Peanut Butter Wolf, before making his name as a DJ and Producer and before founding Stones Throw Records, was programming drums for a one-man electro/disco/punk army from San Jose, CA known as Baron Zen. Known, that is, to almost no one, because Baron Zen did not play shows, did not release records, rejected all forms of publicity, and above all, rejected the bounderies separating hip hop, electro, disco, punk rock, goth, and pop.
Sweet Steve is the man behind Baron Zen. His recording career as Baron Zen lasted from 1988 to 1992, the best of which is collected on this album .. disco DJ stuck in suburbia.
Chuck Berry, Joy Division, Wildstyle, Cameo, Flava Flav, KRS-One, Just-Ice, Tones On Tail, TDS Mob, O'Bryan, Divine Styles, Tuff Crew, Ministry, Mourning Becomes Electra, Knights Of The Turntable, Ultimate Breaks & Beats, Super Rat, PIL, the Specials, Ultramagnetic MCs, Violent Femmes, Motor City Crew, Cabaret Voltaire, Arabian Prince, Egyptian Lover, Soul Sonic Force, Planet Patrol, Prince, The Time, Twilight 22, Fatback, Yaz, New Order, Vandals, Suicidal Tendencies, Agent Orange, Cybotron, One Way, ConFunkShun, Grand Master Flash & the Furious Five, K-Solo, Kings of Pressure, Lakim Shabazz, Maggotron, Man Parrish, Art of Noise, Timezone, Sexual Harassment, Newcleus, Garrets Crew, X 25 Band, Kraftwerk, Model 500, World Class Wreckin Crew, Tilt, Herbie Hancock, West Street Mob, Unknown DJ, CDIII, Triple Threat Three, Word of Mouth, Freeze, Andre Cymone, Spoonie Gee, Whodini, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Switch, Slave, Brides of Funkenstein, Shock, RJ's Latest Arrival, Skyy, Change, The Clash, Madness, Aurra, Kool G Rap, Cool Rock J and DJ Slice, Dynamix II, Madlib & Lord Quas, Cpt FUNKAHO .... J-Dilla (R.I.P.) ...
Description: Baron Zen’s Rhythm Trax Vol. 3 is the third installment of Stones Throw’s DJ Friendly Rhythm Trax Series (preceded by James Pants and DJ Romes), and the follow-up to his early 90s four-track post-punk masterpiece, "At The Mall."
On Vol. 3, Baron Zen departs from his garage band roots summoning the spiritual essence of early '80s electro pioneers such as Alexander Robotnik and Ryuchi Sakamoto. The soundscapes of this Rhythm Trax contribution satisfy the need for synth-drenched funk while maintaining a murky atmosphere intended to move even the haughtiest New Wave revivalist.
Tracklisting:
1. Strange Woman's Room (Baron Zen & Tekblazer)
2. Robot Funk (Baron Zen & Tekblazer)
3. Electro Boogie (Baron Zen & M-80)
4. Rocket Ship (Baron Zen & Tekblazer)
5. Space Bass (Baron Zen & Tekblazer feat. cuts by Steel Born)
6. West Coast, East Coast (Baron Zen AKA Sweet Steve)
