What are you listening to? June 2022
- Thread starter Nickyboy
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Unsomnambulist
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Horsegirl - Versions Of Modern Performance (2022)
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
The Dream Syndicate - Ultraviolet Battle Hymns and True Confessions (2022)
Ojai Sam
Staff member
This was my first listen. It is a gorgeous work, very evocative.^ I have a thing for the Alpine Symphony, myself.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Karl Bohm, cond.) - Beethoven, Schubert, J. Strauss: Die Aufnahme In Der NHK Hall, Tokyo (rec. 1975, rel. 1995)
Japanese music fans are, well, fanatical. Where American audiences settle for greatest hits comps in low quality sound, record catalogs in Japan are filled with a mind-numbing profusion of massive box sets for artists from rootsy to long hair. In the classical field, European conductors and orchestras traveled regularly to Tokyo for lavish concerts. Often these performances were recorded for domestic release only in beautiful packages such as this 8 disc set on DG. The repertoire tends toward the traditional and the audiences take it all in with hushed respect until the end, when they often explode with applause.
Japanese music fans are, well, fanatical. Where American audiences settle for greatest hits comps in low quality sound, record catalogs in Japan are filled with a mind-numbing profusion of massive box sets for artists from rootsy to long hair. In the classical field, European conductors and orchestras traveled regularly to Tokyo for lavish concerts. Often these performances were recorded for domestic release only in beautiful packages such as this 8 disc set on DG. The repertoire tends toward the traditional and the audiences take it all in with hushed respect until the end, when they often explode with applause.
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antarctica (2000)
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
Yoo Doo Right - A Murmur, Boundless to the East (2022)
Post-Rock, Space Rock.
Post-Rock, Space Rock.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Various Artists - R&B Vocal Groups vol. 2 (rec. 1930-55, Tone Productions 2003)
Highly enjoyable collection of primordial doo wop. The groups range from familiar (The Deep River Boys) to the obscure (Do, Ray & Me). Biggest surprise has to be Ted "Is Everybody Happy" Lewis teamed with The Four Dusty Travelers from 1930. I couldn't find any photos of the Travelers but here's Ted:
Highly enjoyable collection of primordial doo wop. The groups range from familiar (The Deep River Boys) to the obscure (Do, Ray & Me). Biggest surprise has to be Ted "Is Everybody Happy" Lewis teamed with The Four Dusty Travelers from 1930. I couldn't find any photos of the Travelers but here's Ted:
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Various Artists - Joe Meek: Work In Progress-The Triumph Sessions (RPM comp. 1994)
Joe Meek was England's counterpart to Phil Spector: an eccentric creative genius whose life ended in tragedy. Meek went from sound engineer to being the first independent producer in the UK. Although he developed his own sound with elements of space age pop, ongoing commercial success eluded Meek after his One Big Hit, "Telstar". Joe died at age 37 with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a death in which homophobia played a large role.
There are lots of comps that try valiantly to capture the scope of Meek's creative canvas. The 27 sides gathered here were recorded for a boutique label Joe was given to play with after his initial success and before he went fully on his own. They have little in common other than the fact they are bizarrely fascinating. My personal favorite is "Keep Your Sunny Side Up", four minutes of imitations of current British singers, male and female, by "Lee Sutton", a pseudonym for Danny Phillips, occasional night club performer both solo and as part of The Italian Stallions. Don't ask.
A detailed bio for Joe Meek can be found here:
gaycultureland.blogspot.com
Joe Meek was England's counterpart to Phil Spector: an eccentric creative genius whose life ended in tragedy. Meek went from sound engineer to being the first independent producer in the UK. Although he developed his own sound with elements of space age pop, ongoing commercial success eluded Meek after his One Big Hit, "Telstar". Joe died at age 37 with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a death in which homophobia played a large role.
There are lots of comps that try valiantly to capture the scope of Meek's creative canvas. The 27 sides gathered here were recorded for a boutique label Joe was given to play with after his initial success and before he went fully on his own. They have little in common other than the fact they are bizarrely fascinating. My personal favorite is "Keep Your Sunny Side Up", four minutes of imitations of current British singers, male and female, by "Lee Sutton", a pseudonym for Danny Phillips, occasional night club performer both solo and as part of The Italian Stallions. Don't ask.
A detailed bio for Joe Meek can be found here:
Joe Meek
Wouldn't it be my luck! The day that I wake up late and have tons of other things to do, I have scheduled the portrait of a man who: a. re...
gaycultureland.blogspot.com
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Marie-Claire Alain - J.S. Bach: L'Oeuvre Pour Orgue, Vol. 23 (1968)
Gorgeous, ethereal readings performed on the equally gorgeous 1952 Marcussen instrument in Varde, Denmark.
Wiki tells us:
"Marie-Claire Geneviève Alain-Gommier (10 August 1926 – 26 February 2013) was a French organist, scholar and teacher best known for her prolific recording career, with 260 recordings, making her the most-recorded classical organist in the world. She taught many of the world's prominent organists. She was a specialist in Bach, making three recordings of his complete organ works, as well as French organ music.
Gorgeous, ethereal readings performed on the equally gorgeous 1952 Marcussen instrument in Varde, Denmark.
Wiki tells us:
"Marie-Claire Geneviève Alain-Gommier (10 August 1926 – 26 February 2013) was a French organist, scholar and teacher best known for her prolific recording career, with 260 recordings, making her the most-recorded classical organist in the world. She taught many of the world's prominent organists. She was a specialist in Bach, making three recordings of his complete organ works, as well as French organ music.
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
Les Savy Fav - Inches (2004)
I'd forgotten how terrific this is.
I'd forgotten how terrific this is.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Paul Badura-Skoda - J.S. Bach: Partitas No. 1 & 6 (1952)
If you were to have asked the late Austrian pianist Paul Badura-Skoda which he prefers, modern or traditional instruments, he would probably have answered "Beide!" In his 91 years, he made over 200 recordings with pianos old and new. He even released an album with recordings of the same Schubert sonata on three different instruments dating from 1820 to 2000.
These 1952 recordings for Westminster were collected on DG's epic 20 CD box set, released for Paul's 90th birthday in 2017. His warm readings of these partitas are so fluid that they seem to float timelessly in the air, transcending the limitations of any given instrument.
If you were to have asked the late Austrian pianist Paul Badura-Skoda which he prefers, modern or traditional instruments, he would probably have answered "Beide!" In his 91 years, he made over 200 recordings with pianos old and new. He even released an album with recordings of the same Schubert sonata on three different instruments dating from 1820 to 2000.
These 1952 recordings for Westminster were collected on DG's epic 20 CD box set, released for Paul's 90th birthday in 2017. His warm readings of these partitas are so fluid that they seem to float timelessly in the air, transcending the limitations of any given instrument.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Winchester Cathedral Choir (David Hill, Dir.) - Weelkes: Cathedral Music (comp. 1610; rec. 1992)
Thomas Weelkes (1575-1623) achieved stardom at a young age, composing his first book of madrigals when he was about 20. This early success led to a rapid rise from organist of Winchester College to a lay clerkship at Chichester Cathedral and marriage to a wealthy woman. Alas, the pitfalls of early musical fame were everpresent, even in the 17th Century. Wiki shares a contemporary account that
"Dyvers tymes & very often come so disguised eyther from the Taverne or Ale house into the quire as is muche to be lamented, for in these humoures he will bothe curse & sweare most dreadfully, & so profane the service of God … and though he hath bene often tymes admonished … to refrayne theis humors and reforme hym selfe, yett he daylye continuse the same, & is rather worse than better therein."
Weelkes' wife died in 1622 and he subsequently started spending a lot of time in London. Just one year later, he died at the home of a friend who later submitted a large claim against the estate for "meat, drink and lodging."
Weekes may have been a wastrel, but the sacred anthems gathered here glow with an ethereal beauty, highlighted by angelic harmonies and complex counterpoint. As a bonus, the album includes three pieces of incidental organ music for variety.
Thomas Weelkes (1575-1623) achieved stardom at a young age, composing his first book of madrigals when he was about 20. This early success led to a rapid rise from organist of Winchester College to a lay clerkship at Chichester Cathedral and marriage to a wealthy woman. Alas, the pitfalls of early musical fame were everpresent, even in the 17th Century. Wiki shares a contemporary account that
"Dyvers tymes & very often come so disguised eyther from the Taverne or Ale house into the quire as is muche to be lamented, for in these humoures he will bothe curse & sweare most dreadfully, & so profane the service of God … and though he hath bene often tymes admonished … to refrayne theis humors and reforme hym selfe, yett he daylye continuse the same, & is rather worse than better therein."
Weelkes' wife died in 1622 and he subsequently started spending a lot of time in London. Just one year later, he died at the home of a friend who later submitted a large claim against the estate for "meat, drink and lodging."
Weekes may have been a wastrel, but the sacred anthems gathered here glow with an ethereal beauty, highlighted by angelic harmonies and complex counterpoint. As a bonus, the album includes three pieces of incidental organ music for variety.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Berlin Philharmonic (Mstislav Rostropovich, cond.) - Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty Suite; Nitcracker Suite; Swan Lake Suite (1984)
The legendary Russian cellist stepped up to the rostrum here to lead the Berlin Philharmonic in stirring performances of three majestic ballet suites.
The legendary Russian cellist stepped up to the rostrum here to lead the Berlin Philharmonic in stirring performances of three majestic ballet suites.
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