Morton Feldman - Triadic Memories (Aki Takahashi)

I am at a loss for words when it comes to describing Feldman's affecting compositions. The feeling is difficult to grasp; I fear that any kind of metaphor I could perhaps use would just be a lame attempt at doing so. All I can say, is that with his slow and deliberate pieces, he achieves a kind of haunting melancholy that is genuinely unsettling.

This particular piece, is for solo piano, in a single, hour long movement. It is minimal, in a sense, but maximal in effect.


Triadic Memories

Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand

Lo-Fi indie, before being a hipster was a "thing".

Simple, poppy songs, played with that "I don't care if this never gets released" kind of attitude. Basically sounds like a bunch of demos; songs suddenly cut out, change abruptly. But of course, this just makes it all the more charming.


Bee Thousand

Inveracity - Extermination of Millions

Greek Deeds of Flesh worship.

Goes down a treat.


Extermination of Millions

Masayuki Takayanagi

Here are two albums from the brilliant, yet slightly deranged, Masayuki Takayanagi. Equal parts free jazz and noise, I guess you could just call it free improvisation but who cares.

Characterised by large amounts of distortion and feedback, Masayuki's style is fierce, to say the least. He brings an intensity to the guitar that few can claim to match; certainly not in jazz circles, and probably not many other styles either. He certainly succeeded in finding his own voice.

Eclipse

New Direction Unit: Call in Question

Tim Hecker - Harmony in Ultraviolet

Just beautiful, why even bother attempt to give any other sort of description.



Harmony in Ultraviolet

Charles Gayle, William Parker and Rashied Ali - Touchin' on Trane

A fantastic tribute to one of the greatest, featuring Rashied Ali, the man behind the skins on Coltrane's later works, and two of the greats of the last few decades, Charles Gayle and William Parker.

Amazing.


Touchin' on Trane

Charles Gayle - Repent

74 minutes of fury. A constant blast of free jazz, that is compelling throughout.


Repent

Heinrich von Kleist - On the Marionette Theater

One evening in the winter of 1801 I met an old friend in a public park. He had recently been appointed principal dancer at the local theatre and was enjoying immense popularity with the audiences. I told him I had been surprised to see him more than once at the marionette theatre which had been put up in the market-place to entertain the public with dramatic burlesques interspersed with song and dance. He assured me that the mute gestures of these puppets gave him much satisfaction and told me bluntly that any dancer who wished to perfect his art could learn a lot from them.

 "Thought-provoking" is a phrase that seems to pop-up in reviews of any kind of substantive piece of literature, as if it is a compliment of the highest order. Surely a passive reading experience should not be considered normal?

This may only take you 10 minutes to read, though it is something that may provoke thoughts for a long while after.

On the Marionette Theater

O.C. - Word... Life

Some more East Coast greatness, though this one seems a little under-appreciated.

Really jazzy production, and the dudes got a smooth flow so its an awesome chill record.


Word... Life

Jeru the Damaja - The Sun Rises in the East

How to make an East Coast classic:

DJ Premier on the boards.

Dark vibes.

Great lyricism.

Twin Towers burning?


It's got it all.


The Sun Rises in the East