A long ago Amie purchase. I've only listened a handful of times, but each time I'm blown away by how much the lead singer sounds like Perry Farrell. It's kinda creepy really.
Damian Valles - The Waves That Destroy
- Released 24 March 2011 - 4 CAD @ Bandcamp.
The Waves That Destroy is a single, 20 minute piece based on guitar combined with a variety of percussive elements, piano, strings, and field recordings. The physical edition was released by Hibernate Recordings as part of their Postcard Series and is limited to 100 copies. Mastered by Jannick Shou"[/i]
Andy Sheppard's debut outing on the arthouse ECM label takes him out of an exclusively jazz context and into one which includes tonal fluidity, reciprocity between instrumental voices and the accommodation of other musical influences. These include African, Latin and Indian; combined in atmospheric, free-flowing and tuneful experiments in acoustic and electronic sounds within a cumulatively entrancing array of colours and moods.
Although the seven new pieces are all credited to Sheppard, they owe much to the tight ensemble (and, just as noticeably, the improvisational vitality) of his four collaborators. Prime amongst them must be tabla player Kuljit Bhamra and guitarist John Parricelli, both of whom are longtime Sheppard associates and regular fixtures in his eponymous quartet.
Bhamra's tabla vies with Sheppard's soprano and tenor saxophones for focal (and, indeed, vocal) point throughout. Augmented by snare drum, cymbals and other percussion, Bhamra adds considerably more than mere rhythmic pacemaking. Parricelli proves himself again to be one of the most nimble and nuanced guitarists around; his sound enlarged in both breadth and depth by the additional, no less sensitive and subtle, guitar of Eivind Aarset. And underpinning all is the magnificently precise double bass of Arild Andersen, full of character and definition while also moody and mellow.
A large part of the album's signature is due to Aarset and Andersen's delicately engineered electronics that lend things a pleasingly hazy, soft-edged daydream-like quality.
Sheppard's own loose, long-limbed and gravity-free melodies float and dance on air to always striking, often exquisitely beautiful effect. Manfred Eicher's characteristically understated production providing the perfect frame for an extended tonal experiment that veers between wistfulness and carefree glee with manicured ease.
A late Amie pickup that I'd sort of forgotten about...came up in a playlist of jazz not heard in a while. Could have been mentioned in the recent discussion of modern rock-inflected jazz. Fine guitar work by Steve Cardenas, about whom I know nothing; and interesting violin parts for Jenny Schneiman, ditto.
Comments
Still $4 at Amazon. The recordings are about as good as any I have heard from this period - the music is great.
Really enjoyed his older material, but I think this is a stronger album.
Then:
followed by
and then
Eddie Argos cracks me up more often than not.
Craig
Sleeping Sickness by JPT Scare Band; a very early emu purchase which I'm really enjoying re-aquainting with.
Then in the car I switched to this:
Which I'm enjoying much more than last time I tried it.
The thing about my car is that the exhaust is falling apart. So I need things loud. These serve nicely, until I get around to having it fixed.
Now back at work:
Working through some Guvera stuff that I finally got around to re-tagging
Feeling a little Gypsy this afternoon
When I saw this yesterday morning, I knew resistance would be difficult. All of you made it impossible.
Continues to amaze me. Textbook ambient: can be so unobtrusive as to be almost not there yet can also be totally absorbing.
A long ago Amie purchase. I've only listened a handful of times, but each time I'm blown away by how much the lead singer sounds like Perry Farrell. It's kinda creepy really.
Craig
Damian Valles - The Waves That Destroy
- Released 24 March 2011 - 4 CAD @ Bandcamp.
- Emusers Guide to Damian Valles
(url=>amz)
(url=>amz)
I wish I had his hair....
For more information see http://www.andysheppard.co.uk/andysheppard/index.html
(url=>amz)
Thanks for the sweet rejoin offer eMu! Also got the new Antlers, the new David Bazan, and a cool track from Foster the People, all for $0.99.
Craig
A late Amie pickup that I'd sort of forgotten about...came up in a playlist of jazz not heard in a while. Could have been mentioned in the recent discussion of modern rock-inflected jazz. Fine guitar work by Steve Cardenas, about whom I know nothing; and interesting violin parts for Jenny Schneiman, ditto.
Still just $3.99 on Amazon. Still debating. The first half is great.
(url=>amz)