Week of Apr 3, 2022

 More like a week-and-a-half of stuff. I shot for material from about 15 releases and, unlike so many other weeks, this had its fair share of klunkers. You know, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Still, there is worthy material and it did give a decent start to the new month. I spent a lot of time converting last month's nuggets into individual playing selections, a necessary step to move them to a player. Plus, other projects around and outside the home slowed down listening. It happens. The next one will come out for the week of Apr 17 just because I need the time.

News

The missing seven hours of WH calls by Trump raise questions about Jan 6 involvement

Putin faces war crime accusations as he targets civilians

Kentanji Brown Jackson is confirmed as SCOTUS on close vote

Inflation key concern as supply chains still are constrained

Music of Note

Various Artists - Kscope, Vol 3

Selections from The Pineapple Thief, Gazpacho, Gavin Harrison, Anathema, Lunatic Soul, Steven Wilson, etc. How can it not be good? Notable entries includes Nosound’s “Some Warmth Into This Chill”,  The Pineapple Thief’s “Last Man Standing”, and “Soft Coda” by North Atlantic Oscillation”. Excellent sampler set.

Madmess - Rebirth

A five-track album about 45 minutes long tells you these aren’t short ditties. Walls of fuzz guitars over-echoed blended with thumping bass lines and tom-tom drums meander into dreamy consciousness. With this album and one other EP to show for their output, here’s hoping they will continue to release material.

Anna von Hausswolff - Live at Montreux Jazz Festival

Her work is always interesting, but I couldn’t imagine her packing a church organ to a live setting. Maybe she did. You can still hear the full sound of this amazing instrument. There are other band instruments to accompany her and she has a strong voice with an angelic quality. Goosebump moments abound. The 19-minute “Ugly and Vengeful” takes patience to get into, but is a genuine showstopper. I’m convinced at this point that I must listen to everything this woman puts on record.

Interesting Music

Duncan Marquiss - Wires Turned Sideways in Time

An interesting mix of electronica, substituting several forms of keyboards for the squealing soaring guitars other post punk bands would use. “Minor History” is a lovely tune using acoustic guitar and synth. Quite a mixture of sounds, most of which is worthy of listening to on those days you want something a little offbeat.

Neotropic - Prestatyn

Choral vocals, minimalist musical passages, and industrial segments blend to create a sparse texture. While haunting soundscapes are something I can enjoy, this could have used a little more focus and rhythm components to make it more enjoyable to listen to. Still, worthy enough to check out other releases.

La Luz - La Luz

A four-person girl band playing surf music with a heavy dose of fuzz guitar. It is a fun listen for a retro act.

Lazuli - Le fantastique envol de Dieter Bohm

A French progressive rock group that apparently has elaborate and energetic live performances. Interesting stuff fronted by an excellent female vocalist. Also interesting is one of the guitarists that used a version of guitar called a leode that was invented by him because he lost the use of his left arm in an accident. A few of the songs were added to the playlist despite being sung in French. Still kick-ass rock.

Combo Chimbita - IRE

Crossing the lines between rock and jazz, Combo Chimbita is an explosion of latin rhythms and percussions from their native Puerto Rico. If I understood Spanish, I’m sure the songs would be dealing with the lives and loves in a Caribbean island protectorate that is largely ignored and abused by the US.

Not So Great

Blackfield - For the Music

Soft, easy listening lounge music? Regular vocal rock band featuring okay songs? Porcupine Tree on quaaludes? A little too popish for my tastes.

Pain Of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day

Dark minimalistic music, vocals full of pain. Occasional bursts of heavy grunge. God, it’s depressing. Also, Daniel Gildenlow’s squeezed vocals, whispers, talking passages, and random noises just don’t bring much tonality to the music.

Gavin Harrison - Sanity & Gravity (Remastered)

Wasn’t sure what was coming from this remastered album from 1996 when Gavin was mainly a highly demanded session musician. A blend of funk jazz and rock are evident. The recording quality is excellent. A lot of the vocals thrown in from time to time use non-verbal vocalizations meant to just accompany the other instruments. Also, not a fan of the electric violin playing. A well-played album I just wish was a little more interesting.

Blossom Toes - If Only For A Moment (2022 Remaster)

Knew that this 1968 release was going to be an off the wall pick. It definitely fits in with a Zappa universe with some Cream moments mixed in with Jerry Garcia guitar work and some Beatles whimsy just for good measure. A self-indulgent work with a lot of “hey, look how cool we can be” but forgetting to work on a compelling groove. Still, for its time, it was probably “out there, man”

Dewa Budjana - Naurora

A moderately listenable jazz rock guitar based music outing by Indonesian Budjana. Influenced by Pat Methany and John McLaughlin, his work is a little less fiery. There is nothing really wrong with this outing, just not an overambitious collection that says play me again. Eh.

4 Hands

Airy keyboards that would fit with Windham Hill recordings. ‘Nuff said.