Travis – This is gonna be a Travis kind of night, as I have 2 songs that I feel gravitate towards his vibe. As does whatever this is he is playing. It has some really intense layers. A Travis selection often sounds like it is possibly from the 70’s, but here with occasional bursts of musicianship that sound newer, I think it is contemporary. The experimentation here also sounds in a modern way. A sound collage that existed from the 70’s wouldn’t fit together musically in the way this does. Something from the 70’s would feel more jarring, but this has a sense of beat and time that almost feels danceable, and metrically digital production makes things fit together smoothly. I also don’t think the artists could have created this without hearing something experimental first, they had to hear the mystery to find their own. The studio is integral to this creation too. Newer production is more involved in the creative process and it can replicate the sounds discovered in its inspiration. Like here maybe some Stevie Wonder, Revolution #9 and drum loop cues. Fievel is Glauque – “Kayfabe”
Dan – Juan Almeida – “Ritmo Abierto/Postludio” (28:08-35:?) The abstraction continues. A Mr. Bongo reissue of a Cuban artist who mixes a Cuban Piano Fantasia with psychedelics and electronics. It’s bizarre and jarring. It features some of the features I mentioned in the previous tune’s notes, but here it is old. I think I am more excited that Almeida had the opportunity to create something that is clearly a flash of inspiration and spirit than I do for the actual piece. It was difficult to pick a track to play because they are all very much a part of a whole. If I want a weird piano fantasia in the future, then I’ll reach for this.
Xenia Rubinos – “Black Stars” – A second tune from me, totally different. Travis had played Xenia at a previous Sesh. That night he reminded me of her, I had heard Xenia over a decade ago, on a shared bill at Johnny Brendas. I walked away after the show feeling that she created some fresh sounding, well written songs and had star potential. I picked up some of her recordings and I think she has created excellent albums that somehow ride that knife between Pop and Creative/original song writing. And my kid does too!
Nawi – Takes the Sesh in other directions, this has a sort of Lou Reed, or Jim Carroll, vibe in the vocal delivery. The saxophone player is definitely a Jazz dude somewhere inside himself, he’s just pushing through a laid back 90’s dreamscape. New Wet Kojak – “Def Con Soul” – I’ve never heard of these cats but Nawi is a fan. Definitely an interesting sound and tune. It leaves me wondering if the rest sounds similar to this?
Found Sounds 