Los Campesinos! – Hello Sadness
We are nearing the end of Label Year and our journey through Arts & Crafts' 2011 output. The penultimate release is the final album of the year: Hello Sadness by Los Campesinos!
Weekly Roundup: Jan 22 – 28, 2012
Remember Weekly Roundup? It's back, in podcast form!
John Cage Sonata V
Bobby Mitchell performs John Cage's (1912-1992) Sonata V for prepared piano from Cage's Sonatas and Interludes (1946-1948) The video was shot by Katy Mitchell. Short of 4'33'', Sonatas and Interludes was one of John Cages premier compositions. In total it is a collection of 20 short pieces for prepared piano which are noted for their improvisational and dance influences. In the performance notes he indicates that he expects the set up time for the preparation to take up to three hours, but he also remarks that "…if you enjoy playing the Sonatas and Interludes then do it so that it seems right to you".
Seeing the piece performed from this perspective is awesome. I think that it makes clear to the audience the music, the technique, and intent of the composition in a way that wouldn't necessarily communicate from the stage alone. This particular selection from the Sonatas and Interludes is super groovy and I can't imagine not finding joy in this performance every time I heard it. You dig?
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Show Review – Cass McCombs 1/25
On Wednesday night, I watched Cass McCombs perform at the Bowery Ballroom. Here's a quick review of the show.
Bonus Roundup: Jan 15 – 21, 2012
Let's kick it with another batch of new songs and videos in this week's Bonus Roundup!
Cheyenne Marie Mize – We Don't Need
Cheyenne Marie Mize released an eclectic and enjoyable EP We Don't Need that we music fans absolutely do need. Don't miss this one!
NYC Show: Cass McCombs at the Bowery Ballroom Jan 25th
Tomorrow night (January 25th), Cass McCombs will be playing a show at the Bowery Ballroom. He is touring behind his two 2011 releases, Wit's End and Humor Risk. It should be a really good show. Read on more for more details.
Weekly Roundup: Jan 15 – 21, 2012
It's been a crazy week and we weren't able to get this Roundup posted yesterday, but the wait is now over. Here's six new songs for all of you to dig!
Episodes in Virtuosity: John Williams & John Etheridge
In 2006 Sony released an album of two John's – Williams and Etheridge. The former is the legendary classical virtuoso and the latter is an exemplary jazz guitarist. The album's content is a hodgepodge of classical, jazz, world, and a few visits to the places between. The mixing of their own musical languages sounds effortless and having seen them perform I know it can look that way too. These two are marvelously talented and bring their artistry together with an audible joy for the work.
I listened to this album a lot when it was first released and I've recently found cause to go back and listen again. It's been a refreshing and fortifying revisit and I am happy that I am still moved to smile by this music. This is a guitar players album with a little something for everyone. Taste, technique, tact, and attack, the John's did it right with their album Places Between.
John Williams & John Etheridge: Places Between
Read More...Ryan Ferreira
Ryan Ferreira is a Brooklyn based guitarist/composer who works with ambient sound. In his own words his artistic ambition is to create " ambient soundscapes that provide a comfortable open environment for the listener." I have been enjoying the simplicity and stasis of his music lately via his webpage and his bandcamp page. Sometimes I am moved to use a lot of words when I hear music. Other times I am not. The compositions of Ryan Ferreira are not asking you to think too hard about what you are hearing, just to interact with it in an unhurried and placid way.
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