Latest music
Posted by: Nigel Cavendish on 29 June 2002
Kirsty MacColl – What do pretty girls do? BBC radio sessions.
Tangerine Dream – Phaedra.
Roy Bailey – Coda. Swansong from a stalwart of the English folk revival.
Paddy Keenan – Na Keen Affair. Released in 1997, the first recording from the best uillean piper in the world for a long time. Recording quality could be better though.
Paddy Keenan – The Long grazing acre. The latest from the best etc. Excellent recording.
Kimmo Pohjonen – Kluster. Finnish lunatic. No idea how to describe this. 5-row accordion and voice sampled and re-sampled to produce noise, music, sounds. Its terrific.
Web site here
If you are into Scandinavian music try this
cheers
Nigel
Tangerine Dream – Phaedra.
Roy Bailey – Coda. Swansong from a stalwart of the English folk revival.
Paddy Keenan – Na Keen Affair. Released in 1997, the first recording from the best uillean piper in the world for a long time. Recording quality could be better though.
Paddy Keenan – The Long grazing acre. The latest from the best etc. Excellent recording.
Kimmo Pohjonen – Kluster. Finnish lunatic. No idea how to describe this. 5-row accordion and voice sampled and re-sampled to produce noise, music, sounds. Its terrific.
Web site here
If you are into Scandinavian music try this
cheers
Nigel
Posted on: 01 July 2002 by Bruce Woodhouse
How is the Kirsty MaColl?
I had bought the albums up til the last one (Tropical Something or other). Is this worth seeking out too?
Bruce
I had bought the albums up til the last one (Tropical Something or other). Is this worth seeking out too?
Bruce
Posted on: 02 July 2002 by Nigel Cavendish
Bruce
it's a very relaxed feeling, a sort of "unplugged" ambience - mistakes and all. If you like Kirsty's stuff you will like this I am sure.
cheers
Nigel
it's a very relaxed feeling, a sort of "unplugged" ambience - mistakes and all. If you like Kirsty's stuff you will like this I am sure.
cheers
Nigel
Posted on: 09 July 2002 by Pete
Pamela Thorby's newish release on Linn, with Sonnerie, "Baroque Recorder Concertos". PT is one of the Palladian Ensemble (several good discs on Linn), and this one does pretty much what it says on the tin. Good stuff if you like Baroque but fancy a change of instrumentation from the Usual Suspects. If you get it from Linn direct it's in their top 10, so is only a tenner including shipping.
Pete.
Pete.
Posted on: 09 July 2002 by John C
Atomic " Feet Music"
Kornstadt Trio "Space Available"
I much prefer the acoustic bands on Jazzland. Both these recent CDs are great. You could put them in the Ornette influenced camp but Golden Circle period. The Kornstadt in particular is beautiful.
Billy Bang "Vietnam the Aftermath" Really like this from violinist Bang who I haven't heard before. A sort of exorcism or coming to terms with a Vietnam experience. John Hicks quite superb. Straight ahead and straight from the heart. Marvellous stuff.
Brotzmann Die like a Dog Quartet " Aoyama Crows" Brilliant as ever, especially the electronic trumpet, goose strangling or whatever that noise is by the mighty Toshinoro Kondo. William Parker and Hamid Drake making sure the earth is still spinning.
And Jack Teagarden 50s Capitol Mosaic box. marvellous, great singing!
John
Kornstadt Trio "Space Available"
I much prefer the acoustic bands on Jazzland. Both these recent CDs are great. You could put them in the Ornette influenced camp but Golden Circle period. The Kornstadt in particular is beautiful.
Billy Bang "Vietnam the Aftermath" Really like this from violinist Bang who I haven't heard before. A sort of exorcism or coming to terms with a Vietnam experience. John Hicks quite superb. Straight ahead and straight from the heart. Marvellous stuff.
Brotzmann Die like a Dog Quartet " Aoyama Crows" Brilliant as ever, especially the electronic trumpet, goose strangling or whatever that noise is by the mighty Toshinoro Kondo. William Parker and Hamid Drake making sure the earth is still spinning.
And Jack Teagarden 50s Capitol Mosaic box. marvellous, great singing!
John
Posted on: 10 July 2002 by Lee
ISAN - salamander (Morr music)
Wechsel Garland - s/t (Morr music)
Manual - until tomorrow (Morr music)
Limp - orion (Morr music)
Styrofoam - the point misser (Morr music)
Christian Kleine - valis (Morr music)
All great mellow electronica and highly recommended (ISAN in particular).
cheers
Lee
Wechsel Garland - s/t (Morr music)
Manual - until tomorrow (Morr music)
Limp - orion (Morr music)
Styrofoam - the point misser (Morr music)
Christian Kleine - valis (Morr music)
All great mellow electronica and highly recommended (ISAN in particular).
cheers
Lee
Posted on: 11 July 2002 by matthewr
"Source Tag and Codes" -- And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead
Until very recently my views on this lot was that a) they were dreadful Nu-Metal types like Linkin Park, Slipknot, etc. and b) they had a very stupid name. The latter is undoudtedly true but a respected friend urged me to listen to their last and prepare to be surprised. And I was as its really very good rock album with great songs and a lot more variety, depth and musicianship than one might have expected. And I note that the Sex Pistols have picked them to open their one off jubilee gig and you can harldy ask for a better recommendation than that.
"The Moon & Antarctica" -- Modest Mouse
I have this hazy memory of sorely missed Joel Benford in a drunken music listening evening wondering allowed if Modest Mouse were in fact the greatest band ever. That's undoubtedly going a bit far (and Joel may have said something else entirely) but they are certainly capable of inspired moments and "The Moon & Antartica" is one long inspired moment from beginning to end. Kind of lo-fi-ish, Indie rock/pop sort of Yo La Tengo without the half bottle of Mogadon effect and more of interest in guitars. You'll find a proper review
here
"Title TK" -- The Breeders
After a nine year wait as Kim Deal apparently lived off her share of the "Firestarter" royalties and spent years doing the Steely Dan style studio perfectionism muso-nobber thing some have said its a bit disappointing. I disagree, mostly. I think its disappointing if you were expecting a sequel to "Last Splash" but if you always wanted a sequel to "Pod" you will probably be pleasantly surprised. But then again I spent most of my early twenties infatuated with the then Mrs John Murphy and she can basically do no wrong in my eyes.
Other purchases worthy of mention if not recommendation:
"In Place of Real Insight", Karate -- One Karate album is enough for most people and if you haven't got one this is probably the best. Unfortunately I already had one and on listening to your second Karate album you are inclined to slump back in your chair and wonder what exactly the point is. Their AMG Entry describes them as "Ethereal, Restrained, Intimate, Nocturnal, Melancholy" which is about right.
"The Action Packed Mentallist Brings You The Fucking Jams", Kid606 -- I bought this in part because 'Mentallist' is one of my all-time favourite words and I rather liked the concept of cheesy pop songs covered in the clicks, pops and static electronicana style. I am almost convinced by it but can never seem to actually sit down a listen to it all the way through. I suspect some of the more left field types around here might like it though and you can hear some samples of his stuff here
Matthew
Until very recently my views on this lot was that a) they were dreadful Nu-Metal types like Linkin Park, Slipknot, etc. and b) they had a very stupid name. The latter is undoudtedly true but a respected friend urged me to listen to their last and prepare to be surprised. And I was as its really very good rock album with great songs and a lot more variety, depth and musicianship than one might have expected. And I note that the Sex Pistols have picked them to open their one off jubilee gig and you can harldy ask for a better recommendation than that.
"The Moon & Antarctica" -- Modest Mouse
I have this hazy memory of sorely missed Joel Benford in a drunken music listening evening wondering allowed if Modest Mouse were in fact the greatest band ever. That's undoubtedly going a bit far (and Joel may have said something else entirely) but they are certainly capable of inspired moments and "The Moon & Antartica" is one long inspired moment from beginning to end. Kind of lo-fi-ish, Indie rock/pop sort of Yo La Tengo without the half bottle of Mogadon effect and more of interest in guitars. You'll find a proper review
here
"Title TK" -- The Breeders
After a nine year wait as Kim Deal apparently lived off her share of the "Firestarter" royalties and spent years doing the Steely Dan style studio perfectionism muso-nobber thing some have said its a bit disappointing. I disagree, mostly. I think its disappointing if you were expecting a sequel to "Last Splash" but if you always wanted a sequel to "Pod" you will probably be pleasantly surprised. But then again I spent most of my early twenties infatuated with the then Mrs John Murphy and she can basically do no wrong in my eyes.
Other purchases worthy of mention if not recommendation:
"In Place of Real Insight", Karate -- One Karate album is enough for most people and if you haven't got one this is probably the best. Unfortunately I already had one and on listening to your second Karate album you are inclined to slump back in your chair and wonder what exactly the point is. Their AMG Entry describes them as "Ethereal, Restrained, Intimate, Nocturnal, Melancholy" which is about right.
"The Action Packed Mentallist Brings You The Fucking Jams", Kid606 -- I bought this in part because 'Mentallist' is one of my all-time favourite words and I rather liked the concept of cheesy pop songs covered in the clicks, pops and static electronicana style. I am almost convinced by it but can never seem to actually sit down a listen to it all the way through. I suspect some of the more left field types around here might like it though and you can hear some samples of his stuff here
Matthew
Posted on: 11 July 2002 by ejl
Sonic Youth: Murray Street
Blonde Redhead: Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons
El-P: Fantastic Damage
Ex Models: Other Mathematics
Reindeer Section: Son of Evil Reindeer
I like all of them, as well as the new Breeders album
Blonde Redhead: Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons
El-P: Fantastic Damage
Ex Models: Other Mathematics
Reindeer Section: Son of Evil Reindeer
I like all of them, as well as the new Breeders album
Posted on: 11 July 2002 by matthewr
I really am in two minds about buying the Sonic Youth as every new album claims the tediously unlistenable art-noise days are over and the tunes are back but when you get it home its just more of the same.
From someone or somewhere I heard about the Reindeer Section a few weeks ago and I cannot for the life of me remember who or where. But two recommendations sounds liek a buy to me.
Matthew
From someone or somewhere I heard about the Reindeer Section a few weeks ago and I cannot for the life of me remember who or where. But two recommendations sounds liek a buy to me.
Matthew
Posted on: 11 July 2002 by ejl
The new Sonic Youth is definately more listenable than other recent efforts by the band. I too haven't liked anything since A Thousand Leaves. This is more like that album, and the addition of O'Rourke on bass adds a boogie factor that has been missing for quite a while. Somehow I suspect that Kim Gordon has had the upper hand for a few years, but not on this last album (If you liked Dirty, which was very much a Gordon album, you probably won't like Murray Street. If you found Dirty execrable (as I did) you may like Murray Street).
I too read that thing about the Pistols selecting Trail of Dead as their opening act. The Pistols claimed that the old British punk bands have lost it (except for themselves, presumably). This, however, is false, as
Wire: Read and Burn 01
amply reveals. Trail of Dead are a great band to see live, though. I used to see them in Austin, where I in fact had one of the members as a student for a semester. Hard to believe that kid's now opening for the Pistols...
I too read that thing about the Pistols selecting Trail of Dead as their opening act. The Pistols claimed that the old British punk bands have lost it (except for themselves, presumably). This, however, is false, as
Wire: Read and Burn 01
amply reveals. Trail of Dead are a great band to see live, though. I used to see them in Austin, where I in fact had one of the members as a student for a semester. Hard to believe that kid's now opening for the Pistols...
Posted on: 11 July 2002 by matthewr
Although its obviously not a patch on Daydream Nation, Sister and Goo I really liked Dirty. Didn't like A Thousand Leaves much though (the last one I actually bought). Still the O'Rourke connection is promising and no doubt someone I know will buy it play it to me soon enough.
And I am probably not one to talk about punk cred as NOFX's "Punk in Drublic" is one of my favourite punk albums if only for the wonderful idea of a Jewish Oi! band "drinking Manishevitz and going out to terrorise Goyem".
Matthew
And I am probably not one to talk about punk cred as NOFX's "Punk in Drublic" is one of my favourite punk albums if only for the wonderful idea of a Jewish Oi! band "drinking Manishevitz and going out to terrorise Goyem".
Matthew
Posted on: 11 July 2002 by Not For Me
The Wire CD (no vinyl) is a revisit to Chairs Missing era. Rock, not art rock. A welcome return.
The latest release to spin round in my head is Debasser - "Fat Girls" which coins the immortal
couplet :
"Why are fat girls all so frisky?"
"You can't touch them, they are too risky"
OTDVD - Fischerspooner - Emerge (Are they an elaborate joke? Image is everything
The latest release to spin round in my head is Debasser - "Fat Girls" which coins the immortal
couplet :
"Why are fat girls all so frisky?"
"You can't touch them, they are too risky"
OTDVD - Fischerspooner - Emerge (Are they an elaborate joke? Image is everything
Posted on: 11 July 2002 by Not For Me
I am watching the Fischerspooner DVD, and there thre are, playing a cover of a Wire song off 154 "Map Reference.."
Strange coincidence, as I have just been writing about Wire?
DS
OTDVD - Megacolon - Fischerspooner
Strange coincidence, as I have just been writing about Wire?
DS
OTDVD - Megacolon - Fischerspooner
Posted on: 11 July 2002 by Hammerhead
On Vinyl
John Spencer Blues Explosion – Plastic Fang. Double album, amazing packaging. Comes in a plastic bag containing comic book cover. Sleeves are even illustrated on the inside! Oh, and quite good musically.
Tricky – Blowback. Top album
Portishead – Dummy. Simply Vinyl 180 gram jobby
DJ Shadow – Endtroducing. One of those essential albums I’d forgotten to get round to buying.
On CD
Layo & Bushwacka – Night works. Kicks ass!
The Dandy Warhols – Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia
The Hives – Your New Favourite Band. Quite possibly!
Sneaker Pimps – Bloodsport. I really like this one.
The Pogues – Best of. Totally bonkers!
On the ‘to buy’ list
Some Pavement stuff, Crackout and some more catch up stuff along the lines of Stevie Wonder (Inervisions/Talking Book) plus (don’t laugh) some Terrance Trent D’arby. I dug out ‘Symphony or Damned’ the other night on cassette – twas rather good!
Steve
John Spencer Blues Explosion – Plastic Fang. Double album, amazing packaging. Comes in a plastic bag containing comic book cover. Sleeves are even illustrated on the inside! Oh, and quite good musically.
Tricky – Blowback. Top album
Portishead – Dummy. Simply Vinyl 180 gram jobby
DJ Shadow – Endtroducing. One of those essential albums I’d forgotten to get round to buying.
On CD
Layo & Bushwacka – Night works. Kicks ass!
The Dandy Warhols – Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia
The Hives – Your New Favourite Band. Quite possibly!
Sneaker Pimps – Bloodsport. I really like this one.
The Pogues – Best of. Totally bonkers!
On the ‘to buy’ list
Some Pavement stuff, Crackout and some more catch up stuff along the lines of Stevie Wonder (Inervisions/Talking Book) plus (don’t laugh) some Terrance Trent D’arby. I dug out ‘Symphony or Damned’ the other night on cassette – twas rather good!
Steve
Posted on: 16 July 2002 by ejl
After a few more listens, the El-P record is shaping up as album of the year. Twisted, intense, funky, inventive. Not for everybody, but this is some seriously fun sh*t.