US, 2010
One of the most important progenitors of rap music is back after 13 years of inactivity. I’m New Here presents autobiographical, spoken word interludes against fully developed songs (which Gil’s voice handles with more character than inherent talent), and word jazz. The skeletal arrangements and minimalist electronica is a perfect backdrop for his prose and the subject matter is compelling enough for repeated listens.
Playlist:
1. On Coming From A Broken Home (Pt. 1) 2:20
2. Me And The Devil 3:33
3. I'm New Here 3:33
4. Your Soul And Mine 2:02
5. Parents (Interlude) 0:18
6. I'll Take Care Of You 2:58
7. Being Blessed (interlude) 0:12
8. Where Did The Night Go 1:14
9. I Was Guided (Interlude) 0:14
10. New York Is Killing Me 4:29
11. Certain Things (Interlude) 0:08
12. Running 2:00
13. The Crutch 2:44
14. I've Been Me (Interlude) 0:16
15. On Coming From A Broken Home (Pt. 2) 2:15
Link.
Friday, 5 February 2010
Gil Scott-Heron, I'm New Here
T-Bone Walker, The Original Source
US, 2002
it's time to relax,
and you know what that means,
a glass of wine, your favourite easy chair,
and of course this compact disc playing and your home stereo.
So go on and indulge yourself,
that's right, kick off your shoes, put your feet up,
lean back and just enjoy the melodies.
After all, music soothes even the savage beast.
No playlist this time... 4 CD's
Link.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Junius, The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist
Junius' new record is a full-fledged concept album, inspired by the life and theories of controversial scholar Immanuel Velikovsky. The album’s ten songs are both cinematic and accessible, building to crescendos which echo some of post-rock’s most epic moments, but with vocals, hooks, and lyrics creating focus throughout. Actual quotes from Velikovsky’s interviews and lectures are interspersed between songs, providing a sense of narrative to the proceedings.
Playlist:
1. Birth Rites By Torchlight
2. The Antediluvian Fire
3. (turning to the spirits of the hours...)
4. A Dramatist Plays Catastrophist
5. Ten Year Librarian
6. Stargazers & Gravediggers
7. (...he fell before her)
8. Elisheva, I Love You
9. Letters From Saint Angelica
10. The Mourning Eulogy
Link.
more...
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Jardín de la Croix, Pomeroy
"Jardín de la Croix is a Spanish instrumental math rock band formed in 2007 in Madrid. The group finds itself at ease within its prominent and complex rhythmic structures and its layered harmonic guitars usually arranged in lengthy instrumental compositions."
Playlist:
1. Polyhedron
2. Jesse Harding
3. Suomi
4. Boston Steamer
5. Antioquia
6. Synaesthesia
Link.
more...
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
The End Of The Ocean, Calm Seas Don't Make Sailors
"The End Of The Ocean is a five piece instrumental post-rock band based out of Columbus, Ohio. Engulfing listeners in waves of eerie nostalgia and sorrow, the ambiance of The End Of The Ocean becomes a self-voyage of life’s ebb and flow unfailingly finding a beacon of hope at the horizon."
Playlist:
1. Docks
2. Romancing The Stars
3. Setting Sail
4. Siren Sound
Link.
more...
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Apse, Climb Up
Apse was formed in 1999 in Newtown, Connecticut as a three-piece while the members were still in high school. The group made purely instrumental dark ambient rock until about 2003, when reverberant lead vocals and a more dynamic atmosphere were added.
Playlist:
1. Blown Doors
2. 3.1
3. All Mine
4. Rook
5. In Gold
6. The Age
7. Tropica
8. The Whip
9. Lie
10. The Return
11. Climb Up
12. Closure
Link.
more...
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Fabrizio de André, Tutti morimmo a stento
1968, Italy
This album is a late sixties classic. If you dig Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Jacques Brel, you should give Tutti Morimmo a Stento a listen. It is an authentic European/Italian folk masterpiece, believe me.
Playlist:
1 Cantico dei Drogati 7:06
2 Primo Intermezzo 1:57
3 Leggenda di Natale 3:14
4 Secondo Intermezzo 1:56
5 Ballata degli Impiccati 4:22
6 Inverno 4:10
7 Girotondo 3:06
8 Terzo Intermezzo 2:12
9 Recitativo 2:35
10 Corale (Leggenda del Re Infelice) 5:02
Link.
Friday, 22 January 2010
Rocket From The Tombs, The Day The Earth Met The Rocket From The Tombs
USA, 2002
Long time no see, guyze... So, here's something that you will never forget. This was the way I found to say I'm sorry.
Quoting my friend wikipedia: Heralded as an important protopunk group, they were little known during their lifetime, though various members later achieved renown in Pere Ubu and the Dead Boys. Billy Bob Hargus wrote, however, that "The sound of the Rockets is much more ferocious than Ubu or the Dead Boys."
Playlist:
1. Raw Power (1:53)
2. So Cold (5:55)
3. What Love Is (3:38)
4. Ain't It Fun (5:51)
5. Transfusion (7:44)
6. Life Stinks (3:24)
7. Muckraker (4:40)
8. 30 Seconds Over Tokyo (6:41)
9. Satisfaction (:19)
10. Sonic Reducer (4:25)
11. Never Gonna Kill Myself Again (2:06)
12. Final Solution RFTT (4:34)
13. Foggy Notion (4:53)
14. Amphetamine (5:27)
15. Read It & Weep (2:34)
16. Seventeen (3:53)
17. Frustration (2:13)
18. Down In Flames (1:40)
19. Search & Destroy (2:18)
Link.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
The Jelly Jam, 2
U.S., 2004
I'm too biased to talk about this one; so I agree with the last track.
(Neo-?)Progressive Rock of the likes and with members of King's X, Dixie Dregs and Dream Theater (while not on steroids). It's Platypus without Derek Sherinian: Ty Tabor, John Myung and Rod Morgenstein.
If not light-hearted, at least heart lightener.
Playlist:
1. Not Today
2. Coming Round
3. Empty
4. Drop The Gun
5. Allison
6. Maybe
7. She Was Alone
8. Angel Or Devil
9. You Don't Need Me Anymore
10. Runaway
11. War Is...
12. Message
Link.
more...
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Bell Orchestre, As Seen Through Windows
Canada, 2008.
Bell Orchestre are a five-piece instrumental/post-rock band from Montreal, Canada. Since two of its members are also full-time musicians in Arcade Fire, Bell Orchestre often share the same feeling and orchestration.
Playlist:
1. Stripes
2. Elephants
3. Icicles/Bicycles
4. Water/Light/Shifts
5. Bucephalus Bouncing Ball
6. As Seen Through Windows
7. The Gaze
8. Dark Lights
9. Air Lines/Land Lines
Link.
more...
Friday, 15 January 2010
Ghost, Hypnotic Underworld
Japan, 2004
Don't know why I hadn't posted this earlier. A great album, – trippy and hovering, multicoloured – so a wonderful listen.
Ghost are a peculiar and dynamic ensemble that make up for good (& sometimes experimental) music, born of the early interest for psychedelic rock – such as Pink Floyd or Taj Mahal Travellers — of Kyoto's Masaki Batoh.
Playlist:
1. Hypnotic Underworld: God Took A Picture Of His Illness On This Ground
2. Hypnotic Underworld: Escaped and Lost Down In Medina
3. Hypnotic Underworld: Aramaic Barbarous Dawn
4. Hypnotic Underworld: Leave The World!
5. Hazy Paradise
6. Kiseichukan Nite
7. Piper
8. Ganagmanag
9. Feed
10. Holy High
11. Dominoes/Celebration For The Gray Days
Link.
more...
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Philip Glass, Powaqqatsi
U.S., 1988
More ethnic and incisive than its predecessor Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi is Hopi for "parasitic way of life" or "life in transition". And once again I recommend watching the documentary itself, of course.
Powaqqatsi is an orchestral piece composed siamese to the motion picture by Godfrey Reggio, and is performed by over 90 musicians and singers which include a Hispanic children's choir.
Playlist:
1. Serra Pelada
2. The Title
3. Anthem – Part 1
4. That Place
5. Anthem – Part 2
6. Mosque And Temple
7. Anthem – Part 3
8. Train to São Paulo
9. Video Dream
10. New Cities In Ancient Lands, China
11. New Cities In Ancient Lands, Africa
12. New Cities In Ancient Lands, India
13. The Unutterable
14. CAUGHT!
15. Mr. Suso #1
16. From Egypt
17. Mr. Suso #2 with Reflection
18. Powaqqatsi
Link.
more...