Life caught up with me, probably from the Holiday break, or being lost in love and I missed a post. So a second notes after going back in time…
Bart – A vocal group, rootsy and raw. Interesting harmonies and all of them have a little sour in their tone. Everything sounds open and wide, like they are singing in an empty space. John Prine – “Diamond in the Rough” Simple and they apparently just put down the instruments and closed the album like this. Strong choice.
Travis – Peter Gabriel sludge metal drums. It sounds like its recorded in a metal box. Though the guitars come in like distant thunder and they warm the punchiness of the rest of it right up. Then an icy little voice drilling right through the fog. It is definitely profiling some 90’s tendencies but maybe a homage to them rather than being of them. Hypnotic and then (I love) the guitar rug pull towards the end that adds a new layer and new vibe. And I love that it continues long after it’s death. Big Brave – “Muted Shifting of Space”
Matt – “Four shorties that are an interesting take on Jazz.” I like the jarring shifts and sonics of each piece. Then the weird synth sax quartet. Lots of stuff going on, even a pig like ending. It feels like a stretchy kind of evening. I guess sort of a DJ’s approach to Jazz? Lots of nice atmospherics too, kinda of strangely being both all over the place and relaxing. Adam Benjamin – “All the Things You Are/Along Came Betty/Autumn in New York/Autumn Leaves” – From an experimental standards album It’s a Standard, Standard, Standard, Standard World.
Nawi – John Lee Hooker doing something, maybe with Canned Heat? Ahh “Red House”. Hooker’s phrasing is so distinct and his delivery so abrupt it really changes the feeling of the song. I might enjoy it more if he was solo, but the juxtaposition of his free-ness and the bands strictness of tempo is creating loads of tension. Also his guitar has the same distinct/abrupt quality as his voice. This is newer than his Canned Heat collaboration and probably a stiffer band too.
Dan – Meshell Ndegeocello – “Travel” & What Did I Do” – The first song has been haunting me and I’ve generally been haunted by the fact that I missed this concert a few months ago because life was too busy. It would have been best to see that I think, because it seems to be a performance piece, though I’m very blown away by the entire album. The idea of Meshell interpreting James Baldwin musically is fantastic and I had no idea what to expect. My daughter and I walked home from her drama performance through a bejeweled, Christmas Light decorated “tree” park in South Philly listening to the second song. She said it made her feel like some of the emotions she hasn’t been able to voice recently were understood in the song. Which is certainly what reading James Baldwin did for me. Maybe my only qualm being her voice is not so prominent on the album, but it has a deep sound regardless.
Found Sounds 