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Barry Adamson - Jazz Devil
This has been a tough choice. I've listened to every Barry Adamson album today looking for a track, after coming across Jazz Devil last night whilst listening to iTunes on Random. After that entire excursion I decided that, whilst there are stronger Adamson tracks, I do really like this one and should just put it up. This isn't, after all, about picking the creme-de-la-creme of music here, it's about putting up things I've been listening to and enjoying. So there.
Jazz Devil is taken from As Above So Below released on Mute in 1998. It is, like all of his albums, rather good.
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Christoph Poppen - Sarabanda
Partita d-Moll BMV 1004 für Violine solo
Putting up todays entry has been a learning experience for me, and reminded me why I love the internet. I'm not au fait with the ways of Classical music. I didn't pay attention too much to my music teachers at school, and was more interested in guitars, synthesizers and record decks than violins and orchestras. I regret that now. A few searches and I realise that.
Today's track is from the Morimur composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Did you know that there is an indexing system specifically for Bach's work?
To me this piece is a story told through music. A deep, resonant and moving solo violin, with a message part sadness and part joy.
Some searching around explains what it's all about. If the thesis is correct it explains why I find it so moving.
I think I'm going to have to try and get hold of the copy with the 80 page booklet to find out about that thesis.
The quote on the back of the CD is also of interest:
Ancient art has a specific inner content. At one time, art possessed the same purpose that books do in our day, namely: to preserve and transmit knowledge. In olden days, people did not write books, they incorporated their knowledge into works of art. We would find a great many ideas in the works of ancient art passed down to us, if only we knew how to read them.
G. Gurdjieff
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Etta James - Mellow Fellow
Etta James is an artist who needs no introduction, especially from me when others can do it so much better.
I first heard today's track, Mellow Fellow, early one morning after a late night out. It woke the souls in the room that were starting to slumber. Dancing ensued.
I thought I'd put it up this morning as I needed a similar kind of waking up.
This track, as far as I can find out, was released in 1964 as a B side to the single "Bobby Is His Name".... I eventually found it on the Chess Club compilation "Chess Club Rhythm & Soul" which is a collection of classics from that label that is worth several listens. I'm not sure if it's available anywhere else on Etta's numerous albums and compilations.
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Chris Watson - Ol-Olool-O
Music to my ears
Chris Watson is probably best known for his contribution to music as a member of electro pioneers Cabaret Voltaire. Whilst the Cabs rate highly in my musical collection today's track 'Ol-Olool-O' by Chris isn't music as most would expect it. It's a collage of sounds made by him from recording made during his work as a sound recordist on natural history programs. The depth in the sounds he uses is amazing. The sounds of thunder and rain beautiful and emotive. It makes you listen to the world around you in a different way
This track is taken from his album Weather Report on Touch Records. Also worth checkin out is Outside The Circle of Fire which contains a selection of his isolated wildlife recordings. Listening to Tiger's purring, or Owl's marking their boundaries, is a wonderful experience. Especially wandering around London with your iPod on.
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The Slits - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Taken from the Slits often overlooked 'Cut' this cover version is one of those songs that I first heard and went 'where have you been all my life?'. The Slits fusion of punk and reggae asthetics with Ari Up's amazing vocal gymnastics really bring this song to life in a way the original could never imagine.
I was originally turned onto this by Tony Morley one night at the Autechre curated All Tomorrows Parties a few years ago.
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Global Communication - Incidental Harmony
Today's tune is Incidental Harmony by Global Communication Aka Jedi Knights, Reload, Chameleon, Link etc. etc. etc.It's taken from the bonus disk reissue of their album 76:14. It was originally on a 12" which accompanied the vinyl release of the album whenever it came out in the early 90s.
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The Infesticons - Hero Theme
God Bless The Infesticons
Another late post, mainly down to the fact that since the last time I copied a file from my iPod Apple have decided to obsfucate the file names on it, so what would have been '01 Hero Theme.m4a' is now DFGS.m4a or some such. For some reason my standard approach ( grep -ir "Hero Theme" /Volumes/dopod/iPod_Control/Music/
) didn't throw up the goods. I have another few tricks up my sleeve and will try them later, but in the meantime I waited until I got home and got it off my external drive.Anyways, enough moany geekery. Today's track is 'Hero Theme' by The Infesticons AKA The Majesticons, taken from Gun Hill Road. Though it's well worth checking out the Hero Theme EP .... mainly because it made my walk to get lunch much bouncy than it would have been otherwise.
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Money Mark - Cry
For those who haven't heard the full track.
A late one tonight, sorry. Busy busy busy.
Angie told me last night she hadn't heard more than the first few bars of this song, frequently. So I thought I should share the full track. Those who know me well will know what this all means.
It's taken from Money Mark's first album Mark's Keyboard Repair released on the then mighty Mo Wax.
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Sonic Youth - (I Got A) Catholic Block
Often underappreciated (by me)
You know, it's a funny old thing with Sonic Youth. I can't ever really say I've been a Sonic Youth fan. I had a lot of bits of bobs of Sonic Youth on tape when I was younger, and listened to it enough, but never ran out to buy their latest album or went to see them play live.
Then, over the years, I've accumulated a few of their albums on CD from time to time, as I've thought "God, I'd love to listen to that again". Now I've got about 6 of their albums and note their new release - even their new label - but still don't rush out to buy them. Even though I know I will get round to hearing them, and most likely enjoy them.
(I Got A) Catholic Block, from Sister , which appears is long out of print - despite being excellent; or perhaps, because it is. It was the first Sonic Youth track I heard, on a compilation tape my brother gave me.
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Psapp - About Fun
Take me to the park.
Today's song is from the lovely Galia and Carim aka Psapp. It's About Fun. It's taken from their debut album releases last year on Arable/The Leaf Label called Tiger, My Friend. And it's lovely. I look forward to their next album with much anticipation.
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