What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. X)

Refreshing modern jazz, the base album Wellentraum I consider as one of the better jazz albums of 2014

Frank Zappa  - Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch -  ZΔ

on cd. Warped and contorted mutated guitar playing and studio effects - wave of mutilation. 

'Silence Talks' by Nicolas Meier, Naimcd113. I purchased this from the Naim Label sale at just £4.99. Features some very musical playing on saxophone by Gilad Atzmon. Very enjoyable. 

On CD. We've been spoilt for choice in these works, lately. Kavakos/Wang wasn't really my cup of tea, the tender Khachatryans much more so. This one is promising, but in these complex works, judgment should not be passed immediately.

I thoroughly enjoy the interplay between the performers and the one-of-a-kind interpretation that's nevertheless clearly the result of living with this music for many years. Dumay's almost old fashioned quivering, whoops and croons (i.e. vibrato and portamento in technical terms) required a slight mental adjustment. As does the fact that he has an uncanny resemblance to André Rieu, but that hurdle I passed long ago.

Cheers,

EJ

Disc 1 (Firebird/Four Studies/jazz and orchestral versions of Scherzo a la Russe) of this four-disc box set, which was a Christmas pressie...

A very nice lyrical jazz piano solo album, it's not about improvisation this time...., but about melody

Listening to Enrico Rava and Paolo Freso recently brought to mind this famous 1964 Miles Davis album. The rhythm section of Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass) and Tony Williams (drums) going on to form the basis of Miles' second great quintet.

Two albums by the drummer Manu Katche which I have seen described as "Kind of Blue" for the 21st. century.

More Rattle/CBSO from the Stravinsky box set, this time the Rite and Apollo. I guess I'm in a 20th C classical kinda mood today.

I kind of get what you mean :-)

the best thing you can do

Robert Calvert  -CAPTAIN LOCKHEED AND THE STARFIGHTERS  -  on c.d.

after sturm and strang of "Teenage Prostitue" , I'm giving this exqusitie tragi-comedy a (downward) spin.

This gives a bit the feeling of listening Frank Zappa in Jazz..

On Spotify via Muso , OK album , sort of Arcade Fire meets Jackson Browne/Lloyd Cole witha touch of Jean Michel Jarre and Pink Floyd. Not sure if I'll buy it, but I'll probably listen to it some more.

The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream

Streaming | CD FLAC rip

Air ~ The Virgin Suicides

This their second album (1999) albeit a movie soundtrack was released two years after their seminal debut album Moon Safari.

Hungry Lucy - To Kill A King

Good band. I must admit to liking all their albums.

Not too impressed to be honest, a bit Goldfrappy. Only on track 4 though, some nice stuff going on in the bass.

If you are struggling with that one, try these which gained favour around the forum a while back

Streaming | CD FLAC rip

Air ~ Premiere Symptomes 

1999 French 7-track CD album originally released in 1997 compiling the French duos single releases from 1995-97 includes 2 bonus recordings: Californie and Brakes On [a remix of Alex Gophers Gordini Mix]

Something lighter after the dark Virgin Suicides

Working my way through this box set as I rip them to my HD. A bargain at £14 on Amazon ATM. Great SQ, just listening to Journey of the Sorcerer. 

Another 20th century great - Messaien, this time Previn's got the baton:

I really like this. One of her best, in my view.

Nice relaxing trio jazz, not too adventurous but that's not always needed

Streaming | CD FLAC rip

Air ~ Everybody Hertz (2002)

My first listen to this one. I wish that I hadn't bothered it's not their finest hour.