Wednesday, May 21, 2014

The whistler

Some say you should never trust a man who whistles. That goes double if that man is a mysterious drifter with a dubious name and an ability to get a band to comp along behind him. This could be the soundtrack to every suspicious thing you do.

Billy Saint — Midnight Freeze

Friday, May 9, 2014

Burmese bang

Well, what's not to like about an ace modern music ensemble supercharged with spitfire percussion in a giddy cross-cultural musical meeting. In straight-up Western music, this would be spastic and nervous, but here feels much more elegant. I like how the manic, almost Zappa-like antics alternate with a folksy lilt. Leaves me feeling peaceful and amped up all at once. 

Bang On A Can All-Stars with Kyaw Kyaw Naing— Sein Chit Tee A Mhat Ta Ya


Thursday, May 1, 2014

Interior un-decorated


Here's a curiosity. Windham Hill Records (& Tapes) took a detour from their usual New Age pastoralia and veered into Japanese instrumental electronic pop. This tune feels like a half-finished skyscraper in a city that no one lives in yet. I probably wouldn't either, but I'd stand and watch as the sun sets behind it.

Interior — Technobose