Monday, August 12, 2013

Back to the sunshine

A belated hats-off to the recently-deceased George Duke. Apparently, he was not only the cuddly, well-Afroed keyboardist in Frank Zappa's most musically acrobatic band, but also made a string of mid-'80s albums that I have just recently discovered and am now totally addicted too. Here's a delicious summertime groove. And if you think old Fusion dogs can't learn new tricks, dig the keytar solo at 3:15.

George Duke — Got To Get Back To Love

Thursday, August 8, 2013

A new landscape

And then things snap back into motion all at once. Sticking with Ryuichi, who is more than appropriate for plotting next moves, synthesizing a landscape of possibilities in a laboratory of false histories.


Ryuichi Sakamoto — In A Forest Of Feathers

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Pause

That moment where you have to slow yourself to a near-halt and try to grasp the fleeting feeling of shifting tracks as things move decisively onto a new course. It's probably not possible to bring your mind to a full stop, but you might get close enough to glimpse a coherent past, present, and future all at once. Here's 5 minutes worth of music to accompany the effort.

Ryuichi Sakamoto — Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Monday, August 5, 2013

Are you sure we're getting away with this?

It's a bit sad that history has made the Hollies one of those bands that collector nerds have to keep championing. It just goes to remind that being hugely popular in your day is no guarantee that people will keep celebrating you tomorrow. Here's a song that could pass for an early Beatles classic. Also a lyrical reminder that vintage sugary pop also had more than a bit of sweaty teenage sleaze in its heart.

The Hollies — Games We Play