WE FUCKING LOVE MUSIC

BK One - For the Love of Music (2004ish)

2012-01-27T02:26:00.000-08:00

i picked this up seemingly ages ago (when ill! was just a little sniffle) at a Rhymesayers show in Boston - i believe it was a tour-only mix from BK One, label dj and beatmaker extraordinaire. a wide range of hip-hop is obviously represented here (from KRS and Kweli to Snoop and Redman and everything in between), but there are several tracks dedicated to an assortment of funk/soul and reggae/rocksteady. oh, and it's structured around samples from High Fidelity (aka the music snob's magnum opus movie) and it closes with William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful For What You Got," which is an absolutely perfect song in my estimation. the concept may sound pretty rote, but the execution is what makes this a mix i come back to over and again without fail.

it's my go-to cooking record, for what it's worth

Dr. Timothy Leary, Ph.D. - Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out [1967]

2012-01-26T08:32:00.000-08:00

Here's some trippy shit.

Dr. Timothy Leary and co. narrate a sort of acid meditation ("Galactic time has labored to produce this moment. Exquisite. All things, all images, move slowly within shimmering nets", etc. etc. etc.). Backing this is a melange of '60s hippy culture--sitars, folky guitars, odd sound effects, bird songs...the whole album would come of as incredibly goofy if it wasn't so goddamn sincere. The record as a whole is a fascinating artifact from a time when psychedelic exploration still had cultural validity.

don't do drugs*

*just kidding.

Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther [1963]

2012-01-24T09:14:00.000-08:00

Everyone's heard the title track from this soundtrack. You're humming it to yourself right now, don't even fucking deny it.

Even though the first track has historically overshadowed the rest, the whole thing is essential. If you don't know Henry Mancini well, this is a great introduction. His sound incorporated big band swing, Les Baxter-style exotica / lounge, and jazz. Full of interesting (unique, but never gimmicky!) tone colors and sounds, Mancini was a perfect choice of composers to score the quirky, wonderful movie that is The Pink Panther.

This is primo lounging music.

Download.

Lounge.

Steve Martin ain't got nothin' on Peter Sellers.

Stan Getz - Getz Au Go Go [1964]

2012-01-23T09:15:00.000-08:00

This is a recording of the great tenor sax player Stan Getz and his band, performing live with the wonderful bossa nova singer Astrud Gilberto. One thing I love about jazz, and particularly about the jazz of the 1960s, is its ability to be mellow and relaxing without sacrificing complexity or depth. This record is a stunning example of such. Listening to it now, I can just feel myself decompressing (and I just fucking woke up).

One of my favorite parts of this record is the amazing vibraphone. Lacking a piano, the vibes (courtesy of jazz master Gary Burton) are responsible for holding down the chord changes. As such, Getz's warm tenor solos seem to be floating on air, as the vibes drift through the songs.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah...

DJ 2-Tone Jones - Shaolin Jazz [2011]

2012-01-22T19:29:00.000-08:00

This one shouldn't take a lot of explanation.

Classic bop recordings + the Wu-Tang Clan?

Yes please.

This is one of those rare mash-ups that works just as well as one would like. What makes it click so well is that it's not just a bunch of one-bar loops with some a cappellas (hyperlink leads to some etymology that I found mildly interesting) slapped on top. Rather, the beats are constructed in such a manner as to compliment the vocals fantastically.

Bonus points for how many of the samples you can recognize.

Q. Is the Wu-Tang Clan something to fuck with?

A. No.

Extra: this gallery of Wu-Tang album art redone a la Blue Note records is wonderful, and I believe was the inspiration for this album.

The Bug Vs. Rootsman + DJ /Rupture - Split [2003]

2012-01-20T07:42:00.000-08:00

I always had a hard time understanding the "dub" in dubstep. However, when you go back to the right places, there it is, staring at you in its dubbed out glory. This is a fun little split in that it's neither really dub nor dubstep, but whatever it is, it's fun.

The first half, The Bug vs. Rootsman is heavy, distorted, noisy and furious. If you don't know The Bug already, his tracks on this split are pretty indicative of what he would go on to do. Ferocious overdriven electronic snarls, backed by broken dancehall riddims. The vocals are excellent too ('cause what would a The Bug track be without some guest vox?), propelling the piece.

The second half is DJ /Rupture, one of my favorite DJs. His set is meticulously crafted, as always, with the spoken word samples, beats, and ambience.

The split EP is a great pairing, though not one I necessarily would have thought of. Both /Rupture and The Bug have a sort of apocalyptic feel, in this case The Bug is the apocalypse, and DJ /Rupture is whatever comes afterwards.

Lemme know what y'all think of this one.

SOPA Blackout bandwagon

2012-01-18T11:54:00.000-08:00

so everyone is finally getting a wind of SOPA (thanks Ford!) and the blackout date is today. We aren't doing that because of several reasons (#1 being this is blogger and a music blog,, with #2 being just how annoying it is trying to access wikipedia). anyway, this post is just to let you guys know the USAs government loves lobby money and that they are trying to setup something similar to the "great firewall of china (clever rite)". so go and tell your senator etc that you dont want anything to do with SOPA and oppose it, want to repudiate it et. al.

go dog

Beck - Hell Yes (Remix E.P.) [2005]

2012-01-17T14:53:00.000-08:00

Funky 8-bit remixes of a couple songs from Guerro, by some of the same people that did the Hell Yes remix on Guerolito. Tight, dancey gameboy sounds, but made more organic by Beck's voice. Poppy, but bizarre. I think my favorite track off of here is "Bad Cartridge (E-Pro).

I want this on vinyl so fucking bad (it was released as a 7", I believe). There's something hilariously useless about an analog representation of digital data. And the cover's fucking sick.

BEEP BOOP BEEP

Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby - The Original Jam Sessions 1969 (2004)

2012-01-15T23:57:00.000-08:00

Yeah, you read that right. In 1969, Quincy "I Fucking Produced Thriller" Jones was the musical director for The Cosby Show. This album is him jamming with the tight ensemble he put together to use as background music, and it's awesome. But, I suppose I should elaborate.

I don't know Quincy Jones well--his only albums that I can say I've listened to thoroughly are this one, Thriller (it's pretty underground, you probably haven't heard of it), and his big band stuff. All of them are awesome, but I really don't have a clear picture of who he is a musician through these. But, I'm not even worried about it, 'cause they're all formidable beasts of jazz, funk, funky jazz, jazzy funk, et cetera et cetera et cetera.

This one is just laid back, jazzy, funky soul jamming. Groove heavy and mellow, it's not hard to imagine Bill Cosby sitting in his comfy chair (I can only assume he brings one wherever he goes), puffin' on his cigar and tapping his foot approvingly. When he gets up to join in the jam session, in one of the alt takes for "Hikky-Burr" he's on fire--making goofy Bill Cosby noises perfectly within the jazzy context, takin' the band for a ride.

But yeah, rambling aside: if you like funk, vintage jazz, Bill Cosby, soundtracks, sweaters, or tight rhythm section jamming, this is one for you.

HIKKY-BURR!

John Coltrane - Coltrane (1957)

2012-01-12T11:12:00.001-08:00

Trane's first record as a bandleader, recorded while on a "break" from Miles' band (smack is bad for you?). incidentally, he was only paid $300 for this (about $2,300 in 2011 $s), just in case you thought there was ever a time when labels weren't predatory... anyways, it's clear that his time in Miles' group had an impact on Trane, as his economical statements of the head melodies are worlds away from the sheets of sound that are hallmarks of his later playing. the easy swing in his phrasings and the silky tone of his tenor ooze heartfelt sentimentality and emotional content, especially in the ballads. also of note is the rhythm section of Paul Chambers (also from Miles' quintet) and Albert Heath, who effortlessly lay down some tricksy grooves (like the hemiolas in the fiery opener, Bakai). if you're more keyed into stuff like Blue Train rather than Ascension, this is for you.

chronic blues

George Benson - The Other Side of Abbey Road (1970)

2012-01-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

This was a newly-discovered gem for me. Recorded just three weeks after The Beatles's "Abbey Road" was released, this is a fantastic R&B infused, jazz re-imagining of a few Abbey Road songs.

Jazz guitarist George Benson is joined by some fantastic folks, including legends such as Idris Muhammad on drums, Herbie Hancock on the keyboards, and Freddie Hubbard on trumpet. Benson's vocals are used fabulously--snatches of lyrics here and there, obscured by reverb, pop in as if to remind you of the Beatles' song that inspired their jamming. When you throw in a string section, great arrangements, and a lovely production job by Creed Taylor, and you've got yourself a fantastic listen for a lazy afternoon.

lolwut

Darkside - EP (2011)

2012-01-09T22:24:00.001-08:00

Someone suggested this in a comment, thank you.

Nicolas Jaar's sideproject with Dave Harrington. All the airy, sexy, electro-magic of Jaar, but with some even sexier guitar in the mix.

How many times can we say sexy? This is really good sex music.

Mugison - Mugiboogie (2008)

2012-01-09T22:12:00.000-08:00

An oldie but a goodie. Forgot how goodie, till it just came on shuffle.

Slightly eccentric Icelandic man, making raw and heavy blues which recalls the Black Keys' early good stuff. A couple of tracks bite, but for the most part they're all excellent, and the title track is to die for.

Rock outttt

Fnessnej - Stay Fresh, Ey (2008)

2012-01-09T09:49:00.000-08:00

Fnessnej is a five piece instrumental group from Germany. That's the easy part to describe. What do they play? Some sort of crowded, chaotic, improbably poppy blend of synth-pop, 8-bit, post-punk, math-rock kinda music. It doesn't work out on paper, but holy shit--this is a fun album.
Constantly dancey, with styles falling away as soon as you recognize them, this is an album you'll immediately put on repeat, if only to figure out what the hell you just listened to. Due to their style being so very everywhere, the album stays fresh throughout. Enjoy.

A MATH PROBLEM WITHOUT AN EQUALS SIGN

Itzhak Perlman - Paganini's 24 Caprices for Solo Violin (1978)

2012-01-06T11:57:00.000-08:00

well screw you avax...

I've been on a big Paganini kick lately. For those not familar, Paganini is known primarily for his virtuosicly fast and notoriously difficult violin pieces. I'd argue that it's the classical equivilant of Buckethead, taking classical violin far outside of it's normal comfort zone.

Playing on this recording is Itzhak Perlman, who can (as required) tear his fucking violin to shreads with his lightning fast bow.

This album is Paganini's 24 Caprices for Solo Violin. Each piece studies specific (bruatally fast, impossible) techniques. That said, there's as much to enjoy aesthetically as they are technically. They're light, fun, and energetic.

I think that y'all'll like this one.

BONUS ROUND! Does anyone have a copy of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's recording of Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring from 1978? I need to listen to it for my thesis...

Total Freedom - The Banging Bells of Hell (2010)

2012-01-04T11:58:00.000-08:00

it seems i'm always hearing good things about NYC's Ghe20 Goth1k, probably the most frequently lauded club/party of 2011. more than the word of mouth love, this mixtape solidified GG's rep in my mind. it's telling that in a bounce-back year for hip-hop, a mix released in 2010 never left my rotation. the lesson here? the combination of apocalypticism, 808 breaks, and Southern drawl is always a killer.

6 feet long gone, 666 bitch

Røsenkøpf - Dispiritualized (2011)

2012-01-03T13:36:00.001-08:00

demo tape (and i mean tape) from psych/noise/goth outfit Røsenkøpf scored them a deal and they're currently readying a debut 7" that will likely blow similar genre releases out of the water in the first quarter of 2012. residing beneath the hiss is a compelling blend of swirling guitar, driving bass, brilliant drum sequencing, and Martin Swope-ian live vocal editing that's as exciting as anything i heard last year. can't wait to hear what's next from these guys.

ground floor

Detektivbyrån - Wermland (2008)

2012-01-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

Detektivbyrån, meaning "The Detective Agency", is a folky, electronica-y group from Sweden. Immediately recognizable due to their spectacular instrumentation (lots of accordian and keyboards, therimin, toy pianos, glockenspials...), their instrumental music evokes nostalgia and wonder.

The album flows well, exploring Swedish folk in several ways. Though the songs are all fairly similar, in terms of structure and form (you better like 6/8!), each one's instrumentation is different enough to keep it interesting. Unfortunately, the group is now defunct, and this was their only full length album.

This is a good album with which to ring in 2012. Listen to it while taking a walk in the snow.

2012! 2012! 2012!

In The Wee Small Hours - Frank Sinatra (1955)

2011-12-31T02:47:00.000-08:00

I love this album.

"In The Wee Small Hours" feels like insomnia, in the sexiest way possible. Pacing with a Winston at 3 o'clock in the morning has never sounded so romantically sad. But of course--this is motherfucking Frank Sinatra, the man with the best voice in recording history. His rich baritone is so full of nuances and subtle inflections that you get lost in them, as he drops straight-up 1950s wisdom on your ungrateful earballs.

And the arrangements! Goddamn! The omnipotent Nelson Riddle hits solidly home with his orchestration that sounds like the night. Ranging from small ensembles to a full orchestra, each song is simultaniously rich and subtle, and accompanies and accents Sinatra's voice. Riddle has done a lot of interesting work, I'd also recommend checking out his soundtrack to Lolita for a very different side.

If you haven't heard this before, you're in for a treat.

SAD FRANK

oh, and happy new year wflm people.

controller.controller - History (2004)

2011-12-30T14:15:00.001-08:00

A strong debut EP from an unfortunately short-lived Toronto favorite.

Moody, pulsing, dark and heavy disco-dance. Has one of my favorite tracks of all the time, 'Disco Blackout' - dare you not to dance.

They're gonna cut the lights

Keith Jarrett - Paris Concert (1990)

2011-12-30T13:54:00.000-08:00

The master improviser (and occasional master prick) doing what he does best.

Recorded October 17 1988 - hence the first track - and released a few years after. Packed with his trademark vocalizations and interesting improvisations.

Enjoy

La Bottine Souriante - Cordial (2001)

2011-12-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

So, in light of some Québecois dude bitchin' in the comments about how "English music isn't Canadian, francophonez 4 lyf, blah blah" (not actually a quote), here's some fucking fantastic French Canadian music.

La Bottine Souriante--"the smiling boot", if my high school French is right--plays traditional Québecois music, with the addition of a jazz horn section, funky bass, and nasty keyboards. Folk music often is portrayed as boring and lifeless, but this is anything but. I dare you to play this and not dance--legitimately impossible.

My favorite track on here is "Le démon sort de l'enfer", which starts of as very straightforward folk, but with each successive verse gets funkier and funkier. However, most every track on here is just as catchy, and will make you move.

OAUY!

V/A - Folk Songs of Canada Now (2011)

2011-12-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

Really great collection of folk field recordings, as compiled by Henry Adam Svec, and performed by some of Canada's better known musical talents (such as Olenka Krakus, Laura Barrett and Wax Mannequin).

It's presented less like an album, and more like an academic study, with extensive and informative background information and a free download available on the project's website, which I highly recommend taking a look at. (Fun fact, if you're a fan of Kate Beaton's webcomic Hark! A Vagrant, she's done all the art for this project as well.)

Enjoy, eh

La Mer and Trois Nocturnes - Claude Debussy (1984)

2011-12-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

Excuse me for echoing David Toop ("Toooop doggy, dooo-ooo-ooo-ooog!"), but I'd definitely argue that modern music's fascination with texture and tone color can be traced to Claude Debussy. One of my favorite composers, his Nocturnes are easily my favorite of his compositions--lush and rich, they are evocative and abstract without losing their ability to convey awe and wonder.

This particular recording is one of my favorites. The London Symphony Orchestra is conducted by the great André Previn through both the Nocturnes and his equally stunning orchestral work "La Mer". Part of what makes this such a stand-out performance is the recording. EMI's first commercial digitally recorded release, the engineering on this CD is spectacular. The sound stage is enormous, and every part is audible. This naturally adds a great deal to the intricate textures and timbres of the piece, putting Debussy's ground-breaking instrumentation in plain sight.

PROPAGATE BEAUTY.

Age of Mythology Soundtrack - Stephan Rippy & Kevin McMullan (2002)

2011-12-14T17:39:00.000-08:00

I was actually playing this game earlier today when I remembered how spectacular it's soundtrack was. On listening, it turns out that the soundtrack to Age of Mythology is just as evocative and entertaining outside the context of the real-time strategy masterpiece.

The bafflingly named tracks ("Eat Your Potatoes", "Flavor Cats (In the Comfort Zone)", "Ma'am...Some Other Sunset") alternate being mysterious and ambient, and epic and orchestral, jazzy and electronic. The use of live instruments and electronics makes it sometimes difficult to identify the sound sources, but all are evocative of your Norse axemen mowing through Hydras and Egyptian chariots (or something like that).

But really, this is one of those soundtracks (like those I've been posting lately) that stands on its own, outside of the context of it's grafted video-game. Stylistically, I'd liken it to the soundtrack from the first Halo game--ambiently eerie, alien, and ultimately entertaining. So, even if you haven't played the game, I implore you to give this a listen.

I'm all about the norse. what's your mythology of choice?

V/A - Donaueschinger Musiktage (1994-2010)

2011-12-14T00:18:00.000-08:00

it's tough keeping up with contemporary composition - it can take years for a piece to be written, premiered, recorded, and maybe released by a label. so besides going to shows, i try to pick up releases from new music festivals, like these from the Donaueschinger Musiktage, to keep me current. unfortunately, that's no easy task either, as the DM has recently swapped distributors and each year's recordings are split up into several volumes released on a seemingly arbitrary schedule. fantastic. nevertheless, i consider these an invaluable resource for trending the avantgarde and as an introduction to up-and-coming composers/ensembles worth keeping an ear on. here are some recent favorites.

1994 vol. 1 (modern pieces for player piano! borderline ridiculous)
2002 vol. 1 (vocal-centric)
2006 vol. 3 (Smolka and Mitterer fuck with the baroque)
2006 vol. 4 (large chamber works from Kagel and Posadas)
2007 vol. 3 (works for large orchestra/electronics)
2010 (new pieces for string quartet; unreleased)

Gogol Bordello + Balkan Beat Box - J.U.F. (2004)

2011-12-13T16:05:00.000-08:00

First of all, if you're not familiar with Gogol Bordello or Balkan Beat Box, go familiarize yourself with them.

"J. U. F." stands for "Jewish Ukrainishe Freundschaft"--Jewish Ukrainian Friendship. It's about what you'd expect with these two projects coming together--Eugene Hütz and his oversized personality provide well placed yelps, howls, raps, and singing. Tamir Muskat, the drummer/programmer for Balkan Beat Box lays down techno beats, which are augmented by his drumming. All this provides a great pad for lots of saxophones, percussion, dub bass, gypsy violin, and whatever else these guys had lying around (i.e. bagpipes and shit).

This album isn't as good as either of the groups' best efforts, but it's still a lot of fun. It's pretty consistent, and stands up well to repeat listens. The whole thing is exellently dancy, and never seems to be taking itself too seriously--everyone sounds like they're having a good deal of fun.

culture is a cultural construction

Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight (1972)

2011-12-11T12:06:00.000-08:00

I'm glad that in the past couple years, Fela Kuti's been getting the recognition he always deserved. Throughout his storied life (seriously, look up some of these hijinks), he made a fuck-ton of spectacular afro-beat, each release as good as the next.

Fela invented and popularized afro-beat, with it's mix of African-American funk rhythms, Yoruba drumming, psychedelic guitars, cataclysmic horn lines that hit you like a dump truck made of dump trucks, and long long long long song forms. Holding all this joy together is Fela's versatile voice, full of emotions and character.

This release has some of my favorite tracks--the title track, in particular is glorious.

Oh, and I heard that musical based on his life was real good.

Bonus: this is in a similar vein (with fela's old drummer), and is also fucking sweet. deep cuts from the wflm archives...

Tony Allen + Jimi Tenor

Ectoplasm Girls - TxN (2011)

2011-12-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

from Sweden comes this creepy little gem of a record - let's call it dark ambient. the first few tracks settle you in, but the record really takes off near the mid-point - "If Your Mother Asks" (track 7) begins the best run of songs on the album. present are all the sound elements that are hallmarks of this type of music, but they're employed with restraint and to great effect. the strangulated drum loops seem to want to get a party started but never quite get there. it's anti-dance.

fyi, this is really good subway music

Pete Swanson - Man With Garbage (2011)

2011-12-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

"Man With Garbage" is the accompanying CD with Pete Swanson's "Man With Potential". I don't know Pete Swanson, but after hearing this li'l bonus album, I'm certainly planning on picking up "Man With Potential".

Atmospheric, ambient, glorious noise. Earsplitting, brain-expanding, aurally-pleasing noise. Try walking around town in a foggy night with this in your headphones.

GAAAARBAGE.

K.Flay - I Stopped Caring In 96 (2011)

2011-12-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

I just saw K.Flay open up for some hip-hop shit. The hip-hop shit was good, but K.Flay was fucking great--easily one of the coolest performances I've seen for a while. Getting back from the venue, I looked up her recordings, and what do you know? Also awesome.

I've been so fucking hooked on the three volumes of her mixtape "I Stopped Caring In 96". It's not really the kind of stuff I usually listen to, but it's so fucking good--the beats are dirty and Fresh (with a capital 'F'), and her delivery, somewhere between spoken word and rap, is smooth and full of cool lines.

PARTY IN MY PANTS

Station W.E.F.U.N.K.

2011-12-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

So this really isn't the type of thing usually posted here, but fuck it, it's worth posting here. Based out of Montreal, WUFUNK Radio is a weekly radio show featuring live vinyl mixes of vintage funk and hip-hop mixes. Using lots of deep cuts of killer tunes, this is one of the most consistent internet radio stations I've ever ran across.

Best of all? A huuuuge fucking archive of past shows.

Make My Funk The WEFUNK; I Wants To Get FUNKED UP!

Post your fave web radio sites in the comments, plz.

Isao Tomita - Snowflakes Are Dancing (1974)

2011-12-04T18:42:00.000-08:00

Riding the wave that originated with Walter/Wanda Carlos' "Switched On Bach" (a masterpiece of applying synthesizers to classical music) came Isao Tomita. The Japanese producer used a staggering array of state-of-the-art (at the time) synthesizers, including the same Moog that Carlos used on "Switched On Bach".

Tomita's subject for his synthesizer translation was Debussy, and I can't think of a better composer to be given this treatment. As one of masters at orchestration and timbre, I'm fully convinced that if Debussy was born today, he would be all over synthesizers.

Tomita's interpretations are fairly loose with their subject material in a fantastically creative way. Lush, rich soundscapes are created with his analog stallions, all retaining the evocative beauty that is inherent to Debussy's wonderfulness.

Hello, Angus.

The Olivia Tremor Control - Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume One (1999)

2011-12-03T10:56:00.000-08:00

so the olivia tremor control are back, and their newer songs sound as magical as the ones contained withing their first two albums. things are looking good, and i thought i'd share their second album, which many say is a culmination of what sounds they were all chasing - and i'd agree if i didn't think their first album was just as good. this album has all of the classic elements of the band - an adamant aptitude towards experimentalism while maintaining an incredibly high standard of pop songs. all the influences are here; from the dada movement, baroque pop melodies to the beach boys harmonies, the olivia tremor control have managed to orchestrate it all in such a colorful blend that it is impossible to call this anything but a classic. lovely sound, please do listen.

download

also, will, u coo

Fool's Gold - Fool's Gold (2010)

2011-12-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

I caught a show by these cool cat's a couple years ago. Playing with two very good bands (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Local Natives), they stuck out as being particuarly wonderful. Maybe it was their burning sage in a cleansing ritual on stage before hand (always a classy move), or possibly the end of the show, with the whole band drumming as they marched through the crowd. Or it could have been the saxophone's elementally pentatonic lines, while the singer's falsetto hebrew. Or maybe it was the acid. Or the Afro-pop guitar solos?

Regardless, this is a fun little album, and I think y'all'll enjoy it.

As a side note, I picked up the Red Hot Chili Pepper's newest live show (they just teamed up with Nugs.net, the group that manages live releases for every jam band out there (HEY BANDS! DO THIS TOO!)), and was suprised to see that not only are they touring with Fool's Gold, they bring up the sax player to do a few songs with them. So if you're in Europe (maybe?), check it out.

Getatchew Mekurya & The Ex & Guests - 2007

2011-11-30T21:19:00.000-08:00

Dudes, this is awesome.

Getatchew Mekurya is an Ethiopian jazz saxaphone player. Particuarly active in the fifties and sixties, he was "one of the first musicians to record an instrumental version of shellela, a genre of traditional Ethiopian vocal music sung by warriors before going into battle. Mekurya took the shellela tradition seriously, often appearing onstage in a warrior's animal-skin tunic and lion's mane headdress".

So that's pretty cool on its own.

But, when people started looking back on the awesome Ethiopian jazz scene a couple years ago, he caught the attention of The Ex, an anarcho-post-punk band from the Netherlands. They did a few albums with each other (not full on collaborations, but one with The Ex as a backing band for Getatchew, and another one where he solo'd on a few songs of their's, or something like that).

Shit really catches on fire with this live DVD, though. Each half of the equation (Ethiopian free jazz + post punk) clearly influences the other, and ends up creating a sound unlike any other I've heard.

Sometimes biting and raw, the saxophone is like a screaming spirit over the edgy, rough guitars. Sometimes funky, the horn section delivers afro-beat style epic lead lines. Sometimes jazzy, Getatchew spits hot fire atop of the punk structure.

This fucking rules.

Pet Sounds in the Key of Dee - Presented by Bullion (2007)

2011-11-30T11:11:00.000-08:00

first things first, what a hilariously shooped cover. now, i fucking love dilla, and i fucking love pet sounds. so for me to be finding out about this album so late is kind of embarrassing - my cred has now suffered. anyway, excellent production (albeit a bit compressed - but hey, you can do that if you call it a mixtape) by english producer bullion. the mix here is as satisfying as it is fun to listen to. if you are acquainted with both pet sounds and dillas work, you will love this treat. in terms of what period of dilla bullion aimed for, it is for the most part pre-donuts (but after the dee[troit]) mixed with some donuts goodness and some of what was evident in jay stay paid. killer basslines and snares to die for. very nice album. the track "you still believe in dee" is a particular favorite of mine. enjoy.

download

PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love (B-Sides) (1995)

2011-11-29T21:20:00.000-08:00

You guys.

Not sure why these were released as b-sides, because every track is golden. She starts unapologetically, immediately screaming her desire to "wanna bathe in milk, eat grapes, Robert DeNiro sit on my face", and continues her ruthless and reckless energy throughout.

It goes to some strange places, but the entire thing is worth two tracks in particular - Maniac, which channels the same vibe of her better known single Down By The Water, and Harder, which evokes the best moments of her Rid of Me album days - which are two of the sexiest, rawest, oh-god-I'm-so-turned-on vocal performances alive.

Mmmmmm yeahhhhhh

Protect IP Act - Call your senators

2011-11-29T13:14:00.000-08:00

from http://americancensorship.org/:

"The US Congress is considering America's first system for censoring the Internet.

Despite public outcry, the Internet Censorship bill could pass at any time.

If it does, the Internet and free speech will never be the same:"

so go to the website so that they can connect you with your senators and just say you oppose the protect IP act. you call them and they connect you after some quick bulletpoints. no hassle and just zip codes required, the email is for american cencorship to send updates.

Neil Young - Dead Man (1995)

2011-11-28T21:13:00.000-08:00

I recently added the 1995 movie "Dead Man" to my list of movies-I-need-to-see-but-have-heard-the-soundtrack-to. It grows and grows and grows.

I don't know anything about the movie but for the liberal use of film excerpts. Normally I'm not a fan of dialogue over music in soundtracks, but it fits Neil Young's ambient, improvised guitar jahms like a glove.

The soundtrack was recorded in one take, with Neil Young improvising while he watched the film. And, since he's Neil Young, Neil Young plays his slow, grungily atmospheric guitar in such a manner that I don't need to see the movie at all.

Just let Neil Young's guitar talk to you.

Edit: And now people are saying that Gibby Fucking Haynes is in this movie? I need to see it right now.

Satanstompingcaterpillars - The Most Wonderfulest Thing (2002)

2011-11-27T15:07:00.000-08:00

precursor to black moth super rainbow and tobacco, satanstompingcateripillars is the original pseudonym under which tobacco started experimenting. more like bmsr than his solo stuff, this music still retains the properties which make the rest of his music so unique and likeable - good rhythms coupled with psychedelic vocoder treats. good for those who like this type of music. not the most astounding, but perfect for these calm winter times.

download

Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de Couleur Libres (2011)

2011-11-27T12:31:00.001-08:00

wow. the best avant-jazz i've heard in 3 or 4 years, and not for lack of trying. this is an INTENSE record, with each track capable of multiple shifts in style; brutal, crushing lows; and dizzying, blissed-out highs. filling in the spaces is next level musicianship, interesting instrumental combinations (check out the distorted guitar/violin duo in "Song for Eulalie"), and plenty of overdubs/audio treatments. it's actually quite refreshing to hear jazz discoursing with technology in a meaningful way. maybe it's cliche, but the depth of feeling is what pushes this album over the top, especially the raw, unrestrained vocal work. and, of course, the swing is the thing; if you like the swirling chaos of Mingus's soulful large ensemble improvisations then this is right up your alley. so do yourself a favor - take an hour out to kick back on the sofa with your vice of choice and experience this amazing record from start to finish. by the time the last song comes on, you'll feel like you've earned it.

my picture will never be taken

Pablo Moses - A Song (1980)

2011-11-25T11:28:00.000-08:00

When I was on my big dub kick last month, someone mentioned this album in the comments. I tracked it down (shit's been out of print for years!), and oh man. This is easily some of the best reggae I've heard.

The title track ("A Song") is epic, dark, and so quintessentially reggae with cutting synths, a big chorus, driving bass, back-beat guitars, and I believe timpanis (timpanii?) from time to time. But, on an album this good it's just not possible to pick a favorite. So I won't.

I know I've thrown a lot of dub and reggae your way recently, but trust me--this one is essential. And out of print.

Love it, please.

Daphne Oram - Oramics (2007)

2011-11-22T00:58:00.000-08:00

i won't ruin the trip and say too much about Oramics besides that it's probably the best random discovery i've made in 2011, and if it had been released by Four Tet, FlyLo, GLK, or Boards of Canada it'd be on everyone's year end lists. it's worth mentioning that the album art above is from the 4xLP deluxe gatefold that was released this year (the version available below is the inferior 2007 2xCD). it'll set you back around 50 bucks, but if you like the up it's definitely worth the purchase.

disc 1
disc 2

Alice Coltrane - Ptah, the El Daoud (1970)

2011-11-21T15:25:00.000-08:00

Alice Coltrane's third solo album is sheer beauty. Her simple and sparse rhythm section sit comfortably in common time, setting a support upon which Alice - appearing on both piano and harp - and her horns explore a myriad of minor and pentatonic melodies. Their phrasing is moody, melancholic and haunting. Tunes like the title track and Blue Nile prove catchy and syncopated, while the absolutely gorgeous Turiya and Ramakrishna remains my ultimate remedy - if you're anything like me, nothing will sooth you like this song.

One can read alot into this album, recorded whilst Alice was actively engaged with several eastern concepts of spirituality, practices which she infused into her music. To me, the mysticism is in her musical phrasings; this is truly divine.

Om.

Laibach - Volk (2006)

2011-11-20T22:25:00.000-08:00

I used to complain about how their weren't any albums consisting entirely of industrial techno covers of national anthems.

Then I found this album. Consisting of fourteen tracks--Germany, America, England, France, Israel, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Russia, Poland, Norway, Japan, the Vatican, and China--the lyrics are bleak, and highly critical of nationalism. Hell, they even give Norway shit!

That said, it's subtle. That's not I word I throw around with industrial music often, but the beats never seem gratuitous or forced. Apart from that, though, there's all the wonderful, epic things you would expect from Laibach: heavy synth beats, drum machines, a threatening voice chanting politically charged rhetoric about nationalism (people used to give Laibach shit for their nazi imagery, but track one really puts that myth to rest), atmospheric pads, and a general sense of menace.

OOOH SAY CAN YOU SEEEE?

Abner Jay - Folk Song Stylist (2010)

2011-11-20T20:28:00.000-08:00

Mississippi Records' collection of his early tracks. Musically jumps around from gospel to folk to blues, but all tracks are united by his seriously powerful vocal performance. I can't recommend this enough.

Enjoy.

Ashkenazy & Rubinstein - Chopin's Nocturnes (1997, 2000)

2011-11-19T02:14:00.000-08:00

a nocturne is music to be played at, or that is evocative of, night. Chopin's sets are easily the best in the genre. why? well there's very little overt complexity here: the form is a simple ABA, with two contrasting themes; the (mostly) uncomplicated harmony is supplied economically by arpeggiated chords in the left hand. you've probably come up with more complicated melodies singing to yourself in the shower. so what makes these so fucking excellent, then? the eastern-European lilt also heard in Bartok, Rach., and Scriabin? the impressionistic tone colors of Debussy, Ravel, and Gershwin? hell if i know. Rubinstein said "Chopin was a genius of universal appeal... [His music] does not tell stories or paint pictures. It is expressive and personal, but still a pure art. Even in this abstract atomic age, where emotion is not fashionable, Chopin endures. His music is the universal language of human communication. When I play Chopin I know I speak directly to the hearts of people." well shit then.

a note on the recordings: Rubinstein's collection is the best available. he plays it the way i think Chopin would, with delicacy and impeccable phrasing that shapes the melodies and emphasizes interesting harmonies. Ashkenazy's interpretation is more dramatic, with lots of exaggerations in tempi and contour. it makes for an uneven set (he absolutely butchers the Bb min.), but his highs are probably higher than Rube's, especially where power and flair are concerned (F, Ab). also included is a mix of modern-ish nocturnes and ephemera influenced by Chopin that you might also like (parent discs available if you ask nice).

Rubinstein disc 1
Rubinstein disc 2
Ashkenazy disc 1
Ashkenazy disc 2
bonus stuff

SOPA (oh shit the internet is over)

2011-11-17T21:03:00.000-08:00

so many of you are probably aware of this already: http://americancensorship.org/ and for those who are not, its a bill trying to pass that could basically do any one of these things:

allow isps to block any website they deem is breaking the law
shut down sites like youtube, tumblr, and other websites i dont really visit (but are cool)
cut off funding to websites that are also breaking the law
make it a felony with an up to 5 year sentence to use any copyrighted material even if you are not commercially using it
dismantle the morality of internet security
????
and more

so please negate that with will or simply write and call to your congressman. this crap should not pass. if it does, we will not be able to fucking love music anymore.

Johnny Flynn - A Larum (2008)

2011-11-17T10:16:00.000-08:00

This is, without a doubt, my favorite folk album, and one of the most well-loved pieces of music in my life.

Johnny Flynn is the British singer/songwriter responsible for this masterpiece. His playful lyrics are joined with incredible instrumentation--traditional americana instruments being used in unorthodox ways. Lots of cello harmonics, trumpets, mandolins, drums...

Anyways, as the days get colder, you're going to need some warm music. This is a great choice.

WINTER IS COMING.

HANDWITHLEGS-The Electric Cave (2011)

2011-11-14T16:35:00.001-08:00

Rattling live percussion mixed with drum machines beats. Distorted guitars blended with arpeggiating synths. Vocals distorted and drenched with reverb, at equal level with the music, almost as another instrument. To me, this is what industrial music should sound like in 2011.

Give it a try

Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Summvs (2011)

2011-11-14T10:34:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting collaboration. Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, best know for his wonderful soundtrack work--"Little Buddha", "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence", and (I shit you not!) the start-up sound for the Dreamcast--is joined by Alva Noto.

Alva Noto is, in a way, germany's second Oval. Experimenting with glitchy electronic tones and textures, along with oscillators and samples of modems, he accents and rhythmicisizes Sakamoto's lush chordal soundscapes.

Sometimes full and rich with close-miked, reverbed piano and strings; sometimes minimal and electronic; sometimes almost inaudible; this is a very interesting ambient record. Never too much going on to overwhelm thought, but likewise, never so static as to bore.

I think that y'all'll like it.

Woodbine - Woodbine (1999)

2011-11-13T10:15:00.000-08:00

Last night I worked for 13 hours, doing lights, sound, and security at the music venue employs me.

Now I'm fucking beat, and this is the perfect music for an exhausted Sunday afternoon.

Psychedelic, relaxed, folky, organic, rich. These are all good words to describe this album.

I don't know a thing about this group, except that their second album is just about as good as this one, and that they're on the lovely Domino Records label.

Anyways, this is a nice little gem. I don't think that anyone will dislike it.

If anyone knows anything about the group, leave it in the comments.

spliiiiiifffffff time.

Shivkumar Sharma, Brijbushan Kabra and Hariprasad Chaurasia - Call of the Valley (1995)

2011-11-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

This album is a wonderful place to begin exploring Indian classical music. Although it uses very non-traditional instrumentation (slide guitar, hammer dulcimer, wooden flute, and tablas), it offers a sort of intermediary between western timbres and Indian song forms.

Indian classical music is very different than what is labeled as classical music in the European tradition. Based around different ragas (which would most closely be approximated as modes), the music is heavily improvised. But, you really don't need to know the mechanics of what's going on to appreciate this beautiful music.

If you dig this and want more suggestions, lemme know in the comments.

droooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooone

░▒▓ - █ ▄ █ █ ▄ ██ ▄ ██ ▄█ [2010]

2011-11-08T18:29:00.001-08:00

Hehe. Good luck searching for this one.

As gimmicky as the artist name/title might be this is a lovely ambient excursion. Some very intimidating soundscapes, but ultimately very beautiful. I think Mr. ░▒▓ himself describes this release pretty well:

This Mister Softy side-project was born just after the Paulstretch / Bieber craze. Seeing how incredible the algorithm was I decided to make something with it. I collected various samples (a full track I did a while back, snippets of unfinished stuff, comedy radio broadcasts, bass guitar recordings I made last year with a borrowed instrument - I don't even play bass but who cares?), "paulstretched" them, fired pro-tools and made a huge montage with the stuff. I then recorded the output on tape using a worn, shitty ghetto blaster with damaged heads. Finally, I mixed the digital and tape versions together (to get rid of the digital purity while maintaining a sense of clarity). The end result is a series of ominous yet relaxing soundscapes lasting over 35 minutes.

█ ▄ █ █ ▄ ██ ▄ ██ ▄█

Oysterhead - The Grand Pecking Order (2001)

2011-11-07T18:48:00.001-08:00

My mind damn near exploded when I found discovered this gem during my junior year of high school. At the time, I was really into Phish and Primus, and...well, for someone who likes those bands, this album's something of a mindfuck.

With Primus' Les Claypool on bass (slip slap slap-ing the shit out of those strings), The Police's Stewart Copland (who lays down some tight pockets), and Phish's Trey Anastasio (who, at what was undoubtably an oxy-ed out low point, hits a home run), this is the power trio to end all power trios. Each member is undoubtably a master of their instrument, and with this one-off side project, they really stretch out quite a bit.

What immediately makes the album stick out is the lovely, lush, colorful production. Claypool and Anastasio's past studio albums tend to stick to what they can do live--both have masterpieces under their belts, but "The Grand Pecking Order" is very much a departure. Full of overdubs, rich textures (thanks largely in part to The Matterhorn, Anastasio's custom guitar with--get this--a fuckin' theremin made out of fuckin' antlers attached to the side), and silly voices, the album is light enough for constant listening but complex enough to listen to constantly. That's right, I fucking went there.

Anyways, even if you're one of those snobs who won't touch jam bands with a ten-foot-pole, I implore you to give this a listen. Or I'll poke you with my ten-foot-pole.

"When all else has been done and said / you best look out for Mr. Oysterhead!"

Amadou & Mariam - Sou Ni Tilé (1999)

2011-11-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

An incredible blind married couple from Mali, whose music straddles multiple genres. This genre-bending is immediately apparent in the haunting opening track, which blends Indian tabla and violin over a blues progression, all while retaining elements of their western African roots. Their eclectic style is united by incredibly catchy melodies and rhythms. They've put out several albums, this is one of my favorites.

Enjoyyy

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band - What's Going On? (2006)

2011-11-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one posting here anymore?

Okay, now that that's out of the way: this album kills. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans' own Dirty Dozen Brass Band covered Marvin Gaye's classic album "What's Going On?".

They could not have chose a better album to cover--the issues in Gaye's deeply personal and political album remains relevant today, and one can only imagine how much his calls for social justice resonate with these musicians who lost their homes to the devastating hurricane.

If a top-tier brass band covering classic motown funk doesn't do it for you (and it really should), then get this: Public Enemy's Chuck D does vocals for the first track, and Betty Lavette, Ian Neville, G. Love, and Guru also contribute vocals for other tracks.

This is a great listen. Check it out, and then buy the album: proceeds go to benefit the New Orleans music community.

What's goin' on?

(but seriously, am I the only one posting here anymore? i'm 12 and what is this)

Various Artists - Getting Off! The Seductive Sounds of 70s Adult Cinema (2007)

2011-11-04T23:35:00.000-07:00

Enough with this intellectual nonsense.

Here's a compilation of 1970s porn music.
It's funky as shit.

Slap bass.
Tacky synths.
Wah-ed out fuzz guitars.
Tight horn lines.
Noodling.

There are so many puns I want to be making, but I won't.

GET IT ON.

Keith Hudson & Friends - The Hudson Affair (2005)

2011-11-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

MORE DUB BY POPULAR DEMAND:

Keith Hudson is one of my favorite dub producers. His album "Flesh of My Skin, Blood of My Blood" is one of my all time favorite dub albums (also, check out this blog. it's one of my favorites). His music is consistently dark and clautrophobic, full of sonic interest while not sounding contrived or cliché--Hudson is one of the key people (I'd put him up there with King Tubby, Lee Scratch Perry, Augustus Pablo, and Errol Thompson) who gave dub its signature sounds.

Anyways, this two disk set is fascinating for a number of reasons. First of all, it contains many tracks which are fundamental to the development of reggae and dub. The first track, "Old Fashioned Way", shows reggaes foundation in American R&B. This wonderfully upbeat track has all the trappings of a typical reggae song (backbeat guitar and organ, low bass, and quintessentially reggae-y drums), as well as a keyboard line which will be stuck in your head for a week ("doo doo doo doo doo!").

The second reason I love this compilation is in the second track: "Dynamic Fashion Way", a dub version of the first song. Using mostly the same form as the "original" (quotations are present because originality is a false capitalist concept. /marxist), the instrumental track is toasted over by the fantastic U Roy. The track really reinforce Hip Hop's roots in dub, as U Roy responds to the lyrics of the first song and encourages the audience to dance. Almost every track on this album is accompanied by two or three dubs and versions, making the album a great example of the musical developments that led to dub as its own musical style.

In an even broader sense, the techniques demonstrated on this album laid the foundation for todays remix culture, and contributed to the general destabilization and deterritorialization of music that remains ongoing. The internet has further contributed to this process, as music is removed from its cultural and geographic boundaries.

Anyhoo, if you're at all interested in the history of dub, you'll get a lot out of this.

Sorry for all the big words.

This is what happens when I take breaks from thesis writing to post things I love.

DISC ONE.
DISC TWO.

Snuffy - Mangia! (2011)

2011-11-02T16:47:00.001-07:00

First and foremost: if you're one of the posters who's album this isn't, don't be mad at me. Y'all threw so much good shit up there that it'll take me ages to get to it all. I fully intend to put much more of it up here, 'cause y'all are some articulate, informed, tasteful motherfuckers. Still, for whatever reasons, this was the one that really stuck out to me--it spoke to me today.

This suggestion came from the illustrious Mike A. What does 'A' stand for? We can only speculate. Maybe 'articulate':

Just a fun ass album that takes explores animal collective experimentation with a hip hop beat. just listen and you may be hooked. P.s band name is in homage to the late great Mr. Snuffulupagus
http://snuffymusic.com/

This is a fairly accurate description, I guess. I'd replace the Animal Collective comparison with Ratatat--their textures are all quite beat driven, in a fun way. Very rocky, and just all around fun. I think you'll dig it.

Anyways, I'll post more of your suggestions later--I love how articulate and knowledgable this community is. Keep it up.

Various Artists - Dub Gone Crazy: The Evolution of Dub at King Tubby's (1995)[v0]

2011-11-01T13:19:00.001-07:00

Happy November, y'all.

I've been listening to a whole lot of dub in relation to my thesis (remind me to talk about that sometime, it's pretty relevant to this blog), and then I realized that there's not nearly as much old-school Jamaican dub on this blog as there should be. So I'm taking matters into my own hands.

Dub music is quintessentially Jamaican, though the impact of the music was felt world-wide. During the 1960s and 1970s, mobile sound-systems were the primary places music was heard.

"King Tubby's Hometown Hi Fi" was one of these sound-systems.

Bobby Vicious: "Nothing compared to Tubby's. Tubby's was the legend, you know. And I"ve seen a lot of sound systems, man. Even today, with all the technology we have today, you still don't hear any sound system like Tubby's. They're big, and they're huge, and they're heavy, but nothin' compares to that sound Tubby had"

"The sound system context in turn influenced King Tubby's studio work: after witnessing the crowd's response in the dancehall, he would then elaborate upon these effects in the laboratory setting of his studio, and eventually use them to craft records", says Michael Veal in his vital book "Dub".

One thing that led to the success of his sound system was the pressing of special records--dub plates--that were popular reggae and ska singles, stripped down of vocals and spaced out with delay and reverb. These were used for MCs to toast over, talkin' shit about other sound systems, and getting the crowd hyped up and dancing. These dub-versions gave each sound system a unique sound, and Tubby's was know far and wide for being the best.

This album is a compilation of tracks made for and by King Tubby. Including a lot of work by his protégés Scientist, Philip Smart, and Prince Jammy, this is a great introduction to one of my favorite styles of music.

If people seem to be particularly into this one, I've got a ton of good Jamaican dub I'd love to throw up here.

Praise Jah jah jah jah jah jah jah

Danny Elfman - The Nightmare Before Christmas OST (1993)

2011-10-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

Holy shit, this soundtrack fucking rules.

I'm a huge Oingo Boingo fan, and all of Danny Elfman's creative chromaticism makes the transition flawlessly to soundtracks. Plus, this album has a longer shelf-life than most holiday albums, remaining relevant from October to December!

Highlights:

Fuck it, the whole album is a highlight.

I am filled with Halloween spirit!

(possessed, one might say).

WHAT'S THIS?

Carl Craig and Moritz Von Oswald - Recomposed (2008)

2011-10-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, whilst trawling the dark recesses of the internetz, I'll come across an album that'll make me go "how the fuck?! does this exist?! why haven't I heard about this?!". This is one of those albums.

When the highly esteemed and revered classical label Deutsche Grammophon opened its vault to Carl Craig and Moritz von Oswald to remix/reinvent Ravel and Mussorgsky, the detroit techno producers made the odd though experiment work out fantastically.

When I first read the description, I had a bleak vision of filters and drum machines behind generic classical music. This is not the case. Sometimes ambient, sometimes heavy and driving, the juxtaposition of classical music and techno is a much more harmonious combination than one would expect.

Chopping their source material sometimes beyond recognition, the two DJs keep the many layers in constant motion. Trumpets become percussive, and an organ is used to create enormous washes that flow across the left and right channels in an enormous sonic wave.

So, download this, pack a bowl, turn off the lights, and

GO TO SPACE.

Requests, plz.

2011-10-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

Comment with an album that should be up here that I've never fucking heard of.

Include a description.

The coolest sounding one (as decided by me) gets put up.

Fuck you, pigs!

The Ventures - Super Psychedelics (1967)

2011-10-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite album by the criminally underrated instrumental psychedelic surf guitar group. Pioneers in using pedals and effects in their compositions and covers, the album is rich with guitar tones. Tremolo-picked fuzz guitar joins sitars, flangers, phasers, theremins, and all manners of cool guitar tones as The Ventures chew their way through the pop hits of the 60s.

Though their original compositions are fun, and have mostly aged well, my favorite songs on this record are primarily the covers. "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Happy Together", and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" are each at least as good as the originals, and tend to add a great deal to their source material.

IT'S ALL ABOUT DAT TREMOLO!

Andreas Staier - Artist Portrait (2002)

2011-10-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

The talented German pianist and harpsichordist explores Bach, Mozart, Salieri and Schubert among others, and his interpretations are rich and nuanced. The strongest and most dynamic track however is the opener, Boccherini's Fandango, performed complete with castanets and flamenco stomping.

Hören Sie

The Dismemberment Plan - Emergency & I (1999)

2011-10-20T21:19:00.001-07:00

this year has been pretty bad for music, no? some would disagree, i'm sure (plenty, even) but as of now it sucks. anyway, time to be senile and promote something old - emergency & i. i extol this record because of the many factors that have helped make it such a good record. it's instrumentation is innovative in a way which makes it seem new at any point since it's release. i'm not the type to care for lyrics, honestly - a bunch of jirble-jarble nonsense about rattle snakes and jarred mutants, but the contemporary timelessness they portray is really astounding - they are very applicable to that modern view of the world, even if this is 12 years old. musicianship is beyond precise, reaching very satisfying levels of composition and the odd time signatures break pace in a very great way. the "90s sound" is all but there and their jangly sound and definitive keyboard is great, plus the drumming is fantastic. superb listen and a total treasure, give it a spin of your harddrive or whatever other terrible thing to say there is.

download

Rinaldo Alessandrini conducting the Concerto Italiano - Brandenburg Concertos (2005)

2011-10-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

I love Bach, but there seems to be a constant assault on the man's music. I've heard countless lifeless performances and recordings that deconstruct his mathematical, fractallian counterpoints and melodies to soulless, half-dead theory exercises for robots. This is not one of those recordings.

Under Rinaldo Alessandrini, the Concerto Italiano performs the pieces with great emotion and liveliness, as they manage to make the classical ensemble music literally (not literally) leap of the sheet music and run around like a stag in a...parking garage? The tempos are towards the faster end of the spectrum, but not unnecessarily so (*coughcoughGlenGouldcough*).

The recording quality is magnificent. Ever single part is heard in absolute clarity, and balanced immaculately. This is splendid, because every part is performed near-flawlessly. The use of period instrumentation on this recording gives it an astounding depth of tone-color and lush, rich ambiance. The solos are without-fail virtuosic--of particular note is the harpsichord cadenza in the fifth concerto (supposedly performed by Bach himself at the premier!).

Also, I don't know what the fuck this cover is. But goddamn, it's pretty cool looking.

UNKLE - Psyence Fiction (1998)

2011-10-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

This is the album that I can trace almost all of my favorite music back to ("back to which I can trace my favorite musics"? screw you grammar). The product of a collaboration between James Lavelle and the always-spectacular DJ Shadow, the album has everyone you could possibly like.

Kool G Rap? Check.

Mike D from the Beastie Boys? Check.

Thom Yorke? Yep.

Badly Drawn Boy? Absolutely.

Richard Ashcroft? Check.

Metallica's Jason Newsted? Plays the goddamn theremin!

Ian Brown? You know it!

And these are just the guest artists. The samples are all over the place--this is DJ Shadow we're talking about--and reinforce the almost cinematic Sci-Fi feel of the album. Lots of creepy vocal samples, Shadow's trademark dirty-ass drums, and old commercials give this album a lush soundscape.

And the music! Ah! After the swirl of samples in the intro (it's fucking ridiculous, look it up on wikipedia 'cause it's too long to put here), comes some killer gangsta rap, mellow trip-hop, hard-rock, ambient interludes, a string ensemble with beats, more hip-hop, and then a fucking Thom Yorke ballad (with a stellar video).

This album's a fucking trip, and the songs flow into each other so well, your brain can't help but create its own space-opera narrative.

YOU ARE ALONE?

Outsider Lounge Music - Captain Luke + Cool John Ferguson (2008)

2011-10-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

"Music Maker Relief Foundation keeps our culture vital by directly supporting senior (over 55) American roots musicians in need. We provide for basic life essentials while expanding their professional careers so that our rich musical heritage can be shared with the world and preserved for future generations.

Since the organization’s founding in 1994, Music Maker has assisted hundreds of musicians who represent the traditions of Blues, Gospel, Old-Time String Band, Jazz and more."

Captain Luke, born in 1927 in South Carolina, sings a bass that's low and full of emotion. Paired with the bluesy guitar stylings of Cool John Ferguson, an album full of some killer blues tunes. Both personalities shine through, and make the album remarkably personal.

Check out this short video of Captain Luke teaching how to sing bass.

Support Music Maker.

Download.

Classixx - Into The Valley (2011)

2011-10-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

LA's Classixx used to be called Young Americans until they got sued by David Bowie, which is both kinda shitty and kinda awesome. their dance-y mixes have been featured in Kitsune Maison, DFA, and Stones Throw comps, and they recently released this first single from their long overdue debut, which will be out... soonish? threw in a bunch of their remixes to round out the dl; peep their fucking excellent take on Yacht's Psychic City, better than the original.

jack and diet coke and turkish royals

go here for remixes of the new single by Yacht and Julio Bashmore

Björk - Biophilia (2011)

2011-10-11T23:52:00.001-07:00

it's a Björk.

whatever

Tim Hecker - Dropped Pianos (2011)

2011-10-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

"This new Tim Hecker release is composed of sketch pieces recorded in 2010 in preparation for what would become the Ravedeath, 1972 album. All of the compositions are piano driven and minimal in nature. This is not a new Tim Hecker album, but rather a peek behind the curtains into the working process. That these pieces stand on their own as compelling soundworks is a testament to the fact that Tim Hecker is at the absolute top of his game at the moment."

Dig? This man makes some of the most fascinating soundscapes I've heard. Glitchy and yet wholly organic, they run the full spectrum. From intense, overwhelming noise to tranquil meditative sounds, I love it all. And so will you.
Like the description says, this is the sketches made in preparation for his most recent album. It's a little more dependent on acoustic instrumentation then his typical stuff--there's lots of piano--but y'know what? I could care less. This is still the stellar sound of Tim Hecker that I know and love.

CRASH (that is the sound of a dropped piano)

bonus fact: I spent way to long trying to get this fucking cover the right size. Jesus.

Colin Stetson - Those Who Didn't Run (2011)

2011-10-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

20-min, 2 song EP reminds me of P. Glass's extended sax melody studies. here the swirling, distorted/processed alto lines are paired with Can-ish, krauty rhythmic elements that provide a constant pulse no matter how "out" the playing gets (which really isn't that far out, anyways). edgy, sharp, beat-driven, and propulsive in a way that most modern/avant/minimal/studio-fun "un-jazz" (Arve Henriksen, say) isn't.

where have you gone, Nadia Boulanger?

Xander Harris - I Want More Than Just Blood EP (2011)

2011-10-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

follow up EP to XH's excellent debut, Urban Gothic, which is something you'll definitely want to pick up if you're a fan of that Gatekeeper '80s horror-electro swag. the title track, one of the standouts from the full length, is remixed here into an 11-min epic and is itself worth the price of admission.

here

Rawkus - Forgiveness (1996)

2011-10-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

Traditional Hebrew chants, electronified. Some dancey, some catchy, some heavy. All really neat sounds. I don't know much about this album or it's maker - I picked it up years ago second-hand - but if you care to enlighten us, comment.

להורדה

Shukar Collective - Urban Gypsy (2005)

2011-10-07T11:39:00.000-07:00

The Shukar Collective was born in Romania from the meeting of traditional ursari musicians (ursar means 'bear tamer' or 'bear handler') using spoons, wooden barrels or darabuka, and electronic music. What results is urgent, soulful, highly original and distinctive sounds. Some of it is a little difficult, but standout tracks like 'Gypsy Blooz' remain accessible and awesome.

Descărcare

Merit Hemmingson - Queen of Swedish Hammond folk groove 1971-77

2011-10-06T17:25:00.000-07:00

Now, I'm not going to lie. I don't think that there's particularly a lot of competition for the Queen-dom of Swedish Hammond folk groove. But! If ever there was, I'm pretty confident that the sublime Merit Hemmingson would sweep the competition.

The music is pretty much as described--it's Swedish, it features a Hammond Organ, it's folk music, and it grooves like a motherfucker. My favorite track is probably "Steklåt från Älvdalen", which has a particularly tasty groove trip into some very fusion-y lines. Most of the tracks stay in about this territory, for better or worse, and are all quite mellow in a jazz-funk kind of way.

Chill, bro.

Various Artists - Funkcronomicon (1995)

2011-10-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

I've been loving this album for upwards of four years, and I still don't have a good grasp on what it is. Bill Laswell, producer extrodinaire, reassembles two discs-worth of some of the primest funk grooves, into a mismatch of funky thangs that range all over the place. All still have the classic Axiom sound, with low dub bass, drum loops, and very clean, almost sparse, production.

It's a great place to jump into Bill Laswell, who is easily one of the most prolific musicians ever, since it features a number of his stand-out groups, and many of the musicians in his enormous stable; Material and Praxis both have tracks, and Bernie Worell, Buckethead, Bootsy Collins, Eddie Hazel, Herbie Hancock, and George Clinton all make appearances in this indisputable funk masterpiece.

Ranging from aggressive, open jams (Cosmic Slop, Jungle Free Bass, Orbitron Attack) to tightly produced electronic funk grooves (Hideous Mutant Freaks, Animal Behavior), there's something on this album you'll dig.

Expect to see more Bill Laswell up here soon.

FUNK

Elliot Goldenthal - Fire Water Paper: A Vietnam Oratorio (1996)

2011-10-06T00:20:00.000-07:00

after posting the Good Thief soundtrack, i googled Goldenthal and it turns out he's a decently well respected composer as well. if you're looking for sexy chamber jazz or trip-hop interludes, you won't find them here. this is SERIOUS CONCERT MUSIC godammit, elevated to such by the presence of the OC's Pacific Symphony, no less than 3 choirs (!), 2 vocal soloists, and Yo Yo fucking Ma. it's not avant-garde by any stretch - there are few modern techniques and overall the work owes more to John Adams' minimalism and non-functional tonality (think Harmonielehre and Dr. Atomic) and romantic-era tone poems (Berlioz, especially) than it does to Stockhausen or Boulez. and despite its art music overtones, Goldenthal occasionally falls prey to a filmic mindset, with heavy reliance on the strings in the brutal Scherzo, and the odd "Law & Order murder scene" chord progression.

despite all that, i think this is pretty good. those propulsive James Newton Howard-ish filmic elements give the impression of an underlying narrative, like the music is taking you somewhere instead of making you wait 5 minutes for something rad to happen. and besides, there are some really sublime moments that will catch your breath (4:30-5:45 of track 3). judge it for yourself.

and it's about the Vietnam War or some shit

Worship Black Twilight - 2009

2011-10-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

Right now, I'm baking several loaves of bread with upside-down crosses on them. This is because I can't afford to pay the entrance fee to catch some of these cool (angry) cats (black metal bands) tomorrow, and am going to do my best to barter my way in.

This is a compilation of some fantastic black metal bands from the legendary Black Twilight Circle collective. The tracks range from the biting hatred of Ashdautus, to the semi-ambient track by "Unknown", and the post-rock stylings of Arizmenda.

These groups are all the real deal, as is evidenced in this fascinating interview.

As always, if you love what you're hearing, support the band.

HAIL SATAN

Toronto Chiptunes

2011-10-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I drove nine hours to Toronto for a gathering of 8-bit musicians. Coinciding with the TIFF center was 12 hours of live chiptunes, with half a dozen NESs projected in the background.

This was just a prelude for the all night rave held outside of the old city hall. A big crowd raged to gameboy luminaries blasting uptempo beats, and impromptu breakdance battles broke out throughout the night.

Yours truly was on hand running a line out to record the madness. Right below are two standout sets: DEADBEATBLAST and Awesome Force.

BLEEP! BLEEP! BLOOP! BLOOP! WUBWUBWUBWUBWUB!

Seriously, shit was fucking raging. Check it out.

Burzum - Burzum (1992)

2011-09-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not a particularly evil dude. But there's something about Norweigen Black Metal that grabs me, and the evil-er the better. Varg Vikernes is convicted of murder, arson, and continues to espouse all sorts of rascist beliefs. But goddamn, he makes some great noises.

With track titles that would come off as tacky if they weren't so sincere ("Channeling the Power of Souls Into A New God", "Black Spell of Destruction"), this whole album is just pounding brutality, save for an ambient interlude or two.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

(Bonus fun fact: the guitar solo on "War" was played by Euronymous, the man that Varg later went to jail for murdering).

Simon Bookish - Everything Everything (2008)

2011-09-26T18:51:00.000-07:00

First post.

Howdy, y'all.

This album's been one of my favorites recently--there's a new wavey rhythm section, surreal lyrics ("...and he says run from fear/fun from rear"), and a horn section playing minimalist polyrhythmic lines that would make Philip Glass proud.

All this adds up to pop music with some incredible density and replayability.

Lemme know what kinda sounds y'all wanna be hearing from me.

I need a new sense of humor!

Leftovers

2011-09-25T18:26:00.000-07:00

some stuff that never got posted because of whatever.

Adult. - Anxiety Always (2003)

debut album from Crystal Castles.
download

Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts (2011)

chill, Beck-produced, mostly acoustic album from the Sonic Youth frontman. features Sea Change-ish chamber arrangements.
download

Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (2010)

long overdue record 14 years in the making from Michael Gira's flagship post/art/noise-punk group. your move, Kevin Shields.
download

V/A - The Good Thief OST (2003)

oscar-winner Elliot Goldenthal's elegant score to Neil Jordan's 2002 Bob le flambeur remake also includes tracks from Leonard Cohen, Serge Gainsbourg, Bono (covering Sinatra), and some N. African shit. don't believe this is available elsewhere.
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Igor Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring (1913)

3 essential recordings of Le Sacre du printemps: Stravinsky conducting the Columbia Symphony (1960), Claudio Abbado and the LSO ('70s), and Esa-Pekka Salonen and the LA Phil (2006).
download

Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin' On (2011)

2011-09-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

A beautiful follow-up to their self-titled, this record is heavy on providing it's title's promise - creep factor.

A lone and unusual male voice croons over especially sparse arrangements, mixed and mastered in such a way that it sounds unlike anything else I've listened to as of late. Couple this with unidentifiable sound effects - creaks, drones, thumps - and you've got the makings of seriously eerie ambiance. Tracks like the opening 'Bad Ritual' retain enough catch to get in your head, where others as 'Obelisk' depart from songwriting entirely and sound like old horror soundtracks, there only to enhance the scary atmosphere of the work. Eerie, spooky, chilling, scary, awesome.

I've listened and listened, you should too. It's a great lead up to all hallows eve.

Elliot - Found Sounds (2011)

2011-09-16T00:31:00.000-07:00

This is Elliot, the electronic beat artist from Australia that no one's heard of. Found Sounds is his debut album and honestly, it's quite good. To get a quick idea, think DEM HUNGER, Teebs and Matthewdavid... The beats are abstract, cinematic, full of fuzz, melodic and dripping with bass-y goodness. One of 2011's most underrated instrumental electronic albums.

This morning, I was sent a copy of Fancy Mike's remix for "Thundering Plants" (track #3) and frankly, the remix alone is the reason I absolutely had to make this post. While the original release is solid, Fancy Mike's remix is stunning! Stripping the original track of its elements and relying solely on the vocals that were nearly lost in the original, Fancy Mike creates a slowed (dare-I-say-it?) post-Burial/dubstep sputter of a track. James Blake, Mount Kimbie, Hyetal, Balam Acab and just about every other forward-thinking electronic musician would be proud right now. Tip!

Download

Elliot - Thundering Plants (Fancy Mike Remix) by fancymike

Kone - Tractatus (2011)

2011-09-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

you'd think an album that namechecks/quotes Wittgenstein's most famous work would be an insufferably pompous undertaking. instead, it's a rather casual and easy-going affair, as Kone effortlessly synthesizes a wide range beat-making techniques - here some slinky g-funk, there a wobble, a breakbeat. but always present are the funky bass and the incredible percussion work, which really drives the record and makes it unique among the hordes of instrumental beat releases that are the norm these days. one of my favorite releases of the year, for sure.

"motherfucker, did you just quote Nietzsche?"

Das Racist - Relax (2011)

2011-09-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

debut 'real' album from alt hip-hop's hottest new stars. retains the hilarity and art-flows of the mixtapes while generally having a more traditional hip hop song structure. props to leaktwt.

check comments for link

John Maus - We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves (2011)

2011-09-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

i'm a sucker for strange new wave revival records anyways, but when they veer into vaguely Devo-ish territory i really can't help myself. the warm, pulsating quadra synths and 8-bit arpeggiators used here are offset by the driving bass and the excellent process-heavy baritone vocals, but what really stands out are the fantastic, eminently hummable melodies. love the way Maus uses textures to delineate song sections instead of relying on cadential chord progression tropes. clocking in at under 30 min., the songs rarely overstay their welcome and, though they get progressively grander and dystopian on side B, manage to never quite jump the shark.

let's kill every cop in sight

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - The Social Network OST (2010)

2011-09-05T23:59:00.000-07:00

Film soundtracks today are usually shit. If you browse the internet for a short while, you'll find dozens of blogs dedicated to the fantastic scores of yesteryear. Think back to the John Carpenter/Bernard Hermann/Ennio Morricone/John Williams days. Yeah. Today, film scores sound canned and generic; which is a shame, truly. Enter The Social Network OST, a score you can actually enjoy, all on its own, which is a "testament to its power and visceral nature." Please don't overlook this one. It deserves to be heard (especially if you haven't seen the film yet.)

Download

Hallowe'en - Hallowe'en (2011)

2011-09-04T22:22:00.000-07:00

latest project from prolific "auckland scene" musician reuben winter and all-around gay boy lliam powell. taking cues equally from wavves, early 90's grunge and marijuana; the hallowe'en experience is a unique one. christening themselves as the first "bukiecore 666pop" artists, we may be witnessing the birth of a new genre.

working mediafire link

Grant Green - Green Street (1961)

2011-09-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest jazz guitarists ever on one of his tightest albums. Over a barely-there foundation of bass and drums, Green flexes his talent and explores the entirety of his skills - quick runs, tasteful licks, subtle melodic departures, thoughtful arrangements. A must-have for jazz enthusiasts and musicians, especially guitarists - I've lifted some of my favorite licks from this album.

Listen up

Glasser - Apply (2011)

2011-09-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

An interesting three-song EP - though this is some deluxe deal, and has a bunch of remix tracks included as well. (IMO they aren't as strong.)

Really eclectic production value, mixing very low-fidelity sounds with clean electronics. Worth it for the album's namesake track, which starts with a heavy tribal drum loop, drops a simple two-note synth pattern, and introduces a plaintive female voice, who alternates between singing cleanly and screaming strangely. The other tracks are more low-key, but pretty interesting. Kinda Fever Ray, Bat for Lashes-esque.

Enjoy

Lootpack - Soundpieces: Da Antidote! (1999)

2011-09-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

quite possible the least talked about hip hop masterpiece ever, da antidote! is so just a banger-after-banger instant classic. "questions" makes for quite possibly one of the greatest openings ever in any hip-hop album (ever). such talent in one group made for a fantastic combination as dj romes displays time-honored dj quirks, and madlib lays down great beats and production as wildchild (and madlib too) crafts rhymes and clever rhythms to his voice over them. great, grat, listen.

oh, and we are looking for posters, so email if interested with a last.fm and some info about what you'd post! thanks!

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M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (2011)

2011-08-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

This has been in-the-making for a little over a while now. 22-track double album, a gem really; can't say we get many of those anymore! Title says it all too, entire album sounds and feels like a dream. Almost like the should-have-been soundtrack to Spike Jonze's mixed bag of a film, Where the Wild Things Are. Hurry up, and listen.

Since this is a mega pre-release, the download link may not work. Nothing is guaranteed. Please leave comments to let us know if there is a problem.

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Walt Mink - Goodnite (1998)

2011-08-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

walt mink formed in 1989 and split in 1997, only having one or two appearances since then. this is a live recording of their last show in a small venue in 1997; and what an impressive record of live precision it is. walt mink was a power trio who unfortunately got lost midst label problems and was drowned out by other big 90s names such as nirvana et. al. powerful structures along with melodic proficiency ensure this to be one hell of a fun cd. this is the closest we'll ever get to having a "best of" cd, without all the mainstream pretenses, but make no mistake, this is a damn good album. the recording quality is truly impressive for the setting under which this was recorded - this record has magnitude similar to that of how the west was won. super recommend!

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Mount Eerie - No Flashlight: Songs Of The Fulfilled Night (2005)

2011-08-30T20:06:00.001-07:00

an usually overlooked album (surprisingly so too, this was the first breath of life that the mount eerie project took right after the moniker of "the microphones" was abandoned), "no flashlight" is a surprisingly melancholic and somber album. it's gloomy and upbeat production only serves as a contrast. it's heavily bass'd up songs are also in an inverse relationship with the wispy guitar compositions; and it's instrumentation remains as strong as elverum decided to make it during his previous works. a truly aspiring release that was a sort of reflection album, this is sure to revitalize your nostalgia while paving the way for new memories.

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Big Blood - Big Blood + The Grove (2007)

2011-08-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

sensational songwriters with an aptitude for lyrical & musical dexterity that sends chill down any spine. very good conceptual placement for the songs make this a great listen, and those especially fond of experimental folk magnates fire on fire and cerberus shoal should also take a certain liking to it. superb album with some of the more intricate production to be found in recent folk. vocals are just down right cogent enough to leave auditory imprints in you. really enjoy!

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