The Macedonian Gypsy singer Usnija Redžepova passed away today at the age of 69. I cannot say if she is related to her fellow Gypsy countrywoman, Esma, but when Usnija was young, she looked like Monica Belluci fronting a Roma band. RIP.
Music
[Music] Kazik – Bourbon mnie wypełnia
[Music] Gianni Ferrio – Il Killer (Shake)
Some happy beat music from Italian conductor and arranger Gianni Ferrio!
[Music] Q65 – Night
Dutch psychedelic band Q65 were a band I discovered reading magazines like Record Collector, who hyped them up as a band with a monstrous reputation. They were, and to my ears, are, among the best bands of the late 1960s.
[Music] Kate Smith – God Bless America
Kate Smith seems very appropriate today, 14 years after the 9/11 attack.
[Music] Jos Smolders – Passion (For Rudy Carrera)
Yes, you’re reading this right. This one is dedicated to yours truly.
Jos Smolders, the legendary Dutch experimental composer and sonic alchemist, worked on this project in Easter, 2014. To say I’m both thankful and honored for the dedication is a massive understatement. It is perfect evening listening, even after more than a year of its release here on Soundcloud.
[Music] Casa de Orates (Manuel Knwell) – Nostalguia
I had never heard of Manuel Knwell of Casa de Orates until today, and Tarkovsky tributes are a dime a dozen, but this was rather pleasant, atmospheric listening.
[Music] Love (Japan) – Time Gives Life
Folk-psych from 1977. The band Love is not the legendary Los Angeles band fronted by Arthur Lee, but a Japanese group who churned out at least one magnificent album before disappearing into the aether.
[Music] S.P.K. – White Island
Though late period SPK went into a horrible period of commercial dance music which was, to be frank, an atrocity, they managed to safe a great deal of face with their final works.
[Music] Pale Saints – Fine Friend (All Virgos Are Mad version)
Fuzzy, modern psychedelia. Shoegaze music really was a beautiful thing for a while. The Pale Saints were at the top of their game when this piece came out.
The compilation this track is featured on is definitely worth a purchase.