jueves, 31 de diciembre de 2009

Raúl Flecha - Pure analog sound on the night of Halloween (videoclip)

Obscure, greedy but fantastic theme composed and performed by Raúl Flecha playing Moog synthesizers and Moog Theremin. How much I like the sound of Moog keyboards! Hope someday get at least one Moog Modular or a Minimoog and emulate Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, or even Flavio Premoli (of PFM fame). :D





miércoles, 30 de diciembre de 2009

Mike Oldfield - Moonlight Shadow (acoustic version, 1986)

This is the unplugged Moonlight Shadow played by Mike Oldfield at the charity concert for the Colombian Volcano tragedy in 1986. A very nice performance indeed.

Past the horrifying collapse of Armero village at Colombia, wiped out by the big eruption of Nevado del Ruiz volcano, with twenty-five thousand dead and thousands of wounded people, a Colombian bassist called Chucho Merchán (well known as collaborator with some great other musicians around the globe) organised a charity concert, at April 25th of 1986, and lately released as a video recording as The Colombian Volcano Concert, for funds and support to all damnificated ones.

Between all contributing musicians, as David Gilmour (from Pink Floyd), Pete Townsend (of Who) and Annie Lennox, to name a few, it was also Mike Oldfield besides Maggie Reilly and Simon Phillips on tambourine.





Jethro Tull - Back To The Family (Live bootleg, 1969)



I had this album in MP3 format since years ago, as downloaded long time before from a sharelist web. Of course, I've tried to track it around internet again with this title, but I only find pages that redirects to the lyrics of eponymous entitled song until I've come to sight it at a second hand online store. This bootleg CD contains the concert made at Konserthuset, Stockholm in January 1969.

Release by OIL WELL RECORDS on CD.

Tracklist:

01. Back To The Family
02. Martin's Tune
03. To Be Sad Is A Mad Way To Be
04. Back To The Family
05. Dharma For One
06. Nothing Is Easy
07. A Song For Jeffrey



If any copyright holder has a claim against this bootleg before sueing the blog, I can remove it without any problem.

Bobby McFerrin - Circlesongs (1997)


The last album I purchased by Bobby McFerrin was "Medicine Music", in which he explored everything from Latin grooves, to old time Spirituals, to celestial choral chamber music. Since the release of that album--which I adored--I've not listened to any of McFerrin's subsequent albums. "Circlesongs" jumped out at me because of its freestyle nature, and I wasn't disappointed. Some of the other reviewers have rated it fairly low because of its repetitive nature; it's the chant-like feel of each of the song cycles that gives the album its depth. Listening to how each piece is built and morphs into something different brings "Circlesongs" its charm. The African influences are there, but the feel is less constrictive, more New Age (though I hate the term, it makes sense here!).

Circlesong One introduces the listener to how an improvised riff can build on itself to become a fully realized piece of music; the chant is deceptively complicated with its 7/4 rhythm, and McFerrin's voice weaves through subtle chord changes and layers. Circlesong Six is the real masterpiece of the album, with its heavy beat and rumbling bass--think "hip-hop meets Gregorian chant". It's with this song that Voicestra becomes one lovely, strong entity--I think it's here that the African influence is heaviest, with that good old call and response.

The album as a whole is a seamless tapestry, with each voice a gorgeous thread. Anyone who thinks of Bobby McFerrin as the "Don't Worry" man needs to listen to this.


By Sharmin McGown (Amazon)

Tracklist:

01- Circlesong one.
02- Circlesong two.
03- Circlesong three.
04- Circlesong four.
05- Circlesong five.
06- Circlesong six.
07- Circlesong seven.
08- Circlesong eight.

ESCUCHA ESTE DISCO EN SPOTIFY

Links:

Bobby McFerrin official site store

Amazon //// Yahoo! Music //// Yes FM //// iTunes Music //// Last FM //// 3-MP3

Bobby McFerrin & Chick Corea - Play (1990)



Concert album recorded in two live performances: one at Wolftrap, Wien, June 23rd 1990 and the other at the Carnegie Hall of New York, on June 27th 1990. Title album was an idea of own Chick Corea, as it was the first order of all music students when they started their musical duties: PLAY!

It's the magic from a master of keyboards, playing on a Yamaha CF3 electric piano, joined by another maestro, this time of voices and rhythms made with his own voice and body, using simply a microphone, here a CK703 Beyerdinamic inalambric mic as credited in the liner notes.

There is nothing much to say about this particular duo; their names talk themselves.

Tracklist:

01 - Spain [10:15]
02 - Even From Me [06:35]
03 - Autumn Leaves [11:44]
04 - Blues Connotation [07:16]
05 - Round Midnight [08:02]
06 - Blue Bossa [06:15]

LISTEN THIS ALBUM WITH SPOTIFY

LINKS:

ManiaDB /// Amazon /// iTunes Music /// 7-Digital ES /// 7-Digital UK

El pasotismo de Mike Oldfield

por Tenllado: del foro Mike-Oldfield.es

En sus primeros años usaba la música como una terapia vital y ésta reflejaba los miedos, rabia y partes bellas que supongo eran un reflejo de sus sentimientos y miedos de su vida.

Segíun han pasado los años y se ha ido afianzando con él mismo, su música se ha vuelto más autocomplaciente, y menos viva, menos creible para él mismo, ya le conpensan otra cosas en la vida y no necesita esa salida musical.

Supongo que él ha intentado autoconvencerse para no sentirse autoengañado de lo que hace, es tan bueno como lo que hacía antes y lo justifica con mil y una excusas de motivos para sus discos.

Mike es raro, cambiante, ciclotímico, pero no tonto y será realmente consciente en su interior de que algo ha cambiado, para mal en su música.

El talento lo tiene, eso no se pierde (es algo innato, queda latente), pero se abotarga de no esforzarse para que salga a su encuentro con el trabajo de tocar a menudo, de probar cosas, experimentar, ahí volvería a salir su genialidad, pero le falta lo princicpal, "la motivación", casi vital que tenia antes, sin eso seguirá en la monotonía plana de la actualidad.

A todos nos gustaría que se motivara para crear, espero que esa motivación aparezca por causas positivas no por los terrores de antaño que tenía, que en todo caso surjan por la melancolía de sentimientos musicales de épocas anteriores de que eche de menos esas sensaciones que le producian sus composiciones y sus forma de tocar la guitarra, no por sufrimientos nuevos, si no prefiero que se retire y disfrutar del legado tan genial de lo bueno suyo.

Su música genial era esa forma tan surrealista de componer, de esa ruptura de los ritmos, melodías, de esas capas de instrumentos donde la guitarra tenía relieve, donde nos sorperendia con lo inesperado, no era previsible. Esa era la magia y esa debía ser su mente, tortuosa, buceando en la zona oscura para salir a la superficie con destellos de melodia bellas, que duraban poco (lo justo para no empalagar) para romperlas de nuevo con fragmentos densos y oscuros.

Ese claroscuro musical esa la diferencia con el resto.

Ahora es solo luz plana…

Quizás un simil de final musical para esa etapa sería el final de Taurus II, donde ese piano martillea hasta desaparecer, como dejándonos a la espera de la continuidad, con algo de esperanza de notas…

domingo, 27 de diciembre de 2009

Iluvatar - Children (1995)



Tracklist:

1. Haze (6:43)
2. In Our Lives (6:35)
3. Given Away (6;39)
4. Late Of Conscience (8:56)
5. Cracker (5:59)
6. Eye Next To Glass (4:56)
7. Your Darkest Hour (5:04)
8. The Final Stroke (12:29)

Total Time: 57:21

Line-up / Musicians
- Gary Chambers / drums, percussion, back vocals
- Glenn McLaughlin / lead vocals, percussion
- Dean Morekas / bass, back vocals
- Dennis Mullin / guitars
- Jim Rezek / keyboards

Releases information
INSIDE OUT IOMCD003

LINKS:

Official Site

Amazon .::::. Price Minister .::::. MP3 Sale

Everon - Flesh (2002)



1. And Still It Bleeds (7:45)
2. Already Dead (3:20)
3. Pictures Of You (6:01)
4. Flesh (14:18)
5. Missing From The Chain (4:53)
6. The River (4:05)
7. Half As Bad (3:32)
8. Back In Sight (7:20)

Total Time: 51:34

Line-up / Musicians
- Oliver Philipps / keyboards, vocals, guitars, piano
- Christian Moos / drums, percussion
- Schymy / bass
- Ulli Hoever / guitars

WITH:
- Judith Stüber / vocals on 2, 6
- Donja Djember / cello on 1
- Gabi Ziebell / violin
- Paula Sandu / viola
- Zdenek Bezusek / cello
- Oliver Thiele / arranging on 8

Releases information
Mascot Records #M 7068 2

Listen it via SPOTIFY

LINKS:

Amazon .::::. CD Universe .::::. 3-MP3 .::::. iTunes .::::. Last FM .::::. Legal Sounds

Céltica: Lo Mejor De La Música Celta (2009)



Recopilatorio del sello Blanco Y Negro que reúne en dos discos compactos lo más granado de la música celta, incluyendo temas que, sin ser realmente tradicionales ni pertenecer al género de la música celta (son los casos de los temas "Watermark" de Enya y "Fields of Gold" de Sting, así como el "Music For a Found Harmonium" de la Penguin Cafe Orchestra, entre otros), han sido adaptados para la ocasión con el "feeling" adecuado para reconvertirlos con la sonoridad característica y de alguna manera conjuntarlos con el resto del álbum.

Hay que decir que la colección no es de mi gusto, teniendo en cuenta un par de factores: por un lado, una instrumentación algo artificiosa y hay cosas de la misma que no se han revelado en los créditos, como la presencia de patrones rítmicos creados por ordenador o por otro medio electrónico, así como que algunos de los instrumentos no me suenan tan reales como parecen, a pesar de que figuren flautas, gaitas y percusiones interpretados por algunos de los partícipes en este doble álbum producido por Quim Quer en los estudios Next Level.

Por el otro, que suene bastante comercial a tenor de lo anterior. No veo yo dónde está la artesanía, el sabor de lo auténtico que tiene que haber en toda música folk, ya sea celta, bretona, escocesa o irlandesa; no he sentido en ningún momento ese espíritu de lo auténtico en este disco, que me ha sonado bastante artificial.

La canción 'Dark Island' que da comienzo al segundo disco no tiene que ver con el tema tradicional del mismo nombre y que tuvo como intérprete más destacado al propio Mike Oldfield que lo incluyó en su disco de música folk 'Voyager'; aquí tenemos una adaptación de una composición de Iain McLachlan.

En definitiva, un álbum bonito pero pretencioso en los aspectos ya mencionados, y que no entusiasmará a los amantes del folk y la música celta, necesitados de oir algo fresco, sentido, con sentimiento y hecho con total naturalidad, algo que poco o nada tiene este disco.

TRACKLIST:

CD 1:

1- Amazing Grace.
2- Big John McNeill.
3- Scotland The Brave.
4- Down By The Sally Garden.
5- Cooley’s Reel.
6- Loch Lomond.
7- Garry Owen.
8- A Day Without Rain (by Enya).
9- Women Of Ireland (MnaNa H-Eireann).
10- Irish Washerwoman.
11- The Boys Of Tandernagee.
12- Watermark (by Enya).
13- Bonny Portmore.
14- Gwenlaise.
15- Fields of Gold. (by Sting)

CD 2:

1- Dark Island.
2- Danny Boy.
3- Cape Breton Jig.
4- Magh Seola.
5- Dear G.
6- Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms.
7- May It Be (El Señor De Los Anillos) (de Enya)
8- Neil Gow’s Lament For The Death Of His Second Wife.
9- An Call n Fion (Natasha).
10- Speed The Plough.
11- Ashokan Farewell.
12- Dowds Favorite.
13- The Oak Tree.
14- Scollay´s Reel.
15- Music For A Found Harmonium.

Flutes & Bagpipes in "Watermark": Anabel Arias.
Flutes, Bagpipes and percussions (rest of songs): Eva & Sebastian
Celtic Harp: Nado Sanfolk
Cello: John Rosenback
Accordion: Marian Surfanigo
Guitars: Francisco Androin
Bass: Guillermo Marchionni



LINKS:

Web de Blanco y Negro

FNAC

Seals & Crofts - Unborn Child (1974)



Tracklist:

01. Windflowers
02. Desert People
03. Unborn Child
04. The Story of Her Love
05. Dance By the Light of the Moon
06. Rachel
07. King of Nothing
08. 29 Years From Texas
09. Ledges
10. Follow Me
11. Big Mac





LINKS:

Seals & Crofts official site

.::::. CD Universe .::::. Rhapsody .::::. iTunes .::::. 7-Digital ES .::::. 7-Digital UK

miércoles, 23 de diciembre de 2009

Rare Bird - Rare Bird (1969)

This debut featured an organist and an electric pianist, but no guitarist, resulting in a moody Hammond-heavy album from a band that would later become more progressive and varied in its sound. "Beautiful Scarlet" shifts easily from histrionic soul to offhanded slow-four interludes, and the instrumental "Iceberg" shows off the organist Graham Field and the rest of band's chops well. The whispered vocals and weird background noises of "God of War" achieves the kind of creepy gloom appropriate to an era of carpet bombing and napalm.

Indeed, the production and instrumentation of this album makes it very much of a period piece, though certainly not in any derogatory sense. ~ Paul Collins, All Music Guide

In December 1969 their eponymous debut album was released to great critical acclaim, (also becoming a US Billboard chart hit) and was followed in January 1970 by the release of “Sympathy” b/w “Devil’s High Concern”. The single reached the UK Top 30 and was a subsequent major hit throughout Europe.

Musicians:
Steve Gould - lead vocals & bass, rhythm guitar
Dave Kaffinetti - pianos & assorted keyboards
Graham Field - organ & assorted keyboards
Mark Ashton - drums & backing vocals

Tracklist:

01. Iceberg
02. Times
03. You Went Away
04. Melanie
05. Beautiful Scarlet
06. Sympathy
07. Nature's Fruit
08. Bird On A Wing
09. God Of War

LINKS:

Amazon .::::.: CD Universe .::.::. 3-MP3 .:.:::. Last FM (ES)

Love - Da Capo (1967)

Da Capo is the second album by the Los Angeles-based rock group Love.

The bulk of Da Capo was recorded between September 27 and October 2, 1966. "7 and 7 Is" was recorded on June 20, and had been released as a single in July of 1966 backed with "No. Fourteen", an outtake from their debut album. After the recording of "7 and 7 Is", Love's line-up expanded to include Michael Stuart on drums and Tjay Cantrelli on saxophone and flute, moving previous drummer Alban "Snoopy" Pfisterer, a classically-trained pianist, to harpsichord and organ. Guitarists Johnny Echols and Bryan MacLean, bassist Ken Forssi and vocalist and leader Arthur Lee retained their respective positions.

The album's first half is a departure from the group's debut, and in some ways anticipates the group's third album, Forever Changes, with its detailed, delicate arrangements. Abrasive, proto-punk rockers like "7 and 7 Is" and the harpsichord-driven "Stephanie Knows Who" are balanced by lighter fare such as McLean's florid "Orange Skies", and playful, barely-classifiable pop tunes like "¡Que Vida!".

The album's second half is a single track, notable for being among the very first rock songs to take up an entire LP side (Bob Dylan's "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" from Blonde on Blonde predated it by a few months, and Frank Zappa's "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" suite, on the Freak Out! album, followed Dylan's). The 19-minute jam, entitled "Revelation" began life as a live showcase for the group. Some sources claim it evolved out of their interpretation of Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning", yet its original title was "John Lee Hooker." The song/jam bears a resemblance to the Rolling Stones' "Goin' Home," recorded at the same studio (RCA) and released earlier in the year, on Aftermath. Arthur Lee is quoted on the back cover of Rhino's 1980 LP compilation "Best of Love":

The song "Revelation" was a long jam we did so the musicians could express themselves. The Rolling Stones saw us play at the Brave New World, and they recorded a long song on their next album. After our album came out, I got the blame for copying them!

The album's critical reputation has suffered as a result of the inclusion of this track, and many blame producer Paul Rothchild for failing to capture the group's live energy and truncating their performance. It is interesting to note, though, that in a contemporary review of the album, critic Robert Christgau praised "Revelation" faintly for its "excellent guitar and harmonica work and great screaming by a lead singer (I don't know his name; the new style in record jackets is to reveal nothing)". [1]

Though "7 and 7 Is" had been a minor hit for the group, the album, like its predecessor, was a comparative flop peaking at #80.

Side one:

"Stephanie Knows Who" – 2:33
"Orange Skies" (Bryan MacLean) – 2:49
"¡Que Vida!" – 3:37
"7 and 7 Is" – 2:15
"The Castle" – 3:00
"She Comes in Colors" – 2:43

Side two:

"Revelation" (Lee, Bryan MacLean, Johnny Echols, Ken Forssi) – 18:57



LINKS:

Amazon .:::.:. Last-FM .:.:::. MP3 Shake .::::. Rhapsody

Frank Zappa - Sheik Yerbouti (1979)

Sheik Yerbouti is a double vinyl album by Frank Zappa featuring material recorded in 1977 and 1978. It was first released on March 3 1979 as the first release on Zappa Records and re-issued on compact disc by Rykodisc on May 9 1995. The title is a play on words; Zappa appears on the cover in character in Arab headdress, and the name, meant to resemble an Arabic transcription, is pronounced like the title of KC and the Sunshine Band's 1976 disco hit "Shake Your Booty".

Sheik Yerbouti represented a major turning point in Zappa's career. The first album to be released on his own eponymous label after his departure from Warner Bros. Records, it emphasized the comedic aspect of his lyrics more than ever before, beginning a period of increased record sales and mainstream media attention.

The album featured more of Zappa's satirical and otherwise humorous or offensive material. "Bobby Brown (Goes Down)" is well-known worldwide, except for the USA, where it was banned from airplay due to its sexually explicit lyrics. "I Have Been in You" pokes fun at Peter Frampton's 1977 hit "I'm in You" while maintaining a sexually driven structure. "Dancin' Fool", a Grammy nominee, became a popular disco hit despite its obvious parodical reflection of disco music. "Flakes" includes a parody of Bob Dylan. "Jewish Princess", a humorous look at Jewish stereotyping, attracted attention from the Anti-Defamation League, to which Zappa denied an apology, arguing: "Well, I didn't make up the idea of a Jewish Princess. They exist, so I wrote a song about them".

Some of Zappa's solos from the album began life as improvisations from Zappa's earlier work. "Rat Tomago" was edited from a performance of "The Torture Never Stops", which originally appeared on Zoot Allures; "The Sheik Yerbouti Tango" likewise from a live "Little House I Used to Live In", originally a Burnt Weeny Sandwich track. The song "City of Tiny Lites" featured an animation video made by Bruce Bickford which was featured on the Old Grey Whistle Test.

Most of the basic tracks were recorded live, then extensively overdubbed in the studio. "Rat Tomago" is bookended by two brief pieces of musique concrète, constructed of studio dialogue, sound effects, and assorted musical fragments. In making "Rubber Shirt", Zappa combined a track of Terry Bozzio playing drums in one musical setting with one of Patrick O'Hearn playing bass in another, and totally different, musical setting. The tracks differed in time signature and in tempo. Zappa referred to this technique as xenochrony. Nearly every song on the album features numerous overdubs.

Tracklisting:

All songs by Frank Zappa except "Rubber Shirt" by Bozzio/O'Hearn/Zappa.

1-LP - Side one:
1. "I Have Been in You" – 3:33
2. "Flakes" – 6:41
3. "Broken Hearts Are for Assholes" – 3:42
4. "I'm So Cute" – 3:09 (1995 CD) 4:20 (Vinyl and EMI CD)

Side two:
1. "Jones Crusher" – 2:49
2. "What Ever Happened to All the Fun in the World" – 0:33
3. "Rat Tomago" – 5:15
4. "Wait a Minute" – 0:33
5. "Bobby Brown (Goes Down)" – 2:49
6. "Rubber Shirt" – 2:45
7. "The Sheik Yerbouti Tango" – 3:56

2 LP - Side three:

1. "Baby Snakes" – 1:50
2. "Tryin' to Grow a Chin" – 3:31
3. "City of Tiny Lites" – 5:32
4. "Dancin' Fool" – 3:43
5. "Jewish Princess" – 3:16

Side four:
1. "Wild Love" – 4:09
2. "Yo' Mama" – 12:36

Links:

Amazon .::::. Last-FM .::::. MP3.com .::::. MP3 Shake

Allman Brothers Band - Live at University Of Missouri (1971)

This album was downloaded long time ago from a site that disappeared, after trying to look for it again. Now, it's so hard to know exactly if it is an official release or a bootleg as there is no info around the internet with the same contents of this tracklisting, albeit finding something like it's part of a full set concert made at Brewer Fieldhouse in Columbia (Missouri) in Febrary 28th, 1971. Otherwise other statements can be made writing a comment.

Tracklist:

01. Statesboro Blues
02. Don't Keep Me Wondering
03. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed
04. Midnight Rider
05. Dreams
06. Hot Lanta



Any copyright holder wanting me to remove the file, it's in their right and I will do it instantly. Anyway, is there any official edition in CD or another format of this live material?

miércoles, 16 de diciembre de 2009

Mike Oldfield - Musical Express (1983)

Tras mucho tiempo queriendo localizar alguna emisión en formato de video a través de internet del legendario programa de Ángel Casas, "Musical Express", donde Mike Oldfield tiene total protagonismo, lo he podido encontrar por fin. Aun no siendo la emisión original de 1981, tratándose en este caso de una re-emisión realizada en el año 83, tal como veremos en la propia introducción realizada por el propio Casas, coincidiendo con el décimo aniversario del Tubular Bells, es un documento audiovisual importante para los fans del músico inglés.



Ver dicha emisión en este enlace a la web de RTVE.es

Otros videos que sí existían de esa emisión, originalmente de 1981, son éstos:







Actuación de Mike Oldfield y Diego Cortés en el tema "Pastosi", original de Diego e interpretado por él mismo acompañado de Mike Oldfield y su banda de entonces.








Fragmento de la primera parte de Ommadawn.

viernes, 11 de diciembre de 2009

Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Concerto Suite For Electric Guitar And Orchestra in E flat minor, Op. 1 (1998)

After toiling with classical references in his music for most of his career, guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen finally dedicated himself to writing a concerto for electric guitar. The combination is not unique, as several rock groups, including Metallica and Deep Purple, have been backed by full orchestras, but this is the first work of its kind to feature the electric guitar as the lead instrument in a concerto.

One of Malmsteen's biggest target's for criticism has been his inability to move beyond his speed demon reputation that he acquired after bursting on the scene in the early '80s. Seemingly stuck in arrested musical development this work proves that at least he's trying. There are many intriguing moments here and plenty of pyrotechnics, however, as a collective body of work, there is a lack of cohesiveness between his sometimes monotonous riffing and the orchestra. Despite the unevenness (unfortunately a Malmsteen trademark), this ranks as one of his best recordings. Recommended more for guitar fans than the classical connoisseurs, although the later may find the combination intriguing and perhaps even refreshing. ~ Robert Taylor, All Music Guide.

Original CD Release Date: June 30, 1998
Label: Spitfire Records 5138-2 (US)

Tracklisting:

1. Icarus Dream Fanfare - 5:26
2. Cavalino Rampante - 3:57
3. Fugue - 3:40
4. Prelude to April - 2:43
5. Toccata - 3:57
6. Andante - 4:21
7. Sarabande - 3:23
8. Allegro - 1:29
9. Adagio - 3:09
10. Vivance - 4:50
11. Presto Vivace - 3:40
12. Finale - 1:49

Artwork By - Rich DiSilvio
Composed By - Yngwie J. Malmsteen*
Conductor - Yoel Levi
Engineer - Chris Tsangarides , Keith Rose , Lubomir Novacek , Miyuki Ito , Peter Rooth , Takeshi Muramatsu , Tomas Pekarek , Tomoyoshi Ezaki
Guitar - Yngwie J. Malmsteen*
Orchestra - Czech Philharmonic
Orchestrated By - Yngwie J. Malmsteen*
Photography - Mick Rock , William Hames
Producer - Yngwie J. Malmsteen*
Recording Supervisor - Tomoyoshi Ezaki

Links:

Artist Direct .::::. CD Universe .::::. Amazon .::::. 3-MP3 .::::. Last FM .::::. eMusic

Steve Hillage - "L" (1976)

I prefer Steve when he's singing and glissing, than messing about with long jams. Okay? I admit that now. Not that I dislike Fish Rising, I still quite enjoy it - the musicianship and riffage is often blistering, fun and memorable - but Steve is simply superior when combining a little of this with songs.

The Donovan and George Harrison covers are done with such care and a hippy vibe that's simply irresistable. The former is tempered with some classic glissy soloing and jamming, and is a definite highlight.

But then we come to two Hillage originals: Electrick Gypsies and Om Nama Shivaya. "Who wants to be an electrick Gipsy?" If you have some untenable scruples towards hippy ideals, well... you have no hope, to be honest. You certainly will laugh your arse off at this. Me, I'm a fairly cynical guy, but I love this song. More lovely glissy soloing, spacey synth washes and Steve sings like he means every word. Excellent. :)

Review by chischis (DiscoGS)

________________________________________

Steve Hillage was born in London 2nd August 1951

Whilst still a pupil at the City of London School, Hillage formed his first band Uriel with schoolmates Hugo Martin Montgomery-Campbell and Dave Stewart. Already a good electric blues player in the style of early Eric Clapton, his solos were reported as "paint blistering" according to Stewart who quickly switched to keyboards in the face of this overwhelming competition. They began by playing blues standards but as time went by 'Mont' started writing songs and they included a rather ambitious version of Saturn from Holst's The Planets Suite. Uriel landed a residency on the Isle of Wight, but their 'big break' quickly soured when the hotel management took an instant dislike to them and their contract was swiftly renegotiated in a steeply downward direction and they were told to cut out the 'acidy' stuff.

Steve quit to study history and philosophy at Kent University where he met and jammed with Canterbury-ites Caravan and Spyrogyra.

Mont, Clive and Dave auditioned a few guitarists but none could cut the mustard like Steve could, so they decided to carry on as a trio, dropping the blues numbers and developing a more complex neo-classical style based around Mont's polytonal and metrically irregular compositions. They fell in with a guy called Jesus Jellett who introduced them to venues, audiences and management that did want the 'acidy' stuff. The only catch was that they had to change their name to Egg on the grounds that Uriel sounded too much like urinal. Egg recorded a couple of albums — 'Egg' (Deram SDN14) '70, 'The Polite Force' (Decca SML1074) '71, reconvened to cut 'Civil Surface' with Steve guesting (Caroline C1510) Oct '74.

Steve returned to London and formed Khan in April 1971. The group included Dave Stewart in the latter stages. Recorded one album, 'Space Shanties' (Deram) and split in October 1972. Steve and Dave Stewart together with various members of Henry Cow, Egg and others also performed in a series of concerts as the 16 piece big band The Ottawa Company. Following the dissolution of Khan, Steve contributed to Kevin Ayers' 'Bananamour' LP and enlisted in Kevin's short lived band Decadence which toured France where he met the Gong clan.

He joined Gong in January 1973 and played an important part in their rise to prominence. It was while in Gong that he also met his long-time partner and collaborator 'Miquette Giraudy'. He appeared on the all the Gong Trilogy albums and contributed briefly to 'Shamal' (Virgin), released two months after his departure in December 1975. Whilst in Gong, he also made the solo LP 'Fish Rising' (Virgin) with assistance from group colleagues and others; played on one side of 'Clear Light Symphony' and performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Scottish National Orchestra in concerts featuring Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.

In May 1976, went to U.S. to record his second solo album 'L' (Virgin), produced by 'Todd Rundgren' and accompanied by Rundgren's band 'Utopia'. On return to England formed a group — Clive Bunker (drums), Colin Bass (bass), Christian Boule (guitar), Phil Hodges (keyboards), Basil Brooks (synthesiser) and Miquette Giraudy (synthesiser, vocals) — which made its live debut at the Hyde Park Free Concert in September 1976. Toured U.K. continuously between then and late December. 'L' became an enormous chart success, with a residence of over two months. Six-week tour of U.S. with Electric Light Orchestra in January/February 1977. 'L' entered the American charts. Return to U.K. with concert at London's Rainbow in March 1977.

Original LP release:
- 1976, Virgin Records V-2066 (UK)
- 1976, Atlantic Records SD-18205 (USA)
- Virgin Records, OVED-29

CD releases:
- 1996, Disky VI 873782 (Netherlands)
- 1997, Virgin Records CDVIP-184 (UK)
- 2007, Virgin Records CDVR-2066 (UK for Europe and rest of world)

More data at DiscoGS

Side A:

1. Hurdy Gurdy Man 6:32
2. Hurdy Gurdy Glissando 8:54
3. Electrick Gypsies 6:24

Side B:

1. Om Nama Shivaya 3:33
2. Lunar Musick Suite 11:59
3. It's All Too Much 6:26

The most recent CD reissue includes these bonus tracks:

7. Eight Miles High 4:34
8. Maui 4:41
9. Shimmer 3:50





Links:

Amazon .::::. CD Universe .::::. Yes FM .::::. Last FM .::::. 7-Digital UK .::::. 7-Digital ES .::::. iTunes

Steve Hillage - Rainbow Dome Musick (1979)

This has been one of my favourite albums ever since it was released back in 1979.

Much gentler than previous Steve Hillage releases, Rainbow Dome Musick is now regarded as a precursor of what later became known as New Age music. But don't let that put you off if you don't like that kind of thing. This album effortlessly sidesteps all the problems that beset the New Age music of the 80s and beyond. There are none of the vapid sugary tunes or self-conscious effects that gave New Age a bad name. Instead, this is an album of flowing textures and tone-colours that manages to be both gentle and strong.

The album is basically Steve Hillage and his long-time partner Miquette Giraudy, with some additional help on the second track from Rupert Atwill. The music was originally commissioned for the Rainbow Dome in the centre of the Festival of Mind, Body and Spirit at Olympia, London. Hillage later commented that they wanted to create an oasis of peace in what could otherwise become a frantic atmosphere of buying and selling. I didn't experience the music in its original setting, unfortunately, but it definitely succeeds in creating an oasis of peace wherever I've played it over the years. It's equally great for chilled out listening, background music, and for driving.

Garden of Paradise is Miquette's piece, based on a flowing pattern of echoed sequencers (two sequencers passing through the same echo and making long overlapping loops of crystalline sounds), with a slowly rising electric piano line in fifths and beautiful guitar textures from Hillage.

Four Ever Rainbow is Steve's piece, beginning with Miquette's bells and Hillage's Moog and moving into a slowly shifting wash of glissando guitar textures, with delicate echoed synthesiser.

Amazon's description isn't quite right - there aren't any bonus tracks. But this remastered classic is definitely well worth having anyway. And if you do want a bonus in similar style, check out the track `Healing Music' on the `Live Herald' album (in the next batch of Hillage remasters). ** Correction added 26/2/07: Healing Music will be on the remaster of Open, not on Live Herald. The original vinyl double album Live Herald contained a side of studio recordings, which were redistributed onto Open so both albums fit comfortably on CD. The remasters retain this redistribution. **

This album shows how inspired and accomplished the musicians were who came out of the Gong family of bands in the 1970s. Along with fellow Gong member Tim Blake, Hillage and Giraudy were both pioneers of new music and accomplished masters (and mistress :D ) of what they were doing. This music hasn't dated in the slightest since it was released. It's basically timeless.

Review by Andrew (Amazon.co.uk)

LP release:
- April 1979 - Virgin Records, VR-1, also issued on clear vinyl limited edition. (UK)
- 1979 - Orizzonte, ORL-8346 (Italy)

CD releases:
- 1987 Virgin Records, CDVR-1 (UK)
- 1991 Caroline Blue Plate, CAROL 1803-2 (USA)
- 2007 EMI (Remastered), CDVRX1 (UK and Europe)
- 2007 Toshiba-EMI (Remastered), VJCP-68795 (Japan)



Tracklist:

1. Garden Of Paradise (23:15)
2. Four Ever Rainbow (20:30)

It's worth have a listen with Spotify and then buy this album if liked:



Links:

Amazon .::::. Amazon UK .::::. CD Universe .::::. iTunes .::::. HB Direct .::::. Rhapsody .::::. 7-Digital UK .:::.: 7-Digital ES

jueves, 10 de diciembre de 2009

Alan Parsons Project - Tales Of Mystery And Imagination (1976)

Tales of Mystery and Imagination is the debut album by the progressive rock group The Alan Parsons Project, released in 1976. The album's avant-garde soundscapes kept it from being a blockbuster, but the interesting lyrical and musical themes — retellings of horror stories and poetry by Edgar Allan Poe — attracted a small audience. The title of the album is taken from a popular title for Poe's macabre tales of the same name, Tales of Mystery & Imagination, first published in 1908 and many times since under this name. Critical reaction to the album was often mixed; for example, Rolling Stone's Billy Altman concluded that it mostly failed at reproducing Poe's tension and macabre fear, ending by claiming that "devotees of Gothic literature will have to wait for someone with more of the macabre in their blood for a truer musical reading of Poe's often terrifying works".

This album was released in the U.K. originally with a different name. Simply called The Alan Parsons Project, it was successful enough to achieve gold status but later that year the same album was released under the name of Tales of Mystery and Imagination.

"The Raven" features actor Leonard Whiting on lead vocals, with Alan Parsons performing vocals through an EMI Vocoder. According to the album's liner notes, "The Raven" was the first rock song ever to feature a digital vocoder.

The Prelude of "The Fall of the House of Usher", although uncredited, is based on the opera fragment "La chute de la maison Usher" by Claude Debussy which was composed in 1908-1917.

Tales of Mystery and Imagination peaked at #38 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart. "(The System Of) Doctor Tarr And Professor Fether" peaked at #37 on the Pop Singles chart.

The original version of the album was available for several years on vinyl and cassette, but was not immediately available on CD. This was due in part to Parsons' desire to rework some tracks. In 1987, Parsons completely remixed the album, including additional guitar passages and narration (by Orson Welles) as well as updating the production style to include heavy reverb and the gated drum sound of the 80s. The CD notes that Welles never met Parsons or Eric Woolfson (recently passed away by a cancer), but sent a tape to them of the performance shortly after the album was manufactured in 1976. In 1994 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL) released the original 1976 version on CD (UDCD-606), making the original available digitally for the first time. In 2007, a Deluxe Edition released by Universal Music included both the 1976 and the 1987 versions remastered by Alan Parsons during 2006 with eight additional bonus tracks.




Tracklists:

Original LP:

Side A:

1. A dream within a dream - 3:43
2. The raven - 3:59
3. The tell-tale heart - 4:42
4. The cask of Amontillado - 4:27
5. (The system of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether - 4:19

Side B:

1. The Fall of the House of Usher - 15:05
I - Prelude
II - Arrival
III - Intermezzo
IV - Pavane
V - Fall
2. To one in paradise - 4:33

Originally released on LP and cassette by 20th Century Fox Records and Charisma Records. See DiscoGS and Rate Your Music entries.

1987 Remix Album Edition:

As stated before, includes remixed versions of all tracks plus this bonus tracks:

"Eric's Guide Vocal Medley"
"Orson Welles Dialogue"
"Sea Lions in the Departure Lounge" (sound effects and experiments)[3]
"GBH Mix" (unreleased experiments)

2007 Deluxe Edition (2-CD):

CD1 1976 Original Album:

01. A Dream Within A Dream 3.41
02. The Raven 3.58
03. The Tell-Tale Heart 4.42
04. The Cask Of Amontillado 4.28
05. (The System Of) Doctor Tarr And Professor Fether 4.19
06. The Fall Of The House Of Usher
06. a) Prelude 5.52
06. b) Arrival 2.41
06. c) Intermezzo 1.03
06. d) Pavane 4.34
06. e) Fall 0.52
07. To One In Paradise 4.39
08. The Raven (Original Demo) 3.27 (Bonus)
09. Edgar (Demo Of An Unreleased Track) 3.04 (Bonus)
10. Orson Welles Radio Spot 1.03 (Bonus)
11. Interview With Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson (1976) 8.33 (Bonus)

CD 2 1987-Remix:

01. A Dream Within A Dream 4.13
02. The Raven 3.57
03. The Tell-Tale Heart 4.39
04. The Cask Of Amontillado 4.33
05. (The System Of) Doctor Tarr And Pfofessor Fether 4.21
06. The Fall Of The House Of Usher
06. a) Prelude 7.01
06. b) Arrival 2.39
06. c) Intermezzo 0.59
06. d) Pavane 4.36
06. e) Fall 0.51
07. To One In Paradise 4.54
08. Eric's Guide Vocal Medley 9.14 (Bonus)
09. Orson Welles Dialogue 3.08 (Bonus)
10. Sea Lions In The Departure Lounge - Sound Effects And Experiments 2.38 (Bonus)
11. GBH Mix - Unreleased Experiments 5.22 (Bonus)

Personnel:

Alan Parsons - Organ, Synthesizer, Guitar, Keyboards, Recorder, Vocals, *Producer, Engineer, Projection
Eric Woolfson - Synthesizer, Harpsichord, Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr), Executive Producer
Orson Welles - Narrator (1987 version only)
Leonard Whiting - Vocals, Narrator
Arthur Brown - Vocals
John Miles - Guitar, Vocals
Jack Harris - Vocals
Francis Monkman - Organ, Keyboards
Kevin Peek - Guitar (Acoustic)
Terry Sylvester - Vocals
Laurence Juber - Guitar (Acoustic)
Andrew Powell - Keyboards, Arranger
David Paton - Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
Ian Bairnson - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
Chris Blair - Assistant Engineer
Peter Christopherson - Photography
David Katz - Violin, Leader, Orchestra Contractor
Burleigh Drummond - Drums
English Chorale - Vocals
Bob Howes - Choir, Chorus
John Leach - Percussion, Vocals, Cimbalom, Kantele
David Pack - Guitar
Smokey Parsons - Vocals
Joe Puerta - Bass
Tony Richards - Assistant Engineer
Jack Rothstein - Leader
Daryl Runswick - Bass, String Bass
David Snell - Harp
The English Chorale and Played Ti - Choir, Chorus
Stuart Tosh - Cymbals, Drums, Vocals, Tympani [Timpani]
Tom Trefethen - Assistant Engineer
Pat Stapley - Assistant Engineer
Aubrey Powell - Photography
Storm Thorgerson - Photography
Hipgnosis - Design, Cover Art
Sam Emerson - Photography
Colin Elgie - Artwork, Graphic Design, Layout Design
Billy Lyall - Piano, Drums, Glockenspiel, Keyboards, Recorder, Fender Rhodes
Gordon Parry - Engineer
Jane Powell - Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
Andrew Hurdle - Bass
Christopher North - Keyboards

(2007 Deluxe Edition)

LINKS:

Amazon (1) .::::. amazon (2) .::::. Ciao.es .::::. Last FM .::::. Rhapsody .::::. iTunes Music Store .::::. Yes FM

martes, 8 de diciembre de 2009

Isao Tomita - Kosmos (1978)

Isao Tomita is a brilliant interpreter. He has transcribed several classical and orchestral works for the synthesizer. Kosmos is a slick album of those works that translate well to Tomita's spacescapes and his visionary style. These pieces had acoustic atmospheric resonance in their original formats. Tomita's synthesized versions have all of the original bravado and essence and he has added ambient atmospheres to give each piece new meaning and depth. The modernized pieces are genuine spacescapes.

The disc opens, somewhat predictably, with John Williams' "Star Wars Theme." Tomita's lighthearted version adds humor to the piece. Track two, "Space Fantasy," just might be Tomita's best work. He combines elements from "Thus Spake Zoroaster" by Richard Strauss and "Ride of the Valkyries" and "Tannhauser Overture," both by Richard Wagner. The depth of this performance on this is amazing. Arthur Honegger's "Pacific 231" is an excellent transitional piece. Experimental sounds give it an avant-garde feel. "The Unanswered Question" by Charles Ives is pure atmospheric minimalism in both its original and electronic form.

Ives was a risk-taker and one of the foremost avant-garde composers of his time; he would like this treatment. Rodrigo's "Aranjuez" takes on new beauty and character in Tomita's translation. Teamed with Ives' piece and the next piece, this is the travel and exploration leg of the journey. Edvard Grieg's "Solveig's Song" from "The Peer Gynt Suite" has tremendous atmospheric qualities also. While the journey continues, so does the beauty. "Hora Staccato" represents an end or a milestone of the journey. This Grigoras Dinicu/Jascha Heifetz piece is brisk and energetic. "The Sea Named Solaris" is based on Johann Sebastian Bach's "Three Part Invention, No. 2" and"Ich Ruf zu Dir, Jesu Christ." Tomita also wrote some of the music for this piece. It is a beautiful finish to a wondrous journey. This is one of the strongest albums in Tomita's discography. Only the work of Wendy Carlos can compare to Tomita's work.

Review by Jim Brenholts

Label: RCA Red Seal
Catalog#: ARL1-2616
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Electronic

Track list:

1 Star Wars (Main Title)
2 Space Fantasy
3 Pacific 231
4 The Unanswered Question

5 Aranjuez
6 Peer Gynt: Solveig's Song
7 Hora Staccato
8 The Sea Named "Solaris"

Isao Tomita - electronics

LINKS:

Amazon .:::. In-Sound Music Store .:::. CD Universe .:::. Dada US .:::. Rhapsody .:::. 3-MP3.ru

The Pretenders - I'm Not In Love (1993)

"I'm Not in Love" is a song written by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman of the English group 10cc, from the album The Original Soundtrack.

A collaborative effort built around a title by Eric Stewart, "I'm Not in Love", is notable for its innovative production, especially its choral backing. An ethereal sound was created by laboriously building up multiple overdubs of the voices of Stewart, Graham Gouldman, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme singing a single note in unison. This multi-track was then mixed down and dubbed down onto 16-track tape. This process was repeated across all sixteen tracks to create a lush 256-voice "virtual" choir that could "sing" chromatic chords.[1] A number of these prepared multi-tracks were then cut into several endless loops, each of which contained the basic notes of the main chords used in the song. The chorus loops could then be played by using the mixing desk rather like a keyboard -- each chord could be sounded by bringing up the fader for that loop. The instrumental break featured the repeated spoken phrase: "Be quiet, big boys don't cry...", which was spoken by Kathy Warren, the receptionist of the Strawberry Studios where the band recorded the track. These whispered lyrics would later serve as the inspiration for the name of the 1980's band, Boys Don't Cry.

In this pre-sampler period, the group was able to simulate a large polyphonic choir, creating a dramatic tonal effect similar to that produced by the well-known choir setting on the Mellotron, but with a far richer sound, and in full stereo. The same effect was used in Billy Joel's ballad "Just the Way You Are", released two years later. Released in May 1975, it became the band's second number one single and stayed on the top spot in the UK for two weeks from June 24th. Seemingly destined to last many weeks at the top of the Hot 100, the record instead peaked at #2 for three weeks, shut out of the top spot by a different #1 each week ("The Hustle" and "One Of These Nights" and "Jive Talkin'").

In a BBC interview, Eric Stewart told how the song began as a bossa nova version, but was ditched by the band after Kevin Godley and Lol Creme dismissed it as "crap". Although the band moved on to record "One Night in Paris", they noticed that studio staff were still walking around singing "I'm Not in Love". Stewart recalled: "I looked at Graham (Gouldman), and I said that song's a hit, you know. I don't know what's going on here, but I think we got to try it again. And blow me down, Kevin came up with the idea. He said, 'Let's do something very different. Now let's do a whole track and the whole backing track is voices'.".

The song, once complete, became instrumental in 10cc's launch to international fame. According to Stewart, the band was already being courted by Phonogram to leave Jonathan King's UK Records label and sign a new deal. He said: "I rang them. I said come and have a listen to what we've done, come and have a listen to this track. And they came up and they freaked, and they said 'This is a masterpiece. How much money, what do you want? What sort of a contract do you want? We'll do anything'. On the strength of that one song, we did a five-year deal with them for five albums and they paid us a serious amount of money."

The song has been covered by Richie Havens, Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, Amy Grant, Grandaddy, Stanley Turrentine, Chris Standring, Johnny Logan, Richard Clayderman, Will To Power (peaked at #7 on the Billboard chart in 1991), Deborah Blando, The Pretenders (1993), Brotherhood of Man, Red Red Meat, John O'Banion,Outrageous Cherry, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Päivi Kautto-Niemi, The BB Band, Olive, Geb.el, Gloritone, Tori Amos, Unfinished Thought, Donny Osmond, Rick Springfield, Deni Hines, Queen Latifah, Rozz Williams (Accept The Gift Of Sin) and Japanese singer Ryohei. Former Supreme Scherrie Payne had a club hit with her version of the song back in 1982 on Megatone Records.

Date: April 6, 1993
First release: On audio album "Indecent Proposal" Soundtrack

lunes, 7 de diciembre de 2009

Isao Tomita - Captain Ultra Soundtrack (1967)

Very early work by Isao Tomita, some unusual space-age soundtrack, done in the years before his greater electronic fame!

The music here is everything you'd expect from the cover -- a great retro-future sort of style, and one that uses conventional soundtrack instrumentation, but with lots of odd twists and turns, weird effects, and more... all to create a cool space-driven batch of tracks! At times, the music is almost like that of Peter Thomas in his 60s space age mode but at other points, things are moodier too: quite dark, with electronics bubbling under acoustic instrumentation in a very spooky way. The 2CD set features a whopping 90 tracks in all -- all with Japanese titles -- a heck of a deal at this price! © 1996-2009, Dusty Groove America, Inc.

Isao Tomita was born in Tokyo in 1932. He studied art history at Keio University in Tokyo and pursued his interest in music and electronics with private teachers. While still a student he submitted a composition called "Wind Mills" to the Japan Federation of Choral Organizations to be used by contestants in a choral competition, and it was accepted. This led to requests for other compositions. He wrote the theme music used by the Japanese gymnastics team in the 1956 Olympics and then turned to films and television, particularly the latter.

He has written the background music for such year-long NHK series as "The Life Of The Flower" (1960), "The Heaven And The Earth" (1969), "The New Tale Of Heike" (1972) and "Kaishu Katsu" (1974), and for his contribution to the industry Tomita was awarded the prestigious Television Grand Prix for 1973. He has also composed music for TV cartoon projects, including "The KIng Of The Jungle", which was shown on NBC under the title "White Lion"; this music was later incorporated into a tone poem, which was performed by the Japan Philharmonic. For Expo '70 he provided the music for the Toshiba hall, and he has been commissioned to compose the music for the Japanese government hall at the 1975 Okinawa Marine Expo. In 1973 Tomita established Plasma Music, which is dedicated to the creation of music by electronic means. Other members of the group include Kinji Kitashoji, who specializes in rock music, and Mitsuo Miyamoto, who specializes in mood music. Among the projects being planned are a piano-synthesizer concerto; "The Prince Of Stars", an original piece being composed by Tomita as a fantasy based on a synthesizer, and "Orchestral Prayer", for the Ohara Sanzenin Temple in Kyoto, which would utilize traditional Japaniese instruments coupled with sythesizers.

Release date: 1967
Label: unknown (this issue is actually not stated on webs like DiscoGS or Rate Your Music)
Country: Japan
Format: LP
CD re-issues:
- 1996, SLC 2-CD SLCS-5100/1
- 2007, Solid 2-CD CDSOL 1162/63
- 2009, Phantom 2-CD 858466

Track listing:

01. Captain Ultra Theme (Long version)
02. Captain Ultra Theme (Short version)
03. Episode 1: Banderu-Seijin Appear
04. Uchu Ambience I
05. Uchu Station Theme
06. Battle Theme
07. Uchu Ambience II
08. Uchu Kaiju Theme
09. Banderu-Seijin Theme
10. Uchu Fanfare Medley
11. Haku & Joe
12. Captain Ultra Theme II (long version)
13. Uchu Kaiju Attack
14. Uchu Jazz
15. Uchu Fanfare Medley II
16. Speigel Theme
17. In Space No One Can Hear You
18. Uchu Sad
19. All Robots Go To Uchu Heaven
20. Captain Ultra Theme II (instrumental)

Pretty weird soundtrack, anyway! For Tomita's fans, it's a must or possibly something to avoid if you were so keen with his atmospheric, spatial and classical albums.

Links:

Amazon .:::. CD Universe .:::. Dusty Groove America

jueves, 3 de diciembre de 2009

Eric Woolfson, rest in peace (1945-2009)

En el día de ayer ha fallecido Eric Woolfson, la eterna mitad de The Alan Parsons Project. Según figura en varios sitios y en su web oficial, ha fallecido víctima de un cáncer / Eric Woolfson passed away yesterday victim of a cancer, as said on the net and in his official site. He was the eternal half of The Alan Parsons Project.

Woolfson compuso, produjo e interpretó en todos los discos del Alan Parsons Project, desde el Tales of Mystery and Imagination de 1976 hasta el mítico Gaudí de 1987, además del musical Freudiana. / Woolfson composed, produced and performed in every APP record they made, from Tales of Mystery and Imagination to Gaudi, including Freudiana music show.

Muchos lo recordarán como la carismática y delicada voz del Eye in the Sky. / Many fans will remember him as the charismatic and delicate voice of Eye In The Sky.

Un día muy triste para muchos fans tanto de APP como de Eric mismo / A very sad day for all APP and Eric himself fans.

Descanse en paz / Rest in peace.

http://www.ericwoolfsonmusic.com/





miércoles, 2 de diciembre de 2009

Manifiesto por la defensa de los derechos de los ciudadanos en internet

En Internet se ha hecho eco de la publicación de un manifiesto en WeblogSL por medio del cual se quiere defender los derechos de los consumidores de Internet y de los ciudadanos en general ante lo que considero puede ser la siguiente tropelía de este Gobierno Español al que cada vez le está perdiendo el descrédito ante sus propios ciudadanos, queriendo publicar una ley de la Economía Sostenible y así despistar a la sociedad en general sobre el gran problema que tenemos en este momento, que es el enorme paro laboral, con cerca de 4 millones de desempleados.

Como creo que en algo me puede afectar. por una parte de lo que publico en este blog, algunos de los contenidos de esta ya polémica ley, que todavía está en estado de anteproyecto, y que en caso de aprobarse supondrá un gran palo para el ejercicio de la libertad de expresión (además es inconstitucional), me adhiero a la causa y publico íntegramente este manifiesto, toda una declaración de intenciones de los que pensamos que en Internet no se nos puede cortar de forma tajante nuestros derechos porque lo diga el Gobierno o quienes me temo que también andan tras la pista de los supuestos piratas mientras un juez no diga lo contrario. Son unos retrógrados quienes estén detrás de este anteproyecto y nos quieren coartar la libertad que tantos años nos ha costado conseguir, el libre intercambio de información y cultura. Y todo por temas de dinero. Una solución fácil y radical para un tema que es mucho más complicado y que requiere una solución mucho más estudiada.

Y lo que muchos vienen diciendo: o renovarse o morir. O cambian su modelo de negocio o se pudren de asco, porque la gente dejará de comparles sus discos y de asistir a sus conciertos, y en cuanto a las películas dejaremos de ir a los cines y hasta comprarlas. A ver cómo iban a vivir entonces.

Manifiesto:

Ante la inclusión en el Anteproyecto de Ley de Economía sostenible de modificaciones legislativas que afectan al libre ejercicio de las libertades de expresión, información y el derecho de acceso a la cultura a través de Internet, los periodistas, bloggers, usuarios, profesionales y creadores de internet manifestamos nuestra firme oposición al proyecto, y declaramos que…

1.- Los derechos de autor no pueden situarse por encima de los derechos fundamentales de los ciudadanos, como el derecho a la privacidad, a la seguridad, a la presunción de inocencia, a la tutela judicial efectiva y a la libertad de expresión.

2.- La suspensión de derechos fundamentales es y debe seguir siendo competencia exclusiva del poder judicial. Ni un cierre sin sentencia. Este anteproyecto, en contra de lo establecido en el artículo 20.5 de la Constitución, pone en manos de un órgano no judicial – un organismo dependiente del ministerio de Cultura -, la potestad de impedir a los ciudadanos españoles el acceso a cualquier página web.

3.- La nueva legislación creará inseguridad jurídica en todo el sector tecnológico español, perjudicando uno de los pocos campos de desarrollo y futuro de nuestra economía, entorpeciendo la creación de empresas, introduciendo trabas a la libre competencia y ralentizando su proyección internacional.

4.- La nueva legislación propuesta amenaza a los nuevos creadores y entorpece la creación cultural. Con Internet y los sucesivos avances tecnológicos se ha democratizado extraordinariamente la creación y emisión de contenidos de todo tipo, que ya no provienen prevalentemente de las industrias culturales tradicionales, sino de multitud de fuentes diferentes.

5.- Los autores, como todos los trabajadores, tienen derecho a vivir de su trabajo con nuevas ideas creativas, modelos de negocio y actividades asociadas a sus creaciones. Intentar sostener con cambios legislativos a una industria obsoleta que no sabe adaptarse a este nuevo entorno no es ni justo ni realista. Si su modelo de negocio se basaba en el control de las copias de las obras y en Internet no es posible sin vulnerar derechos fundamentales, deberían buscar otro modelo.

6.- Consideramos que las industrias culturales necesitan para sobrevivir alternativas modernas, eficaces, creíbles y asequibles y que se adecuen a los nuevos usos sociales, en lugar de limitaciones tan desproporcionadas como ineficaces para el fin que dicen perseguir.

7.- Internet debe funcionar de forma libre y sin interferencias políticas auspiciadas por sectores que pretenden perpetuar obsoletos modelos de negocio e imposibilitar que el saber humano siga siendo libre.

8.- Exigimos que el Gobierno garantice por ley la neutralidad de la Red en España, ante cualquier presión que pueda producirse, como marco para el desarrollo de una economía sostenible y realista de cara al futuro.

9.- Proponemos una verdadera reforma del derecho de propiedad intelectual orientada a su fin: devolver a la sociedad el conocimiento, promover el dominio público y limitar los abusos de las entidades gestoras.

10.- En democracia las leyes y sus modificaciones deben aprobarse tras el oportuno debate público y habiendo consultado previamente a todas las partes implicadas. No es de recibo que se realicen cambios legislativos que afectan a derechos fundamentales en una ley no orgánica y que versa sobre otra materia.

martes, 1 de diciembre de 2009

Mike Oldfield y la música antigua

Es posible que buena parte de los fans de Mike Oldfield se hayan acostumbrado a la creencia de la autoría tradicional de varios de los arreglos realizados por Mike en los primeros años de su carrera. No obstante, de todos es sabido que algunos de ellos han tenido un nombre conocido detrás de esos temas, como es el caso del "In Dulci Jubilo" BWV 729 de Johann Sebastian Bach, originariamente una pieza para órgano y convertido en villancico popular por el compositor Robert Lucas de Pearsall y de quien se ha tomado la referencia para los créditos del single de 1975.

En el caso de otros de los temas versionados por Mike no hay confusión alguna, sobre todo las piezas de grandes compositores clásicos como Gioachino Rossini (la obertura de Guillermo Tell magistralmente versionada a la manera "folk" por Mike) o Antonio Vivaldi (Vivaldi Concerto In C). En el último caso, debo citar la procedencia original de esta pieza musical como perteneciente al primer movimiento "Allegro molto" del Concierto en Do mayor "con molti istromenti", RV 558 del compositor italiano (Escuchar este movimiento con Spotify en un arreglo de la Academy Of Ancient Music bajo la dirección de Andrew Manze).







Me voy a parar por el momento en dos de los temas que Mike publicó a mediados de los 70 y que tienen una autoría basada en la música tradicional, tal como recogen los créditos de los mismos. Pero más que tradicional, hay que irse algo más atrás en el tiempo, hacia las músicas del medievo (entre los siglos XIV y XVI). El primero de ellos es el Wreckorder Wrondo, incluido en el EP y Maxi-single Take Four. Pues, escudriñando en Internet y a partir de los comentarios habidos en el foro mike-oldfield.es he reparado que es Tielman Susato el autor de la composición original. El tema en cuestión pertenece a su serie de Danserye 1551 y la pieza en concreto es el Rondó VI (Saltarelle).

El mejor ejemplo lo encontramos en la interpretación del conjunto camerístico americano The Cambiata, a partir del minutaje 1:35.







Y el segundo caso donde la música medieval ha sido una gran influencia para Mike es en la pieza "Bourrées I y II" de Michael Praetorius (1612) que ha dado pie a la creación de la tonadilla realizada con ambiente navideño por Mike con el nombre de "Cuckoo Song".







Pues dicho esto y despejadas las dudas que hayan habido sobre estas canciones en concreto, solo queda que aprovechéis la oportunidad de escuchar las piezas originales y compararlas con las versiones realizadas por nuestro ínclito Mike. Quién sabe si alguna vez volverá a coger una guitarra y hacer un disco a la antigua usanza con arreglos tan buenos como los que hiciera antaño, pero me temo que es soñar en vano...

Tielman Susato - La Mourisque (Danserie)







No es común que en mi blog ponga algún video sobre música antigua, pero no es la primera vez que lo hago ni será la última, puesto que el objetivo del blog es divulgar toda la música habida en su tiempo y para que no quede en el más absoluto de los olvidos, como resulta ser en el caso del autor que nos ocupa.

Tielman Susato (también Tylman) (c.1510/15 — después 1570) fue un compositor, instrumentista y editor de música flamenco del período renacentista, en Amberes.

Aunque el lugar de su nacimiento es desconocido, algunos estudiosos sugieren que el nombre Susato, cuyo significado sería "de Soest", refiere a la ciudad de Soest, Westfalia, Alemania. No se conoce demasiado sobre su biografía temprana: su nombre comienza a aparecer en varios archivos de Amberes alrededor de 1530, donde se le menciona trabajando como caligrafista e instrumentista de flauta y trompeta.

Más información:

- Wikipedia
- Naxos Records
- Classics On Line

En cuanto al video objeto de este post, me quiero referir sobre todo a la pieza musical que se escucha en la primera parte del mismo. Para los que somos fans de Mike Oldfield enseguida esta pieza nos resultará bastante familiar, ya que la frase principal de la misma se trata de la pieza elegida por David Bedford para el arreglo que de la misma ha realizado para su álbum "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" y que oimos tanto al principio como después durante el desarrollo de la obra y también en el climax final del disco tras la interpretación de "The Rio Grande".

lunes, 30 de noviembre de 2009

The Skids - Joy (information update)

Joy Plus Bonus Tracks to be released on MP3 download December 2009

The Joy album is to be released online as MP3 downloads from Amazon and HMV.
The release date according to both websites is 7th December 2009.

Amazon has priced this at £7.99
Direct link to Amazon with more details --> Joy (Plus Bonus Tracks)

The track list and song times are as follows

01. Blood And Soil (4:00)
02. A Challenge (The Wanderer) (6:11)
03. Men Of Mercy (1:12)
04. A Memory (5:16)
05. Iona (6:53)
06. In Fear Of Fire (0:43)
07. Brothers (3:13)
08. And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (5:32)
09. The Men Of The Fall (6:14)
10. The Sound Of Retreat (Instrumental) (3:08)
11. Fields (4:31)
12. Iona (7" Mix) (5:07)
13. Blood And Soil (7" Mix) (3:11)
14. Fields (7" Mix) (3:32)
15. Brave Man (7" Mix) (3:37)
16. Fields (12" Mix) (4:27)
17. Brave Man (12" Mix) (6:43)

The HMV website has a slightly different track listing and no prices as yet
The Direct link to the HMV website is Joy Plus Bonus Tracks at HMV

01 Iona (7-inch edit) 05:07
02 Blood And Soil (7in edit) 03:12
03 Fields (7-in edit) 03:33
04 Brave Man (7in edit) 03:37
05 The Sound Of Retreat... 03:08
06 And The Band Played 05:24
07 Fields (12-in edit)... 04:27
08 Iona 06:54
09 Blood And Soil 04:01
10 Fields 04:32
11 The Men Of The Fall... 06:15
12 Brave Man (12in edit)... 06:43
13 Brothers 03:14
14 In Fear Of Fire 00:43
15 A Memory 05:17
16 Men Of Mercy 01:12
17 A Challenge ... 06:12

Source: The Skids website

ACTUALIZO: Lo tenéis en Spotify, así que a disfrutarlo como se merece, escuchándolo gratuitamente. Y ya sabéis... podéis comprar estas mismas canciones, algunas o todas (en fin, las que queráis), dirigiéndoos a la web de Skids.

domingo, 29 de noviembre de 2009

Mike Oldfield - Live in Bordeaux, 08-11-1984

Bootleg live concert made at Patinoire de Meriadeck in Bordeaux, France, 8 Nov. 1984.

Disc 1:

1. Platinum
2. Tubular Bells part II
3. In High Places
4. Foreign Affair
5. Mount Teide
6. Taurus I & II
7. The Lake
8. Five Miles Out
9. Crises

Disc 2:

1. To France
2. Poison Arrows
3. Crystal Gazing
4. Tricks Of The Light
5. Discovery
6. Talk About Your Life
7. Saved By A Bell
8. Moonlight Shadow
9. Taurus III
10. Shadow On The Wall





Any copyright holder wants this live material removed from my blog, I can do it with no problem. Just communicate it previously before proceeding in a wrong way like reporting against the full blog when most of my blog entries doesn't have a similar content.

Pink Floyd - The Last Gadgets Of Oxyminus (1969)


Bootleg concert containing two live sets 17 Sep 1969, (1-7) Amsterdam Concertgebouw, London, January - August '69 (8 - 10).

Seven of the recorded tracks also surface on the Amsterdam '69 ROIO. Several species... should read Grantchester Meadows (excellent version, imho). The jazzy Biding my Time is transformed into heavy metal by Dave's rocking solo, really great. Excellent version of Cymbaline, imho. ASOS doesn't contain the lead vocals by Dave (this one is quite bad quality). The first Green is the colour is sang by Roger, the second is by Dave. Quite good quality, what makes this ROIO great is the great mood it can create. Also the performances are very strong. - Zaphy

Format: CD
Catalog: WPOCM 0989do33-2 World Production Of Compact Music
Matrix Disc: OPTICAL MILAN ITALY WPOMD 033
(P) 1989 Made in Italy

Tracklist:

1. Several Species... 7:02
2. Biding My Time 4:32
3. The Grandvizer's Garden Party (III, Exit) 1:13
4. Sleep (=Cymbaline) 12:10
5. Labyrinth 3:00
6. Green Is The Colour 3:21
7. Careful With That Axe, Eugene 2:35
8. A Saucerful Of Secrets 6:36
9. The Narrow Way 4:27
10. Green Is The Colour 6:04





Any copyright holder wants this live material removed from my blog, I can do it with no problem. Just communicate it previously before proceeding in a wrong way like reporting against the full blog when most of my blog entries doesn't have a similar content.

Genesis - Live in Leicester (1973)

Sometimes the original is the best. Genesis released a live album early in their career. As the band was relatively unknown, the live album was a single LP but sold at the then low price of £1.99. Hence the recording was trimmed to fit the time constraints of the format. But collectors have finally found their Holy Grail, the double LP version.

Genesis


Live in Leicester [Genesis Archive, 1CD]
Live at DeMontfort Hall, Leicester, Feb 25, 1973 (except * Manchester Free Trade Hall, Feb 24, 1973)

The following are notes by fan quadrophenia who shared this more complete version of the famous Genesis Live album late last year:

This is the remaster of the Dutch Test Pressing (2LP) of the officially released album Genesis Live. This one sounds better than all official releases of that album. The track "Supper's Ready" was not included in the official release.

The officially released songs are different in the following ways:

"This Dutch Live Test Pressing is not a regular test pressing because what was finally used on the official Genesis Live LP is different than what was used on this pressing. An extra song is included, the introductions are longer, and the mix is different." (source: genesisimuseum.com)

"It is my conclusion that these LPs are a sort of anomaly; neither a regular test pressing nor a radio concert. These are test pressings for the Leicester/Manchester 1973 concert that was to be used on the official Genesis Live LPs, but not a test pressing for the official LPs themselves." (source: genesisimuseum.com)

Recording comment:

"The ultimate version of this wonderful collectors item. Finest sound quality ever found, this release put all the other ones to shame. I really wonder how did they manage to produce this, it's such a professional remastering work!. This is what Genesis Live could have been... well, I think the guys should have a listened to this priceless piece of work and then ... release it as should have been at last!, with all the fascinating Gabriel stories, a more natural live atmosphere and the arguably best version I've ever heard of Supper's Ready."

For further information please look here:

http://www.genesismuseum.com/vinyl/livetp.htm

Source: Philips/Phonogram Int. B.V. test pressing (2LP), provided by Willem Beens. Vinyl transferring (EMT 950 turntable with TSD 15 moving-coil stylus), audio restoration (CEDAR Cambridge), mastering, cover scans and design by tom 2006.

TM Productions April 2006
GEN730225TM

The version of Supper's Ready here is unique as it is not the same as the version on Genesis Archives Vol 1. That version comes from a concert at the Rainbow Theatre on Oct 20, 1973 and Peter Gabriel reportedly rerecorded some of his vocals for the boxset as did Steve Hackett for his guitar parts.

Tracklisting:

1. Watcher Of The Skies (8:35)
2. The Musical Box (10:38)
3. Get 'Em Out By Friday (9:00)
4. Supper's Ready (23:45)
5. The Return Of The Giant Hogweed* (8:22)
6. The Knife (9:27)

Total time 75:04

Lineup:
Tony Banks
Phil Collins
Peter Gabriel
Steve Hackett
Mike Rutherford

CDR-EAC-wav-flac







Any copyright holder wants this live material removed from my blog, I can do it with no problem. Just communicate it previously before proceeding in a wrong way like reporting against the full blog when most of my blog entries doesn't have a similar content.

Genesis - Henry's Green Kickerboxers (BBC Paris Studio's, Live 1972)



1972-03-02 (BBC Paris Studios) and 1972-09-25 (BBC London)
Type: Soundboard
Quality: Excellent
Size: 75MB

01 - Intro
02 - The Fountain Of Salmacis
03 - Intro
04 - Peter Gabriel Intro
05 - The Musical Box
06 - Intro
07 - The Return Of The Giant Hogweed
08 - Twilight Alehouse
09 - Get 'em Out By Friday
10 - Watcher Of The Skies







Tracks 1-7: March 2, 1972
In Concert: BBC Paris Studios, London, UK

Tracks 8-10: September 25, 1972
Sounds Of The Seventies: BBC, London, UK

Both are from the BBC master DAT.



Any copyright holder wants this live material removed from my blog, I can do it with no problem. Just communicate it previously before proceeding in a wrong way like reporting against the full blog when most of my blog entries doesn't have a similar content.

Genesis - Academy Of Music. Live in NYC. May 4th, 1974



Date 04-May-1974
Venue Academy of Music, New York NY
Audience Quality A

Disc 1:

1 Watcher Of The Skies 08:12
2 Britannia Story 02:25
3 One Handed Drum Solo 01:52
4 Dancing With The Moonlit Knight 08:37
5 Romeo Story 02:09
6 Cinema Show 10:55
7 I Know What I Like 06:12
8 5 Rivers Story 02:39
9 Firth Of Fifth 09:50

Disc 2:

1 Henry Story 03:06
2 "Some In Betweens Phil..." 01:20
3 The Musical Box 10:46
4 Horizons 02:16
5 The Battle Of Epping Forest 12:24
6 Old Michael Story 03:24
7 Supper's Ready 25:44

Total Running Time : 1h 51min



Any copyright holder wants this live material removed from my blog, I can do it with no problem. Just communicate it previously before proceeding in a wrong way like reporting against the full blog when most of my blog entries doesn't have a similar content. This stuff consist in fans productions and in no way should be sold or marketed.

sábado, 28 de noviembre de 2009

Pink Floyd - The Man And The Journey (1969)

Live at the Concertgebow, Amsterdam, Sept. 17, 1969.

Label: Great Dane Records
Cat. nº: GDR CD 9207
Country: Italy
Date release: 1992
Not for sale - For promotional use only

The Man and the Journey is the name of a conceptual music piece performed at Pink Floyd live shows in 1969. It consists of several of their early songs coupled with material that would appear on Soundtrack from the Film More and Ummagumma, as well as unreleased songs. The material was incorporated into two album-length suites, The Man and The Journey. The concerts also included visual performance elements such as the sawing and construction of a table and consumption of afternoon tea onstage.

The concept was first performed 14 April, 1969 at the Royal Festival Hall in a show billed as The Massed Gadgets of Auximenes - More Furious Madness from Pink Floyd. A truncated version of the show was recorded 12 May, 1969 for the Top Gear radio programme. The 17 September performance at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam is the most widely bootlegged of the shows on the tour because it was broadcast by radio station VPRO. Plans for an official live album release of The Man and the Journey were considered, but abandoned due to overlap of material with Ummagumma.

To most fans, the work is either entirely unknown or at least unrecognized as the genesis of Pink Floyd's 'themed pieces'. The band themselves have seldom made reference to it in later interviews. Yet the unique combination of quadraphonic sound effects, abstract program music, and recursive themes — all of which can be traced to The Man and The Journey — were to become further developed in the band's most enduring music.

Tracklist:

Part I: The Man

1. "Daybreak, Pt. I" ("Grantchester Meadows", from Ummagumma) 8:09
2. "Work" (Percussion and vibraphone with musical sawing & hammering) 3:50
3. "Teatime" (Pink Floyd were served tea on stage at this point)
4. "Afternoon" ("Biding My Time", from Relics) 5:15
5. "Doing It!" ("The Grand Vizier's Garden Party (Entertainment)" [6:12 onwards], from Ummagumma, or in some performances it was replaced by a unique combination of "Up the Khyber" [from More] and an early "Heart Beat Pig Meat" [from Zabriskie Point]) 3:49
6. "Sleep" ("Quicksilver", from Soundtrack from the Film More) 4:40
7. "Nightmare" ("Cymbaline", from More) 8:57
8. "Daybreak, Pt. II" ("Grantchester Meadows" instrumental reprise, with alarm clock sound effects) 1:13

Part II: The Journey

1. "The Beginning" ("Green Is the Colour", from Soundtrack from the Film More) 4:49
2. "Beset By Creatures of the Deep" ("Careful with That Axe, Eugene") 6:18
3. "The Narrow Way" ("The Narrow Way, Part 3", from Ummagumma) 5:09
4. "The Pink Jungle" ("Pow R. Toc H.", from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, or in some performances a unique instrumental, similar to "Nick's Boogie") 4:49
5. "The Labyrinths of Auximines" (Part of "Interstellar Overdrive", from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, a riff commonly played during the middle, not the main riff) 6:34
6. "Behold the Temple of Light" (A few seconds of this piece is heard on Ummagumma just before "The Narrow Way, part 3", greatly expanded here) 5:28
7. "The End of the Beginning" ("A Saucerful of Secrets, Pt. IV - Celestial Voices" [8:38 onwards], from A Saucerful of Secrets) 6:14





Any copyright holder wants this live material removed from my blog, I can do it with no problem. Just communicate it previously before proceeding in a wrong way like reporting against the full blog when most of my blog entries doesn't have a similar content. This stuff consist in fans productions and in no way should be sold or marketed.

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (50th Anniversary Edition)

"Tubular Bells (50th Anniversary Edition)" ya a la venta en 2xLP, CD, BluRay y también disponible en plataformas digitales como Am...