Monday 27 April 2009

Armazém do Chá - Thursday, 30/04/2009 - 23h:30m

Hi folks!

I'll be in a bar/club in Porto called Armazém do Chá playing some records (in what we might call a DJ set!) next thursday, 30/04/2009, from 23h:30m probably till the early morning.
The event will take place on the 1st floor, in the bar lounge, and it would be great to see/meet you there, for those with the possibility, of course!
I'll leave you with a link showing how to get to the place:

http://www.armazemdocha.com/

Cheers!

Thursday 23 April 2009

V/A - The Smiths Is Dead (1996)

Here's an interesting tribute to The Smiths.
Great cover versions by The Divine Comedy, The High Llamas and Billy Bragg, among others.
Enjoy!!!

Tuesday 21 April 2009

The Divine Comedy - Fanfare for the Comic Muse (1990)

The Divine Comedy - Liberation (1993)

The Divine Comedy - Promenade (1994)

The Divine Comedy - Casanova (1996)

The Divine Comedy - A Short Album About Love (1997)

The Divine Comedy - Fin de Siècle (1998)

The Divine Comedy - A Secret History... The Best of The Divine Comedy - CD 1 (1999)

The Divine Comedy - A Secret History... The Best of The Divine Comedy - CD 2 [Rarities] (1999)

The Divine Comedy - Regeneration (2001)

The Divine Comedy - Absent Friends (2004)

The Divine Comedy - Victory for the Comic Muse (2006)

On this particular case, I'll prefer to say little about The Divine Comedy.
I will only refer that Neil Hannon is probably one of the most important figures on the pop culture of the last 15/20 years and I'm not afraid, or ashamed, to call him a genius.
"Fanfare for the Comic Muse" was The Divine Comedy's embryonic stage and perhaps their less accomplished record.
As for the rest... they're simply and really divine.
Enjoy!

Tuesday 14 April 2009

Claudine Longet - Cuddle up With... [The Complete Barnaby Records Sessions 1970/74] (2003)

French born artist Claudine Longet, who was married to the crooner Andy Williams, made some mellow pop recordings as a singer through the 60's & 70's.
In this compilation we can find some interesting cover versions of "God Only Knows", "Jealous Guy", "(They Long to Be) Close to You" or "Let's Spend the Night Together".
Hope you like it!

The Mike Flowers Pops - A Groovy Place (1996)

"A Groovy Place" is a record of great lounge cover versions of classic pop tunes such as "Light My Fire", "Release Me" or "Wonderwall".
Enjoy!

Mark Wirtz - The Go-Go Music of Mark Wirtz His Orchestra & Chorus (1996)

This is a collection of recordings made between 1965-1969 by the producer, composer and singer Mark Wirtz and it was released on RPM Records' Mood Mosaic Series.
Enjoy!

Cinema Recorded Music Library - Before the Dark (2002)

"Before the Dark" was the second effort from the duo of producers/musicians Crawford Tair & Gregor Reid.

Organic sounds and live instruments fuse with solid rhythm tracks, creating instrumentals that have both depth and immediate impact. The overall mood is optimistic, but with melancholy undertones in places. (Taken from Forced Exposure)

Friday 10 April 2009

Fred Hersch Trio - Horizons (1985)

"Horizons" was the debut album for pianist Fred Hersch under his own name. He had played before with Joe Henderson, Stan Getz and Lee Konitz, among others.
He's accompanied on this record by Joey Baron (drums) and Marc Johnson (bass).

The superior compositions and Hersch's own logical but fresh style made this an impressive beginning to his productive solo career. (Taken from AMG)

Richie Beirach - At Maybeck (1992)

Richard Beirach is a classically trained jazz pianist who achieved worldwide admiration and respect for his works as a solo musicican, aswell as an accompanier of such great artists like Stan Getz, Chet Baker, John Abercrombie or Lee Konitz.
This album is a live recording made at the Maybeck Recital Hall on January the 5th, 1992.
The concert's final track is the wonderful Beirach classic theme "Elm".
Don't miss it!

Marc Ducret Trio - La Theorie du Pilier (1987)

French avant-jazz guitarist Marc Ducret is probably best known for his work with the saxophone player Tim Berne since the early 90's, although his career as a musician began in the mid 80's.
"La Theorie du Pilier" was the first record under his own name and it was released by Label Bleu.

Leo Kottke - Instrumentals [The Best of the Chrysalis Years] (2003)

One more item from Mr. Leo Kottke: a collection of his recordings for Chrysalis.
It includes some live and previously unreleased material.
Enjoy!

Michael Nesmith - Tropical Campfires (1992)

Michael Nesmith was part of the 60's teenage pop group The Monkees - he was perhaps the only one with real musical skills. When The Monkees were no longer, he continued to release records as a solo artist.
"Tropical Campfires" is one of my Nesmith favourite records and it will certainly appeal to those of you who like hearing some kitsch folk music as the sun sets.

...this album may be one of the finest and most underrated albums of the 1990s. Nesmith and his crack band run through 12 of the most delicious slices of Americana to be put on record in ages. The mood of the album is a cross between Bahamian, tropical, country, and other forms, all forging a unique synthesis of pop that might be very hard to match. (Taken from AMG)