A warm thanks to Praveer Bea for kindly posting this wonderful slab of minimal, crunchy rhythm, courtesy of Alva Noto and Pan Sonic’s Mika Vainio working under the monicker of Ø.
If you wish to pick up this album, Mikro Makro, go here.
Music
[Video] Lead Into Gold – A Giant On Earth
Though Ministry was always seen, rightly or wrongly, as Al Jourgensen’s band, it’s not fair to say that he was the only talent in the group. Bassist Paul Barker used Lead Into Gold as a vehicle for his own creative output. It’s a shame he didn’t do more with it.
[Video] Alexander Von Schlippenbach Trio – Pakistani Pomade (1972)
Alexander Von Schlippenbach is one of the luminaries in the world of free jazz. He’s a fine pianist who makes full and absolute use out of his weapon of choice.
[Video] Le Ninfe della Tammorra – L’aria de lu mare
Naples is a city utterly steeped in music. I had the chance to visit briefly a few times, and each visit brought me to a deeper appreciation of the culture (if not all of its residents). Classical music, jazz, ethno, horribly embarrassing pop music – you can find it all there.
Leave it to my dear friend, Rosario Maffucci, who along with Ian Smith, do wonders in discovering new talent. It seems that Le Ninfe della Tammorra are from Naples, and bring tarantella into the modern age with a blend of appropriate instruments and what sounds like great engineering in this punchy tune.
I’m looking forward to seeing more talent pop up in Naples during my next visit!
[Sample] Gaetir The Mountainkeeper – Rúnatal
Many thanks to Alexander Wolf, who posted this on one of the many fora I visit daily. Though I think calling this music ‘epic neo-folk doom’ is a bit banal under normal circumstances, it might actually work to describe this music rather well.
Gaetir The Mountainkeeper are going to be interesting to follow up on, though, at least according to Google, there’s no further information about the band.
[Video] Olcay Bayır & Nizar Rohana – Serê Çiya & Lay Lay
Leave it to Miguel Santos of LIFEM to introduce the world to one of the most amazing acts I’ve heard in some time.
Olcay Bayır is a Kurdish singer who hails from Turkey. Nizar Rohana plays the oud, and comes from Palestine. They make a formidable duo.
[Video] Carlos Santana & Mahavishnu John McLaughlin – A Love Supreme
This is not a cover of the John Coltrane classic in a traditional sense, but Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin of the Mahavishnu Orchestra bring out the heart of the great master’s work here beautifully.
Seek out this album, as it’s a masterpiece.
[Video] Mörder Machine – Lorna Green
Mörder Machine was a side project of Marco Corbelli, who was better know for his project, Atrax Morgue. He was a profoundly brutal noise musician, and this is one of his calmer works.
[Review] Mydy Rabycad – Glamtronic
I wish to thank my friend Prsemyl, who is my contact for Indies Records in the Czech Republic, for introducing me to this band.
Mydy Rabycad are an indie band based out of Prague who remind me of some of the earlier ‘Madchester’ acts like the Happy Mondays, mixed with a style that would remind me of modern swing. Funky isn’t a word one would normally associate with Czech music, but this release changes my opinion.
For samples of their music, go here.
[Video] Vagif Mustafa Zadeh – Jazz Compositions
Those who know me well, say, for at least 15 years, know that I have tried throughout my life to be a champion for Soviet Jazz. They had something exquisite that the world didn’t have full access to until the end of Communism. One of these treasures hailed from Azerbaijan.
With the passing of B. B. King a few days ago, I was reminded of a story when the legendary blues guitarist came to the Soviet Union to watch a jazz festival. After seeing Vagif Mustafa Zade play, he named the stunned pianist as the ‘true king of the blues’. Vagif would die at age 35 in 1979, suffering a heart attack while performing onstage at a concert in Uzbekistan.
May his memory be eternal.
Many thanks to Funked Up East for their incredible selection of Soviet music.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 