I'm spending some time today with the Phillip Wilkerson-curated series "Complex Silence".
Complex Silence is an ambient music project and series of releases that venture into the realms of enigmatic and abstract ambience.
Each Complex Silence release features a different artist. The creative challenge is to explore the depths of long-form ambient music composed entirely of extremely subtle changes, dissonant harmonies, stretched-out harmonics, abstract tone washes, layers of mystical atmospheres, or field recordings, but without straying too far from beauty, mystery, or wonder.
So far:
and .
Definitely for fans of 90s ambient, though you might feel DX7'ed to death.
Yes - I really like it. I downloaded from 7 Digital UK this morning and have so far played it once. One or two tracks reminded me of early Neil Young. Certainly some English folk influences there, perhaps why I liked it so much. After playing it I then downloaded two of their earlier albums from emusic, which I have yet to play
I liked it immediately listening to NPRs stream due, as with greg, to the folk aspect.
I'm still trying to appreciate a couple of their previous works.
Used my Guvera credits to get it, but probably would have paid cold hard cash too.
@elwood - I've only heard one track off the new Octopus Project and liked it, was wondering if anybody else had heard it.
I, too, already gave my praise for "The King Is Dead" based on the NPR stream. I think they needed to step back from their overly progressive tones and the folk elements really work for Colin's songwriting.
I'll add a VERY good word for The Decemberists - The King Is Dead!
Loved it at first listen when streaming the pre-release, ordered the CD+DVD set immediately (thanks xmas amazon vouchers!), been playing it A LOT since it arrived last Saturday morning.
At the moment I'd say it's my favourite album of theirs by a long way and if it doesn't make my top 10 of 2011 I'll be amazed (and it will have been a very good year indeed).
I've always liked them, despite mostly finding the albums a bit too 'theatrical' for my tastes, so this more straightforward approach is right up my alley.
Doesn't hurt that a couple of tracks sound like prime REM too - and yes, that IS Peter Buck playing the bits that sound like Peter Buck.
For comparison, I was very disappointed by The Crane Wife. Your mileage may, as always, vary.
Thanks for the comments. I want to like the album. Regrettably, no one has changed my mind. The albums sounds like a sophistocate pretending to be an expert on the terroir.
After two listens to The King is Dead, I really do like it. xtrev is right, it will be a very good year indeed if this is not in the 2011 Best of Year lists
I loves me some Red Garland...not by coincidence, I picked up several in advance of the recent eMu price hike.
Inside the mind of a music addict: "All these guys are talking about the new Decemberists album. Maybe I should get it. I like the Decemberists, and the album's on sale, plus I have that $1 credit (from my last impulse buy). My daughter would probably like it too; it would be a present for her. Although I'd rather have the Roots of Chicha. That's on sale too. Maybe I should get that instead. I should do it now before my $1 credit expires...." Etc.
Comments
I believe it was me who first brought up The Rainmaker.
Thanks for the rec - great stuff.
and
Definitely for fans of 90s ambient, though you might feel DX7'ed to death.
I'm still trying to appreciate a couple of their previous works.
Used my Guvera credits to get it, but probably would have paid cold hard cash too.
Volcano The Bear - The Mountains Among Us - (Beta-lactam Ring Records 2002)
I, too, already gave my praise for "The King Is Dead" based on the NPR stream. I think they needed to step back from their overly progressive tones and the folk elements really work for Colin's songwriting.
[url=]
An all-time fave...
Loved it at first listen when streaming the pre-release, ordered the CD+DVD set immediately (thanks xmas amazon vouchers!), been playing it A LOT since it arrived last Saturday morning.
At the moment I'd say it's my favourite album of theirs by a long way and if it doesn't make my top 10 of 2011 I'll be amazed (and it will have been a very good year indeed).
I've always liked them, despite mostly finding the albums a bit too 'theatrical' for my tastes, so this more straightforward approach is right up my alley.
Doesn't hurt that a couple of tracks sound like prime REM too - and yes, that IS Peter Buck playing the bits that sound like Peter Buck.
For comparison, I was very disappointed by The Crane Wife. Your mileage may, as always, vary.
After the discussion above I've decided to play it again today. In the UK it is £5 at 7 digital, about £3 cheaper than I could find it anywhere else
Then on to this...
Been working since 2am... about to drop but still have some 8+ hours of work to go.
My first listen, so it's too early for me to make a judgment.
Craig
Personnel: Yusef Lateef (flute, bamboo flute, oboe, tenor saxophone); Richard Gene Williams (trumpet); Mike Nock (piano); James Black (drums).
After two listens to The King is Dead, I really do like it. xtrev is right, it will be a very good year indeed if this is not in the 2011 Best of Year lists
Red Garland - "Red Garland's Piano"
Inside the mind of a music addict: "All these guys are talking about the new Decemberists album. Maybe I should get it. I like the Decemberists, and the album's on sale, plus I have that $1 credit (from my last impulse buy). My daughter would probably like it too; it would be a present for her. Although I'd rather have the Roots of Chicha. That's on sale too. Maybe I should get that instead. I should do it now before my $1 credit expires...." Etc.
Craig
iron & wine -- kiss each other clean, via the conan o'brien website.
i expected to hate it (i'm too tied to beam's stripped-down sound from his debut). instead, i kind of love it.
Sam Jones - "The Soul Society"
More enjoyable the second time.
Thad Jones - "The Magnificent Thad Jones"