rock Archive
J. Peter Schwalm – How We Fall – RareNoise
Electronic music representing one man’s clash with cancer.
Horace Andy – Straight To Hell – Fe True Records – 45 rpm
Horace Andy – Straight To Hell – Fe True Records – 45 r.p.m. stereo vinyl (20 min.) ****: Jamaican homage to The Clash remains topical. (Featuring Horace Andy and Big Youth; The Welders; Eric Blowtorch – guitar; Michael Dr. “Bassie” Bell – bass; Cecelia Negron Jr. – drums; Robin Pluer – organ) When the Clash burst on the scene, punk rock was shoving nearly every other pop music form aside. In addition to the social anger, political resentment was being voiced. At the same time, reggae music was influencing both British and American bands. Despite the joyful grooves, a darker political message was being transmitted by the likes of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Third World. Jamaican singer Horace Andy started out as a hit maker with songs like “Skylarking”, “You Are my Angel” and “Money Is The Root Of All Evil”. Years later, he recorded with “trip-hop” purveyor, Massive Attack. On a global scale reggae, punk rock and hip-hop was fused. Fe True Records has released a four-song 45 r.p.m., Straight To Hell. Horace Andy had previously collaborated with Joe Strummer in 1999, The two musicians shared a mutual admiration that dated back even further. Thirty-four years after its […]
WOLF! – 1-800-WOLF! – Royal Potato Family
Canis lupus rockus. WOLF! – 1-800-WOLF! [TrackList follows] – Royal Potato Family 020286222316, 35:14 [10/14/16] *****: (Scott Metzger – guitar; Taylor Floreth – drums, percussion; Jon Shaw – bass, keys) The wolf is a potent symbol. It’s no wonder the wolf has been used as a musical name by blues shouter Howlin’ Wolf; hard rockers Wolfmother; indie popsters Wolfie; and famed radio DJ Wolfman Jack. There’s something primal, forceful and compelling about the connotations of the wolf (or canis lupus). The latest to use the wolf in their name is Brooklyn instrumental rock trio, WOLF! [they prefer all caps and the exclamation point]. Guitarist Scott Metzger, bassist Jon Shaw and drummer Taylor Floreth bring back the glory of ‘60s instrumental garage-rock, akin to Davie Allan and the Arrows, Link Wray or a retrofied Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet. WOLF! is a threesome which maintains a lean design, are to the point and are on target on their sophomore album, 1-800-WOLF! You won’t find screaming solos, over-amped power chords or other over-the-top audio shearing. This brief CD—13 originals penned by the trio, all snugly fitting within 35 minutes—sustains a spare sound which emphasizes texture, melody and simplicity. Much of the […]
Presley – The Wonder Of You – Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orch. – RCA Legacy
A CD compilation of Elvis tracks. Presley – The Wonder Of You – Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orch. – RCA Legacy [10/21/16], 51:15 ***1/2: (Elvis Presley – vocals, bass; James Burton – guitar; John Parricelli – guitar; Steve Pearce – bass; Ralph Salmins – drums; Pete Murray – piano; Gen D. Hardin – piano; Reggie Young – guitar; D.J. Fontata – drums; Don Reedman – guitar; Charlie McCoy – organ; Don Reedman – guitar; Nick patrick – guitar; Floyd Cramer – piano; Nick Patrick – percussion;; Jochem Van Der Saag – organ; Tommy Tedesco – guitar; Dennis Linde – guitar; Robin Smith – string arrangements; Chris Walden – orchestral arrangements; Steve Sidwell – brass, string arrangements) The Elvis Presley cultural legacy seems endless. Nearly forty years after his death, new recordings are being released by his estate. This is not a commercialization phenomenon to only Presley. The Beatles released a single with John Lennon on lead vocal as part of the Anthology series. Natalie Cole recorded a version of “Unforgettable” with her iconic father. So it is no surprise that the “King Of Rock And Roll” has gotten into this act. The latest album is The Wonder Of […]
Audio News for November 25, 2016
How Classical Music Affects Thoughts and Mood – Certain types of music can move us emotionally from one feeling to another. In the ‘70s a researcher play certain music in chambers where plants were growing. Of the plants that were provided with rock music, some became stunted and others gangly and most died within a few weeks. Plants that had more soothing music playing in their chambers grew more robust and outlived other plants. Not all types of music leave us in an improved mood once the music ends. An internal medicine physician, Neil Nedley, M.D., says there are ten benefits to listening to classical music: 1. Increases interest in reading and learning, 2. Strengthens brainpower, 3. Encourages good lifestyle habits, 4. Allows frontal lobe to filter information, 5. Encourages fitness, 6. Increases productivity, 7. Strengthens creativity, 8. Decreases irritability, 9. Increases spiritual pursuits, and 10. Improves self-control. It’s important to take careful thought in choosing your music wisely; perhaps just as important of a choice as are the foods you eat and the friends you spend time with. Be mindful of the music that enters your mind. New Federal Rule Requires Movie Theaters to Provide Closed Captioning – The Justice Department […]
ADRIAN JONES: Nybyggnan – Concerto for Saxophone & String Quartet – Daniel Reid/ Jeanette Eriksson/ Sérgio Crisóstomo/ Adrian Jones/ Anna Wallgren – BIS
ADRIAN JONES: Nybyggnan – Concerto for Saxophone & String Quartet – Daniel Reid (soprano, tenor and baritone saxes); Jeanette Eriksson/ Sérgio Crisóstomo (violins)/ Adrian Jones (viola)/ Anna Wallgren (cello) – BIS multichannel SACD BIS-2119, 53:49 (10/9/15) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Swedish folk-based music well played and nicely recorded. A viola player himself, Adrian Jones constructed his six-part concerto Nybyggnan, a folk music saxophone concerto in chamber music format, using a set of newly-written tunes in a folk idiom imbued with elements from jazz, heavy rock and classical music. Written for chamber instruments, it also creates a bridge between the folk and chamber music world. Nybyggnan was composed for Daniel Reid, a saxophonist and a pioneer in Swedish folk music. He is one of the performers on this disc. Also heard are Mr. Reid’s own Rings on Water as well as Adrian Jones arrangement of the traditional Tingsmarschen (‘The District Court March’). The 5.0 surround SACD is not a sonic spectacular, but the small ensemble sounds very realistic. Instruments are placed in a well-defined soundstage, while the rear channels are used for ambiance, although the recording venue is not identified. Jones is an interesting composer. He’s deeply studied Swedish folk music, […]
Bernie Mora (guitar) and Tangent – Transformation – Rhombus
Ready to “funk you up.” Bernie Mora and Tangent – Transformation [TrackList follows] – Rhombus RHO 7133, 44:22 [6/3/16] ***1/2: (Bernie Mora – guitar, producer; Doc Anthony – drums; Robert Vance – bass; Doug Webb – saxophone; Corey Allen – keyboards; Lee Thornburg – horns; Charles Godfrey – percussion; Brian Bromberg – fretless and upright bass (track 9)) Guitarist Bernie Mora loves rock and funk. Mora—with his seven-piece ensemble dubbed Tangent—showcases an insistent exuberance on the 44-minute Transformation, Mora’s third release on the Rhombus label. Mora’s nine originals (including a few co-writes) are a mostly hard-charging foray through guitar-led and horn-fronted groove and rock which offers rambunctious music for jazz fans who listen to bands such as Tower of Power, the Brecker Brothers, Billy Cobham and similar artists. Mora and Tangent come out of the gate with a solid, two-punch attack. The meaty and melodic “Chump Change” is like Spyro Gyra taken to an uncoupled extreme, and features Doug Webb’s powerhouse tenor sax. He’s played and recorded with such notables as Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard and Stanley Clarke, and his chops are formidable on this upfront piece. Mora doesn’t hold back one iota, and showing Prince is at least one […]
Erik Friedlander, cello – Rings – Skipstone
Erik Friedlander once again advances the cello into innovative musical areas. Erik Friedlander – Rings [TrackList follows] – Skipstone SKPST 023, 66:26 [6/10/16] ****: (Erik Friedlander – cello, producer; Shoko Nagai – piano, accordion, electronics; Satoshi Takeishi – percussion) Cellist Erik Friedlander is always pushing forward as a composer, musician and music creator. He’s helped elevate the cello as a lead instrument in the jazz arena. He’s explored different aspects of improvisation, composition and performance. On Friedlander’s latest, the 66-minute Rings (issued on his own Skipstone label), he continues to refine and adapt. This time out, Friedlander utilizes a new trio, Black Phebe (it’s unclear if the name is linked to the bird of the same name) to delve into the cyclical characteristics of musical repetition. Despite the application of reiteration, Friedlander’s 12 original pieces offer an enriching degree of variety, with a spacious scope of textures and moods. Friedlander is a veteran of New York City’s downtown jazz/improvisation scene but also works with artists outside that community. He’s collaborated with American indie folk rock band the Mountain Goats; alt rock singer Courtney Love; as well as jazz players such as Dave Douglas and John Zorn. The other Black Phebe […]
Rhys Chatham – Pythagorean Dream – Foom
Music meant to be experienced fully alert and awake. Rhys Chatham – Pythagorean Dream [TrackList follows] – Foom FM007CD, 51:46 [6/3/16] ****: (Rhys Chatham – trumpet, electric guitar, bass flute, alto flute, C flute, producer, engineer, mastering) Composer Rhys Chatham has made a name for himself by conceiving large-ensemble music with armies of guitarists (100 and 200 or more at a time); helping form a vibrant NYC 1970s scene which inspired rock groups such as Swans, Sonic Youth and the Band of Susans; while exploring lengthy music efforts which blended modern minimalist classical music with the drive of punk and post-punk. So, it may come as a surprise that Chatham’s newest endeavor, the 51-minute Pythagorean Dream is a one-man-band solo project. But listen to the two elongated compositions (plus a shorter bonus track) and everyone will understand Chatham has not abandoned his electric guitar orchestrations. Chatham may have gone back to basics, but by using a multi-second delay effect, he has layered feedback loops of variable intervals to craft resonant, overlapping tiers, which transcend the limitations of a single musician recording in a studio. A point to appreciate: there is no overdubbing on this record and it was recorded directly […]
Dolo Coker – California Hard / Sonny Criss – Saturday Morning – both Elemental/Xanadu
Elemental Music keeps the Xanadu flame lit- Part I… Dolo Coker – California Hard – Elemental/Xanadu 906081 – 1976, 51:13 ****1/2: (Dolo Coker – piano; Blue Mitchell – trumpet/Flugelhorn; Art Pepper – alto and tenor sax; Leroy Vinnegar – bass; Frank Butler – drums) Sonny Criss – Saturday Morning – Elemental/Xanadu 906086 (1975), 39:38 ***1/2: (Sonny Criss – alto sax; Barry Harris – piano; Leroy Vinnegar – bass; Lenny McBrowne – drums) In the mid-1970s jazz was restless as a period of musical expression. Rock had firmly taken hold and the public taste had begun to change. Rock rhythms and electronic instruments were incorporating these influences into a new genre dubbed as “fusion.” Many jazz musicians who did not embrace these changes were either forced to move to Europe or look for studio work in either New York or Los Angeles. Luckily there were some boutique (read: small) recording labels who were anxious to employ these veteran straight ahead jazz musicians to continue to ply their trade. Labels such as Muse, Bee Hive, and Xanadu stood out in their ability to mix and match the artists with leaders becoming sidemen for each others’ releases. Zev Feldman, who helps run Elemental […]
Magnet Animals – Butterfly Killer – RareNoise
Willfully risk-taking music from the RareNoise label. Magnet Animals – Butterfly Killer [TrackList follows] RareNoise RNR063, 49:35 [5/20/16] ***1/2: (Todd Clouser – guitar, vocals; Eyal Maoz – guitar; Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz – bass; Jorge Servin – drums) Magnet Animals live up to their name. On the foursome’s debut, the 49-minute Butterfly Killer, the band can be polarizing; can attract and repel; can be sonically beastly; and can be as potent as a large magnetic force. Magnet Animals is the brainchild of guitarist/vocalist Todd Clouser, whose background includes the New York City downtown jazz/skronk scene. It’s there he met guitarist Eyal Maoz (who has worked with John Zorn and released solo albums on Zorn’s Tzadik label). Clouser also found his bassist, Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz, in the same NYC community. Clouser and Blumenkranz met at a John Lurie tribute show. Rounding out the group is drummer Jorge Servin. Clouser discovered Servin in Clouser’s new home, Mexico City. Butterfly Killer has been issued as a digital download, as a vinyl LP, and on compact disc. This review refers to the CD configuration. Over the course of ten Clouser originals, Magnet Animals oscillate through a myriad of auditory approaches, and like other performers on […]
Dave Miller – Old Door Phantoms – ears & eyes
Multi-genre instrumental album of the year. Dave Miller – Old Door Phantoms [TrackList follows] ears & eyes ee:16-046, 44:59 [4/1/16] ****: (Dave Miller – guitar, Mellotron; Ben Boye – pianet, Wurlitzer electric piano, Mellotron; Matt Ulery – Fender bass; Quin Kirchner – drums, percussion) You can’t peg guitarist Dave Miller. He’s juxtaposes jazz, rock and pop influences on his first solo outing, the 45-minute Old Door Phantoms. Miller is experienced at genre-jumping, having performed with John Hollenbeck, Theo Bleckmann, Dan Tepfer, Colin Stranahan, Jeff Parker and many more from the improvisation/jazz scene. Miller taped his new album at Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio studio located in Chicago, which is renowned for the many rock acts that have spent time there. Listening to these eight tracks is like being in a single room with Miller and his band: it has the impression and purity of a live recording, where the sound is analog-warm and the instruments seem to blend rather than be isolated. Miller’s quartet was well chosen. Keyboardist Ben Boye has worked alongside roots singer Bonnie “Prince” Billy and outsider jazz group Darts & Arrows. Bassist Matt Ulery has released several records replete with beauty, depth and imagination. And drummer Quin […]
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Smash Hits – Reprise (1969) / Sony Legacy – vinyl
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Smash Hits – Reprise (1969)/ Sony Legacy (2016) 8898303081, 44:3 stereo vinyl [6/10/16] ****: Vinyl reissue shows why Hendrix was the greatest rock guitarist in history! (Jimi Hendrix – guitar, piano, vocals; Mitch Mitchell – drums, backing vocals; Noel Redding – bass, backing vocals) As new guitar heroes have emerged on the rock scene, they all had one thing in common. How did they compare to Jimi Hendrix? The brilliant, charismatic guitarist burst on the scene with his debut album, Are You Experienced? in 1967. He followed this up with two double albums, Axis Bold As Love and Electric Ladyland. His original songs (“Purple Haze”, Foxey Lady”, “Fire”) and phenomenal covers (“All Along The Watchtower”, “Hey Joe”) pushed the rock genre to a new artistic zenith. The incendiary, effects-laden guitar licks were a perfect complement to his cool, bluesy vocals. He was adored by his fans and was the envy of his colleagues. Above the studio accolades (his first three albums have been included in the Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Albums of All Time), he is widely considered the greatest rock guitarist, ever. His untimely death in 1970 cut short a brilliant career, but magnified […]
Julian Lage, guitar – Arclight – Mack Ave.
Guitarist Julian Lage plugs in. Julian Lage – Arclight [TrackList follows] – Mack Ave. MAC1107, 36:45 [3/11/16] ****: (Julian Lage – guitar; Kenny Wollesen – drums, percussion; Scott Colley – bass) In the rock music community, going unplugged (or primarily concentrating on acoustic instruments) is enough of an unusual turn it becomes a special event. In the jazz realm, it’s the opposite for some artists. Young guitarist Julian Lage (who isn’t yet 30) is as an example of plugging in and adding amplification and electricity. Lage’s 37-minute outing, Arclight, is the first time he’s employed electric guitar—specifically a Fender Telecaster, which Lage considers “the most refined embodiment of the modern guitar.” Arclight also marks other firsts for Lage. This is his debut on the Mack Avenue label (home to Herlin Riley, Christian McBride and Cyrille Aimée); and the first time Lage has recorded in a trio format: he’s superbly supported by double bassist Scott Colley (Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Brian Blade and more) and drummer Kenny Wollesen (a busy rock and jazz percussionist who has collaborated with David Byrne and has worked extensively with both Bill Frisell and John Zorn). Arclight follows Lage’s first completely solo record, World’s Fair (2015) […]
Music From The Motion Picture Joy – Abkco vinyl (2)
Various Artists – Music From The Motion Picture Joy – Abkco 1877183401 [4/16/16] stereo double 12-inch vinyl ****: A wonderful soundtrack vinyl of various pop & rock tracks. (Featuring Cream; Lee Morgan; Ella Fitzgerald; Thomas Bullard, Choir Of King’s College, Cambridge; Edgar Ramirez; The Bee Gees; Willie West; The Ronettes; Salzburg Bach Choir; Ray De La Paz and The Pedrito Martinez Group; The Rolling Stones; Nat King Cole; Brittany Howard, Jennifer Lawrence; original music by Dylan Thompson and David Campbell; additional music by Blake Mills; score conducted, orchestrated and arranged by David Campbell) Abkco Records has released (in conjunction with Record Store Day 2016) the soundtrack from Joy. Based on the inspirational David O. Russell 2015 movie about unlikely housewife entrepreneur Joy Mangano, the narrative is represented by a diverse soundtrack. Vinyl enthusiasts will be overjoyed as one of the formats is a double 150-gram record that has been pressed with an electric blue finish. As with many of Russell’s soundtracks, there is a wide array of musical genres. Side A opens with the Cream’s psychedelic blues classic, “I Feel Free”. This concise number showcases why Cream was a true pioneer in rock music. Eric Clapton’s distorted guitar licks combine […]
Audio News for March 15, 2016
Keith Emerson of EL&P Dead at 71; Mighty Picks Up Where the iPod Shuffle Left Off; Aivvy Launches Cloud-based Music Platform and Smart Headphones; Spotify Has Playlist For Classical Music Beginners; Five National Anthems
Sonar – Black Light – Cuneiform
A Swiss rock instrumental quartet governed by the “less is more” philosophy. Sonar – Black Light [TrackList follows] – Cuneiform, Rune 414, 41:23 [10/16/15] ****1/2: (Stephan Thelen – electric tritone guitar; Bernhard Wagner – electric tritone guitar; Christian Kuntner – electric tritone bass; Manuel Pasquinelli – drums) The Swiss instrumental quartet SONAR (short for SONic ARchitecture) is a group with a mission. This is a guitar ensemble which doesn’t do things representative of guitar-centric collectives. For one, they restrain from six-string spectacles (lengthy solos are not common). For another, they fashion material which has set, nearly mathematical, configurations based on tritones (musical intervals comprised of three adjacent whole tones). Despite compositions which have precise structures, SONAR creates music which has body, soul and spirit: this is music which is detailed for specialized performance, but the musicians (Stephan Thelen and Bernhard Wagner on electric tritone guitars; electric tritone bassist Christian Kuntner; and drummer Manuel Pasquinelli) are open to different ideas and sounds, and they keep events from becoming static. Genres can be confining, but if someone needs to do genre simplification, put SONAR in the post-progressive, post-rock, post-minimal musical vein, alongside musicians such as Swiss keyboardist Nik Bärtsch, Belgian cooperative Present, […]
Raoul Bjorkenheim/eCsTaSy – Out of the Blue – Cuneiform
Finnish jazz and improvisation which is unpredictable and eclectic. Raoul Bjorkenheim/eCsTaSy – Out of the Blue [TrackList follows] – Cuneiform, Rune 413, 41:23 [10/16/15] ****: (Raoul Bjorkenheim – electric guitar, producer; Pauli Lyytinen – tenor, bass and soprano saxophones, mey; Jori Huhtala – doublebass; Marrku Ounaskari – drums) There is a side to modern jazz where allogamy, or cross-fertilization, is the norm rather than the opposite. It’s where lines get blurred: jazz fusion, prog rock, postmodern material, raucous noise, and more commingle. Guitarists such as Nels Cline, Bill Frisell and Sonny Sharrock have fused those lines. Finland’s Raoul Bjorkenheim is another guitarist who tackles disparate, but somehow connected, improvisational ground. His quartet, eCsTaSy, put out a debut in 2014. In late 2015 Raoul Bjorkenheim/eCsTaSy issued a sophomore release, the eight-track, 40-minute outing, Out of the Blue. Like its predecessor, Out of the Blue is a mix of harder-edged tunes and longer pieces which have elliptical shapes. Moods can suddenly shift, textures can be intimate one moment and strident the next. The overriding process is music which is very aware of its own individuality. Several tracks showcase Bjorkenheim’s electric guitar, and are paced with tinges of rock and toughened jazz. Opener […]
Adam Rudolph, Go: Organic Guitar Orchestra – Turning Towards the Light – Cuneiform Rune
An abundance of unique improvisational music by a profusion of guitarists.
Lenny Kravitz – Just Let Go Live, Blu-ray (2015)
Talented musician conquers many genres…and in high definition.
Jerry Garcia/ David Grisman – Acoustic Disc (1991) /Mobile Fidelity
Hi-resolution revitalizes Grateful Dead icon and mandolin virtuoso collaboration.
KERNIS: Three Flavors, Two Movements, Ballad(e) out of the Blue(s) – Superstar Etude No. 3—Andrew Russo, p.—James Ehnes, v.—Albany Sym. Orch./ David Alan Miller—Naxos
The eclectic musical world of Aaron Kernis is easy on the ears and intellectually stimulating.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
