Playlist Week of 2015-01-24

* Marais: Alcione: Suites des Airs à joüer, 1706 (Concert des Nations/Savall) (Alia Vox SACD)

* Vivaldi: La Stravaganza: Concertos, Op.4 (Arte Dei Suonatori/Podger) (Channel Classics SACD)

* Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: Recomposed by Max Richter (DG CD/DVD)

* John Coltrane: The Olatunji Concert (Impulse! CD)

* Charles Lloyd Quartet: Mirror (ECM CD)

* Art Ensemble of Chicago: Live in Paris (BYG/Actuel/Fuel2000 2CD)

* David Liebman: Sweet Hands (A&M Horizon LP)

* Open Sky: Spirit in the Sky (P.M. LP)

* Dorothy Ashby: Afro-Harping (Cadet/Verve CD)

* John Abercrombie: Class Trip (ECM CD)

* John Abercrombie: The Third Quartet (ECM CD)

* John Abercrombie Quartet: Wait Till You See Her (ECM CD)

* Marilyn Crispell/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian: Amaryllis (ECM CD)

* Stefano Bollani: Joy In Spite of Everything (ECM CD)

* La Planete Sauvage OST (Sugar/Superior Viaduct LP)

* Friedmann: Indian Summer (Narada Equinox LP)

* I Am The Center: Private Issue New Age Music in America 1950-1990 (Light In The Attic 3LP)

* Laraaji: Essence/Universe (Audion LP)

* Steven Halpern & Suru: Afro-Desia (Open Channel Sound/Inner Peace CD)

* Andreas Vollenweider: Down To The Moon (CBS LP)

* Peter Davison: Winds of Space (Higher Octave CD)

* Steve Roach: Dreamtime Return (d.1) (Fortuna 2CD)

* Kevin Braheny: The Way Home (Hearts of Space CD)

* Kevin Braheny & Time Clark: The Spell (Hearts of Space CD)

* Latitude: Latitude (Lifestyle LP)

* Brian Keane: Snowfalls (Flying Fish LP)

* Nas: Illmatic (Columbia/Legacy LP)

* Grateful Dead: Dick’s Picks Vol.36: Philadelphia 9/21/72 (selections) (GDP 4HDCD)

* Edgar Froese: Macula Transfer (Brain LP)

* Anthony Phillips: 1984 (Passport LP)

* Daryl Hall: Sacred Songs (RCA LP)

* Ricked Wicky: I Sell The Circus (GBV, Inc. LP)

* Ricked Wicky: “Death Metal Kid” (side B) (GBV, Inc. 7”)

* Ricked Wicky: “Mobility” (side B) (GBV, Inc. 7”)

* Ricked Wicky: “Piss Face” (side B) (GBV, Inc. 7”)

* Astra: The Black Chord (Rise Above/Metal Blade CD)

* Liturgy: Aesthetica (Thrill Jockey 2LP)

* Dusted: Total Dust (Polyvinyl CD)

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

The analog renaissance continues apace, not only with the resurgence of vinyl LPs but also the return of analog synthesizers in a big way. Moog has just recently announced the resurrection of the legendary Moog Modular, albeit only available in strictly limited editions. Hand crafted to the original specifications, the semi-portable System 15 ($10,000), wood-cladded System 35 ($22,000) or the monstrous System 55 ($35,000) will take you right back to the '70s! Additionally, you can get the Sequencer Complement B Expansion Cabinet ($8,500) for added authenticity.

Way too rich for me, of course. I'll have to settle for my software emulation from Arturia, which gives me all the virtual knobs and switches with which to twiddle and tweak the sound -- but without all the hassle (and expense) of the real thing. Plus, it stays in tune and I can save patches as presets, impossibilities in the analog domain. Does it sound the same as the real thing? No. But it's pretty darn close. I still crave a genuine analog synthesizer -- and Arturia's five-hundred-dollar MiniBrute is mighty tempting -- but, in the meantime, these digital facsimiles will have to do.

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Speaking of synthesizers, Edgar Froese, a true pioneer of electronic music, passed away on January 20 at the age of 70. A founding member of Tangerine Dream, Froese also recorded dozens of albums as a solo artist over the years. His music has been inspirational to me ever since I was a kid, a especially in recent years as I rekindled my love for electronic space music and discovered its evolution into what became known (for better or worse) as "New Age," a genre I had previously dismissed out of hand.  Rest in peace, Herr Froese.