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dianestory2

macrumors 6502
Sep 16, 2014
257
2
Ah, excellent.

Having posted much the same impressions, and thoughts, along with musing aloud about creativity, invention, artistic credibility and what artists owe their public, on two different threads, I am interested in your response (and delighted that you bought the album).

In short, I like it. It is not 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' and nor does it pretend to be, but it is the sort of album which should appeal to anyone who likes ambient music, especially the kind of ambient music which used to be one part of the signature sound of Pink Floyd.

Listening to it now :)
 

Scepticalscribe

Suspended
Jul 29, 2008
65,135
47,525
In a coffee shop.
Listening to it now :)

I hope you enjoy it.

Artists (and musicians) who have made a career and reputation from the writing and performance of a certain style of music embark on new and radical directions……..at their peril, especially if such 'experimentation' is more an expression of petulant self-indulgence rather than a true exploration of new directions.

Several years ago, I saw the movie Amalié which featured extraordinary - and very appealing, above all, exceptionally apposite for the movie in question - music composed by the Breton artist, Yann Tiersen. I loved the soundtrack of Amalié and that unusual (and entirely original) sound that Tiersen, mining his heritage, and a very accomplished composer and performer, seemed to have given voice to.

Actually, I had never heard of Yann Tiersen prior to that (nobody had, outside of France), and it transpired that he had a back catalogue of some very impressive music, most of which I managed to track down - thanks to the dedicated efforts of some rather committed enthusiasts in a bricks-and-mortar store (this was around the time of the millennium, when bricks-and-mortar stores could afford to pay enthusiasts to staff their counters, and could afford to pride themselves on how well stocked their stores actually were).

Some years later, Yann Tiersen was to play at an Arts Festival, and I got tickets for my mom (whom also loved his music) and an old-school friend of hers, who was visiting, a wonderful lady who had become splendidly radicalised as a result of having spent the best part of half a century in Boston. Most of the audience came from what might have been kindly termed a somewhat older demographic, and perhaps, a slightly better off demographic, too, (for tickets to such performances were not……..remotely cheap, as I remembered when buying them), a demographic who knew and liked their music, and had thoroughly enjoyed Amalié, and - more than likely - had bought tickets expecting to hear - at the very least - music that was similar to, or, at least, not dissimilar from, that of Amalié.

Anyway, I have rarely attended a performance where I have devoutly wished to murder the main performer, preferably by inflicting a slow, lingering, excruciatingly painful method of execution on him, but I did so that night. That night, Tiersen, whose music I love, (and who, in fairness, has sought to intelligently evolve as an artist in the years since) delivered one of the most petulant, self-indulgent performances it has ever been my misfortune to endure.

While well attended by very accomplished musicians, when he played, he sat alone at the front of the stage, head bent over and face completely obscured by a heavy curtain of lank dark hair, neither spoke nor made eye contact with his audience, and proceeded to play some of the loudest, most discordant, angriest sets of heavy metal that I have ever heard. Nothing I had ever heard from Tiersen (and I had his entire back catalogue) would have prepared one for a performance which gave an audience nothing but heavy metal.

Now, in this context, I am not writing about a tentative attempt to offer one or two (or three) 'experimental' tracks, the sort of tracks where a musician pushes the artistic boat out, testing new sounds and themes, while delivering enough that is familiar to enable an audience to connect with it. I am talking about an alienated bad-tempered performance where everything was angry and discordant and loud.

Apart from plotting murder, in my mind, I was also somewhat upset - actually horrified - at having dragged my mother and her friend to a concert which I had been sure they would enjoy. The relatively mature audience listened with polite interest. And afterwards, when questioned, my mom and her mate answered brightly that they had enjoyed it, and had heard stuff that they would never had heard otherwise……admittedly, it wasn't Amalié, or anything like it, but they assured me that they had had a very good night out.

Me, whenever I hear the word 'experimental' applied to music, especially when applied to concerts, I must confess that my heart sinks……..

 
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Kurwenal

macrumors 6502a
Jun 27, 2012
899
345
Ah, excellent.

Having posted much the same impressions, and thoughts, along with musing aloud about creativity, invention, artistic credibility and what artists owe their public, on two different threads, I am interested in your response (and delighted that you bought the album).

In short, I like it. It is not 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' and nor does it pretend to be, but it is the sort of album which should appeal to anyone who likes ambient music, especially the kind of ambient music which used to be one part of the signature sound of Pink Floyd.


I rate it a 6 out of 10, with probably 1 of those points simply because it is Pink Floyd. I enjoyed it and am glad I bought it, but it won't be joining my regular playlists. Some really great instrumentals, but I got sort of lost (bored) in the middle of the album. I really enjoyed, though, the last track.

I read tonight that the album is in remembrance of Richard Wright, which makes me like it a bit more. This band has been through a lot.

Tonight, Brahms Symphony No. 1, while I wait for the new release of Simon & Garfunkle's concert in the park to download from HDTracks. And with a cup (or three) of Silver Needle white tea.
 

vulcanvillalta

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2014
420
3
In regards to listening to things, I am interested in finding some audio books to listen to while I exercise. Does anyone have any idea where I can find some digital audio books that aren't too expensive? I would like to do a lending library kinda thing, if possible, but my local library doesn't have much available in that department
 

S.B.G

Moderator
Original poster
Staff member
Sep 8, 2010
26,637
10,401
Detroit
In regards to listening to things, I am interested in finding some audio books to listen to while I exercise. Does anyone have any idea where I can find some digital audio books that aren't too expensive? I would like to do a lending library kinda thing, if possible, but my local library doesn't have much available in that department

The only audiobooks I get are from audible.com but I'm sure there are alternatives available.
 

vulcanvillalta

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2014
420
3
The only audiobooks I get are from audible.com but I'm sure there are alternatives available.

Thanks, but I already know about that one- I was looking for a free service, though. I don't know if I'm being unrealistic with that, but since I borrow most books from my library, I guess I feel that I should be able to borrow audio books as well.

I could borrow their audiobooks on tape or cd, but I would look like a fool in the gym with a walkman.
 

S.B.G

Moderator
Original poster
Staff member
Sep 8, 2010
26,637
10,401
Detroit
Thanks, but I already know about that one- I was looking for a free service, though. I don't know if I'm being unrealistic with that, but since I borrow most books from my library, I guess I feel that I should be able to borrow audio books as well.

I could borrow their audiobooks on tape or cd, but I would look like a fool in the gym with a walkman.

hehe, well you could borrow the tapes, convert them with Audacity and then put them on your iPod/iPhone or whatever device.
 

DUCKofD3ATH

Suspended
Jun 6, 2005
541
2,419
Universe 0 Timeline
Thanks, but I already know about that one- I was looking for a free service, though. I don't know if I'm being unrealistic with that, but since I borrow most books from my library, I guess I feel that I should be able to borrow audio books as well.

I could borrow their audiobooks on tape or cd, but I would look like a fool in the gym with a walkman.

Try LibriVox at librivox.org. They have well produced audiobooks that are in the public domain. I get older books such as Moby Dick or The Warlord of Mars from them rather than Audible. Their poetry collections are good, too.
 

mobilehaathi

macrumors G3
Aug 19, 2008
9,368
6,353
The Anthropocene
And now...
 

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mobilehaathi

macrumors G3
Aug 19, 2008
9,368
6,353
The Anthropocene
Very classy listening, Frederic Chopin is always great and I think Erik Satie is a mutual favourite with his elegant, spare and preternaturally haunting music.

A further thought: Must say that I really like the sleeve of the Chopin album you posted, just gorgeous.

Much agreed regarding Satie.

The Chopin youtube video (not created by me) is showing Edvard Munch's Separation II, which I too quite like.
 

Scepticalscribe

Suspended
Jul 29, 2008
65,135
47,525
In a coffee shop.
Much agreed regarding Satie.

The Chopin youtube video (not created by me) is showing Edvard Munch's Separation II, which I too quite like.

Ah. Yes, I had indeed thought it was a piece of work by Edvard Munch! Actually, it has a bit of the look of 'The Scream' about it; nevertheless, I still like it.

Thanks for confirming what it is.

And I have long loved the music of Satie.
 

dXTC

macrumors 68020
Oct 30, 2006
2,033
50
Up, up in my studio, studio
Now playing on my nano: Raymond Wave "Starglider (Extended Edit)", from Whispering Sun.
Before that: A Flock Of Seagulls "Man Made", from the New Wave band's eponymous first album.
 

bradl

macrumors 603
Jun 16, 2008
5,952
17,447
The Wife decided that it was time for Christmas music, so while I said, "Yeah!" in the back of my head I'm groaning, as we flip through the Christmas kiosk at the store...

.. Then both of our eyes lit up as we saw the same thing at the same time:

Seth MacFarlane - Holiday for Swing!
81xfuPXQUPL._SL1500_.jpg


Picked it up and loaded it in the car right then and there. It's great, because it's a Christmas album, but doesn't sound like a Christmas album! Family Guy/American Dad aside, he's got a killer voice for jazz and pop standards. And to take this with the more deep cuts for Christmas, let alone any jazz/big band era songs, it's perfect.

Although, I must say that I can't help but picture Brian in a red turtleneck with a glass of bourbon on a grand piano, singing this with Frank Jr., Frank Sr., Dean, Sammy, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, and Billie Holliday.

BL.
 

Arran

macrumors 601
Mar 7, 2008
4,928
3,935
Atlanta, USA
Uninspiring title for an album, but I'm really rather enjoying this "new" discovery of mine. Totally overlooked it back in the '80's.

Perfect late-night music.
 

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