Saturday 30 January 2010

Paul Bley/Jimmy Giuffre/Steve Swallow - The Life of a Trio: Saturday (1990)
Paul Bley/Jimmy Giuffre/Steve Swallow - The Life of a Trio: Sunday (1990)
Two albums reflecting two great live performances by Jimmy Giuffre (soprano sax & clarinet), Paul Bley (piano) and Steve Swallow (bass), recorded on two consecutive nights - 16 & 17 December, 1989 - in New York city.

What comes out is an investigation of sound from the inside out, textually, tonally, spatially. Extraordinary.
(Taken from AMG)

Friday 29 January 2010

Sir Roland Hanna [With Ron Carter & Grady Tate] - Apres un Reve (2003)

"Apres un Reve" was one of Hanna's last albums, recorded only two months before his death.
With just one composition by Roland Hanna, this record is based on improvisations around classical pieces from Schubert, Fauré, Chopin and Mahler, among others.
The front cover is a photography by Irina Ionesco.
Hope you like it!

Friday 15 January 2010

The Balanescu Quartet - Possessed (1992)
Great record by the romanian musician Alexander Balanescu and his partners.
"Possessed" contains five Kraftwerk cover versions, one of David Byrne's "Hanging Upside Down" and three original compositions.
On track nº 7, vocals are performed by Miranda Sex Garden.
Don't miss it!

V/A - Trans Slovenia Express (1994)

Here's a slovenian tribute to the music of Kraftwerk.
Participations of Laibach, April Nine, Videosex and Borghesia, among others.
It was released by Mute Records in 1994.
Hope you like it!

Thursday 7 January 2010

Andrea Parker - Kiss My Arp (1998)

This was the debut album by Andrea Parker, a classically trained cello player who built a solid career in the electronic music field.
"Kiss My Arp" is a brilliant record and you shouldn't miss it, especially if you're into dark electronics.

The debut from acclaimed DJ and slightly less acclaimed electronica artist Andrea Parker is a winning mix of the electronic and the organic, a rather dark but never depressing examination of the psyche that relies equally on vintage synthesizers (hence the album title), cutting-edge beatcraft, and real orchestral string arrangements. And she sings pretty well, too. (Taken from AMG)

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Black Devil Disco Club - The Strange New World of Bernard Fevre (2009)

This release by Black Devil Disco Club - a.k.a. Bernard Fevre - combines new versions for some of the tracks originally released on Fevre's 1975 historical record "The Strange World of Bernard Fevre", along with previously unreleased material.
It's wonderful to hear some of the classic themes in these new arrangements.
Don't miss it!

Monday 4 January 2010

Theremyn_4 - Inflamable (2009)

Here's Theremyn_4, an electronic group from Lima, Peru.
Didn't know them until I was contacted by a band member who showed me their work.
Pretty interesting, indeed.
These guys combine influences from Orbital, The Orb and Chemical Brothers, among others.
You can learn more about Theremyn_4 on the band's website: http://www.theremyn4.com/

Drome - Dromed (1995)

Drome is one of the several projects headed by the german musician/producer Bernd Friedmann, also known for his work in Flanger, Nine Horses (with David Sylvian), or as Burnt Friedman.
"Dromed" contains many amazing and involving soundscapes, highlighted by tracks such as "Hypho Bank", "Eurotunnel" or "Moon on My Screen".

Although Friedmann's releases as Drome have thinned in recent years, the name is widely regarded in association with the development of downtempo breakbeat and trip-hop, with a sample -heavy ambient- and dub-influenced take on hip-hop-styled beats and a clear, atmospheric nod to home listening over the dancefloor. (Taken from AMG)

Deltron 3030 - The Instrumentals (2001)

Deltron 3030 is a futuristic alternative hip-hop project - formed by Kid Koala, Dan the Automator and Del tha Funkee - which debuted, in 2000, with a self-titled concept album featuring Money Mark, Damon Albarn and Sean Lennon, among others.
"The Instrumentals" was kind of a companion record to "Deltron 3030".
Really great stuff, even if you're not into the genre.