nevermind the bricolage

upcoming music of note

 

Later with Jools Holland is a music show on the BBC that brings great live performances to hungry audiences. It is renowned for fantastic performances and for introducing new music to the public. So I am going to use two performances from recent shows to highlight some music that is about to be released that I think are well worth the exploration. First up, Paul Buchanan, of the Blue Nile, one of glasgow's greatest musical ventures--their output is lean, years between albums, but Buchanan's distinct voice is welcome in any musical moment as far as I am concerned. he has a new album coming out in the US next week I believe. His voice and music has a melancholy ache which, I have realized, is one of the primary emotional entry points for me when it comes to music--it's also central to pop music in general--from songs like Heartbreak Hotel to the present moment--alienation, love-lost, desired, affirmed, negated, disconnection--these are central themes of the language of popular music--the minor fall/the major lift--as mr. Cohen puts it. Anyway, Buchanan's album is called Mid-Air, and this is the title cut--magical.

 

Melody Gardot has a new album coming out next week as well--it's produced by a friend of mine, Heitor Pereira, who brings his brazilian sensibilities to this new collection of songs from Gardot. Her story is very interesting, she came to music via therapy after an accident--music therapy became her recovery tool. The accident left her with severe problems with neural pathways and light and sound sensitivities--hence the dark glasses and the very soft sound--her wounds dictated the kind of music she would/could make--so the softness and tenderness in all her music is a result of pain and brokenness which finds healing in the process of musical creativity. I love her music and this new work, which blends a wide range of world music elements with her usual stuff just works magically for me. I am a sucker for desert musics, and brazilian and reggae--it's all here in elemental shapes. The album is called The Absence, drops this coming Tuesday-buy it.

dr dee

I remember a conversation years ago with my friend Maria Mckee. She had just come back from a European tour and we were discussing 'Britpop.' This was at the height of the Blur/Oasis time. She asked me which band I preferred, we both agreed that we liked Blur the most. Of course, Oasis went on to set the world on fire--their Beatle-esque pop melodies seemed to garner them a broader audience than the very anglo-sounding sensibilities of Blur. Oasis imploded, and now there are two versions--Liams' Beady Eye and Noel's High Flying Birds, each churning out some nice stuff and Blur? Well they came and went and came again, and went again, and now they are going to close the Summer Olympics I think. In the meantime, Damon Albarn has been busy, so busy and so bloody interesting--Gorillaz, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, Mali Music, Rocket Juice and the Moon, Kinshasa One and a couple of opera deals along the way: Monkey: Journey to the west and most recently a project for the Manchester International Festival entitled Dr. Dee, about the Elizabethan alchemist and advisor to the first Elizabeth.

Dr. Dee was recently released as an album. At first I hesitated, not sure why, just didnt riush to get it. But considering the amount of Albarn music in my collection I finally decided that it had to worth a listen. And how right I was--it's music for an opera--very pastoral, Elizabethan, utilizing medieval instruments, but also incorporating the african Kora and the drumming of Fela Kuti's magnificent beatmaster, Tony Allen.

I doubt that Dr. Dee will be everyone's cup of tea, but there is a sweet, melancholy to the music--Albarn's voice and musical ideas are soaked in it, regardless of the featured group--and I'm sure that is why I like him so much--when you break out the melancholy, I will find my way to it!!! 

Dr Dee

Damon Albarn

Best Price $8.99 
or Buy New $8.99

Privacy Information

 

i feel love

 

Donna Summer has died--always loved this song--back in the early day of synths and the birth of disco, when she was Queen and Giorgio Moroder was king.

this...modeslektor/yorke

 

ch-check it out

There has been a great outpouring of love and sadness at the passing of Beastie boy Adam Yauch, who died way too young, way too young. His story was a transformative one, a former hard-partying fiend who becomes an advocate, supporter and devotee of Buddhism and buddhist causes. A serious contender for the most important figure in raising of awareness to the plight of Tibetans to young people as founder of the Free Tibet Concerts and Movement, filmmaker, and, by all accounts, all around lovely guy. This is a letter he wrote to the New York Times in response to a critique of a Beastie Boys video.

To the Editor:

I had the great pleasure of reading your unsolicited critique of the “Ch-Check It Out” music video [”Licensed to Stand Still” by Stephanie Zacharek, May 16]. It took some time to get to me, as it had to be curried (sp?) on goatback through the fjords of my homeland, the Oppenzell. And in the process the goat died, and then I had to give the mailman one of my goats, so remember, you owe me a goat.

Anyway, that video is big time good. Pauline Kael is spinning over in her grave. My film technique is clearly too advanced for your small way of looking at it. Someday you will be yelling out to the streets below your windows: “He is the chancellor of all the big ones! I love his genius! I am the most his close personal friend!”

You journalists are ever lying. I remember people like you laughing at me at the university, and now they are all eating off of my feet. You make this same unkind laughter at the Jerry Lewis for his Das Verruckte Professor and now look, he is respected as a French-clown. And you so-call New York Times smarties are giving love to the U2 because they are dressing as the Amish and singing songs about America? (Must I dress as the Leprechaun to sing songs about Ireland so that you will love me? You know the point I make here is true!)

In concluding, “Ch-Check It Out” is the always best music film and you will be realizing this too far passing. As ever I now wrap my dead goat carcass in the soiled New York Times — and you are not forgetting to buy me a replacement! Please send that one more goat to me now!

Nathanial Hörnblowér
Manhattan

The writer, whose real name is Adam Yauch, is a member of the Beastie Boys. He directs their music videos under the pseudonym Nathanial Hörnblowér.

(ht to James Frey for this)

There is also a very tender version of Fight for Your right To Party by Coldplay floating around the web--worth checking.

womack!

 

A second taste from the soon-to-be-released Bobby Womack album produced by Damon Albarn.

marley

The wonderful documentary, Marley, directed by Kevin McDonald was made available on Facebook and iTunes today, as well as a theatrical release. It's a lovely, langorous look at the life of Bob Marley. Depending on one's familiarity with the man, it could be argued that there is not much new here. But this is the first documentary 'sanctioned' by Marley's family, and their involvement is felt throughout the film. Much is made of Marley's bi-racial roots (white father, jamaican mother) and the effect of being outisde both cultures and the drive that came from that. The tone is direct and honest, avoiding some of the hagiogrpahy that usually attend works like these. I'm a big fan of both reggae and Marley so I ate this up.

dry the river

 

Lots of good music around these days. I just down-loaded Dry the River's first full-length, Shallow Bed. Folky, anthemic pop, driven by Peter Liddle's very distinct voice. The continuing story of young musicians recovering organic instrumentation--violins, banjos--you name it, and employing them in the service of new musical horizons--dig it.

 

good friday

Crucifixion According to Radiohead | All I Need from scott erickson on Vimeo.

 

Part of Ekklesia Houston's Good Friday Radiohead/Stations of the Cross meditation--the Crucifixion According to Radiohead. This is from the station, Jesus Falls for the Third Time.

 

Marshall

In my youth I had a lot of interaction with Jim marshall's creation. More than a few pilgrimages were made to the Marshall factory to check out amps and speakers for upcoming tours and once in a while, the man himself would put in an appearance. It is hard to imagine rock music without certain things---electric guitars of course, but hard rock without the particular bite and snarl of Marshall amps? There would still be rock, but it would taste and sound quite a bit different. Jim Marshall just passed away and millions of rock fans should give thanks for the contribution he made to their musical lives.

Both Malcolm and Angus played Marshalls. Angus played his straight--nothing betwen his SG and amp but cable/wireless--treble boosted standard Marshall 100-watt Superleads--quite a few of them!