Can, recording a session for John Peel. I’m not sure what year this was recorded, but hearing it makes me a bit wistful over Peelie’s early demise.
Rock
[Music] War – Slippin’ Into Darkness
My friend Owen made the pick of the night. War’s classic is a meaty, visceral tune which, if memory serves me right, would influence Bob Marley in making Get Up, Stand Up.
[Music] Pelageya – Ptashechka (Live)
I’m quite new to the work of Russian pop singer Pelageya. From Novosibirsk, Siberia, this songbird comes from a classical music background, having once been invited by legendary Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich to perform in France along with other luminaries, including Ravi Shankar and B. B. King.
Though I find the live version wonderfully sparse, I’m including the studio version for the sake of comparison below:
[Music] Tindersticks – Here
Oh, my. Stuart A. Staples and the lads to a damn-near wrist-slittingly depressing (yet perfect) cover of Pavement’s rather sublime tune.
[Music] Catherine Ribeiro – Paix
Catherine Ribeiro is France’s psychedelic chanteuse. From what I understand, she is still making music. This is from her peak period, and it still sounds stunning.
[Music] Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra – Live In Buenos Aires 2005
Most American film buffs know Emir Kusturica as one of the best directors to come out of the Balkans. What they may not know is that he’s a hell of a band leader. Check out this concert from 2005.
[Music] Fanfara Tirana meets Transglobal Underground – No Guns To The Wedding
Albanian gypsy music meeting electronica, perfectly balanced? Kudos who Fanfare Tirana and Transglobal Underground for this massive hit!
[Music] Journey – Topaz (1975)
I loathe Steve Perry. No, not as a person. I’m sure he’s swell and a blast to hang out with. I mean what he did to Journey. Former members of Santana, guitarist Neal Schon and vocalist Gregg Rolie, started the band out as a really good jazz-fusion band, touched a bit with hard rock. Perry’s vocals killed the band, at least for me, though millions of screaming teeny-boppers will, no doubt, tell me otherwise.
[Music] Twenty Sixty Six and Then – Winter
Fine, heavy, expansive Krautrock from one of the better German bands of the era, 2066 (Twenty Sixty Six) and Then.
[Music] Comment Band – Lahzeha
Even in Tehran, one can find good-quality alternative music. Here’s Comment Band, one of the better acts in town.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 