John Morrison’s October Philly Top 5: House music, horror punk, The Vinyl Harvest, and more

Spooky Season is over, and as always, October was packed with dope shows, gigs, and screenings alike. My partner has been out of the country, so I’ve been a bit more proactive about getting out of the house and taking advantage of our city’s rich music culture. New record digs and discoveries and events abound; here are 5 highlights that defined the past month in Philly music for me. 

Deep Aural Penetration — The Philly EP

Lately, I’ve been revisiting a lot of early ‘90s club music in my DJ sets. One of my favorite recent discoveries is Deep Aural Penetration’s The Philly EP from 1992. Produced by King Britt and Mark Boyce, the EP is full of gorgeous acid and deep house jams, and the titles of the mixes pay homage to legendary nightlife staples like Silk City, Vagabond, and London’s Brain Club.

Soul Dhamma — “Flower (K.O.T. Black Orchid Vocal)”

Speaking of King Britt, his Underwater Garden Dub of “Flower” is an all-time classic. About a week or so ago, I slipped it into a future jazz set at DJ Lil’ Dave’s birthday party, and it went over well as usual. I’ve recently started playing the Kings Of Tomorrow version, and it’s absolutely beautiful. A slick and soulful cut with a churning drum break under it, the K.O.T. mix sounds like a clear sky on a bright, sunny day. A completely unstoppable cut no matter what side you spin. 

The Goats — No Goats, No Glory 

It’s been a while since I’ve listened to The Goats 1994 sophomore album No Goats, No Glory. Combining punk, funk, and jazz with rap, The Goats hit upon a sound that was perhaps too unique and distinct for mainstream audiences in the mid ‘90s. Songs like “Rumblefish”, “Mutiny”, and “Wake ‘N’ Bake” are just as blunted and trippy as I remember them. Highly recommended if you like hearing druggy hip-hop punks rap about beating up nazis. 

Vinyl Tap: The Vinyl Harvest at Common Beat

On Oct. 24, the Vinyl Tap 215 family gathered for another edition of our regular meet-up at Common Beat in West Philly. With a full lineup of DJs including Kotta Ranks, Chick da Funkman, Comrade Cota, Courtnee Owens, Dr. Dave McCullough, Traksaw, and myself, the music was rocking all day. I got to spin a lot of gems from my collection, including a bootleg 12” of Massive Attack’s “Unfinished Sympathy” that I’ve been itching to play out. In addition to the great music, Vinyl Tap is always a fun time and a chance to catch up with a community of folks whose spirits are as quality as their musical selections. 

Ink & Dagger: The Order

On Oct. 27, PhilaMOCA hosted a screening of The Order, Nathaniel C. Shannon’s experimental documentary about Philly punk legends Ink & Dagger. Perfect for the Halloween season, the film explored the band’s vampire-inspired mythology and framed them as a product of the city’s dark energy and seedy underbelly. I remember Ink & Dagger from back in the day, but never got to really explore their catalog. The Order was a fantastic introduction and a tribute to one of Philly’s best and most bizarre bands.