A special welcome to Seshjawn newcomer but old friend Jeremy Barker!
Nawi – Some old ass rock & roll! A little Koko Taylor-ish. The fucking lyrics are too hip! The snare sounds like metal being struck and the formula is simple, but still sounds entirely fresh. Ike & Tina Turner – “I Idolize you” I love it but didn’t guess it was Tina, mainly because it is a more derivative song style, but those words are different than I’d expect from a song of this style. She is a force of nature then and still!
Travis – Something trippy, sounds Brazilian but maybe not or at least some lyrics are in English. Fievel is Glauque – “Save the Phenomenon”. Another Travis hit that is age deceptive. I really like what is going on in this song, but it also feels like repeated listens would reveal its hidden core qualities and remove some of the mystery. I love all the little details in the song, Travis recommends the entire album though suggests it sounds different than this song – which is fine. It seems like the band is a duo (NYC/Brussels) with various other members added at different times.
Brian – Man we are on some journeys in tonight’s Seshjawn, with some deep roots here. Steel Pulse “Blues Dance Raid” – 80’s Reggae has some interesting qualities, this does sound old school aside from some of the guitar & keyboard sounds – sleek in a way that 60’s/70’s Roots Rock Reggae would not have. The “feel” for each track tonight has been critical to the song’s success, though stylistically disparate, each has had its own distinctive feel.
Dan – La Sonora Poncera – “Tercio De Acero” – After a particularly fertile Salsa success story at Long in the Tooth records a few weeks back I am playing a few of the prizes/surprises. This album has 1 problem… It’s 28 minutes long but everything is great and this song just melts. The Time feels like its ready to entirely drop out, but never does and there is no rush to the feeling it gives, yet you would dance to this. Rare air there, and high quality brass work.
TÍPICA 73 – “Amalia Batista” – This track caught me off guard and doesn’t reach the vibe of the previous track, but also has a joyous medley of Jazz, Bossa and olde timey melodies “sampled” over the vamp. It shows that songs are reinterpreted constantly and these musicians seem to love playing with their roles. The live performance was also a surprise find.
Jeremy – Anna Wise – “Subtle Body” – Very different and unexpected, I hear some Kate Bush influence in her vocal style and some of Kate’s experimentalism but the song is pretty unique and divergent in its overall sound. And it faked me out with the strings at the beginning, once the keyboard hits it becomes something entirely different. And the found sound type “solo section” also reminds me of some Kate decisions but with its own unique palate. (I’m sure Rich would have appreciated this song!)
Bart – Peter Evans – “Mirrors of Infinity” – Wow! Very out, but musically satisfying and a stupefying array of techniques being employed. The circular breathing isn’t just a tool here, it fills some special musical roles. At some points it feels like an Indie Rock chord progression – but on a breather type instrument and definitely has electronic distortion-like effects. He also plays the Mic well. This sort of sends us off into Trumpet nightmare land….
Found Sounds 