More Music

Here are some amazing discs that I've been listening to recently. I've come to realize how lame it must seem to others who might stubble on this for me to blog about the music I listen to. I promise I've been very naive about it. What with Facebook and all, it seems as though people go to great lengths to craft an image of themselves on how interesting and unique they are. This has so much permeated the culture that I begin to suspect that most of us go about our days assuming that every and any action that others make is ultimately driven by vanity. Like, I can't tell a friend about a John Cage recording without them thinking, "He must want me to think that he's got an amazing taste of music." -- as if to suggest that I wouldn't have listened to it if I wasn't going to tell anyone about it. So, for what it's worth, I should reiterate that this blog (or this particular aspect of the blog) reflects a genuine love and obsession for music that I share with a very small group of friends in hopes to turn them on to some great stuff.

Improvised Music from Japan (10 CDs)
Experimental noise, free jazz, drones, psych-rock, performance art, and a "Florescent Lamp on the Fritz". All the artists are Japanese except for a few special guests (Gene Coleman, Michel Doneda, Peter Brötzmann, among them). I haven't even begun to scratch the surface here, but I will say that this is a truly fascinating collection. The sounds are endlessly intriguing, unpredictable, and beautiful. The "big" names are all represented here: Otomo Yoshihide, Toshimaru Nakamura, Seiichi Yamamoto, Aki Onda, Yasuhiro Yoshigaki, etc. You most likely have to acquire this online, since it quickly sold out almost a decade ago and the few remaining copies go for around $1000.

John Cage - Music For Merce Cunningham
A friend of mine brought this album to my attention. The 55-minute "5 Stone Wind" is a gorgeous combination of bubbly clay pots mixed with David Tudors sparkling electronics. The third member does not enter until the 30 minute point, providing more electronics, amplified violin, and bamboo flute. I recommend investing a little time in immersing oneself in this, but it also works surprising well as background music.

Mary Halvorson - Saturn Sings
I picked this up at the library because one of my favorite bass players, John Hebert, was on it and it has taken me by surprise. This is a killer band playing in a post-post-bop style that beautifully integrates free playing with stunning virtuosity. Mary Halvorson has an absolutely original style - rapid-fire runs darting unpredictably often warbled by a whammy effect, Derek Bailey-esque jabs and clusters, distorted washes of sound, etc. Her use of effects, although frequently and heavily applied, does not at all seem out-of-place or gimmicky. Jonathan Finlayson and Jon Irabagon, a trumpet player and an alto saxophonist that I wasn't aware of, also play beautifully on this. Highly recommended.

Allan Holdsworth - Against The Clock: The Best of...
This is an amazing collection of Holdsworth material dating from his mid-80's "Metal Fatigue" to 2001's "Flat Tire". The first disc features his guitar work, the second his Synthaxe. Again, if you can't stand the sound of 80's synthesizers and ultra-wanky jazz-rock fusion, stay far far away from this. You have to come into it with a sense of humor and let yourself be hypnotized by Allan's unbelievable guitar playing, much like watching an amazing acrobat or surfer.