What are you listening to? May 2025

[Unsomnambulist]

Lord Buffalo - Tohu Wa Bohu (2020)

 

[axolotl]

^ How is that?

Is that with or without their drummer? Is there any update on his situation?

ETA: I repent of my foolishness. I should listen to it.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

^ How is that?

Is that with or without their drummer? Is there any update on his situation?

ETA: I repent of my foolishness. I should listen to it.

I liked it. It's good and it's different.

 

[axolotl]

I liked it. It's good and it's different.

I used to listen to his uncles. You might know them as as Grant Lee or Tom.

His great uncle was named Springfield, I believe.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Ensemble Ars Nova (Marius Constant, cond.), Raymond Gerome (recitation) - Constant: Chants de Maloror, Winds, Traits (Cadavres Exquis) (1981)

Vinyl Spin of the Day.

A trio of notable avant garde works from the composer of the "Twilight Zone" theme.

Wiki tells us that:

Cadavre exquis, lit. 'exquisite cadaver') is a method by which a collection of words or images is collectively assembled. Each collaborator adds to a composition in sequence, either by following a rule (e.g., "The adjective noun adverb verb the adjective noun." as in "The green duck sweetly sang the dreadful dirge.") or by being allowed to see only the end of what the previous person contributed.

What does this word game have to do with corpses? The liner notes for this album helpfully explain that the first time it was tried, the results were "the exquisite corpse will drink the new wine."


Marius Constant (1925-2004)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Robin Trower - Come And Find Me (2025)

 

[axolotl]

Robin Trower - Come And Find Me (2025)

This reviewer could be my twin.

Consistently pleasant if quite basic and never overly exciting slow to mid-tempo blues brought to a level 0.5 steps above average by the slightly raspy timbre in Trower's voice, the soulful overall conveyance, and the at times somewhat dreamy moods. With every new Trower album I expect a collection of superb songs on par with Bridge of Sighs or A Whiter Shade of Pale – which I'm not even sure he had a hand in – and therefore I always end up feeling disappointed when they're finally released. Perhaps it's time for me to realize that we're simply not musically compatible (anymore).

Yet still, I will listen and persevere.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

William Bolcom - Songs of Innocence and Experience (2004)

Fascinating blend of styles from chant to ragtime/jazz to bluegrass as Bolcom puts Blake's poems to music

In searching for this album on RYM, came across a Bolcom composition from 1980 called "Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise", and now I am totally intrigued and must search this out (and yes it's on Spotify)

 

[axolotl]

In searching for this album on RYM, came across a Bolcom composition from 1980 called "Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise", and now I am totally intrigued and must search this out (and yes it's on Spotify)

It can also be found at a Baptist potluck.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Mario Nascimbene - A Farewell To Arms (soundtrack 1958)

Vinyl Spin of the Day.

Mario Nascimbene of Milan scored over 150 films starting in 1941. He was noted for adding non-orchestral instruments and sound effects to his compositions to create a sense of immediacy. For this Selznick epic romance of war, Nascimbene made extensive use of harmonica, guitar, honky tonk piano and solo violin to evoke the pathos of romance in contrast to the surging strings and brass of battle.

This magnificent soundtrack was never reissued digitally, presumably for licensing reasons. That's a shame, since this recording made in Rome under the baton of Franco Ferrara offers sparkling sound quality even in mono.



Mario Nascimbene
1913-2002

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Rod Stewart - Gasoline Alley (1970)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Elton John - Honky Chateau (1972)

 

[Ojai Sam]

The Four Aces - Shufflin' Along (1957)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Just: The Black Keys - El Camino (2011)

Now: Average White Band - AWB (1974)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Various Artists - The Exciting New Liverpool Sound: The Authentic Mersey Beat, Recorded in Liverpool, England (1964)

Vinyl Spin and Redundant Title of the Day.

Other than Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, these bands may be "authentic" but they are also obscure. Good listening, though.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Rare Bird - s/t (1969)

 

[axolotl]

^ This is one of my first great proto-prog loves.

Their second album As Your Mind Flies By is also a treasure.

 

[Nickyboy]

Various Artists - The Exciting New Liverpool Sound: The Authentic Mersey Beat, Recorded in Liverpool, England (1964)

Vinyl Spin and Redundant Title of the Day.

Other than Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, these bands may be "authentic" but they are also obscure. Good listening, though.

Was Ringo a Hurricane at the time or had he already made the move?

 

[Ojai Sam]

Was Ringo a Hurricane at the time or had he already made the move?

I wondered the same thing. According to Beatleforum:

Rory Storm and the Hurricanes had 11 official drummers:

Ringo (May '59 - 18th Aug '62)
Derek Fell (mid? Dec '61 - 2? Jan '62)
Tony Ashdown (18th Aug '62 - 31st Aug '62)
Gibson Kemp (1st Sep '62 - Jan '63)
Deni (Feb '63)
Brian Johnson (Feb '63 - May '63)
Keith Hartley (May '63 - Nov '63)
Ian Broad (Nov 63)
Trevor Morais (Nov 63 - Feb 64)
Jimmy Tushingham (Feb 64 - Apr 67)
Carl Rich (Apr 67 - May 67)

And an all important guest drummer who we'll discuss in a minute.
Don Singleton (Mar '60)

Now, although Ringo was with the band solidly from May 1959 to August 62 (barring a short season playing for Tony Sheridan in Hamburg when he was replaced by Derek Fell) he wasn't present - due to flu - in early March when the Hurricanes were recorded at Crosby's Jive Hive Club.

Given the 1964 release date and the lame drumming, I'd say Ringo isn't on this recording.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Rare Bird - As Your Mind Flies By (1970)