Many thanks to my dear bro Hubert Heathertoes, who is a fountain of wonderful information worth sharing. This article from local radio station KQED does a nice retrospective on one of the Bay Area’s most influential punk rock icons, Flipper singer Ted Falconi. He was not only a leading light in alternative music, but a Vietnam Vet with plenty to say about his experiences.
[Music] The Durgas – Shut Down
It’s hard to believe a band which now sounds like a contemporary of Neil Young or other rock stars at their most reflective (and yes, that’s a compliment, as I still have a healthy respect for rock & roll music’s transformative powers) began their career as an utterly brutal agit-punk band, A Subtle Plague, whose first demo was produced by Beastie Boys legend Adam Yauch, if memory serves.
This particular song has a rather personal meaning explained to me by my dear friend and damn near older brother, Ekke. It’s perhaps too personal to get into here, but let’s say it’s a song based on the oldest of topics – love and loss.
The core members of The Durgas, Christopher and Benjii Simmersbach, have managed to maintain high music quality despite many personnel changes, genre changes, location changes and more. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting them, and of course, I wish them continued success. They’re good lads from a good, good family.
[Music] The Hip Priest Radio Program, Volume 8 — The Hip Priest Radio Program
Track Listing: 1. Barış Manço – Gül Bebeğim 2. Howling Eye – Junkhead (Live At Estrada) 3. Julia Kent – Waverly 4. 空手王 (Karate King) – Celestial Sequence 5. 65daysofstatic – Broken Ship Ruse 6. horhors – Derszu Uzala/3 (Sikhote-Alin mix) 7. Magick Lantern Cycle – Circular Ruins […]
The Hip Priest Radio Program, Volume 8 — The Hip Priest Radio Program
[Music] Sanjay Leela Bhansali – Bajirao Mastani – Deewani Mastani
Sometimes a bit of levity is good to calm the nerves. Sanjay Leela Bhansali composed this charmer for the film Bajirao Mastani from 2015. Sumptuous listening in a time of hell.
Thanks to Ignatios for sharing this with me earlier as well. It’s a blessing to have friends who bring you a wide array of music.
[Music] The Flies – I’m Not Your Stepping Stone (1966)
I really like The Monkees. Sure, the TV show was a little corny, but the music was enjoyable. I particularly liked “(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone,” which I always felt was their strongest track. I’ve heard Jimi Hendrix cover it, and of course the original done first by Paul Revere & The Raiders, and as wonderful as those were, they paled a bit to The Monkees‘ version.
The Flies, an English band, took a crack at it in 1966, and they slow it down just a touch, making the song that much more of a keeper.
Really brilliant cover.
[Music] START TRACK Blog
I’m a fan of the indie record label Z Tapes, run by Filip Zemčík out of Slovakia. He’s turned me onto some amazing bedroom artists, and now he has a blog, START TRACK, where he highlights interesting things he finds on Bandcamp. Consider following.
[Music] NERATERRÆ – Scenes From The Sublime
Our friend Alessio Antoni of NERATERRÆ is visiting us for the third time, and he brings along some of the finest composers in dark ambient music to collaborate with.
Some of the participants in this album include Alphaxone, Dødsmaskin, Leila Abdul-Rauf, Mount Shrine, Phelios, Phragments, Shrine, Xerxes The Dark, George Zafiriadis from Martyria and Yann Hagimont from Cober Ord. The variance of sounds and textures on this release corresponds well with the different paintings which inspired Alessio to produce this album. Such painters as Zdzisław Beksiński, Ilya Repin, Salvador Dalí, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Francisco Goya among others.
There is a ghostly quality that comes with the genre on each track, but they have more of a viscous feeling to them. They sound, and in a sense, feel, more substantial than others I’ve been hearing recently. There is no shortage of incredible ambient music going around today, but Alessio and his partners continue to impress and surprise.
[Music] Johan Troch – Bring Out The Stars
Mellow Sunday listening for your pleasure.
Belgian guitarist Johan Troch has released an elegant new album which strides somewhere between a Steve Roach-influenced ambient style, a sublime and relaxed Bill Frisell, and a warm, loungy vibe.
I really enjoy how relaxed this album is. Go through this track by track. It’s sumptuous.
[Literature] The Complete Short Stories of J.G. Ballard (First Riff: Introductions + Stories 1956-1959) — Biblioklept
IN THIS RIFF: Introductions Stories published between 1956 and 1959: “Prima Belladonna” “Escapement” “The Concentration City” “Venus Smiles” “Manhole 69” “Track 12” “The Waiting Grounds” “Now: Zero” Introduction I first read J.G. Ballard in high school. I found his work, somehow, after reading Burgess, Burroughs, and Vonnegut. I devoured many of his novels over the […]
[Music] Soyol Erdene – Soyol Erdene (1981)
Mongolia isn’t a place one thinks of when collectors talk about psychedelic music, but that’s exactly what Soyol Erdene, Mongolia’s cultural jewel (that’s what the name translates into) provide. They mix a light psychedelic sound with elements of Merseybeat and folk rock. A strange, but very satisfying, blend of genres.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 