What are you listening to? (VOL VI)

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:

quote:

Originally posted by JamieL_v2:

You can see a museum of such instruments being played live at the Hampshire Jam every Autumn. Redshift are headlining this year.

I really would like to see Redshift and have a good Chinese meal at the Jam this year but I have a concert clash that night. I'll have to make a Jam versus Brad Melhdau decision.

That is a pity, I missed Steve Hackett last year due to a clash. If you don't go to the 'Jam' we should meet up for a pub lunch, or somewhere while I am 'down South'.

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Can someone re-post the JMJ video link please?

It is in the 'Why listen to classical?' thread

Here it is anyway http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...777Q&feature=related


The CD & DVD (2 or 3D) is well worth getting, the performance is excellent, and seeing them coax the old instruments into life is wonderfull.


Owners of Stradivarius violins may now cough at the uses of the world old for synthesizers.

Guardian review

In theory, the star turn on this solo debut from Colorado singer Grant is the backing band: Texan rockers Midlake. But they've never played on anything as good as this masterpiece of soft, 70s melodies and sadness. Grant recently confessed to suicidal thoughts but he can also see the funny side of the end of one's tether, hence the fabulous "Sigourney Weaver", which sounds like the Carpenters and compares an existential crisis to the actress facing down insane odds inAlien, or the hapless Winona Ryder in Dracula, when she just couldn't "get her accent right". Terrific.

Times Review

John Grant’s talent was wasted in the Czars — and Grant was the one who was wasting it, drugs and alcohol either causing or cushioning the band’s constant underachievement. Grant was waiting tables when he was talked back into the studio by longtime fans Midlake, who provide the gorgeous 1970s soft-rock backing here. Uncool and unlikely reference points (Bread, the Carpenters, Gordon Lightfoot) combine to create a soothing accompaniment to distinctly unsoothing lyrics, as Grant wrestles with his tragic flaw: the expectation that someone else will save him from grim reality, and the misery that ensues when they turn out to be not a saviour at all, but just another human being. One listen to Where Dreams Go to Die, for example, and you’ll realise that while Grant can’t attain perfection in his actual life, he gets pretty close in his art.

Word Magazine

Believe all the reviews you are likely to read about this album. It is sensational. Perfectly crafted pop songs with Midlake and some excellent orchestration providing a superb backdrop. If you can locate it, make sure you get the version with a 4 track bouns cd. It is not like the album proper but the first song is an unbelievable (and funny) pastiche of Krautrock - it highlights the complexities of the man and I am pretty positive this early in the year that it will be a strong contender for the year end best ofs.

Independent Review

It's the year of leaving the band behind.

First, James Mercer quit the Shins to make the record of his career with Broken Bells. And now the man behind the Czars has hit the forget-everything-that-went-before button with his first solo album, recorded with the ever-excellent Midlake. Not that this is folky-dokey. Grant grew up gay in a religious household in a small-minded Michigan small town and QOD is his heartfelt and heartbreaking revenge, set to a soft-rock soundtrack Supertramp would be proud of. Close to perfect.


John Grant - Queen of Denmark. There is no justice when an album as good as this is no 796 on amazon best sellers list.

Michael Stanley "Eighteen Down"

Thanks for that Jamie, I couldn't remember where you posted that originally.

Interesting to see all those Analogue synths, and the insides of a Mellotron too.

Now on vinyl:-

Band Of Horses "Infinte Arms"

"
Underworld 'Oich Oich' and other b sides from 90' (my compilation on to four CDs).
I love Karl Hyde's stream of consciousness lyrics:

"The Beatles are dead
Andy Warhol's shit she said
Yeah, reactor, reactor, reactor

Give me a better foot in time, in luxury, in love
People said, he left her for another woman
But she knew he left her for another car, a velvet craft.

Red House Painters (second album, known as 'Bridge'). Very early Mark Kozelek, I think he has got better with age, certainly his voice has, but still some nice song writing.

Airbag - Identity

A norwegian take on gilmour atmospherics.

Over The Rhine - Films for Radio

Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer
"Drum Hat Buddha"

here
sublime folk offerings, Dave passed too young, but Tracy carries on

Disc IV
Paul Motian d
Gonzalo Rubalcaba p

Red House Painters 'Ocean Beach' There is a real jump in maturity between the second and this, the third album.

Blowing out the cobwebs - a lovely thick slab of crackly blue vinyl

Dave Carter Tracy Grammer
"Seven Is The Number"

Disc V

Klaus Schulze

Angst

1. Freeze
2. Pain
3. Memory
4. Surrender
5. Beyond


Thunderbolt CD @ 2003

Lara Michell "Petals"

One of the classiest Carmens on record, but Karajan/DG committed the cardinal sin to hire different actors for the speaking parts. The highlights CD omits most of the spoken dialogue.

EJ

Peter Case "Wig"