'll never know how nice it seems,
Highlighting the beauty and joy of Basin Street
Or just how much it really means
Stressing the significance of Basin Street in life
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Content and happy to be there
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where hospitality is cherished and appreciated
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Escaping the sad or lonely feelings associated with memories of Basin Street
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Repeating and emphasizing the importance of Basin Street
Is the street, mama
Asking for attention while identifying Basin Street as the desired location
New Orleans, land of dreams
Reiterating New Orleans' dreamlike status
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Spencer Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Beardedone
2020 still loving Koala
Seth Cox
Cheers on 2021🍻😎🖤
Tanya Tomasch
Same💜
yekker 22
word.
This-is-Actual
2022!
Warren Itsuks
This song reminds me of the time that iconic album came out. Like a soundtrack for my life. Much love to Koala ❤️💯
Offender Sin
I had this on a burned cd in high school, was the theme song of my stoned walk to school each day.
64_bit
this is one of the funniest things I've ever imagined lmaoooooo
WPBart
ależ klimat, super
GOSUmartialarts
Love this song.