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

Now Playing......

Yazz Ahmed - Finding My Way Home

Streaming On TIDAL......    Taking this album out for a second spin, I enjoyed the first time out quite a bit as well as her La Saboteuse. Great Trumpet!

Having a Blackmore's NIght evening. Ritchie is unbeatable with his guitar twiddling, even fro a mere mortal, but some of Candice's lyrics really leave a lot to be desired. Empty Words (from Secret Voyage) really is tosh e.g. 'there's so much sad and empty words, you've listened but you've never her- -  erred' grammatically and rhythmically criminal and somewhat ironic! . 

Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes-Live at The Greek

Now Playing.....

Sean Rowe - The Salesman and the Shark

Playing on NAS......   I love Sean's music, wonderful songwriting, great vocals and guitar.....

Loki posted:

Having a Blackmore's NIght evening. Ritchie is unbeatable with his guitar twiddling, even fro a mere mortal, but some of Candice's lyrics really leave a lot to be desired. Empty Words (from Secret Voyage) really is tosh e.g. 'there's so much sad and empty words, you've listened but you've never her- -  erred' grammatically and rhythmically criminal and somewhat ironic! . 

She’s got quite a nice voice, though, and I think their gigs would probably be enjoyable (though Seeing Ritchie on stage I’d probably be more likely to wish He had his Strat and big Marshall stack!).

From what I have read, he was not a nice human being, but I do enjoy the music; kind of evocative of a time form my youth when he would appear on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson - $1.50 at the used CD store where I had not dropped in for quite a while.

Now Playing.......

Tord Gustavsen - What was said

Tord Gustavsen (piano, electronics, synth bass), Simin Tander (voice), and Jarle Vespestad (drums).

Streaming on NAS.......   I enjoy Tord's music quite a bit and at the moment this is my favorite album. Who would not love the translation of hymns and poetry from different languages and continents and putting it to music 'What was said'........

P

Roland Kirk: Rip, Rig and Panic. One of his best.

During workout...

Breakfast treat..

Today's soundtrack

Supertramp: Breakfast in America

The Meters: Cabbage Alley (one of my all time favourite albums)

 Mary Black sheer musical bliss

The Blue Nile - A walk Across the Rooftops (1984) 

Interestingly this was released by Linn records showing their support for this Scottish band. Quite experimental music for the times. Others like Goldfrapp took this further. 

Of interest from Wikipedia.....A persistent myth about the album's origins is that the band were approached by Linn Products and commissioned to make a record that the company could use to demonstrate the quality of their high-specification hi-fi equipment—the company were so pleased with the result that they decided to form a record label specifically to release the resulting album. In fact Linn had already recently manufactured a cutting lathe to produce their own records, frustrated by the poor quality of the test LPs that were being provided for their flagship turntable product, the Linn Sondek LP12, and had already set up and released records on their ALOI (A Label Of Integrity) Records label before signing the Blue Nile.

Phil

Groundhogs - Solid

Bert Schurink posted:

During workout...

 

Is this album worth it if you've got their last 5 albums? Always a bit wary of live albums - they can be very hit n miss. Mainly miss.

Now Playing......

Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Ground

Tord Gustavsen (piano, electronics, synth bass), Harald Johnsen (double-bass), and Jarle Vespestad (drums).

Streaming on NAS.......   Ended yesterday and starting the day with Tori! One beautiful album, wonderful piano, bass and drums........  Today this is my favorite Tord Gustavsen album.

naim_nymph posted:

1 xLP (each album) - Warner Bros reissues : )

 

Ozzy Osbourne - vocals, harmonica on 'The Wizard' 

Tony Iommi  - guitar, flute on 'Plannet Caravan'

Geezer Butler - bass

Bill Ward - drums 

 

Refined and classic head-banging at it's very best! : )

Debs

 

 

Love those two albums. Dim the lighting, whack up the volume......oh yeah!

(1981)

Santana - Zebop!

feeling_zen posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

During workout...

 

Is this album worth it if you've got their last 5 albums? Always a bit wary of live albums - they can be very hit n miss. Mainly miss.

I personally find the album ok, but I am also not overwhelmed by this unplugged version. It's ok, it's perhaps for many a welcome addition given the unplugged aspect, but for me it's not exciting enough. The below review is pretty favorable - so I added it to ensure that you gate a balanced view (the review is coming from the Dutch Progressive Rock Page......

Many of the acts reviewed by the DPRP range from the vaguely familiar to the downright obscure but that is no bad thing, some of the best music in recent years has come from relatively unknown quarters. Anathema, on the other hand, have a fairly high profile even if they are not exactly a household name. Since their formation 25 years ago their career trajectory has also involved a good deal of genre hopping from doom metal to alternative rock to prog to art rock. 

The latest release, A Sort of Homecoming, borrows its name from a U2 song and is so called because it was recorded live in Anathema's hometown of Liverpool. This was on 7th March 2015 in the unusual setting of the city's Anglican cathedral where Rick Wakeman amongst others has trod the boards. It's available in various formats including vinyl and Blu-ray, but in front of me is the one that is most likely to find its way into Christmas stockings, the two CD and DVD set. Housed in a smart hardback digipak, it comes complete with a generous-sized booklet crammed with superb photos that capture the atmosphere of the event and venue. 

Liverpool Cathedral is a grand, if a little austere, setting for a rock gig but it complements the music with everyone suitably dressed (all in black) for the occasion. The line-up of Vincent Cavanagh (vocals, guitar), Daniel Cavanagh (guitar, piano, vocals, loops), Lee Douglas (vocals), John Douglas (drums) and Jamie Cavanagh (bass) are joined by David Wesling (cello) and Anna Phoebe (violin). The setlist includes songs from the four most recent studio albums A Natural Disaster (2003), We're Here Because We're Here (2010), Weather Systems (2012) and Distant Satellites (2014) as well as the 1998 release Alternative 4. 

Before continuing I should confess that until now Anathema have flown under my radar so I'm unable to compare the songs with the studio versions. The arrangements here have a distinct 'unplugged' feel where the instrumentation (to begin with at least) is acoustic guitars, piano and keyboard samples. This puts the emphasis on the vocals and thankfully Lee and Vincent are both very fine singers with heartfelt, crystal clear voices providing the perfect male and female counterpoint. When the rhythm section takes to the stage their playing is fittingly subtle with cello providing an effective 'orchestral' backing. 

The songs themselves are often haunting and melancholic with love lost being a reoccurring theme (as in Untouchable and A Natural Disaster). Several songs including Thin Air, Anathema and Ariel build gradually to an emotional peak in anthemic U2 fashion before surrendering to a tranquil close. Guest Anna Phoebe's violin solo adds a graceful majesty to the aforementioned Anathema and the balladic Electricity features a rare lead vocal from Daniel. 

The concert film, directed by Lasse Hoile, is as you would expect (given his recent history) very good indeed. The camera work is up-close and revealing with occasional long shots where the lighting of blues, greens and reds gives the cathedral nave the appearance of a huge stage backdrop. For the penultimate A Natural Disaster, Daniel invites the capacity audience to hold their mobile phones in the air (in my day it was cigarette lighters), which isn't startlingly original but visually effective nonetheless. 

The video footage also reveals moments that would otherwise go unnoticed such as the look of apprehension on the faces of Lee, Daniel and Vincent as they open the show (not surprising given the imposing setting) and Daniel's creative input including the effective use of guitar loops (the music continues as they leave the stage during both Take Shelterand Fragile Dreams). 

The DVD has nothing in the way of extras (which is no bad thing given the disposability of most bonus material) although the Blu-ray includes a 13-minute behind-the-scenes film entitled 'A Temporary Peace'. In both formats you get a choice of stereo, DTS and Dolby 5.1 surround sound, and the usual individual track selection. 

I could wax lyrical for several more paragraphs extolling the virtues of this release but instead I'll close on a personal note. Above everything else I will remember A Sort of Homecoming as the album that opened my eyes to the excellence of Anathema and their songs. In fact, returning to my opening comments, it really is a surprise that Anathema do not have a much larger mainstream following.

Now Playing.....

Jolie Holland - Dark Wine Sea

Streaming on TIDAL.......  A random pick on Tidal, taking Jolie & Dark Wine Sea out for a spin.....

On CD:-

Bjorn Riis - Forever Comes To An End

(1976)

 Robin Trower - Long Misty Days 

Robin Trower's great guitar that went so well with the late lamented and under appreciated James Dewar's Bass guitar and vocals. 

Pierre De Bethmann trio - Essais Vol. 1

Pierre de Bethmann - piano
Sylvain Romano - bass
Tony Rabeson - drums

(1973)

Robin Trower - Twice Removed from yesterday

I fancy another one from Robin Trower ably aided and abetted by James Dewar, this was his debut solo album from way back when.