A few good times in my life
One of the most productive artists today in electronic music is Daniel Avery. After his superb collaboration with Alessandro Cortini he released in spring a handful of EP's, singles and remixes he is now back with a new album. Together In Static was planed as another 12-inch but soon turned into a complete album full of synth-laden ambient with pulsing beats. Hazel and Gold sounds sometimes like early Aphex Twin having a session with Boards of Canada. Another high class record from Mr. Avery.
33 years ago Sonic Youth released their masterpiece Daydream Nation in alternative music from the 80's. They started as another band from the no-wave and noise corner in New York and soon showed that Thurston Moore, Lee Ronaldo and Kim Gordon are much more than average. Daydream Nation was their finalization of alternative rock before they moved to a major label. This album is still played at my home when I am in mood for great guitar music from the post new wave era and Teenage Riot is the best example how great music was made at these times-
Anders Trentemøller is back with a few new songs after a couple of new songs as well as the Danish team in the European championship. With his new songs he move back to his early influences like Joy Division or Slowdive. Shaded Moon starts like an outtake of a session by Joy Division and The Cure with a deep tuned bass and moves towards pulsating synths. An unexpected and superb return by him and one of the best songs this year so far.
It was in the early 70's when two brothers from Los Angeles appeared on the scene. Ron and Russel Mael came to play their very own kind of glam rock and I have to admit that I didn't heard something like this before or after. Inspired by British bands like The Kinks, The Move and early Pink Floyd when Syd Barrett was their mastermind they made their masterpiece with their art-pop sound album Kimono My House from 1975. With their songs they were pre-punk, new wave and early synth-pop and had a massive influence to many bands and singers of the new wave era. This footage is an almost 15 minutes live appearance in the monthly show Musikladen. Love to see them after a long time and remembering a great and almost forgotten band.
A few weeks ago Kelly Lee Owens released some reworks of songs from her latest album Inner Song. I like Kelly Lee because she never made a record that is dull or not worth to listen a second time. She also is able to create something new on things she did once. So I was surprised to hear that John Cale appeared on a song on Inner Song. Now it is out as a rework by London based musician and DJ Coby Sey. The vocal reminds me to the late albums by Gil Scott-Heron talking over a skittering drum workout but it is fascinating.
One of the oldest American folk songs is Man Of Constant Sorrow first recorded by a blind fiddler from Kentucky. Since then many artists made versions of this song. The probably best known version was by Bob Dylan released on his first album almost 60 years ago. This song appeared on my mobile phone a few days ago on my way to the office in a version by Rod Stewart. He also made a version on his first album and I almost forgot how great his version was when he was a kind of lad next door.
Rod Stewart - Man Of Constant Sorrow
In 2000 the song appeared on the soundtrack of the Coen brothers movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thoug their homage to Homer's Greek poem The Odyssey. It is also one of my favorite movies of all time because it is one of the few movies that transports a classic poem into the time of great depression with a superb atmosphere showing the South of the United States.
