Currently listening, part 1

[drone on]

Steve Kilbey & Ricky Maymi Present: David Neil "The Wilderness Years" (CD) Steve Kilbey of The Church and Maymi of Brian Jonestown Massacre made up a fictional "rock star" (Neil) and perform "his" songs on this excellent album, which sounds like it's right out of the 70's but with crystal clear 2011 sound.  As good as any of SK's solo work, if you're a fan.

Harold Budd-"In the Mist" (CD, Darla)  Need a few more deep listens to make a final judgment, but very moody.  Lots of "pitch-shifted" piano notes so it sounds like hearing music underwater.  Harold's still got it, and thankfully he didn't retire after all... 

Simple Minds-New Gold Dream
Xymox-Twist of Shadows
Clan of Xymox-Clan of Xymox: 3 classic 80's albums (well Twist of Shadows maybe not a "classic," but it is to me!)

[drone on]

Pink Floyd-DSOTM Experience Edition.2011 Remaster and '74 live disc--Money!  Somebody's makin a lot of it and you will spend a lot!  Ridiculously overpriced, but the live disc is a gem and gift from the gods, so open up thy wallet and splurge.

[mgriffin]

I guess once this topic hits a half-million views, it'll be time to start "part 2"

[| broken harbour |]

Robert Davies - "Pond"
Northaunt - "Horizons"
Devin Townsend - "Deconstruction" (obviously not ambient, but I've always appreciated his production style on metal releases, plus the music on this release is amazing.)

[drone on]

Now have three of the 2011 Pink Floyd remasters (Meddle, Dark Side, Animals).  These are by far definitive versions.  Looking forward to The Wall with demos disc and Wish You Were Here with live disc later this year.

[APK]

Good to see someone playing Robert Davies "Pond".
I've grown to admire Robert's music more and more over the years.
He is single-minded and consistently good.

I've had fairly eclectic listening habits recently:
- Grateful Dead :: American Beauty  (probably my most played of theirs)
- Ishiq :: Orchid  (always enjoyable)
- Incredible String Band :: Be Glad For The Song Has No Ending  (can't live without ISB, and this is special)
- Marcus Fischer :: Monocoastal (first 2 tracks were very enjoyable ... not as much the rest)
- John and Beverly Martin :: Road To Ruin   (grew up with this. Its terrific. Yeah yeah early 70s again)
- Miles Davis :: Porgy and Bess  (wonderful thing)
- and a whole bunch of smaller works by  Poulenc and Stravinsky

[headonist]

Fennesz - Venice

[Anodize DB]

Vic Hennegan 'Field of Worlds & Mirrors' (self)

Vic passed this on to me, his new one, at last week's Equinoxygen festival, and it's a simply gorgeous, vivid, lush piece of work - could sit easily on Spotted Peccary, as but one example. 'Light' Berlin School meets O'Hearn picturesque 'tronix meets tribalish pulse/gamelan...words become fleeting; I highly recommend this.

Both Vic & cohort Dean De Benedictis also performed a sterling set @ EQ2011 as well, one of the highlights of the festival, in addition to the triumphant return of Neil Nappe, who pretty much brought the house down.

[drone on]

Anthony Rother-Vom Urknall zur Maschine (Fax).  Music from 1999 but released 2011 on Fax.  Thrilling stuff, this is surely Rother's best Fax label release out of his four Fax titles. 

Oophoi/Seren Ffordd-Martian Chronicles-Amazing!

Transonic 2-Virtual Current (Fax)

Ian Boddy/Chris Carter-Caged
Ian Boddy-Box of Secrets
Boddy/Mullaney/Reuter-Triptych >A journey back in time to early DiN label goodness

[Bill Binkelman]

Received an amazon.com gift certificate and picked up the re-mastered and expanded Soft Machine Third CD. I hadn't listened to it in years since all I had was the LP (was waiting for a definitive re-master which this is). Two observations: One, this was WAY ahead of its time in the genre of progressive fusion, IMO. It STILL sounds fresh, exciting, and innovative. Two, HOW THE HELL did I like THIS music when I was only 16 years old (which is when I bought the original double LP)? I remember playing this for some girlfriends in high school - YIKES! What could THEY have thought?

Robert Wyatt's "Moon in June" is one of the most brilliant vocal songs of all time. "Facelift" explores some of the radical jazz fusion territory that King Crimson did on "21st Century Schizoid Man." And the other two long tracks are also startlingly original. The second CD in the package is a live concert which I haven't listened to yet.

[APK]

Good stuff, Bill.
When I was teenager in England they fast became my favourite band.
Second album of Fourth is one of the greatest things ever brought into existence.
But they are an acquired taste, as with much of the Canterbury jazz-influenced scene of the time.
I wouldn't force them on anyone ... certainly not girlfriends!

I play Soft Machine almost every week.   8)

[Dave Michuda]

Thanks for reminding about those two albums, I'll have to pull them out and give them another listen.

Now playing...
Peter Gabriel - New Blood - I sure wish he'd release some new material but this new cd of orchestral versions of his own tunes is really interesting.  The orchestral version of Solsbury Hill, however, stinks.  It sounds like crappy muzak.  But the rest of it is pretty cool.
Sonmi451 - Star Atlas - very limited edition on Time Released Sound.  I love everything by Sonmi451 & this one is no different.  Kinda spacey & floaty with a few beats here & there.
Phil Manzanera - Diamond head - I've been dipping into old prog rock lately & Manzanera is a fav from that time in my life.  This album & "Listen Now" still get a fair amount of play here.

[Antdude]

Just arrived:

Oöphoi - Il Silenzio Di Dio
Oöphoi & Seren Ffordd -  The Martian Chronicles

Been enjoying TMC a lot the last few days and am listening to 'Il Silenzio' as I write. I'm really enjoying this one.

[drone on]

What Peter Gabriel has been doing lately is really embarassing.  He's gone from progressive genius and master songwriter to sad old man doing covers and playing with orchestras.  He should just retire. 

[headonist]

Mathias Grassow with Wiese: Mercurius

[phobos]

Absolutely superb and thoroughly recommended :)

[Seren]

 8) Thanks David and everyone else who has been so positive about the album

[Scott M2]

Received an amazon.com gift certificate and picked up the re-mastered and expanded Soft Machine Third CD. I hadn't listened to it in years since all I had was the LP (was waiting for a definitive re-master which this is). Two observations: One, this was WAY ahead of its time in the genre of progressive fusion, IMO. It STILL sounds fresh, exciting, and innovative. Two, HOW THE HELL did I like THIS music when I was only 16 years old (which is when I bought the original double LP)? I remember playing this for some girlfriends in high school - YIKES! What could THEY have thought?

Robert Wyatt's "Moon in June" is one of the most brilliant vocal songs of all time. "Facelift" explores some of the radical jazz fusion territory that King Crimson did on "21st Century Schizoid Man." And the other two long tracks are also startlingly original. The second CD in the package is a live concert which I haven't listened to yet.

"Chloe and the Pirates" from Soft Machine "Six" is so soft and gentle it's practically ambient. I should get that one on CD as my vinyl is crackly now.

[Mark Mushet]

Harold Budd - In The Mist

I was initially a little concerned for the presence of a string quartet on this but I think the use of strings on this is so perfectly and lightly integrated into Harold's usual gossamer touch with impossibly beautiful yet melancholy moods that...well, it's perfect!

Ernst Reijseger - Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Soundtrack to the Herzog doc which is best not seen in 3D. Short, atmospheric vignettes for cello, cello and voice, wood flute and choir and various combinations thereof. Really lovely.

Magazine - No Thyself

A high school-age, post-punk fave miraculously re-appears with solid new material in 2011. It may not have the initial impact that was possible some 30+ years ago but it's growing on me and does manage to sound both like their past and present selves in just the right balance.

bvdub - I Remember

Let's face it; there is a tsunami of escapist, middling-quality drone music out there struggling against a tide of indifference. I need a few more listens to this but I think and hope it may be one of the standouts of the year.

Binary Orchid - Radioactivity

This trio of Arve Henriksen, Gulli Gudmundsson and Wolfert Brederode is a previously unknown (to me) gem! Discovered it in Amsterdam at a fantastic 5 storefront-long CD store called Concerto. Subtle, lovely and a must-have for Henriksen fans. Brederode also has a new release on ECM which is top-drawer as well.

Charanga Cakewalk - Chicano Zen

An always enjoyable modern blend of Tex/Mex, cumbia, various folk and other musical traditions orchestrated by Michael Ramos out of Austin, Texas.

The Doors - Morrison Hotel

I'd never listened to the entire album in all these years. It's great, really.

[drone on]

I knew I would buy the new P. Gabriel even though it probably sucked.  It sucked.  Took it back to the store today for credit.  8)