Blank Generation

2010-04-15T10:09:00.002+09:30

Derek Bailey - Aida (1981)

Genre; Free Improvisation

2010-04-15T10:03:00.001+09:30

Taku Sugimoto - Opposite (1998)

Genre; Free Improvisation

Download

Punk #1

2010-04-12T13:35:00.004+09:30

Blank Generation was named after a song by Richard Hell & the Voidoids, the infamous punk rocker. Punk rock is probably my favourite genre as I relate to the culture, the lyrics and so forth much more than what I do to the likes of ambient or free jazz. So here are three great punk records that I love.

Armia - Legenda (1991)

Genre; Hardcore Punk

CCCP Fedeli alla Linea - Affinità-divergenze fra il compagno Togliatti e noi - Del conseguimento della maggiore età (1986)

Genre; Punk Rock, Post-Punk

The Sound - Jeopardy (1980)

Genre; Post-Punk

2010-04-12T13:27:00.003+09:30

Godz - Contact High With The Godz (1966)

Genre; Psychedelic Rock, Freak Folk, Psychedelic Folk
Download

Electroacoustic #1

2010-04-11T23:16:00.002+09:30

Electroacoustics is a fascinating and complex genre that I've recently just started listening to. I'm not knowledgable in the genre but here are three of my favourite electroacoustic records that I've heard over the last few weeks.

Karlheinz Stockhausen - Kontakte [Tudor/Caskel/Stockhausen/Koenig] (1960)

Iannis Xenakis - Electronic Music (1997)

MIMEO & John Tilbury - The Hands of Caravaggio (2002)

Highly Recommended.

2010-04-11T23:14:00.003+09:30

Oliver Nelson - The Blues and the Abstract Truth (1961)

Genre; Post-Bop

2010-04-11T23:05:00.003+09:30

Ground Zero - Revolutionary Pekinese Opera Ver.1.28 (1996)

Genre; Experimental, Noise, Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Improvisation
Download

2010-04-11T22:03:00.003+09:30

Charlemagne Palestine - Strumming Music (1976)

Genre; Minimalism
Download

VCR #7; Kurtz Compound

2010-04-10T15:47:00.004+09:30

Here is a deeply depressing yet awe-inspiring surreal cut from one of my favourite films Apocalypse Now. This is the best video of the scene that I could find, so please ignore the director's comentary. I highly recommend this film.

2010-04-10T15:42:00.003+09:30

Eliane Radigue - Trilogie de la Mort (1998)

Genre; Drone

Download;
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

2010-04-07T17:29:00.003+09:30

William Basinski - The Disintegration Loops III (2003)

Genre; Ambient

2010-04-07T17:23:00.003+09:30

Big Blood - Sew Your Wild Days Tour Vol. I (2007)

Genre; Avant-Folk

Notable Jazz Records #3; Bobby Hutcherson, Dave Holland & Noah Howard

2010-04-06T22:34:00.004+09:30

Here's the third installment of Notable Jazz Records and the three albums I've chosen are three great avant-garde releases, all of which I recommend.

Bobby Hutcherson - Dialogue (1965)

Dave Holland - Conference of the Birds (1973)

Noah Howard - The Black Ark (1973)

2010-04-06T22:15:00.004+09:30

Emeralds - Allegory of Allergies (2007)

Highly recommended.

Genre; Drone, Ambient

2010-04-06T22:04:00.003+09:30

Pan Sonic - Kesto (284.48:4) (2004)

Genre; Glitch, IDM, Experimental

Krautrock #1; Can, Popul Vuh, La Dusseldorf

2010-04-06T12:58:00.004+09:30

Similar to my occassional jazz posts (#3 will be up shortly), here are three fantastic krautrock records of vintage german psychedelia and progressive rock that have been pumping through my stereo recently.

Popul Vuh - Hosianna Mantra (1972)

Can - Delay 1968 (1981)

La Dusseldorf - La Dusseldorf (1976)

Sunn O)))

2010-04-06T12:48:00.003+09:30

You may or may not have noticed on this blog that drone records are being posted more frequently than ever. Drone has been a genre that I've been exploring a lot recently and here, rather than two seperate posts from the same artist, I'm going to post two albums from droners Sunn O))). I was first exposed to Sunn O))) last year with their Monoliths and Dimensions which, by the end of the year, revealed itself to be one of the better records of the year. Here we have two older works of Sunn O))), both of which I consider to be great and a fantastic beginning if you are new to the genre.

The Grimmrobe Demos (1999)

Black One (2005)

VCR #6; Club Silencio

2010-04-04T16:40:00.003+09:30

Here is one of my favourite scenes from the surreal, neo-noir psychological thriller Mulholland Drive, which was directed by David Lynch.

VCR #4 & #5; Japrock

2010-04-04T16:25:00.004+09:30

VCR #4; Flower Travellin' Band

Here is a rare video of Japanese psychedelic rock band Flower Travellin' Band, on their last show.

VCR #5; Romance of the Black Grief

Les Rallizes Denudes are one of my favourite bands. Their intense and influential album '77 live reached 15th on my top 100 records of all time list. Here is more rare footage of them in this beautiful video.

2010-04-04T15:46:00.003+09:30

Einsturzende Neubauten - Zeichnungen des Patienten O.T. (1983)

Genre; Industrial, Experimental
Download

2010-04-04T15:41:00.003+09:30

Univers Zero - Heresie (1979)

Genre; Avant-Prog, Rock In Opposition, Chamber Music

2010-04-04T15:37:00.003+09:30

Lubomyr Melnyk - KHM (1979)

Genre; Minimalism

2010-04-04T15:32:00.004+09:30

Windy & Carl - The Drawing of Sound (1996)

Genre; Drone, Ambient, Shoegaze

2010-03-27T18:41:00.003+10:30

Jorge Ben - A Tábua de Esmeralda (1974)

Genre; Samba - Rock
Download

2010-03-25T21:05:00.004+10:30

The Microphones - It Was Hot, We Stayed In the Water (2000)

Genre; Lo-fi, Noise Rock, Pyschedelic Folk, Experimental
Download

Mixtape : Lost Highway

2010-03-24T23:53:00.005+10:30

Here's another mixtape for my friend under the coke sign. Download and enjoy.

Side A
[Excerpt of] Queens of the Stone Age - You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like A Millionaire off Songs for the Deaf
Sparklehorse - Gasoline Horseys off Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - For Kate I Wait off The Doldrums
Daniel Johnston - An Idiot's End off Songs of Pain
Jandek - Love, Love off Chair Beside A Weekend
Beat Happening - Down At the Sea off Beat Happening
Ween - Cold Blows the Wind off The Mollusk
The Decemberists - An Interlude off The Hazards of Love

Side B
Mekons - Lost Highway off Fear and Whiskey
Red House Painters - Dragonflies off Red House Painters I [Rollercoaster]
The Magnetic Fields - Desert Island off Holiday
The Microphones - (something) ver. 2 off It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water
Low - Sunshine off I Could Live In Hope
Girls - End of the World
Big Star - September Gurls off Radio City

Download

Notable Jazz #2: Anthony Braxton, The Jazz Composer's Orchestra, Max Roach

2010-03-24T20:06:00.005+10:30

I'll try to make this a regular feature on the blog. Here is some more avant-garde, post-bop, experimental big-band and free improvisation that have been jazzing from my headphones the past few days.

Anthony Braxton - Saxophone Improvisations Series F (1972)

(Download links not available)

Max Roach - We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite (1961)

The Jazz Composer's Orchestra - The Jazz Composer's Orchestra (1968)

Highly Recommended

2010-03-24T19:55:00.003+10:30

Low - I Could Live In Hope (1994)

Genre; Slowcore, Alternative Rock

Vladimir Kush

2010-03-24T19:48:00.004+10:30

Notable Jazz #1: Peter Brotzmann, Wes Montgomery, Don Cherry

2010-03-23T22:16:00.005+10:30

Here are some worthwhile jazz releases that I've been listening to, each of which are recommended.

Peter Brotzmann - Machine Gun (1968)

download (part one)
download (part two)

Wes Montgomery - The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery (1960)

download

Don Cherry - Eternal Rhythm (1969)

download

Max Richter - The Blue Notebooks (2004)

2010-03-18T16:57:00.003+10:30

Max Richter - The Blue Notebooks (2004)

Genre; Modern Classical, Minimalism, Ambient

Big Star - Third (1978)

2010-03-18T16:46:00.004+10:30

Big Star - 3rd (1978)

Genre; Power Pop, Alternative Rock

---------------------------------------------------------------

In other news, for those interested I have finished my top 100, which I'll now be completeing every six months to record my musical development. Here it is;

Link

R.I.P. Alex Chilton

2010-03-18T13:53:00.002+10:30

Alex Chilton of Big Star is confirmed to be dead. Big Star were a great influence on me and I'm sad to hear that he's now gone.

He died at the age of 59. May he rest in peace. Some Big Star albums will be featured on the blog as a tribute.

2010-03-15T13:13:00.004+10:30

Taj Mahal Travellers - July 15, 1972 (1972)

Genre; Free Improvisation
Download

Phil Spector - Back to Mono (1958-1969) (1991)

2010-03-15T12:18:00.003+10:30

Phil Spector - Back to Mono (1958 - 1969) (1991)

Genre; Girl Group, Brill Building, Baroque Pop
Download

Mixtape: Cemetery Gates

2010-03-14T18:27:00.005+10:30

This mixtape was mixed for Liz, under the moniker Samurai for the 2010 Mixtape Exchange. Here it is to download for those interested.

Tracklisting;

SIDE A (21:40)

1. Boredoms - Noise Ramones (0:31)

2. Spiritualized - Don't Just Do Something (6:51)

3. The Field Mice - Couldn't Feel Safer (3:44)

4. Sebadoh - Skull (2:25)

5. dEUS - 7 Days, 7 Weeks (3:53)

6. Beat Happening - Noise (3:23)

7. Tool - Intermission (0:56)

SIDE B (33:55)

1. Galaxie 500 - Tell Me (3:52)

2. Orange Juice - Felicity (2:53)

3. The Go Betweens - Streets of Your Turn (3:38)

4. Cocteau Twins - Athol-Brose (2:59)

5. The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now (3:34)

6. Felt - A Wave Crashed On Rocks (2:48)

7. The dBs - Big Brown Eyes (2:01)

8. The Clean - Whatever I Do is Right (2:32)

9. The Triffids - Bury Me Deep In Love (4:05)

10. Teenage Fanclub - Guilding Star (2:48)

11. Big Star - Thank You Friends (3:09)

Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra - Out to Lunch (2005)

2010-03-14T12:39:00.003+10:30

Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra - Out to Lunch (2005)

Genre; Experimental Big Band, Electroacoustic, Free Jazz

Gas - Königsforst (1999)

2010-03-14T12:36:00.003+10:30

Gas - Königsforst (1999)

Genre; Ambient, Minimal Techno

Earth - Earth 2: Special Low-Frequency Version (1993)

2010-03-14T12:08:00.003+10:30

Earth - Earth 2: Special Low-Frequency Version (1993)

My ears burned after this.

Genre; Drone, Drone Doom Metal

An Analysis: Jeffrey Smart

2010-03-14T02:08:00.004+10:30

Portrait of David Malouf by Jeffrey Smart (1980)

Here’s a definitive example of one of Smart’s works to present the signature characteristics that are frequently incorporated within his work.

The majority of Smart’s work is a blatant and frank representation of contemporary life, exploring pop art colours, commercialism, bleak skyscapes, seemingly obscure jobs, and the artificiallity of man conflicting with nature, providing both patent and incongruous perspectives and qualities to his work.

Smart commonly displays a sole protagonist, whom is almost always communicating implied loneliness and sometimes depression, symbolized by their glum facial expressions. Figures in Smart's work are regularly inanimate props in the composition. The protagonist’s face is never fully revealed, making the piece ambiguous and detached which furthermore gives the piece a sense of displacement, isolation and melancholy within the character, endowing some aspect of human relativity and emotion to the everyday life of the viewer. This interactual connection between the art and the viewer, and the human dimension of Smart’s work provokes a sense of sentimentality with the art, something that many contemporary artists fail to achieve.

Smart's subject matter is usually very metropolitan and quite orwellian, mundane and austere, but he deals with it to make it individual, employing colour and light to make these urban landscapes to be admired for their honesty. In his work, this piece included, the buildings are sparse and often singular, which emphasizes on the theme of isolation that Smart deliberately conveys.

Smart applies characteristics of pop art, road signs, propaganda and commercial logos in his work to give it a more realistic yet an indirectly more solitary feel which some critics have associated with Smart’s influence from post-industrial life. In several of his works, he replicates items in a linear fashion, which I compare to the likes of Warhol’s pop art printing. Smart repeatedly uses bright, primary and secondary colours to contrast the manufactured items from nature, in this case the containers. Bright and familiar colours like the ones used are often contextually associated with man-made plastics thus successfully gives these replicated props implied texture and plasticity.

In the midst of the vagueness and slight surrealism of the piece is an appealing yet somewhat dark humour and irony. Observe the tubing that the protagonist is handling – it twists and bounces unrealistically. The end of the tubing is directed to the viewer which exaggerates the bizarrity of the piece. The figure appears to be feeding this tubing into an irregularly placed tile in the center of the ground. Oddball jobs such as this frequently appears in Smart’s work.

Other notable works of Jeffrey Smart include;

Morning (1984)

The Reflective Arrows (1974)

Gavin Bryars - The Sinking of the Titanic (1975)

2010-03-13T12:48:00.003+10:30

Gavin Bryars - The Sinking of the Titanic (1975)

Highly recommended.
Genre; Modern Classical, Minimalism
Download

AMM - Newfoundland (1993)

2010-03-13T12:36:00.003+10:30

AMM - Newfoundland (1993)

Genre; Free Improvisation
Download

Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - Univers Zen ou de zéro à zéro (2002)

2010-03-13T12:34:00.005+10:30

Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - Univers Zen ou de zéro à zéro (2002)

Genre; Psychedelic Rock, Experimental Rock, Noise Rock
Download

VCR 3#

2010-03-12T23:58:00.006+10:30

New She & Him video from the upcoming record.

It shouldn't be legal to be that cute.

Boredoms - Soul Discharge (1989)

2010-03-12T20:07:00.004+10:30

Boredoms - Soul Discharge (1989)

I'll probably end up regretting posting this. This is crazy material as depicted in the kick-ass cover art.
Genre; Experimental Rock, Noise Rock
Link

Beat Konducta - Volumes 3-4: Beat Konducta in India (2007)

2010-03-12T20:01:00.004+10:30

Beat Konducta - Volumes 3-4: Beat Konducta in India (2007)

Genre; Instrumental Hip-Hop, Bollywood
Link

Grateful Dead - Live/Dead (1969)

2010-03-08T20:13:00.003+10:30

Grateful Dead - Live/Dead (1969)

I strongly recommend this.

Genre; Acid Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Link

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada EP (1999)

2010-03-08T20:00:00.004+10:30

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada EP (1999)

Genre; Post-Rock, Experimental Rock
Link

Mark Linkous

2010-03-08T19:08:00.006+10:30

Today, Mark Linkous (the man behind Sparklehorse) committed suicide at the age of 48. He was a huge influence on me and my musicianship as one of the first real alternative bands I was exposed to some time ago. Here's Sparklehorse's first record, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, which I recommend strongly. Radiohead had great respect for Sparklehorse as they opened for them in 1996 where Linkous overdosed on alcohol and antidepressants in his hotel room, leaving him in a wheelchair for six months.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Sparklehorse - Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot (1995)

Genre; Indie Rock

Link

Stars of the Lid - The Tired Sounds Of (2001)

2010-03-07T12:19:00.004+10:30

Stars of the Lid - The Tired Sounds Of (2001)

Genre; Ambient, Modern Classical, Drone, Electroacoustic
Link

Alcest - Souvenirs d'un autre monde (2006)

2010-03-07T12:09:00.004+10:30

Alcest - Souvenirs d'un autre monde (2006)

Genre; Shoegaze, Post-Rock
Link

Jeppe Hein @ PICA 28/02/2010

2010-03-01T21:45:00.004+10:30

This weekend, I went to see an exhibition belonging to acclaimed Danish minimalist artist Jeppe Hein, whose works incorporate a fusion of thought-provoking and abstract sculptures, challenging architecture and an intriguing use of lighting and experimentation to create conflicting moods and ambiguity.

The installation that attracted me most was a cubic, padded seat that faced opposite a large mirror. Once seated, the chair expels steam, and as you observe yourself in the adjacent mirror, the steam consumes your body, until it the gas disperses away. A simple yet effective piece.

Here's some of his other, more popular work;

Official website.

A Mixtape of Oildrums and Molten Iron.

2010-02-28T21:20:00.004+10:30

download (90mb)

Best of February 2010

2010-02-26T20:04:00.004+10:30

February ends today. Blogger's Image Upload isn't working for me so I'll come back and edit this at a later date. Click on the release for download.

1. Golden Ages - Tradition
8.4

2. White Hinderland - Kairos
8.1

3. Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me
8.1

4. Yellow Swans - Going Places
8.0

5. Velvet Davenport - Run 7" w/ Ariel Pink
7.9

6. Memoryhouse - The Years EP
7.8

7. Best Coast - Something In the Way EP
7.6

8. Gonjasufi - A Sufi and a Killer
7.5

9. Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here
7.1

10. Sade - Soldier of Love
7.0

The Ronettes - Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica (1964)

2010-02-26T19:50:00.003+10:30

The Ronettes - Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica (1964)

Genre; Pop, Girl Group

Yo La Tengo @ Beck's Music Box 20/02/2010

2010-02-22T19:19:00.007+10:30

The Perth Arts Festival is an annual event and this year it featured artists such as Antony & the Johnstons, Arvo Part, Calexico, Health, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, British Sea Power, Pivot and a few more. The venue is a cosy stage with a perimeter of sofas and benches and bars to relax and indulge while watching the band. Such venues come with the advantage of getting close to the band, which created an interpersonal and intimate atmosphere between them and the crowd. In fact, I was two feet from the band, as evident in the photos. The band's setlist consisted of a diverse selection of songs from their catalogue featuring noisy garage numbers, a short and solemn acoustic set and long psychedelic shoegazed guitarfuckery that the band is known for, aswell as our indie favourites ('Autumn Sweater', 'Sugarcube'). They closed with a Beach Boys cover after a two and a half hour set and it was overly a fantastic experience.

VCR #2

2010-02-15T22:04:00.003+10:30

As recently posted on Bradford's blog, here is a fantastic and nostalgia-inducing video featuring spooky synthesizers and arrays of mind warping lasers.

Salvaged Gold #2

2010-02-14T19:30:00.005+10:30

Here's what I bought at the local markets, secondhand.

Altogether, I had bargained these three classics down to $20 AUS dollars (which equates to $17 U.S. dollars/11 british pounds).

All for those who have yet to hear;

Neil Young - Harvest (1972)

Yes - Close to the Edge (1972)

Echo & the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain (1982)

Natural Snow Buildings - The Dance of the Moon and the Sun (2006)

2010-02-13T12:07:00.002+10:30

Natural Snow Buildings - The Dance of the Moon and the Sun (2006)

This is a colossal masterpiece; 25 tracks spanning over 158 minutes in total of drone and free folk. The Dance of the Moon and the Sun is a poignant, emotional and cold experience and although huge, never does it feel pointlessly long or tedious throughout – it’s really that beautiful and inspiring. As for the rest, I'll leave the music to tell you.

Genre; Avant-Folk, Drone, Ambient

Try;
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Paul McCartney - Ram (1971)

2010-02-10T23:19:00.004+10:30

Paul McCartney - Ram (1971)

I’m surprised I like Ram, such an enjoyably juvenile record, as much as I do. In fact, like many, it could be my favourite solo Beatles record, and All Things Must Pass was a challenging contender to overtake. It is audacious and entertaining and just catchy pop. It also documents McCartney’s artistic progression after the end of the Beatles – the compositions are no longer convoluted or experimental, just soulful balladry which shows that despite the post-Beatle attention from the tortuous media, McCartney was still capable to produce great songs and melodies. His lyrics do not speak of disappointment or grieve from the band’s break up or philosophy but of happiness, friendship and enjoying life. That’s really what Ram is all about, enjoying life. That’s what Ram inspires us all to do.

Genre; Folk Pop, Pop/Rock

Try

Bohren & der Club of Gore - Black Earth (2002)

2010-02-10T23:08:00.003+10:30

Bohren & der Club of Gore - Black Earth (2002)

The concept of Bohren und der Club of Gore’s Black Earth blew my mind - continuous, hollowing, icy ambience backing up gentle, low-tempo jazz drums and smooth, passive saxophone. It has the darkness of doom metal yet the relaxing features of chilled jazz. The album begins with alternating chords of ambience in ‘Midnight Black Earth’, before a void bass drum introduces the light percussion and the ethereal, synthesized keyboards. The record continues to further explore elegant saxophones, xylophones and light keyboard chords that assist in producing the eerie ambiguity until we reach the final song (‘The Art of Coffins’), or as I’d describe it; the epilogue, which is a solemn, affecting track, like most of the album. It is one of the few to include a snare which feels like a light blow to the heart every time. It contains minimal brass and is mostly cymbals, gut-wrenching atmospheric hums and the power of transcending silence that slowly concludes what is, from what I’ve heard, the best jazz record of the 2000s.

Genre; Jazz, Dark Ambient

Try

Boris - Feedbacker (2003)

2010-02-10T00:22:00.003+10:30

Boris - Boris At Last -Feedbacker- (2003)

It had taken me too long to get around to listening to Boris or even Drone Doom Metal in general. Feedbacker is one immense piece of music. Feedbacker ranges from fanatical percussion to austere yet beautiful drone in one progressive sweep. The first untitled track is copious of injections of distorted guitar chords. The next opens with eerie ambience and a slow drumbeat as sinister distortions continue to creep in and out. Eventually psychedelic guitar overtones festoon the fifteen minute track. Track 3 opens with an explosion of crumbling drums and cymbal clatter and noise before a steady beat emerges and more distorted guitars whammy and play over eachother majestically. Track 4 is the most drone-orientated track, almost 10 minutes of pure, unabridged noise. This may sound unappealing or even boring but every second leaves you terrified with excitement, frozen at the edge of your seat. The final untitled track is introduced to us through screeching guitars and a humble chord and percussion arrangement and as the wailing guitars slowly eludes, more luscious guitar plays until the album concludes with a final dash of cymbal before noise slowly ends the album. Feedbacker takes drone one step further as great albums do by incorporating psychedelia, post-rock beats and drums. Boris amazed me with such a versatile and exhilirating album. What more is there to say?

Genre; Drone Doom Metal, Psychedelic Rock,
Try

John Fahey - Fare Forward Voyagers (Soldier's Choice) (1973)

2010-02-09T23:07:00.005+10:30

Well, now that my time off school has come to an end, it will as of now be quite difficult to continue posting anything more than a few paragraphs. But I'm determined to not let go and follow in the footsteps of my friend and regularly post some of the best music that I've recently heard, whether old or new, and if I fail to come across anything worthwhile, I'll substitute with some of my favourites of all time. The album chosen must be worth an 8.5 rating or more. No albums will be posted that were released in the last twelve months. The best of the month lists will still be posted seperately.

After abusing punk rock the last few weeks, I plan to move onto a project inspired by another friend of mine's fantastic list of 90's jazz and improvisation. Such a list abundant in releases made me realise that jazz and modern classical nowadays are mostly ignored genres, with the only exceptions being the odes to the likes of Davis, Mingus, Ellington and Coltrane for jazz as well as Part, Messiaen and Lygeti for classical. Great jazz and classical music is still being produced and although seemingly dead since 1970 (in the case of jazz), there are plently of post-1970 material available on the interwebs. So the month of March will be the month I solely explore 80s, 90s and 00s jazz as found on the lists here, and classical, experimental and avant-garde as found on such blogs as rafterlights, killedincars and others as I come across them. By the end of the month, depending on how much I've heard, I'll choose to either continue the diet or post the best of what I've heard on the blog or on a list on my rym account.

But for now, here's a great album I recently came across.

John Fahey - Fare Forward Voyagers (Soldier's Choice) (1973)

This is my first John Fahey experience. The excessive application of guitar improvisation fascinated me at first listen, walls of noodling strings and arrangements bouncing off eachother and playing whimsically alongside eachother; what fantastic guitar work. Rolling Stone magazine rated him the 35th greatest guitarist ever, and although we all dislike Rolling Stone’s commercially-inclined opinion, that’s still an achievable commendation of importance that one should be proud of. Many feel that although immensely delicate and complicated guitars consume this record, Fahey’s true potential has not been displayed – he is really that skilled. Nothing is imposed here, this is all natural noise. So what I’d advise to be the best approach to this record is to relax and absorb the masterful guitarwork for what it really is.

Genre; American Primitivism, Avant Folk
Try

Country

2010-02-04T21:00:00.006+10:30

In an attempt to challenge me, I was requested to do a genre post on country music. To answer that call, here's some of my favourite alternative-country and country records.

5. She & Him - Volume One (2008)

Oh Zooey.

4. Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball (1995)

download
wikipedia

3. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker (2000)

2. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Letting Go (2006)

1. Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt (1969)

Happy now Matt?

If you have suggestions for future genre posts, leave a comment below.

Take the Stage #1: Brian Eno

2010-01-29T21:47:00.005+10:30

Why is this called 'Take the Stage'? Because the limelight is on the artist selected. This week's artist is the heavily-influential musician, producer and composer; Brian Eno.

wikipedia
rateyourmusic

Eno originally was the keyboardist of Art Rock band Roxy Music, before starting a solo career as a musician and eventually producing records for the likes of U2, Coldplay, Talking Heads, Laurie Anderson, Paul Simon, early demos for Television, Devo, and many more (which you can read here). He even did the music for Windows 95. Here are some of the best, most acclaimed and most pivotal releases from his long yet consistent discography.

Fripp & Eno - (No Pussyfooting) (1973)

Eno's first solo work was recorded as a collaborative attempt with Robert Fripp. This mostly 'ambient' tape music concocted with Fripp's stabbing guitars and Eno's signature electronics, was well ahead of its time and very influential in the years to come.

Brian Eno - Here Come the Warm Jets (1974)

Nothing had ever been done like Here Come the Warm Jets. Its artfully dry guitars and skewed piano chords is bitterly original and almost reaches Bowie-like oddness... just he came first. This essential record was the beginning of a huge change in rock and pop music.

Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) (1974)

Another captivating album of obscured riffs, luscious pop melodies and piano dischords. Although on a similar page to Here Come the Warm Jets, Taking Tiger Mountain still tastes original and fresh with the perfect balance of experimental rock and pop.

Brian Eno - Another Green World (1975)

Just epic. Forget this being the best Eno album, but one of the greatest albums ever. Featuring a subtle mix of instrumental ambient music that Eno was experimenting and conjuring up with the more vocally-reinforced rock/pop that was present on previous Eno albums. A flawless, timeless album - highly recommended!

Brian Eno - Before and After Science (1977)

The music on this album gives the listener a rare two experiences; one of dystopian mechanical failure, displayed in the electronics, and an emotional experience, conveyed by the Bowie-like tortured vocals. Featuring Phil Collins, Robert Fripp and Jaki Libezeit, Before and After Science is Eno's final breath of 'rock' music, and a great record to say the least.

Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music for Airports (1978)

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Harold Budd & Brian Eno - Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror (1980)

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Brian Eno - Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks [With Daniel Lanois & Roger Eno] (1983)

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Eno's ambient series of four records and Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks, documents his progression and artistic growth in producing ambient music. Ambient 1, as the titles implies, is background music - its purpose is to set the scene with its beautiful electronic atmospheres. Ambient 2 features Budd's aptly-choosen piano keys, reinforces by ambience that lets your mind drift away. Apollo, a much later record, is a sprawling piece of elongated, synthesized waves, droned distorted bass and solemn sampling which, while chokingly dark and disturbing, is inspirational and timeless.

Brian Eno & David Byrne - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (1981)

After producing some of the greatest albums ever with Talking Heads, Byrne teamed up with Eno for thir first of several future releases. And his participation in the creating of this record is not profound - polyrhythmics, funk-orientated bass, world music and many other symbolic characteristics of Remain In Light and Fear of Music are all evident. The result of combination of this and Eno's experimental electronics is My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, a commendable album only capable of two of the most influential artists in existence.

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To this day, Eno continues to produce music, his most recent being another collaborative album with David Byrne that was released in 2008. When you think of everything he has done, the list is overwhelmingly large. He has left an influential footprint on music and the industry as new artists today regularly cite him as a huge inspiration. As do I.

Soul

2010-01-27T15:20:00.003+10:30

Here's another genre post. Although I haven't heard much, here is some of the best soul records that I've heard.

5. Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul (1969)

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4. Al Green - Call Me (1973)

3. Curtis Mayfield - Superfly (1972)

2. Sly and the Family Stone - There's a Riot Goin' On (1969)

1. Sam Cooke - Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 (1985)

Enjoy.

VCR #1

2010-01-27T13:22:00.004+10:30

Similar to Beck's vidoetheque feature on his blog, I'll try to regularly post videos of interest, whether a current Internet hit or something a little more obscure.

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This, recently posted on Pitchfork, is an acceptance speech of the-musician-behind-my-12th-favourite-album-of-2009, Fever Ray after being awarded best dance act. The abstract approach that she and the Knife are known for makes me anticipate their upcoming Electro-Opera all the more.

Salvaged Gold #1

2010-01-25T20:57:00.004+10:30

In an attempt to get this blog back up and running, I introduce what will hopefully be a regular feature on the blog, Salvaged Gold. Salvaged Gold will simply be a record that I recently picked up at a secondhand record store/charity shop that I feel may be worth listening to. Such stores are usually abundant with damaged children's records, christmas carols, classical music, 50's pop and dodgy 80s/90s flamboyant pop. Here's a recent finding that caught my eye;

Gheorghe Zamfir - The Lonely Shepherd (1980)