Editor’s Note: Once again The Selective Echo welcomes Chase Loter from Positively 4th Street Music for this week’s take on the eclectic, independent music scene which drives the sophisticated tastes of Salt Lake City listeners, DJs, and musicians.

New T-shirts, hoodies and accessories for men and women – representing everything from the New York Dolls and AC/DC to David Bowie and Technics – are now in stock. The long, hot dry summer is finally coming to an end so Positively 4th Street Music is equipped to help anxious skiers and snowboarders prep their winter music needs along with Scull Candy headphones. Vinyl is part of the store’s core hard-to-find, diverse offerings. The store also can help those vinyl LP collectors find affordable record players ranging from $25 to $130. Customers also are invited to ask Leif to display some of his well-rehearsed Soul Train moves. There’s never a dull moment at the store.

Among the newest releases on the SLC music radar are:

Baron Zen’s At The Mall: Remixes – Originally recorded between 1988 and 1992, these tracks have just been re-released and sound as fresh as ever. As usual, a fusion of tastes and influences drove this group’s sound – a blend of Joy Division, Black Flag and the Dead Milkmen interspersed with early sounds of hip hop, pop and disco. BZ comprised a few college kids (San Jose State University) with a 4-track, drum machine, keyboard and a little guitar. Chris Manak a/k/a Peanut Butter Wolf was a member of the group, who later went on to found Stones Throw records in the early 90s, a leading label for innovative music.

Keb Darge’s and Cut Chemist’s Lost & Found: Rockabilly & Jump Blues – The result of two of the biggest names in DJing, record collecting, producing, compiling, etc. Darge, a native of Scotland whose authority on rare funk 45s is known globally, has released numerous hard-to-find funk compilations. Meanwhile, Cut Chemist, a Los Angeles native known for Jurassic Five (underground rap) and Ozomatli (Los Angeles Latin funk), has made his own mark in the field of 45s remixes done with DJ Shadow. Together, these two have created the hot demand among DJs, diggers and collectors for rare funk 45s. Whenever I see either one of these guys on anything, it’s a sure nominee for best CD/recording purchase of the year. So stop sleeping and pick this one up!

Mark Ronson’s Version – Yes, the man who dominated the music scene this year by bringing Amy Winehouse’s “Back in Black” and Lily Allen’s “Alright, Still” put this amazing cover CD out in July and I still haven’t played it out. Ronson, the stepson of Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones, discovered the DJ culture as a teenager living in New York City. As a turntablist, he has worked with everybody from Macy Gray and Jay-Z to Jimmy Fallon and Tommy Hilfiger and to Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Mos Def. Check out amazing people doing songs by Radiohead, Britney Spears, Kaiser Chiefs, the Zutons and Coldplay. Try and resist the urge to listen repeatedly to this first-rate compilation.

Polyphonic Spree’s Live from Austin, TX — Just dropping today, this release was recorded live in 2004 at Austin City Limits. Twenty-four musicians make up this symphonic pop group. Polyphonic indeed – a ten-member choir, two keyboardists, guitarist, flutist, trumpeter, trombonist, violist, string bass player, percussion player, French horn player, electronic effects musician, and, yes, somebody who plays that eeriest of instruments – the theremin! This CD is dirty, dusty,grimy, loud and just plain out good!!

Upcoming shows:

Wed 9/19 – helmet@avalon, the panic division@solid ground café, josh rouse@urban, the vibrators@burt’s, yellowman@suede, sam eye am & chaseone2@jackalope

Thur 9/20 – the umbrellas@solid ground café, qui@urban, sinead o’ connor@capitol theatre, dj mcfly@the dthl

Fri 9/21 – the f-cking champs@urban, dj ethics@circle lounge

Sat 9/22 – gore gore girls@burt’s, heart of the city hip hop festival @avalon, sam eye am chaseone2@jackalope