Cool video by the group Uakti. I’d love to see them in concert. For those unfamiliar with them, they’re a Brazilian group of classical musicians who frequently play instruments the invent and build.
Sachiko - Kunado Was filling in some holes in my collection of Utech releases and decided to pick this up. This is meditative, experimental Japanese psych in the style of Taj Majal Travellers and Toho Sara. Kunado, by Sachiko
Suzuki Junzo - Shizuka Na Heya De Ashioto Wa Junzo's latest is fantastic! A dark, heady stew of snarling, Rallizes-style guitar mayhem and pounding rhythms... one track here is reminiscent of Keiji Haino's awesome Black Blues solo discs. I have his last two on Utech but this might be his best. Great stuff!!!! Shizuka Na Heya De Ashioto Wa, by Suzuki Junzo
IST - LONDON: CONWAY HALL (confront collectors series ccs 34) Rhodri Davies : harp Simon H. fell : double bass Mark Wastell : violoncello Recorded live at Freedom of the City Festival, Conway Hall, London 5th May 2003
IST - BERLIN (confront collectors series ccs 18) Rhodri Davies : harp Simon H. Fell : double bass Mark Wastell : violoncello Recorded at Total Music Meeting, Podewil, Berlin in 2001
Very drony. I like it. I like the guitar symphony as well. In the 80s, I went to a couple of concerts at a guitar competition at the University of Maryland. The final concert was a piece for 100 guitars led by Eliot Fisk, but not that one. I don't remember what piece it was but it was probably an arrangement of a classical symphonic piece. It was interesting to see.
Félicia Atkinson - Hand In Hand This may be my favorite album of the year and it's hard to describe. Fender Rhodes is one of the featured instruments, but it's played unlike I've heard it played before, or possibly it's just recorded differently, maybe with electronic effects. It also includes synths, percussion, field recordings, recited lyrics, whispered lyrics. While most of the lyrics sound like they're in English, they're hard to follow, because of her accent and multi tracking vocals over each other. The music moves around a lot so it's a great headphone album. The whispered lyrics in particular are great with headphones. The album is both subtle and intense. A 7 hour version of the album was broadcast at a contemporary art museum in France for a couple of months. Hand In Hand, by Félicia Atkinson
Great to hear because I just ordered this from an Amazon seller. I really loved A Readymade Ceremony so this was an easy purchase.
Norman Westberg - Jasper Sits Out Awesome album of experimental solo guitar from Swans guitarist Norman Westberg. The title track is mesmerizing.
This is the first I heard of her. The reviews say it’s a continuation of A Readymeade Ceremony so I’ll be checking that out.
Keiji Haino & John Butcher - Light Never Bright Enough Haino Keiji / John Butcher - Light Never Bright Enough (excerpt)
I have a lot of connections with this record; I studied composition with Lejaren Hiller, Neely Bruce was my faculty advisor in graduate school and David Tudor wrote a letter of recommendation that got me a full scholarship to that school.