Playlist Week of 2016-10-22

* A. Scarlatti: Il Giardino di Rose (Accademia Bizantina/Dantone) (Decca SACD)

* Dick Hyman: Moog: The Electric Eclectics of Dick Hyman (Command LP)

* Dick Hyman: The Age of Electronicus (Command LP)

* Wayne Shorter: Footprints Live! (Verve CD)

* Marion Brown: Geechee Recollections (Impulse! LP)

* Hamiet Bluiett: Clarinet Summit (Black Saint LP)

* Eberhard Weber: The Colours of Chloe (ECM LP)

* Eberhard Weber Colours: Silent Feet (ECM LP)

* Collin Walcott: Grazing Dreams (ECM LP)

* Tord Gustavsen Trio: Being There (ECM CD)

* Azymuth: Spectrum (Milestone LP)

* Francis Bebey: Psychedelic Sanza 1982-1984 (Born Bad 2LP)

* Brixiga 70: Brixiga 70 (Agua Forte LP)

* Grateful Dead: Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA 10/29/85 (selections) (SBD 3 CDR)

* Grateful Dead: Carolina Coliseum, USC, Columbia, SC 10/31/85 (selections) (SBD 2CDR)

* Moby Grabe: Moby Grape (Columbia LP)

* Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here (EMI/Analogue Productions SACD)

* Derek & The Dominoes: Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (Polydor/Mobile Fidelity CD)

* Joni Mitchell: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN 10/23/98 (SBD CDR)

* The Incredible String Band: “U” (Elektra 2LP)

* Sensations’ Fix: Fragments of Light (RCA/Superior Viaduct LP)

* Tasavalan Presidenti: Lambertland (Sonet LP)

* Dan Ar Bras: Music For The Silences To Come… (Shanachie LP)

* Opeth: Sorceress (Moderbolaget/Nuclear Blast 2LP/2CD)

* Kawabata Makoto: White Summer of Love Dreamer (Blackest Rainbow LP)

* Kylesa: Kylsa (Prank LP)

* Intronaut: Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words With Tones) (Century Media CD)

* Expo 70: Exquisite Lust (Sonic Meditations 2LP)

* Tire Fire: Aimless (Little L MC)

* Myrkur: Mausoleum (Relapse EP)

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

An exciting week, with a trip to the hospital -- but also the arrival of the limited edition box set for the new Opeth album, Sorceress. I made a video, if you're interested:

Playlist Week of 2016-04-30

* La Sublime Porte: Voix d’Istanbul 1430-1750 (Hesperion XXI/Savall) (Alia Vox SACD)

* Stockhausen: Ceylon/Bird of Passage (Chrysalis LP)

* Subotnik: Silver Apples Of The Moon (Nonesuch LP)

* Suzanne Ciani: Buchla Concerts 1975 (Finders Keepers LP)

* Keith Jarrett: Death And The Flower (ABC/Impulse! LP)

* Jayson Lindh: Ramadan (Metronome/CTI LP)

* Jayson Lindh: Cous Cous (Metronome/CTI LP)

* Spring Heel Jack: The Blue Series Continuum: Masses (Thirsty Ear CD)

* Tangerine Dream: Sorcerer OST (MCA LP)

* Lucifer: Black Mass (MCA LP)

* Gentle Giant: In A Glass House (WWA LP)

* Gentle Giant: The Official Live Gentle Giant: Playing The Fool (Capitol 2LP)

* Hatfield And The North: Hatfield And The North (Virgin LP)

* National Health: National Health (Visa LP)

* Kraan: Andy Nogger (Passport LP)

* Mainstream: Quiet Sun (Antilles LP)

* Heldon: Third: “It’s Always Rock’n Roll” (Urus 2LP)

* Heldon: Live in Paris 1975 (SouffleContinuum LP)

* Tortoise: A Lazarus Taxon (Thrill Jockey 3CD+DVD)

* Opeth: Throat of Winter (Roadrunner 7”)

* Electric Wizard: Electric Wizard (Rise Above LP)

* Yob: Catharsis (Relapse LP)

* Boris: Akuma No Uta (Southern Lord CD)

* Boris with Merzbow: Rock Dream (Southern Lord 2CD)

* Boris: Pink (Southern Lord CD)

* OM: Advaitic Songs (Drag City2-45RPM LP)

* OM: Ababa Dub (Alpha & Omega) (Drag City 12”)

* OM: Garden of Gethesemane (Alpha & Omega) (Drag City 12”)

* White Hills: Glitter Glamour Atrocity (Thrill Jockey LP)

* Wolf Eyes: I Am A Problem : Mind In Pieces (Third Man LP)

* Grails: Black Tar Prophecies Vols.4, 5 & 6 (Temporary Residence 2LP)

* Watter: This World (Temporary Residence LP)

* Krakatau: Water Near A Bridge (Trouble In Mind LP)

* Dahga Bloom: No Curtains (Captcha LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

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Commentary:

One of the most amazing things about the YouTube Vinyl Community -- a self-selecting group of record nerds who make videos about their obsession -- is the phenomenon known as "VCLT," which stands for the "Vinyl Community Love Train." This is what we call it when someone sends another VC-er records in the mail for no reason at all except to spread the vinyl love.

Now, believe me when I say that I did NOT get involved in the VC so that people would send me free records. No. I have plenty of records. In fact, one of the first things I did after I joined was to send stuff off to some of my favorite video-makers. It feels good to give a gift for no reason! Of course, I will admit that I also hoped that these folks would check out my channel, maybe give me a quick shout-out and help me get it off the ground. And, indeed, that did happen -- but it is this extraordinary spirit of generosity in the Vinyl Community that makes it so special and I have tried to keep the Love Train going over the years while also receiving numerous gifts from people all over the world. It truly is an amazing thing.

What's even more amazing is that the Vinyl Community is not just about the people brave enough to get on camera and babble about records. There is a huge group of folks who only watch and comment on videos -- but they also get in on the Love Train action. A guy who goes by the handle "MrTrendkill2" has been a faithful commenter of mine ever since I started and is a fellow Opeth fanatic. Not too long ago, he sent me their super-limited-edition seven-inch single from 2003, "Still Day Beneath The Sun" b/w "Patterns In The Ivy II" (Robotic Empire) -- a rare (and, needless to say, not inexpensive) slice of wax. I'm still blown away by this.

Then, yesterday -- totally out of the blue -- I got another package from MrTrendkill and dang if he didn't send me another hard-to-find Opeth seven-inch: "Throat of Winter" (Roadrunner) -- a Record Store Day exclusive from 2011, limited to only 1000 copies. But not only that, the sleeve is signed by the entire band! Holy cow! I am not worthy! He also sent me an interesting LP, No Curtains (Captcha), the latest from the heavy neo-psych band, Dahga Bloom. Favorite track (and title): "Adolph Hipster." Killer! Thank you so much, MrTrendkill, just amazing!

Anyway, here's a video:

Playlist Week of 2014-12-20

* Uccellini: Sonatas (Romanesca) (Harmonia Mundi CD)

* J.S. Bach: The Works for Lute (Kirchhof) (Sony Classical 2CD)

* Jimmy Giuffre 3: The Jimmy Giuffre 3 (Atlantic LP)

* Jimmy Giuffre 3: Trav’lin’ Light (Atlantic LP)

* Bobby Hutcherson: Medina (Blue Note CD)

* Archie Shepp: The Way Ahead (Impulse! CD)

* Archie Shepp: The Cry of My People (Impulse! CD)

* Archie Shepp: Attica Blues (Impulse! CD)

* The Revolutionary Ensemble: The People’s Republic (Horizon LP)

* George Duke: Faces In Reflection (MPS LP)

* Michael Hedges: Breakfast In The Field (Windham Hill LP)

* Michael Hedges: Aerial Boundaries (Windham Hill LP)

* Toots & The Maytals: Reggae Got Soul (Island LP)

* A Taste of Honey : A Taste of Honey (Capitol LP)

* D’Angelo: Brown Sugar (EMI CD)

* D’Angelo: Voodoo (Virgin CD)

* D’Angelo & The Vanguard: Black Messiah (RCA CD)

* Paul McCartney & Wings: Wingspan (d.1) (Capitol 2CD) †/‡

* Grateful Dead: Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1993-12-09 (selections) (SBD 3CDR)

* Jade Warrior: Last Autumn’s Dream (Vertigo/Mercury LP)

* Tangerine Dream: Encore: Tangerine Dream Live (Virgin 2LP)

* Tangerine Dream: White Eagle (Virgin LP)

* Phil Manzanera: Diamond Head (Atco LP)

* PFM: Chocolate Kings (Elektra/Asylum LP)
* Kayak: Royal Bed Bounce (Janus LP)

* Nektar: Recycled (Passport LP)

* Sky: Sky (Arista 2LP)

* Prefab Sprout: Swoon (Kitchenware LP)

* Prefab Sprout: From Langley Park To Memphis (Kitchenware/Epic LP)

* Steven Wilson: The Raven That Refused To Sing (KScope CD) †/‡

* Opeth: Blackwater Park (Music For Nations/KOCH CD)

* Opeth: Damnation (Music For Nations/KOCH CD)

* Opeth: Pale Communion (Roadrunner CD/BD/2-7”) (†/‡)

* In Flames: Siren Charms (Sony CD) †/‡

* Sleep: Vol.1 (Very Small/Tupelo LP)

* Electric Wizard: Dopethrone (Rise Above 2LP)

* Anathema: Distant Satellites (KScope CD/DVD)

* London Grammar: If You Wait (Columbia 2LP)

* Nothing: Guilty Of Everything (Relapse LP) †/‡

†=iPod/iTunes

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Commentary:

Liz and I drove down to Atlanta to see Opeth at the historic Tabernacle on Monday and, as always, it was totally awesome!!! 

We did the whole VIP/meet-and-greet thing again because, well, I love Opeth -- plus, it's a relative bargain for what you get, especially in this era of stratospherically-priced concert tickets. As you may recall, we met the band last year in Athens and I gave Mikael Akerfeldt a copy of my CD with Sam Byrd, Indeterminate. Knowing that Akerfeldt is a huge vinyl nut, I had to bring him a copy of the new Cosmomologies (even though I know free jazz is decidedly not his thing).

Much to my surprise, he claimed to remember me and said they played my CD on the bus after the show (though he hadn't listened to it since). I was floored! We talked a little bit about jazz and "avant-garde" music, which he has to be "in the right mood" to sit down and enjoy. Well, who doesn't, right? 

His eyes lit up at Griffin Norman's amazing letterpress artwork and said it reminded him of a record by the Swedish duo, Hansson & Karlsson (composers of "Tax Free," which was made famous by Jimi Hendrix). It's mind-blowingly cool to think of Mikael Akerfeldt having Cosmologies in his record collection -- and maybe even listening to it!

The show itself was spectacular, with openers Red Fang and (co-headliners) In Flames impressing me more live than on record (which is saying something). But nobody can touch Opeth as far as I'm concerned. Starting off with a one-two punch from the prog-infused Pale Communion, their abbreviated but varied 75-minute set included plenty of crushing heaviness, including "The Moor," "The Drapery Falls" and the epic closer, "Deliverance." Akerfeldt may have abandoned the growls of death metal on Opeth's current records, but he still brings it in concert. Stunning!

According to the band, they will be back in the USA later next year for a proper headlining tour, wherein they'll get to do their usual two-plus hour set, which will inevitably feature more songs from Pale Communion. You know we will be there!

+++

Happy Solstice, everybody! It gets brighter from here.

Playlist Week of 2013-05-11

* Thelonious Monk: Complete Columbia Solo Studio Recordings 1962-68 (d.1) (Columbia/Legacy 2CD)

* David S. Ware String Ensemble: Threads (Thirsty Ear CD)

* Matthew Shipp: Equilibrium (Thirsty Ear CD)†/‡

* Matthew Shipp: The Art Of The Improviser (d.1) (Thirsty Ear 2CD)

* Matthew Shipp Trio: Elastic Aspects (Thirsty Ear CD)

* Mary Halvorson Quintet: Bending Bridges (Firehouse 12 2LP)

* Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone: On And Off (Skirl CD)

* Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone: Departure Of Reason (Thirsty Ear CD)

* Ches Smith & These Arches: Hammered (Clean Feed CD)

* Secret Keeper (Stephan Crump & Mary Halvorson): Super Eight (Intakt CD)

* Stephan Crump: Rosetta (Papillon Sounds CD)

* Tom Rainey Trio: Pool School (Clean Feed CD)

* Tom Rainey Trio: El Camino Real (Intakt CD)

* Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House: Strong Place (Intakt CD)

* Van Dyke Parks: Song Cycle (mono) (Warner Bros./Rhino LP)

* Grateful Dead: Dave’s Picks Vol.6: San Francisco 12/20/69 + St. Louis 2/2/70 (+)  (GDP/Rhino 3+1HDCD)

* Grateful Dead: The Palladium, New York, NY 1977-05-04 (set 2) (SBD CDR)†/‡

* Love: Black Beauty (High Moon LP)

* Pink Floyd: Animals (Pinkfloyd/EMI CD)

* Deep Purple: Made In Japan (Warner Bros. 2LP)

* Yes: Close To The Edge (Atlantic/Audio Fidelity SACD)

* U2: The Unforgettable Fire (Deluxe Edition) (Island/Universal 2CD)†/‡

* Steven Wilson: The Raven That Refused To Sing (KScope CD/DVD)†/‡

* Opeth: The Roundhouse Tapes (Peaceville 2CD)†/‡

* Opeth: Heritage (Roadrunner 2LP)

* Katatonia: The Great Cold Distance (Peacevill CD)†/‡

* Anathema: Weather Systems (KScope CD/DVD)

* Baroness: Yellow & Green (Relapse 2CD)†/‡

* Pelican: What We All Come To Need (Southern Lord 2LP)

* Pelican: The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw (Hydra Head CD)

* Pelican: City Of Echoes (Hydra Head CD)

* Akron/Family: Love Is Easy (Young God 2LP)

* Akron/Family: (Dead Oceans 2LP)

* Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop CD)†/‡

†=iPod

‡=car

Commentary:

What a week! For a couple of hermits, Lizzy and I have been all over the place:

Friday, May 3: Drive to Chattanooga.

Saturday, May 4: Drive to Athens, Georgia to see Opeth (see this post for more on that).

Sunday, May 5: Drive back to Nashville.

Monday – Tuesday, May 6-7: Work extra-long days because...

Wednesday, May 8: Drive to Lexington, Kentucky to see Opeth again. Thankfully, it was a somewhat mellower scene than Saturday night in Athens. As usual, though, Opeth ruled.

Thursday, May 9: Drive back to Nashville and make final preparations for…

Friday, May 10: Host Mary Halvorson and Stephan Crump at “Indeterminacies” at the newly relocated Zeitgeist Gallery. It was an amazing event: the duo (called Secret Keeper) played an hour-long set followed by a nearly-hour-long discussion led by the extraordinary curator and writer Veronica Kavass. We had a standing-room-only turnout, thanks no doubt to Jack Silverman’s nice write-up in The Scene. The music was sublime; the sound was warm, detailed and crystal clear (engineered by my nephew, Brian Totoro); and Veronica was perfect as a moderator, bringing a deep and wide-ranging perspective on music, art, literature, film, creativity and reception which invited an enthusiastic response from the audience. Zeitgeist’s new space is drop-dead gorgeous and featured beautiful sculptures and prints by artist Greg Pond—the perfect setting for the event. In all, I can’t imagine how it could have possibly been better.

Saturday, May 11: But it’s not over yet! In a perversely tantalizing double-bill, Matthew Shipp will be performing with his trio of Michael Bisio on bass and Whit Dickey on drums along with “Nashville’s most fucked-up country band,” Lambchop. Even though I am completely exhausted, I’m really going to try to go. After all, I (briefly) went to school with Matt and Whitt and it would be great to see them. Their music has been a source of continual inspiration to me ever since.