So far, so good. I hate to say it but jonah's off to an early lead. Which is why I didn't specify; 1960's jazz was not something I was thinking about, but I'm glad to have been pointed that way.
Let's see....recently I've been listening to a ton off the Sacred Bones and Wierd Records labels. I'll go with something off Wierd, because I'm fascinated by the fact that it's an electronic based label but no one uses computers. It's all analog.
so, $6.50 to spend? for $5.99, i'd highly recommend:
gavin bryars/philip jeck/alter ego's 1995 version of bryars' the sinking of the titanic. after a long buildup of turntable crackle, a loop of an elegant, stately rendition of autumn -- an episcopal hymn which was played by the band as the doomed ship went down -- begins to slowly unfold. the loop is in slow decay, with pieces of it flecking away, as if the recording is bobbing above and below the water-line. it's a literal musical examination of the titanic disaster (e.g., the elderly british woman's almost inaudible description of the layout of the deck, and her later singing nearer my god to thee), but -- much moreso -- it's a powerful meditation about the dignity and sadness of aging and deterioration and nostalgia (which includes the muffled crowd noises that rush back-and-forth during the middle of the piece). a stunning work of genius, and perfect for autumn.
you can't appreciate it from the :30 soundscan. i can't find a youtube clip of this particular performance. in my view, the others don't do the piece justice, but just to give you an idea, here's a portion of another performance. really, the 1995 version is on another level. this is perfect for fans of william basinski's the disintegration loops project (in fact, i think i prefer this version of the sinking of the titanic to the disintegration loops).
I'm sure this ship has sailed, but I heartily concur with the Next Stop...Soweto recc. All 3 volumes are great, and have a different vibe that's different from some of the other ZA comps that are out there. I especially like Vol 3, which is Jazz.
Well I went with Jonah too, but thanks for all the recs; I sampled and sfl'd everything, except for b'now's throwaway rec, and dan'l's, which is great but which I have already (I got it for 1 np in the good old days.)
Jonah's rec just hit the right spot of something I had no idea I wanted, and never would have even thought about, but just sounded so good.
Then I spent the rest of my credit on The Shadow Ring, because I read something about, and wanted their "I'm Some Songs" but the only non-vinyl way I could find it was from a blog, so I figured I'd toss them some money on a different album.
Thanks again everybody, and Soweto 3 is on top of my list for next time.
Oh, and Daniel, the original recording of Titanic, on Obscure Records, b/w Jesus' Love Never Failed Me Yet is not to be dismissed, as good as the 2005 version may be.
I've never heard anything bad about any rendition of the piece, and Gavin was involved in that recording so I would think it would be worthwhile, but I haven't heard it.
So it should be apparent now what should've been clear a long time ago on the Pitchfork thread... there is no need for these rec threads. Just whisper a discussion to me that you have money to spend, and I will tell you what you should be liking.
I just don't understand why you people have to make things so difficult.
Yes music is getting too cheap. Maybe we should all abandon Emusic and similar sites and just buy from iTunes. Too little is going to the artists! The problem is that often that is only too true.
Apropos of nothing, I was in this exact situation myself last night, and I went with the song Singing For Strangers from The Fruit Tree Foundation's First Edition album, mostly due to the fact that the song represented Emma Pollock-related content that I didn't already have. And of course, you can never really get enough Emma Pollock content (except that her first solo album is on 4AD for some reason, not Chemikal Underground where it belongs).
I'm getting to the point where the only thing keeping me on eMu is sheer inertia, but paradoxically enough, I'm also finding out that inertia can be an extremely powerful force.
Comments
Start with Frank (Just Frank)
They are French and the music is a big time throw back to early New Wave, but with a serious darkness to it.
If you don't want the full thing off the bat, I'd start with the track "Coeur Hante".
Craig
- One of the finest works of The Legendary Pink Dots' front man and prime mover.
gavin bryars/philip jeck/alter ego's 1995 version of bryars' the sinking of the titanic. after a long buildup of turntable crackle, a loop of an elegant, stately rendition of autumn -- an episcopal hymn which was played by the band as the doomed ship went down -- begins to slowly unfold. the loop is in slow decay, with pieces of it flecking away, as if the recording is bobbing above and below the water-line. it's a literal musical examination of the titanic disaster (e.g., the elderly british woman's almost inaudible description of the layout of the deck, and her later singing nearer my god to thee), but -- much moreso -- it's a powerful meditation about the dignity and sadness of aging and deterioration and nostalgia (which includes the muffled crowd noises that rush back-and-forth during the middle of the piece). a stunning work of genius, and perfect for autumn.
you can't appreciate it from the :30 soundscan. i can't find a youtube clip of this particular performance. in my view, the others don't do the piece justice, but just to give you an idea, here's a portion of another performance. really, the 1995 version is on another level. this is perfect for fans of william basinski's the disintegration loops project (in fact, i think i prefer this version of the sinking of the titanic to the disintegration loops).
Charles "Packy" Axton - Late Late Party (1965-67)
Next Stop ... Soweto Vol. 2: Soultown. R&B, Funk & Psych Sounds from the Townships 1969-1976
Jonah's rec just hit the right spot of something I had no idea I wanted, and never would have even thought about, but just sounded so good.
Then I spent the rest of my credit on The Shadow Ring, because I read something about, and wanted their "I'm Some Songs" but the only non-vinyl way I could find it was from a blog, so I figured I'd toss them some money on a different album.
Thanks again everybody, and Soweto 3 is on top of my list for next time.
I just don't understand why you people have to make things so difficult.
@ Jonah, Baa humbug.
I'm getting to the point where the only thing keeping me on eMu is sheer inertia, but paradoxically enough, I'm also finding out that inertia can be an extremely powerful force.