Thanks to Isidora Mikhailovich, whose Facebook post took me down memory lane. P16.D4 were the project of Ralf Wehowski, who would go on to record as RLW. S. B. O. T. H. I. was the project of Achim Wollscheid. Both were composers based in Germany working with extreme experimental music. Most of what I had from these artists was on cassette tapes. I pine for those days on occasion.
[Video] Galymzhan Zholdasbay – Ak Tilek
Galymzhan Zholdasbay, also known as Alimhan Yoldaşbey or Галымжан Жолдасбай, is a Kazakh folk-pop singer melding traditional Kazakh melodies into a catchy, accessible ditty.
Elvis Presley’s 80th Birthday Celebrated With Reissues, New Website
If you are a fan of “The King” (and I am, certainly), tomorrow will be a great day. Elvis would have turned 80 years old today. The thought boggles the mind. Could you imagine him doing Vegas in this day and age?
Rolling Stone Magazine reports on the reissue campaign here, and also announces the launching of a new website dedicated to promoting the re-releases.
[Video] Zagasan Shireet Tamga – Eki Attar (Mongolian Music [Rap Style] Throat Song “Fish Symboled Stamp”)
I take a tremendous amount of pride bringing interesting (dare I say, tasteful?) things to my friends and subscribers. This is one of the most unique offerings I’ve been fortunate enough to come across in quite a while. Mongolia offers many great styles of ethnic music, but I never thought I’d see Khöömei (throat-singing) paired with rap. I’m not much of a fan of modern hip-hop at all, but this really has me fascinated.
Points for anyone who can find the name of the band and the actual name of the song. I’d love to hear more from these guys.
UPDATE: The band is called Zagasan Shireet Tamga. The song, apparently is ‘Eki Attar’ (Good Horses).
[Video] Arvo Pärt – Kanon Pokajanen
Today is Christmas Eve on the Julian Calendar, and one of the holiest days of the Eastern Orthodox calendar. The Nativity of Jesus (Christmas) is celebrated tomorrow, and though tonight is spent preparation for the great feast, I had enough time to drop two small gifts under this digital Christmas tree.
The first is the music of Arvo Pärt, a world-famous Estonian composer who is surely well-known to regular readers of this page. He is also a devout member of the Estonian Orthodox Church, and you can hear this influence in his compositions.
Gift two is the article attached to it. The author, Fr. Ivan Moody, happens to be a fine composer in his own right, and his works will soon me gracing these pages. He also happens to be an Orthodox priest, and the article is hosted by the Orthodox Christian Network, which can be read here.
For me, personally, it is the most wonderful thing in the world to wed two subjects I have a great passion for: Orthodoxy and the avant-garde. May you who partake have a wonderful Nativity.
Hristos se Rodi!
[Video] Dream Syndicate – Loving the Sinner, Hating the Sin
It seems that The Dream Syndicate, who are local boys in my current neck of the woods, are getting back together again for a series of performances. It’s hard to believe this is about two-and-a-half decades old now. Good for Steve Wynn and company reuniting!
[Video] Mark Nauseef / Miroslav Tadić – The Wind Cries Mary
Two wonderful jazz musicians in Mark Nauseef and Miroslav Tadić do an admirable job tackling the work of Jimi Hendrix.
[Sample] Joseph Benzola – Collected Works: 2012-2014
Composer, pianist, percussionist and all-around good guy Joseph Benzola has been hiding quite a few treasures. He’s done the world a favor by releasing some of his sketches through his Bandcamp site.
[Sample] Various Artists – Prima Giedi
Cold Dark Matter Records taps into the one thing I respect about this new Doom Metal scene – they exhibit raw power. Every track on this compilation is a bruiser. I think I’ll have a lot of fun exploring this label!
[Video] Foltin and Nikola Kodjabashia – To Whom Do You Belong Now?
Foltin are one of the most innovative groups in the Republic of Macedonia. I’ve always wondered why those into Rock-In-Opposition music didn’t gravitate to their quirky music much sooner. Nikola Kodjabashia is a Macedonian pianist currently based in the United Kingdom who works primarily composing avant-garde music. How this pairing could produce such sumptuous, smoky trip-hop not out-of-place in any New York jazz bar is beyond me. Well worth seeking out!
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 