Splendid Racket Monday

It was back in 2003 when four brothers from Nashville released their first album Youth & Young Manhood. I expected by Kings of Leon nothing more than some country-rock stuff. But what they brought to us was nothing more or less the return southern rock with massive guitars. Many of my friends could agree to this record and their songs were played at many parties at my place. Listening to this songs after a long time I have to admit that they still sound fresh and their guitars were on fire sometimes. Probably another band that got their little success and vanished after they reached their peak. But it's good to remember them from time to time.

Back To Schooldays

A few days ago I noticed that a music magazine had a free CD inside with artists and songs from an era long gone by. And it made me smile to got remembered to this music that was played in my very younger days. Some of those artists are forgotten or didn't got the critical acclaim that they should have got. Here are two of them I would like to bring to your attention. First one was Quintessence, a band from London that made a unique sound in the late 60's/early 70's. Their style was a crossover from progressive rock, psychedelic and jazz with influences of music from India. Hippie-sound of course but far better than the average of this genre.

The other one is from an artist I featured several times during the last years and I can't stop doing it further. John Cale is one of those artists I follow from the beginnings of his career and his music has the perfect balance of testing noisy borders in music and peaceful and relaxed piano sounds.

You Are The Light

One of my favorite new tracks this week comes from Leeds based DJ and house producer Dave Padley better known from his stage name Hot Since 82. You Are The Light is from his last release 8-track. I found these words on their bandcamp site and they explain exactly almost everything about this superb tech house track

 ... the track is an uplifting tour-de-force, clocking in at over eight minutes. Cooke’s voice is muddled and pitched down, conveying an androgynous timbre, while the lyrics “You are not your body” chanted repeatedly, work as an incantation. We can read it as getting lost in music through a communal, out-of-body experience, but these lyrics also carry a secondary meaning, expressing a much-needed sense of inclusivity in their push against gender norms.

Long Song On Tuesday

This series wouldn't be complete without some real psychedelic sound by Pink Floyd. I was never a huge fan of them but their first records were ace. When I listened the first time to them I was unable to understand their playings. Years later and with more informations about psychedelic sound i came back to those records. Interstellar Overdrive from their first record Piper at the Gates of Dawn is an essential piece of this genre. Never before and seldom after there was this kind of music. A perfect ride into space with a guitars, organs and drums. It is still impossible for me to understand what kind of drugs Syd Barret used to create this sound. I don't know where this footage was made but for the best version I could find in the web,

Splendid Racket Monday

Last Monday I wrote about noisy music that came from over the Atlantic ocean. But also Great Britain had in its music history many periods of bands that made loud music that had great influence to many other artists. Best example for me is Spacemen 3 as one of the most revolutionary UK guitar bands. Revolution marks it at the best. A few chords, feedback and it's psychedelic mood makes this song in this genre.

Spacemen 3 - Revolution

From many other bands that made wonderful noise only a few examples for today. One of those who should be named here is Dublin's My Bloody Valentine with a superb example how to create explosive soundscapes with guitars.

My Bloody Valentines - Sometimes

Another one are Oxford's Ride, a band that is with various breaks active from the early 90's on and still good for surprises in new sounds but still on a great rhythm ground. Still and always a pleasure to listen to them.

Ride - Leave Them All Behind

Rocket Fuel

California based record-producer DJ Shadow announced a new record that will be released later this year. I know him as the king of samples because he made the only record I know that is completely built on samples. The news about the release of his latest single wouldn't lead me to listen if there wasn't the collaboration with Hip-Hop legends De La Soul. This song filled with elegant scratches, close stratified vocal samples and a good old horn section. Although it is classic Hip-Hop rhymes and old school scratches is Rocket Fuel with its pumping beat close to nowadays music.

Changed The Locks

In addition to yesterday's post one of my country favorites. I really like Lucinda Williams voice and this song especially because it combines a great story with a country-stylish sound I can agree with. Nothing more or less a superb song.