What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIV)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2017
On the eve of a new year, it's time for a new thread.
Last year's thread can be found here:
Another iPad review sample.
Complete with full orchestra.
Trying not to be unkind but, it sounds of its time and the poetry is a bit "sixth form". One for the fans I'm afraid...
steve
The Brendan Voyage, an orchestral suite for uilleann pipes, Liam O’Flynn and unnamed orchestra conducted by Noel Kelehan
The adventurer Tim Severin specialises in recreating historical or legendary voyages. A 9th century text tells the tale of the 6th Century St Brendan sailing across the Atlantic and back in a wood currach. Severin built a replica boat and sailed from Ireland to Newfoundland. This is an orchestral suite inspired by scenes from Severin’s book about his expedition. Good composition by Shaun Davey, the sometimes programmatic music reflects the scenes well, it’s enjoyable, lovely drive in both the orchestral and pipe themes sensitively composed to accommodate the strengths and limitations of the pipes, and O’Flynn was majestic in his playing. RIP Liam Óg.
Giving this a spin as Ewemon seemed to be on a roll a few days ago.
.sjb
Alas that’s doing little for me but point in to the king of blues rock
.sjb
After a long conversation with a Cooper hawk in the back yard, Messiaen's Bird Catalog:
Some Canadian Alt/Folk
Enjoyed listening to Pulp last night. Here they are again, from 1998 this time, and in a distinctly dark mood. On original UK double vinyl.
Susanna Go Dig My Grave. Indie/Alt/Folk
Great tuneful triojazz...
The Vienna Octet, Mendelssohn Octet & Mozart Clarinet Quintet, original vinyl.
Two of the most lovely pieces of classical music, the Mendelssohn is a complex piece of extreme beauty, structured with the scale of a symphony, amazing that he was 16 when he wrote this. The Mozart gives the clarinettist the opportunity to show their skills, the music moves from melancholic to deeply lovely, finishing with one of those joyous Mozartian movements of seeming simplicity which offers different depths on every listen. Beautifully played by the Vienna octet (and guests 9n the quintet).The 49 year old slab of vinyl is in incredibly good condition, the original price sticker tells me the original buyer paid 17/6 for it.
Now listening to Act 3 at home - a far more satisfying experience than through headphones.
Al di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía, Friday Night in San Francisco, vinyl
Take 2 jazz fusion guitar masters in di Meola and McLaughlin, add a flamenco guitar master on de Lucía, hand them acoustics and have them play flamenco and jazz influences music. 4 live songs, one studio, they don’t hold off on pyrotechnics, but the music flows, they choose good choons, improvise and play off each other, the musicians are obviously having fun, and the audience whoops tell you they are loving it. I’ve loved this album for decades, still find it incredibly fresh and exciting.
BandCamp, 16/44 download... 
