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Random Recommendations from Shahar's collection thread
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shahar
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
155
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2035
Posted : Dec 3, 2007 18:24
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Hi all,
Today our infamous Pavel had on his Messenger's personal message "Colombian Necktie". That reminded me at once of Big Black's great Colombian Necktie song (Of which Pavel has never heard). I proceeded then to take it out of my record collection and have a listen. Then I realized how big my music collection is and how much music that I consider very good is in there. So I thought every time I dip into my collection for some goodie, I might as well write a short recommendation/review/reflection here. And so I start this thread.
I'll start of course with this:
Big Black- Songs About Fucking (Touch and Go, 1987)
I discovered Atomiser, Big Black's first album when a US friend who was deep into punk rock sent it over on tape to me in 1987. When I went over to the US in 1990 I came back with their second album- Songs About Fucking. Actually my record has a white sticker on it and so says: Songs About *!?king ( http://www.hollowearth.org/100/097.jpg ). Probably from the time when congress decided that it's really dangerous to say fuck. Actually, at that time the band didn't exist anymore. They decided to kill the project, and this album came out after the breakup as a loud farewell, definitely the way to go. Big Black were a Chicago based punk rock band composed of 3 ppl and a drum machine (606). And listening to the record again now, I think that in a sense that fourth member (it's actually credited on some of their releases as a band member) totally grabbed me then (they were not the only band using electronics in punk rock then- enough to mention Ministry & Cassandra's Complex).
This album is a blast of noise made of offensive in your face lyrics that hit hard in the soft belly of American life (when you can understand them), and noisy guitar work on top of fast 606 booms & funky bass work. It's 31 minutes of pure mayhem and is definitely one of the loudest albums I have in my collection. In one word: Intense.
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"Be the change you want to see in the world!"
M.K. Gandhi
"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self."
Aldous Huxley
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shahar
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
155
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2035
Posted : Dec 4, 2007 13:51
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Miles Davis- On the Corner (Columbia, 1972)
I'm not a big jazz person (yet). And besides what I soaked in from hearing my father play his big jazz collection, I'm not familiar with too many jazz records, and don't have many in my collection. On the Corner grabbed me totally from first listen, though. When listening to it, as someone who loves and listens to electronic and psychedelic music, I couldn't help but sink deep in. Created more than 25 years ago, it's amazing how you can find here loops, electronics, trancy effects, break beats and other rhythm games & world music influences that are more associated with 21st century music. Davis dived into electronic music here, with influences from Stockhausen & Buckmaster from the classical electronic side and Sly Stone & James Brown from the funky side, and with influence from the 60 psychedelic rock (continuing his jazz-rock fusion). Together with some Indian & African percussions he goes deep into uncharted territories and way ahead of his time. Davis, together with producer Teo Macreo, actually remixed in the studio, way before anyone invented the word. With accompanying musicians such as Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin & Chick Corea to accompany him in this musical adventure into new realms, he couldn't fail, of course. This is a masterpiece and a must, but it can be hard work, be warned, though rewarding, I promise. In one sentence: Jazz goes psychedelic and electronic way ahead of the rest of us.
PS.
Also recommended if you liked this one: Miles Davis- A Tribute to Jack Johnson (Columbia, 1971). I recommend to get both from the 2000+ Legacy re-releases on CDs through Sony. Remastered of course, and with very interesting notes and articles in the booklets.
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"Be the change you want to see in the world!"
M.K. Gandhi
"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self."
Aldous Huxley
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shahar
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
155
Posts :
2035
Posted : Feb 15, 2009 17:43
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Been way too busy :-(
Hope to update more often now. Here's another:
Virgin Prunes- …If I Die, I Die (?, 1982)
The Virgin Prunes were friends of U2. Both bands’ members started to toy with music and the search for identity together in Dublin in the late 70s. U2 became U2, maybe the biggest pop rock band ever. And while probably most people haven’t heard of Virgin Prunes, who broke up in the late 80s, for me there was never a doubt which was the real good band of the two. Virgin Prunes- a band that is a genre in its own, a band whose music defies defining even today. …If I Die, I Die is their best album (and most accessible one, maybe). This album was the ultimate soundtrack for my dark 80s, spent in gloomy underground black clubs soaked in cigarette smoke and alcohol fumes. Virgin Prunes managed to create here a mystic out-of-this-world in-this-world atmosphere. With the photos of a pagan tribe lost in the woods on the cover of the record; The weird band member names: Mary, Strongman, Dave-Id Busaras, Gavin, Dik & Guggi; The weird and unclear, yet powerful lyrics; and most of all with the music- dark and mystic, always sounding a little out of tune, deep and melancholic, spooky but with a hint of a smile, and all the time very atmospheric.
There’s nothing like Virgin Prunes and the 27 years that passed since the release of this album haven’t diluted the potion even one bit. It still sounds like nothing else, and it still gives me goose bumps. A real adventure in sound. It might remind you of other bands, but you’ll always find they came after the Prunes, who influenced so many others. In three words: Like nothing else.
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"Be the change you want to see in the world!"
M.K. Gandhi
"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self."
Aldous Huxley
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Trancephonic_Kronik
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
24
Posts :
391
Posted : Feb 15, 2009 20:35
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miles davis - dark magus
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Visions of the Emerald Beyond
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DETOX
Moderator
Started Topics :
296
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6194
Posted : Mar 27, 2009 06:12
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Shahar liking Davis Miles,how predictable 
Toodaloo Motherfuckers!!!!! |
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