Pekka Pohjola first gained fame as bassist for the legendary Finnish prog rock band Wigwam, and then did some work recording for Mike Oldfield. His solo work brought together his love of jazz and fusion in a prog rock setting.
[Art] ‘Le Spectre de Banquo’ by Gustave Doré (1832-1883)
Though he is surely better-known for his etchings for the Holy Bible and Dante’s Divine Comedy, Gustave Doré also tried his hand at Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, to these stunning results.
[Video] John Zorn – Somnambulisme (Man Ray)
‘Sublime’ isn’t a word one normally associates with John Zorn, but this might be one of those rare moments when it fits rather nicely.
Thanks to dear Silena Lena for posting this originally!
[Video] Fleetwood Mac – Hold Me
I’ll bet you didn’t see this coming!
I grew up in the 1980s, where music video was a new art form. One of the first memories I have of MTV is watching, among good new wave ditties, this song. It seemed pompous, boring, and the band looked like they were on a pile of cocaine rather than in a desert. It took about twenty years for me to appreciate the song-craft of Fleetwood Mac.
[Lit] Haruki Murakami to Pen Advice Column
This is a treat! Famed author Haruki Murakami will be writing an advice column in Japan, will tackle any subject, and will respond in a variety of languages. It might be worth talking to him about jazz one of these days.
Galleycat has more here.
[Video] Zlatko Origjanski feat. Beni Shaqiri – Generale
Though I am a big fan of Zlatko’s work (as evidence by the previous post featuring his old band, Lola V. Stain), I can’t say I was a big fan of Beni’s in the past. He seemed like a great guy, decent to the core of his bones, but his music never quite moved me, as it reminded me too much of 80s power ballad tripe that I ran away from in Los Angeles.
Hearing this piece has caused me to utterly reevaluate his music. This seems precisely what he was made to be doing, and Zlatko is bringing out the best in him Bravo to both!
[Video] Lola V. Stain – Makova Polja
Lola V. Stain were one of the founding members of Macedonian ethnocore. The project, featuring Zlatko Origjanski, gave a platform to musicians like Goran Trajkoski, who would found Anastasia, as well as the legendary gaija player Pece Atanasovski.
Earliest ancient Chinese musical instruments unearthed in tomb complex
From the rather odd archaeological website, Ancient Origins:
China Daily reports the musical finds were uncovered in the tomb complex in Hubei province. A plucked string instrument was found, known as the “Se”. Thousands of years ago, the long, flat board instruments were fitted with 50 strings of twisted silk, and were instruments for the elite used in rituals and sacrificial offerings. Eventually the instrument evolved into the guzheng, notes Wikipedia. The se is one of the most important Chinese stringed instruments to be created, but there are very few modern musicians who can play the se.
Interesting, indeed! Read more here.
[Podcast] ‘Haunted’ by Christina Liveri
Haunted by Christina Liveri on Mixcloud
One of my favorite podcasters out of Greece, Christina touches on tracks by U.N.K.L.E., Dead Can Dance, and many others. A worthy follow (would you expect any less?).
[Video] Peter Hammill – (This Side Of) The Looking Glass
While fronting one of the greatest of all progressive rock bands in Van Der Graaf Generator, Peter Hammill was releasing critically acclaimed solo albums. Here’s a piece from the album The Love Songs.
As a side note, many thanks to Virgil Pink, who shares a tremendous amount of wonderful videos. He should be on your Youtube subscription list immediately.
