What Are You Listening To? August 2023

[axolotl]

Molasses ~ Slow Messe (2003)



Post-folk with atmospherics

 

[Ojai Sam]

Nelson Riddle - The Untouchables (TV soundtrack 1960)

Vinyl Spin of the Day, the actual album my mom picked up in the bargain bin at Alpha Beta Supermarket some 60 plus years ago. Mono, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

After supplying titles like "Tender-Ness", "Dauntless-Ness", "Reckless-Ness", "Wistful-Ness", "Dejected-Ness" and "Suspenseful-Ness", Riddle can almost be forgiven for adding another track called "Eliot Ness". However, the pulsing, jazzy music more than atones for his linguistic sins. The sound derives from the big band jazz of the fifties (think Verve-era Basie) rather than to the Roaring 20's.



Bewitched-ness

 

[Ojai Sam]

Spettro Armonico Chamber Orchestra (Simone Zuccatti, cond.) - Zandonai: Rarities & Surprises (2020)




Riccardo Zandonai (1883-1944)

 

[axolotl]

^ That looks strangely interesting. How is it?

 

[axolotl]

Soft Circle ~ Full Bloom (2007)



Neo-Psychedelia, Ambient

This is much better than its RYM rating of less than would indicate.

Evidently, one can't dance to it. You can if you want. Just don't expect me not to judge you.

 

[axolotl]

Fennesz ~ Black Sea (2008)



[YMMV]

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Just:
Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory (1995)

Now:
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Hearts of Oak (2003)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Laura Marling - Semper femina (2017)

 

[Ojai Sam]

^ That looks strangely interesting. How is it?

Discovering this album is a bit like stumbling across a trunk full of vintage costume jewelry in your grandmother's attic. There are no weighty diamonds here, but rather a trove of colorful gems from another century.

Zandonai was a contemporary of Ottorino "Pines and Fountains Of Rome" Respighi, so we would expect to hear melodic string pieces on the lighter side. The Spettro Armonico Chamber Orchestra does deliver those. Zandonai was a versatile composer, with output ranging from opera to sacred to symphonic, even motion picture soundtracks. Six of the thirteen selections here are his rearrangements of earlier works by Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn and the like for strings. But the "surprises" include a dance for 4-handed piano and a delightful mazurka for piano and guitar . There are also four beautiful romantic songs arranged for voice, harp and strings.

To answer your question, as long as you are not expecting Teutonic bombast I think you will find this one a fascinating glimpse into Italian life before the World Wars.

on the Sam-O-Meter.

Alas, not on Spotify.

 

[axolotl]

not expecting Teutonic bombast

That's me, all right.

Btw, I like my mazurkas with extra polonaise, please.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Tierra Whack - Whack World (2018)

Fifteen one-minute hip hop songs, low key, mellow

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Def Leppard - Hysteria (1987)

 

[Nickyboy]

REM- Life's Rich Pageant.
damned fine.

 

[axolotl]

Chick Corea ~ The Ultimate Adventure (2006)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Band of Horses - Cease to Begin (2007)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Deep Purple - Machine Head (1972)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall (1992)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers - s/t (1965)

Four of these guys need an emergency consultation with an optometrist. Maybe five, counting the guy in the shades.

The other needs an emergency consultation with a hair stylist.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Father John Misty - God’s Favorite Customer (2018)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Guy Lombardo - Into The Fifties (Jasmine comp. 2007)