Graham Janz is a very eclectic folk singer who originally called Brandon, Manitoba, Canada home, though he now resides in Groningen, Netherlands. He sent me a note asking me to listen to his sketches, and I’m quite pleased that I took him up on his offer.
This isn’t a proper album per se, but home recordings he did, as these are home recordings, but in the spirit of hearing demos by artists like Nick Drake, Peter Hammill (I’m very partial to Van Der Graaf Generator) or even Warren Zevon (Graham covers Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner), it’s great hearing raw, unaffected singing and playing. No tricks, no studio gadgetry, just a chap with his guitar. I’m curious to see how he sounds in studio. His sketches lead me to think that the material will sound quite good.
Much respect to Dominic Razlaff for this album of four sessions which drift off gently into the sea, rather than in space. I’m not quite sure why, but while relaxing and listening to the album, I feel a sense of calm that I felt in places like the Black Sea, where I’m headed to in a couple of weeks. This is a truly chilled-out work from an artist who deserves to be heard more.
My goodness! I knew my friends in the band Zereshhad a new album out, but I wasn’t expecting an epic! Farewelldoes an amazing job of combining the good elements of the early Pink Floyd sound and melds it together with neofolk. Tamar Singer’s vocals are otherworldly, quite rich and unique in this genre. I mean this literally!
Also, as this is considered atmospheric black metal in the genre section of the Bandcamp site, I would have expected more shrieking and screaming. Thank God, no noise like that on this release. It would have ruined the truly dark, foreboding vibe that Zereshwere giving to me while preparing for a long day at work. I enjoyed this one immensely.
The Story Of Damon and His Psychedelic Cult Classic, Song Of A Gypsy. For any collector of psychedelia whose fortunate enough to find a copy of Damon’s Song Of A Gypsy, it quickly becomes one of their most prized possessions. Sadly, finding an original copy of Song Of A Gypsy is another thing. It’s one of the rarest psychedelic […]
Raffaele Pezzella of Eighth Tower Records continues to show what a magical ear he has for new music artists. His latest release is by composer Scottish composer Michael Bonaventure, who makes full use out of the organ. There are bits of sci-fi music, creepy soundtrack clips, electroacoustic music in the style of Pierre Henry’s freakier compositions, and a hazy, psychedelic vibe throughout. It’s not overpowering, either, which I think adds to the enjoyment of listening to this record. It’s challenging without beating you over the head with racket. A job well done.
Benjamin Finney’s work has been reviewed on our blog in the past, as he’s really a fine guitarist, but it finally dawned on me whose work seems to influence and inform his playing. John Fahey. No doubt about it. He has the American primitive sound mastered so well that he’s able to mold it however he wishes. Fahey was utterly brilliant at that. Expect Benjamin to have that same legacy one of these days.
RUTH GARBUS – Kleinmeister (Orindal, 2019)* Non è un semplice album di cantautorato femminile il secondo lavoro sulla lunga distanza di Ruth Garbus, artista del Vermont che da solista ha pubblicato un altro paio di Ep nel corso di oltre un decennio, nel quale è stata tra l’altro voce e batterista degli Happy Birthday, band […]
Mexico has contributed so mightily to the canon of songs that quality as high art that it’s impossible to keep track of these gems, but, at least to my ears, none is more impressive, more beautiful or more haunting that this classic Huapangolove song interpreted by the legendary Javier Solís, though in this version, the actual interpreter is Enrique Cáceres.
The lyrics to the song are below:
Qué bonitos ojos tienes
Debajo de esas dos cejas
Debajo de esas dos cejas
Qué bonitos ojos tienes
Ellos me quieren mirar
Pero si tú no los dejas
Pero si tú no los dejas
Ni siquiera parpadear
Malagueña salerosa
Besar tus labios quisiera
Besar tus labios quisiera
Malagueña salerosa
Y decirte niña hermosa
Eres linda y hechicera
Eres linda y hechicera
Como el candor de una rosa
Si por pobre me desprecias
Yo te concedo razón
Yo te concedo razón
Si por pobre me desprecias
Yo no te ofrezco riquezas
Te ofrezco mi corazón
Te ofrezco mi corazón
A cambio de mi pobreza
Malagueña salerosa
Besar tus labios quisiera
Besar tus labios quisiera
Malagueña salerosa
Y decirte nina hermosa
Eres linda y hechicera
Que eres linda y hechicera
Como el candor de una rosa
Y decirte niña hermosa
In English:
What beautiful eyes you have Under those two eyebrows Under those two eyebrows What beautiful eyes you have
They want to look at me But if you don’t let them But if you don’t let them Don’t even blink
Malagueña salerosa Kissing your lips would like Kissing your lips would like Malagueña salerosa
And telling you beautiful girl
You’re pretty and sorceress You’re pretty and sorceress Like the candor of a rose
If you despise me for poor I grant you reason I grant you reason If you despise me for poor
I do not offer you riches I offer you my heart I offer you my heart In exchange for my poverty
Malagueña salerosa Kissing your lips would like Kissing your lips would like Malagueña salerosa
And tell you beautiful girl
You are pretty and sorceress That you are pretty and sorceress Like the candor of a rose
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 