What are you listening to? Part III

[IronWaffle]

I've always loved this melody, the simple texture and arrangement. Of particular note is around 1:20ish when the vocal blends into the strings. I doubt that'd have worked if this recording had better fidelity. It's pretty flat-sounding, but that doesn't diminish the lovely acoustic guitar or straightforward vocals. Most of all, though, I've loved the verses' lyrics; least of all the chorus' lyrics. Words by director Robert Altman's then-teenaged son, Mike.

Thanks, North Korea news for reminding me to play this song.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Pavarotti is not a bad way to go.

Agreed.

As it happens, I have now arrived at Luciano Pavarotti singing "E Lucevan Le Stelle" from Tosca by Puccini......does it get much better than this?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Still on "L", but - let us say - the letter "L" with a difference, as it now focusses on the song and not the artist (or composer): And now, I am listening to the spell binding Baroque song (air?) "Laetatus Sum" by Claudio Monteverdi (and dating from 1650). This is brilliant.

 

[IronWaffle]

Reading the news with a soundtrack...

Great version with live, alternate vocals set to the studio instrumental. Mono with extra grit, grime and hot mics. Complete with "shoo be doo wops," "in -- out," and some, uh, extra orgasms.

And a very special long distance dedication for Donny. You know who you are and what I'm on about...

 

[marley9]

 

[pachyderm]

Reading the news with a soundtrack...

Great version with live, alternate vocals set to the studio instrumental. Mono with extra grit, grime and hot mics. Complete with "shoo be doo wops," "in -- out," and some, uh, extra orgasms.

lol. love the beatles but their early "videos" are so painful to watch. we can work it out clearly not playing live and paul has no idea where to look. lol.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A night of opera, accompanied by two bottles of excellent Italian wine in the good company of a close colleague.

 

[LizKat]

Malagueñas y Verdiales - from Richard Miño’s album Flamenco de Concierto

... indulging in some beach reads plus some real and tangentially flamenco adventures: hey, it’s August.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Robbie Williams today.

I've been expecting you.

 

[pachyderm]

Robbie Williams today.

I've been expecting you.

 

[notmach67]

Got some Primus playing in the background this morning.
So stoked for their new album that'll be dropping in Sept.
Here's "The Seven" - new single from their upcoming album -
Primus sucks!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A group called "Mali".

 

[Scepticalscribe]

An excellent group by the name of "Mutefish".

 

[LizKat]

An excellent group by the name of "Mutefish".

Ya got me, I'm gonna have to go there. I will need something to swim in my driveways after these rains. Not going to inquire yet how one hears a mutefish...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Ya got me, I'm gonna have to go there. I will need something to swim in my driveways after these rains. Not going to inquire yet how one hears a mutefish...

They describe themselves as "progressive techno folk"; I describe them as extraordinarily accomplished musicians who are electric when playing live, and I have seen them playing live. The line up is a gifted mix of Irish, Portuguese, and eastern European, including the former USSR (i.e. Lithuanians, a Pole, and a Ukrainian)

They have recorded two albums, one called "On Draught" and the other is called "360 Hangovers" (as in a a hangover describing a complete circle); as you can doubtless gather, alcohol plays a not insignificant role in their lives, tours, and the material they write.

 

[LizKat]

They describe themselves as "progressive techno folk"; I describe them as extraordinarily accomplished musicians who are electric when playing live, and I have seen them playing live. The line up is a gifted mix of Irish, Portuguese, and eastern European, including the former USSR (i.e. Lithuanians, a Pole, and a Ukrainian)

They have recorded two albums, one called "On Draught" and the other is called "360 Hangovers" (as in a a hangover describing a complete circle); as you can doubtless gather, alcohol plays a not insignificant role in their lives, tours, and the material they write.

That’s okay by me... these days I can probably remember that they get to drink and play, and I get to listen. My days of forgetting about that are not forgotten. I just sampled a few of their offerings from You Tube. Makes me want to go to Dublin for the rest of the month. This one was fun:

​

 

[Scepticalscribe]

That’s okay by me... these days I can probably remember that they get to drink and play, and I get to listen. My days of forgetting about that are not forgotten. I just sampled a few of their offerings from You Tube. Makes me want to go to Dublin for the rest of the month. This one was fun:

​

I think that they are brilliant - they are so enthusiastic and almost offhand in their sheer - seemingly instinctive (but, in reality, anything but) flair and utter mastery of instruments and music.

That track is on the album "On Draught" (I have both albums - one kindly sent to me by the group - I had written and despatched the required sum of money - when they returned from a tour).

You'd love them.

For now, I am listening to the soundtrack of "Goodbye Lenin" by Yann Tiersen.

 

[Berlepsch]

An early example of Belgian gangsta rap...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A sort of cabaret - fused with some other forms - with a modern sensibility and savagely satirical twist with the wonderful "Fascinating Aida".

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Been a while since I've listened to any classical Spanish guitar:

 

[JamesMike]

Been a while since I've listened to any classical Spanish guitar:

Good idea, going there now.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

"7 Seconds" by Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry.

 

[kazmac]

The mouth that still roars (death metal) in the early days:

Martin Van Drunen (on bass too) in his first band:

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A few from The Stranglers....

 

[IronWaffle]

My mood and my thoughts today.

Spoiler: Lyrics

Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

Written by Lewis Allan, Maurice Pearl, Dwayne P Wiggins • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

If I knew more about music I might be able to convey what makes the piano and acoustic guitar interplay here move me so much. I don't have the language.

Spoiler: Lyrics

Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, "This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem."
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, I heard the hoot owl singing
As they were taking down the tents
The stars above the barren trees
Were his only audience
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

See them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
(And) see the ghosts of slavery ships
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
(I can) hear the undertaker's bell
(Yeah), nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

There's a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He's dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There's a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, God is in heaven
And we all want what's his
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Seem to be all that there is
I'm gazing out the window
Of the St. James Hotel
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Songwriter: Bob Dylan
Blind Willie McTell lyrics © Bob Dylan Music Co.

With each listen of the track below, I've unfolded something new about reckoning and dignified acquiescence. This album was released on Cohen's final birthday. He died on election night. This is the second song on the album and its reprise bookends the album. The final recorded words and recorded breath. An album I've listened to every week this year. A warm blanket in the winter, a cool sip of water in summer.

Spoiler: Lyrics

I've seen you change the water into wine
I've seen you change it back to water, too
I sit at your table every night
I try but I just don't get high with you
I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes this bloody hill
I'm angry and I'm tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty, I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine

Ah, they're dancing in the street—it's Jubilee
We sold ourselves for love but now we're free
I'm so sorry for that ghost I made you be
Only one of us was real and that was me

I haven't said a word since you been gone
That any liar couldn't say as well
I just can't believe the static coming on
You were my ground, my safe and sound
You were my Ariel

Ah, the fields are crying out—it's Jubilee
We sold ourselves for love but now we're free
I'm so sorry for that ghost I made you be
Only one of us was real and that was me

I heard the snake was baffled by his sin
He shed his scales to find the snake within
But born again is born without a skin
The poison enters into everything

And I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes this bloody hill
I'm angry and I'm tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty, I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine

Leonard Cohen, 2016.