What are you listening to? (Vol VII)

Hi Adrian,

Well, If I hadn't already bumped my Villalobos thread a few times, I would have added to it by saying I just don't get it - at all. I very nearly cancelled my order after hearing a few samples, and it's only been in the cd player a couple of times since I got it. In fact, I'm almost reluctant to play it because it's been such a let down.

I thought it might be a little different for you as you'll know the source material, but for me, it just doesn't go anywhere. It all seems on the same level, and just plods along fairly aimlessly. Much as I admire the idea and methodology (I like this line from the sleeve notes: "Adjusted in a certain way the machines start composing by themselves.") I've been reluctant to say much as I simply haven't heard it properly yet. For now, I'm almost tempted to say "emperor's new clothes", but that's probably a little harsh.

One to revisit over the winter months, don't you think?

Yes, it could well be. I played it yesterday on my iPod sitting by a swimming pool in the sun and could only get to the third track before giving up. It has had a lot of good reviews but it is yet to hit me. The source material is not the best known part of the ECM catalogue for me, so it pretty much all new territory for me also.

I will persevere.

Listening to some of these Nat SACDs, great mastering job by Steve & Kevin, just ordered the missing two.

BTW, there will be a Keith Jarrett SHM-SACD out in the fall, don't think it's one of his ECM recordings. I might bite and give it a try.

Haven't listened to this one in a while, very nice.

PS: Wait, is this a new one?

It came out in May

Yep, it's definitely not music for sitting by a sunny swimming pool. I can understand anyone not being able to listen to Villalobos records at home, as they're often fairly subtle and are usually made for hearing in a club at four in the morning, but you'd think this one would be a little different.

I was hoping you could talk me round, as I'd been struggling to agree with the positive reviews, but it seems we're both in the same boat. Talking of reviews, I read a good review / interview where RV is asked about the line of coke on the cover being a bit radical for Manfred and ECM. RV replies by saying it's actually a breaking wave - doh.

Just ordered it.

I love this song: 'Colomb'

^ Lyrics borrowed from Robert Bresson's Mouchette:

"Espérez! Plus d’espérance! Trois jours, leur dit Colomb, En montrant le ciel immense, Le fond de l’horizon. Trois jours et je vous donne un monde, vous qui n’avez plus d’espoir. Sur l’immensité profonde, ses yeux s’ouvraient pour le voir.

Pretentious, moi?

John Hiatt "Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns"

"French pianist Francois Couturier was inspired by Soviet film director Andrei Tarkovsky (1932-1986) in creating the music on this album, but it should be noted at the outset that the album does not contain any music actually used in Tarkovsky's films in general or his 1983 movie Nostalghia in particular. Rather, Couturier, who states his admiration for Tarkovsky in his brief liner notes, saying that has "seen all his films over and over again," tried to evoke the mood of those films in writing these pieces of music, several of which share titles with them."

Highly recommended.

Coldplay "X&Y"

Dave Stewart "The Blackbird Diaries"

God Help The Girl

On CD:-

St Vincent "Marry Me"

The Dvorak led me to Wispelwey's recording of the Elgar concerto, which is also a spectacular recording. 

Cheers,

EJ

Elizabeth & the Catapult "The Other Side Of Zero"

Alan Parsons Project "Turn Of A Friendly Card"