sounds Archive
CSI: CYBER – TV Series, Final Season (2016)
We are all potential targets in this exciting CSI finale season of TV episodes. CSI: CYBER – TV Series, Final Season (2016) Actors: Patricia Arquette, James Van Der Beek, Charley Koontz, Shad Moss, Ted Danson, Hayley Kiyoko Studio: CBS SVS/ Paramount [5 discs] (9/6/16) Video: for 16:9 screens, Tehnicolor Audio: English Dolby 5.1 Extras: Hack My Ride, Kelly Osbourne visits CSI:CYBER, Behind the Firewall: Season 2 of CSI: CYBER, Mr. Russell Goes to Washington, Pixel Perfect, The Sounds of Cyber, Gag Reel, Deleted Scenes from episodes Length: 753 min. for all 18 episodes Rating: ****1/2 Technology is somewhat on our side thanks to the capable staff at CSI: CYBER. I liked the Ted Danson role, applying his traditional (though getting into all the latest Networking gadgetry) experience in forensics to the many cutting-edge threats. Pat Arquette plays the terrific director of the cyber-crime section, and uses her knowledge of behavioral psychology to understand the all-too-human personalities working for her. The super-skilled team (which includes two supposedly “black hat” super-hackers serving their time) takes on the constantly-evolving tactics of the next generation of networking crime. They are now using their skills for justice, and often achieve it. The leading analyst can […]
Le Chienne (The Bitch), Blu-ray (1931-2016)
One of the first sound films of Jean Renoir and a realistic analysis of life of Montmartre as well as Renior’s push for naturalistic on-site audio. Le Chienne (The Bitch), Blu-ray (1931-2016) Cast: Michael Simon, Georges Flamant, Janie Marese Director: Jean Renoir Studio: Janus/Les Films du Jeudei/The Criterion Collection 818 (6/14/16) Video: 1.19:1 for 16:9 screens with large side dark areas, B&W Audio: French PCM mono Subtitles: English Extras: 1961 introduction to the film from Renoir; Renoir short of 1936: Une partie de campagne; complete film of On purge bebe also of 1931, Renoir’s first sound film; New interview with Renoir scholar Christopher Faulkner; 1967 French TV chat between Renoir and actor Michael Simon, dir. by Jacques Rivette (95 min.); Poster artwork and essay by film scholar Ginette Vincendeau Length: 96 min. Rating: **** The long conversation between Renoir and actor Michael Simon, who had not seen one another for a decade, is an absolute kick. They discuss everything under the sun, and Renoir’s interest in nature, the environment and fighting cruelty to animals comes out, especially in his recommending Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring to Simon. His first 1931 sound film is only 60 min. long, and mainly concerns a […]
Manatee Commune – Manatee Commune – Bastard Jazz
Manatee Commune – Manatee Commune – Bastard Jazz BJCD14, (9/16/16), *****: Folktronica: Blending properties of traditional acoustic & contemporary electronic soundscapes. Manatee Commune, the musical moniker of Grant Eadie, is a Bellingham, WA raised musician that is pushing the envelope of downtempo music, using some never-before-thought-of techniques, bringing together a uniquely beautiful sound, and all the while he’s sure to get everyone up and moving to his rhythmically-syncopated catchy beats on the dance floor! Manatee Commune is known for blending his field-recorded sounds of nature, electronic synths and production techniques along with a nice dash of live classical instrumentation on viola and his beach-side surfer guitar riffs. In just a short time, releasing the full-length album Brush, and the EP Thistle, he’s gained some strong recognition, especially in the Pacific Northwest where he’s played and headlined festivals like Decibel, Bumbershoot, Beloved Festival, and many others. And now, after these few years, he’s just dropped his second full-length album, self-titled, Manatee Commune, which gifts listeners with his best production yet – a beautiful journey through atmospheric textures which at times pull your ears in through perfected volume control by drawing your focus in by the soft quietness at times, to natural […]
RATKJE: “And Sing” – Cikada with the Oslo Sinfonietta with vocals by Maja S.K. Ratkje – 2L
RATKJE: “And Sing” – Cikada with the Oslo Sinfonietta with vocals by Maja S.K. Ratkje – 2L multichannel SACD and Pure Audio Blu-ray – 2L-124-SABD (9/30/16), 44:00 [Distr. by Naxos] **: Ultra-contemporary music that will not be pleasant for all listeners. I hardly know how to review this disc from 2L. It contains two works for vocalist and instrumental group. Most of both tracks consists of odd vocalizations, and frankly wailing sounds that left me unsettled and uncomfortable. I love contemporary classical music, but I think this short collection will be a little far out for most of our readers, this reviewer included. This album interleaves the composer’s own voice as a performer with the ensemble sound of Cikada and the Oslo Sinfonietta. In And sing while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep the voice is pre-recorded, and the sound files are played through speakers placed among the musicians. In Concerto for Voice, the composer is performing live a solo part for amplified voice, using much wider dynamics and improvisation. While performing has influenced and inspired Maja S. K. Ratkje’s composing, the opposite is also true – even though it’s too simple to say that she improvises like a composer […]
Yusef Lateef – The Doctor Is In…And Out – Atlantic (1976)/ Pure Pleasure – vinyl
One of the best Lateef sessions. Yusef Lateef – The Doctor Is In…And Out – Atlantic SD 1685/ Pure Pleasure remastered vinyl (UK) [7/15/16] ****: This 1976 original release was one of the best Lateef sessions by the jazz experimenter with many different styles, moods, instruments and vibes. On this session he plays both alto and tenor saxes, oboe, flute and bamboo flute. Other of the 13 contributing sidemen include Kenny Barron on keyboards and sometimes Ron Carter on bass. Background vocals on a few of the eight tracks are by Cissy Houston and Judy Clay. The one track I think I will skip on the next playing is the five-minute-long “Technological Homosapien” because it has a long narration by Robert Cunningham and I prefer straight instrumental jazz. There is a section of straight instrumental improvisation in the middle, but not enough to interest me. The second track on Side A, “Hellbound,” is most interesting with its percussion ostinato – used on several of the tracks. The main solos feature two reed instruments, but I was unable to define them. The third track is mostly instrumental, but towards the end has some vocals in a foreign language – perhaps Spanish. […]
High Risk – Dark Territory – Greenleaf Music
“Welcome to the future.” High Risk – Dark Territory [TrackList follows] – Greenleaf Music GRE-CD-1049, 40:10 [7/8/16] ****: (Dave Douglas – trumpet, producer; Jonathan Maron – electric and synth bass; Mark Guiliana – acoustic and electric drums; Shigeto – electronics) Trumpeter Dave Douglas knows more than a bit about heading into unknown or new terrain. He makes that clear on Dark Territory, the sophomore release with his quintet dubbed High Risk, which includes Douglas, Jonathan Maron (electric and synth basses), acoustic and electric drummer Mark Guiliana and electronics music expert Shigeto (AKA Zachary Shigeto Saginaw). The 40-minute, seven-track album is an acute creation which blends avant-jazz with electronics and shadowy atmospherics. The title comes from Fred Kaplan’s 2016 book, Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War, which quotes former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and his description of cyber espionage as a “dark territory” with no light, invisible enemies, and catastrophic consequences. The Dark Territory record has been issued as a compact disc, vinyl LP and as a digital download. This review refers to the CD configuration. The sense of imminent danger, of possible threats on the horizon, can be felt on the nearly seven-minute opener, “Celine,” where Douglas’s healthy […]
CAROLA BAUCKHOLT: Need to talk to friends – Cikada Ensemble – 2L Pure Audio Blu-ray + SACD + downloads
CAROLA BAUCKHOLT: Ich muß mit Dir reden (Need to talk to friends) – Cikada Ensemble – 2L Pure Audio Blu-ray 2L-116-SABD + multichannel SACD, 54:20 – DTS-HD MA 192kHz/24 bit 5.1 & PCM stereo, mShuttle: stereo FLAC 96kHz + MP3 – (2/26/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: A haunting electronic score with superb sonics. This disc is a collection of contemporary music by composer Carola Bauckholt. Played by the Cikada Ensemble which has gained a reputation far beyond the boundaries of Scandinavia as a special ensemble for contemporary music, as well as for projects at the nexus of composition and improvisation. Its repertoire includes works for electrically amplified string quartet, as well as works which combine acoustic string sound and live electronics. The quartet also often works in unorthodox instrumental combinations such as quintet with accordion. The quartet’s core repertoire includes major works from the second half of the 20th century by composers such as Kaija Saariaho, Rolf Wallin, Luigi Nono, Iannis Xenakis, Toshio Hosokawa, and James Dillon as well as collaborations with musicians across genres such as Annette Peacock, Steve Swallow and Trygve Seim. Ms. Bauckholt was born in Krefeld, West Germany. She worked at the theater at the Marienplatz […]
“Scrapyard Exotica” = MASON BATES: Bagatelles for String Quartet and Electronica; KEN UENO: Peradam; MOHAMMED FAIROUZ: The Named Angels – Del Sol String Q. – Sono Luminus (audio-only Blu-ray + CD)
Excellent playing and mostly intriguing new music from this inventive quartet.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
