Whitney Houston died, we started to thaw out of a crushingly cold weekend, Valentine's Day was just around the corner, but we mostly ignored those things and "mixed it up" on the 2-12-12 edition of Other Music.
I played:
Summer '77 - MX-80 Sound - Hard Attack
Lonely Walk - Greetje Bijma - Barefoot
Mad, Mad, Mad Year - Dominique Leone - Instrumentals
Gongsong - Gong - Magick Brother
Eno and the Actor - Mike Keneally - Hat
Horse - Friendly Bears - Friendly Bears/Infidel?/Castro! "A Split Experience"
Study 2a (Conlon Nancarrow) - Bang On a Can - Big Beautiful Dark and Scary
Creeping Things Dig Slowly - Lovely Little Girls - Glamorous Piles and Puffy Saddlebags
Karel Zeman on the Moon - Ergo Phizmiz - Music From the Shoes of Fulcanelli Soundtrack
Millions of Mischiefs: I. Julia Sets - Jonathan Leathwood - Malloy: Millions of Mischiefs
Tears of the Judge - Yakuza Heart Attack - Yakuza Heart Attack II
2.13.2012
2012 upcoming releases
Announcements for interesting 2012 albums are coming in faster than I can keep track of them. Here are just a few amazing albums we can expect this year:
Normal Love - Survival Tricks: It's been a long wait since the s/t Normal Love debut on High Two, but if you're a fan of the "brutal prog" approach, music with dense, complex compositions played with furious precision, this will surely be among your 2012 essentials. This one is expected around May on vinyl and CD, co-released by ugEXPLODE and Public Eyesore. A taste of what we can expect:
Normal Love's Upcoming Full-Length Album from Normal Love on Vimeo.
Extra Life - Dream Seeds: Extra Life continues to change lineups and instrumentation from album to album, but "Dream Seeds" is sure to be another deep, wild trip. Look for it on April 10th from Northern Spy.
Power Animal - Exorcism EP: If this is anything like Power Animal's debut, "People Songs," it will be a must-hear and the latest addition to a rich tradition of quality avant-pop from Philly. "Copernicus" in particular was a beautiful, touching song among my favorite musical moments of 2010. This one will see cassette and digital release in late February.
Captain Beefheart - Bat Chain Puller: The long-shelved "original" Bat Chain Puller is due to hit the mail via Zappa.com any minute now. They're taking pre-orders now. Relatively clean test tape bootlegs have circulated for years, but I'm definitely curious to hear the finished mixing and mastering from the source recordings. Bat Chain Puller a year after Smile! I guess there won't be anything left in the closets of rock & roll now.
Giant Claw: It looks like there are at least 3 new releases from the Giant Claw camp: a split with Electroluminiscent and a cassette release, "Clash of Moons," are already out--and an LP, "Haunted Planet" is on the way soon. If you're looking for some very well-composed and arranged synth music with nods to both pop and classical camps, Giant Claw is money.
Ergo Phizmiz - Eleven Songs: As noted at the end of a recent review of Things to Do and Make, we can expect a new Phizmiz record this summer. I'm still loving Things, and I'm amped to hear this one.
Eyvind Kang - Narrow Garden: Kang's latest release on Tzadik is due Feb 14th (tomorrow already!), and reviews are already coming in. It sounds like it's going to be a fairly tranquil, cinematic experience...
Mike Pride: Pride, one of my favorite drummers and composers, is working on a million bands and recording projects at once (as usual). Two I'm especially looking forward to hearing are a new recording from Period (with Charlie Looker of Extra Life, Darius Jones of Little Women and From Bacteria to Boys, and Chuck Bettis), and an album from the new "Nothing But Blues Trio" with Mick Barr and Jon Irabagon. A live-for-radio clip:
Ron Anderson - the man behind the mighty Molecules and Pak will be part of a quartet record arriving on Public Eyesore this month called "Closed Encounters of the 4 Minds." I don't know anything about this one yet, but I'm always interested to contrast Anderson's playing in improvised situations with his compositional style, and I'm guessing this one will be partly or mostly improvised...
Many Arms - s/t: Many Arms will be one of the next bands to get the "Spotlight" series treatment on Tzadik. I really dig what they brought to the gtr/bs/drm trio format on their last 2 full-lengths, and I'm psyched to check this out. I don't know how I feel about all of the Spotlight series records being eponymous, though. Obviously that's pretty conceptually limiting. I've loved all of the bands featured in that series so far, but I'm also glad that the Time of Orchids and Kayo Dot releases on Tzadik slipped through in the Composer Series, conceptually intact. Those were some beautiful albums with equally compelling album titles...
Ahleuchatistas: another wonderful--and often hyper--guitar/bass/drums trio, their website reports completion of a new album slated for release later this year. While they've been on the prolific side lately, this band's approach is so inclusive and creative, I doubt I could ever get tired of hearing new records them them.
A couple of potential releases: Will Gorguts finish a new record? Rumors are floating around that the band isn't happy with the recordings made so far and might be doing some extensive re-recording...Now that Behold the Arctopus has a new drummer (Weasel Walter of the legendary Flying Luttenbachers), will a recording studio be in their near future? Will a new album eventually surface from the Japonize Elephants, who have hinted at recording progress occasionally in the last couple of years? And Skerik of Critters Buggin and Les Claypool fame is working on a Kickstarter campaign to finish a record by an unusually "conceptual" group of his called Bandalabra--I haven't heard the music, but the description makes me think it might be a sort of West Coast version of NYC bands from the Zs family...
Normal Love - Survival Tricks: It's been a long wait since the s/t Normal Love debut on High Two, but if you're a fan of the "brutal prog" approach, music with dense, complex compositions played with furious precision, this will surely be among your 2012 essentials. This one is expected around May on vinyl and CD, co-released by ugEXPLODE and Public Eyesore. A taste of what we can expect:
Normal Love's Upcoming Full-Length Album from Normal Love on Vimeo.
Extra Life - Dream Seeds: Extra Life continues to change lineups and instrumentation from album to album, but "Dream Seeds" is sure to be another deep, wild trip. Look for it on April 10th from Northern Spy.
Power Animal - Exorcism EP: If this is anything like Power Animal's debut, "People Songs," it will be a must-hear and the latest addition to a rich tradition of quality avant-pop from Philly. "Copernicus" in particular was a beautiful, touching song among my favorite musical moments of 2010. This one will see cassette and digital release in late February.
Captain Beefheart - Bat Chain Puller: The long-shelved "original" Bat Chain Puller is due to hit the mail via Zappa.com any minute now. They're taking pre-orders now. Relatively clean test tape bootlegs have circulated for years, but I'm definitely curious to hear the finished mixing and mastering from the source recordings. Bat Chain Puller a year after Smile! I guess there won't be anything left in the closets of rock & roll now.
Giant Claw: It looks like there are at least 3 new releases from the Giant Claw camp: a split with Electroluminiscent and a cassette release, "Clash of Moons," are already out--and an LP, "Haunted Planet" is on the way soon. If you're looking for some very well-composed and arranged synth music with nods to both pop and classical camps, Giant Claw is money.
Ergo Phizmiz - Eleven Songs: As noted at the end of a recent review of Things to Do and Make, we can expect a new Phizmiz record this summer. I'm still loving Things, and I'm amped to hear this one.
Eyvind Kang - Narrow Garden: Kang's latest release on Tzadik is due Feb 14th (tomorrow already!), and reviews are already coming in. It sounds like it's going to be a fairly tranquil, cinematic experience...
Mike Pride: Pride, one of my favorite drummers and composers, is working on a million bands and recording projects at once (as usual). Two I'm especially looking forward to hearing are a new recording from Period (with Charlie Looker of Extra Life, Darius Jones of Little Women and From Bacteria to Boys, and Chuck Bettis), and an album from the new "Nothing But Blues Trio" with Mick Barr and Jon Irabagon. A live-for-radio clip:
Ron Anderson - the man behind the mighty Molecules and Pak will be part of a quartet record arriving on Public Eyesore this month called "Closed Encounters of the 4 Minds." I don't know anything about this one yet, but I'm always interested to contrast Anderson's playing in improvised situations with his compositional style, and I'm guessing this one will be partly or mostly improvised...
Many Arms - s/t: Many Arms will be one of the next bands to get the "Spotlight" series treatment on Tzadik. I really dig what they brought to the gtr/bs/drm trio format on their last 2 full-lengths, and I'm psyched to check this out. I don't know how I feel about all of the Spotlight series records being eponymous, though. Obviously that's pretty conceptually limiting. I've loved all of the bands featured in that series so far, but I'm also glad that the Time of Orchids and Kayo Dot releases on Tzadik slipped through in the Composer Series, conceptually intact. Those were some beautiful albums with equally compelling album titles...
Ahleuchatistas: another wonderful--and often hyper--guitar/bass/drums trio, their website reports completion of a new album slated for release later this year. While they've been on the prolific side lately, this band's approach is so inclusive and creative, I doubt I could ever get tired of hearing new records them them.
A couple of potential releases: Will Gorguts finish a new record? Rumors are floating around that the band isn't happy with the recordings made so far and might be doing some extensive re-recording...Now that Behold the Arctopus has a new drummer (Weasel Walter of the legendary Flying Luttenbachers), will a recording studio be in their near future? Will a new album eventually surface from the Japonize Elephants, who have hinted at recording progress occasionally in the last couple of years? And Skerik of Critters Buggin and Les Claypool fame is working on a Kickstarter campaign to finish a record by an unusually "conceptual" group of his called Bandalabra--I haven't heard the music, but the description makes me think it might be a sort of West Coast version of NYC bands from the Zs family...
2.12.2012
2012 is a music year!
Last year was okay for new music, but not as jaw-dropping as some recent years that left my ears full and my wallet empty. Fortunately, 2012 is looking to be an amazing year based on the strength of even the few releases already out or announced. Here's a quick update on music that's already been released into this exciting new year.
Eyvind Kang - Visible Breath: 3 long tracks of brooding, mysterious atmospheres from one of my favorite composers. Available on LP from Editions Mego.
Kayo Dot - Gamma Knife: It's early to be making album-of-the-year predictions, but the new Kayo Dot album is a damned strong candidate, and my favorite record of theirs since 2003's Choirs of the Eye. Available now as a download from their BandCamp site, Gamma Knife will be released in physical format(s) later this year. But spend the $5 on BandCamp now, seriously. And be sure to check KayoDot.net for updates on both the physical release and upcoming tours, as Toby Driver & company seem to spend half their lives on the road and the other half in recording studios. It looks like plans are coalescing around May...
Secret Chiefs 3 (Traditionalists) - La Chanson De Jacky/The Western Exile 7'': Notoriously slow to release his almost impossibly sophisticated albums, 2012 has already brought us 2 new SC3 recordings, and there is a special twist: Mike Patton sings this La Chanson De Jacky cover. This is the first recording of Patton and Spruance together since the days of Mr. Bungle. Could a new Bungle album actually be possible some day? I imagine that remains unlikely, but Bungle's albums are incredibly dear to me, and a fellow can dream.
Pepe Deluxe - Queen of the Wave: To be honest, this record hasn't fully grabbed me yet, but its concept is amazing, and I suspect that it's going to grow on me with time. And huge props are in order for the immense effort toward recording with exotic instruments in exotic locales, most notably the Great Stalacpipe organ in Virginia's Luray Caverns, the largest musical instrument in the world.
Bang on a Can All Stars - Big Beautiful Dark and Scary: this new doubledisc celebrates the 25th anniversary of Bang on a Can, and it was available for free download from the band in January. Among many interesting gems, I was intrigued by the three compositions written by Dave Longstreth, though ultimately surprised at both their brevity and reserve (how about releasing some recordings of the live Getty's Address performance from a few years ago, everyone?). My favorites, though, are the arrangements of a few of the bluesier player piano studies of Conlan Nancarrow--breathtaking. I hope this record gets a vinyl release with some anniversary memoirs in the liner notes. In any event, CD release is scheduled for late February. This has been a great productive period for BOAC founder Michael Gordon, whose percussion piece "Timber" has received well-deserved positive attention recently. Here's an excerpt from Timber if you haven't heard it yet:
Son Lux - Break Thru Radio Session: No new studio recordings since last year's experimental monthlong conception-to-finished album creation, We Are Rising, but anything Son Lux is worth a mention. You can find this one at the Son Lux BandCamp page. I'm always interested in how folks who create such complex, dense arrangements choose to recreate their music live. Son Lux leans on the piano, and it works.
Space Blaster - Blastoff: I missed this release last November, but for fans of the Sweet Snacks or Mega Mousse, this newest effort from the Japonize Elephants family will be essential. Of all those projects, this one feels closest to the Mega Mousse vibe, blending elements of surf and spaghetti westerns with that signature sound that always makes Sylvain Carton's projects delightful. This one is available in physical format from CDBaby, or check their BandCamp for the digital version (and a few sample tracks).
Kevin Kastning projects: I also missed the initial releases of these in late 2011, but the recent Kastning
releases Balazs Major and I walked into the silver darkness are fascinating albums that deserve intense listening. These came into KZUM, where the Other Music crew has spun a few tracks over the last several months, but I'm going to need to investigate these beautiful albums more deeply as soon as I can. Fans of extended-range guitar approaches can find ordering information on Kastning's discography page.
Dominique Leone - Instrumentals: This one is a BandCamp-only release so far, and it's a fun way to explore Leone's architectural tendencies, combining shifting arpeggios in urgent, forward-leaning tracks that are good on their own but also sound like they'd be happy to accommodate "choir of Leone" vocal treatments. I'm still looking forward to the next "official" DL release, but some of the insanity here like the pointillistic "Uncertain Samba" or the stop/start buildups introducing "Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Year" will tide me over.
Next post: the dizzying array of albums already announced for 2012 release...
Eyvind Kang - Visible Breath: 3 long tracks of brooding, mysterious atmospheres from one of my favorite composers. Available on LP from Editions Mego.
Kayo Dot - Gamma Knife: It's early to be making album-of-the-year predictions, but the new Kayo Dot album is a damned strong candidate, and my favorite record of theirs since 2003's Choirs of the Eye. Available now as a download from their BandCamp site, Gamma Knife will be released in physical format(s) later this year. But spend the $5 on BandCamp now, seriously. And be sure to check KayoDot.net for updates on both the physical release and upcoming tours, as Toby Driver & company seem to spend half their lives on the road and the other half in recording studios. It looks like plans are coalescing around May...
Secret Chiefs 3 (Traditionalists) - La Chanson De Jacky/The Western Exile 7'': Notoriously slow to release his almost impossibly sophisticated albums, 2012 has already brought us 2 new SC3 recordings, and there is a special twist: Mike Patton sings this La Chanson De Jacky cover. This is the first recording of Patton and Spruance together since the days of Mr. Bungle. Could a new Bungle album actually be possible some day? I imagine that remains unlikely, but Bungle's albums are incredibly dear to me, and a fellow can dream.
Pepe Deluxe - Queen of the Wave: To be honest, this record hasn't fully grabbed me yet, but its concept is amazing, and I suspect that it's going to grow on me with time. And huge props are in order for the immense effort toward recording with exotic instruments in exotic locales, most notably the Great Stalacpipe organ in Virginia's Luray Caverns, the largest musical instrument in the world.
Bang on a Can All Stars - Big Beautiful Dark and Scary: this new doubledisc celebrates the 25th anniversary of Bang on a Can, and it was available for free download from the band in January. Among many interesting gems, I was intrigued by the three compositions written by Dave Longstreth, though ultimately surprised at both their brevity and reserve (how about releasing some recordings of the live Getty's Address performance from a few years ago, everyone?). My favorites, though, are the arrangements of a few of the bluesier player piano studies of Conlan Nancarrow--breathtaking. I hope this record gets a vinyl release with some anniversary memoirs in the liner notes. In any event, CD release is scheduled for late February. This has been a great productive period for BOAC founder Michael Gordon, whose percussion piece "Timber" has received well-deserved positive attention recently. Here's an excerpt from Timber if you haven't heard it yet:
Son Lux - Break Thru Radio Session: No new studio recordings since last year's experimental monthlong conception-to-finished album creation, We Are Rising, but anything Son Lux is worth a mention. You can find this one at the Son Lux BandCamp page. I'm always interested in how folks who create such complex, dense arrangements choose to recreate their music live. Son Lux leans on the piano, and it works.
Space Blaster - Blastoff: I missed this release last November, but for fans of the Sweet Snacks or Mega Mousse, this newest effort from the Japonize Elephants family will be essential. Of all those projects, this one feels closest to the Mega Mousse vibe, blending elements of surf and spaghetti westerns with that signature sound that always makes Sylvain Carton's projects delightful. This one is available in physical format from CDBaby, or check their BandCamp for the digital version (and a few sample tracks).
Kevin Kastning projects: I also missed the initial releases of these in late 2011, but the recent Kastning
Dominique Leone - Instrumentals: This one is a BandCamp-only release so far, and it's a fun way to explore Leone's architectural tendencies, combining shifting arpeggios in urgent, forward-leaning tracks that are good on their own but also sound like they'd be happy to accommodate "choir of Leone" vocal treatments. I'm still looking forward to the next "official" DL release, but some of the insanity here like the pointillistic "Uncertain Samba" or the stop/start buildups introducing "Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Year" will tide me over.
Next post: the dizzying array of albums already announced for 2012 release...
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