Playlist Week of 2014-09-27

* Bach/Webern: Ricercar (Hilliard Ensemble, et al.  (ECM CD)

* Boulez/Barraqué: Notations/Sonata, etc. (Chen) (Telos CD)

* Ornette Coleman Trio: At the Golden Circle, Stockholm Vol.1 (Blue Note CD)

* Ornette Coleman Trio: At the Golden Circle, Stockholm Vol.2 (Blue Note CD)

* Elvin Jones: Genesis (Blue Note LP)

* Anthony Williams: Life Time (Blue Note CD)

* Tony Williams Lifetime: Ego (Polydor LP)

* Grachan Moncur III: Evolution (Blue Note CD)

* Paul Motian: I Have The Room Above Her (ECM CD)

* Charles Lloyd Quartet: Mirror (ECM CD)

* Pharoah Sanders: Message From Home (Verve CD)

* Anthony Braxton, et al.: Tri-Centric Festival, Roulette, Brooklyn, NY 2014-04-12 (AUD FLAC)

* The Fourth Way: The Sun And Moon Have Come Together (Harvest LP)

* Linc Chamberland: A Place Within (Muse LP)

* Steve Tibbets: A Man About A Horse (ECM CD)

* Marc Johnson: Shades of Jade (ECM CD)

* The United Jazz + Rock Ensemble: Teamwork (Mood LP)

* Tom Rainey Trio: Cornelia St. Café, NYC 2013-12-30 (AUD FLAC)

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

* Anders Ahlén Unit: Lines And Dots (Signal And Sound LP)

* The Necks: Sex (Private Music CD)

* Mandingo: New World Power (Axiom/Island CD)

* V/A: Brazil Classics 1: Beleza Tropical (Luaka Bop CD)

* Charles Earland: Odyssey (Mercury LP)

* D’Angelo: Voodoo (Virgin/Light In The Attic 2LP)

* Santana: III (Columbia LP)

* Santana: Caravanserai (Columbia LP)

* Steven Stills: Manassas (Atlantic 2LP)

* Ultimate Spinach: Ultimate Spinach (MGM LP)

* Steve Hackett: Voyage Of The Acolyte (Chrysalis LP)

* Steve Hackett: Please Don’t Touch (Chrysalis LP)

* Percy Howard/Charles Hayward/Fred Frith/Bill Laswell: Meridiem (Materiali Sonari CD)

* Thurston Moore/Samara Lubelski/Nate Wooley: The Stone, NYC 2014-01-02 (AUD FLAC)

* Earth: Hex: Or Printing In The Infernal Method (Southern Lord 2LP)

* Belfi/Grubbs/Pilia: Onrushing Clouds (Blue Chopsticks LP)

* Sunn O))) + Ulver: Terrestrials (Southern Lord LP)

* Boris & Merzbow: Sun Baked Snow Cave (Double H Noise Industries 2LP)

* Hot Chip: Dark And Stormy (Domino EP)

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

* White Hills: Heads On Fire (Thrill Jockey LP)

* Wye Oak: Civilian (Merge LP)

* Torche: In Return (Robotic Empire 10”)

* Sòlstafir: Ótta (Season of Mist 2LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

Autumn is here.

Playlist Week of 2014-09-20

* Takemitsu: I Can Hear The Water Dreaming (Gallois, et al.) (DG CD)

* Anouar Brahem Trio: Astrakan Café (ECM CD)

* Elvin Jones: Merry Go Round (Blue Note LP)

* Ornette Coleman & Prime Time: Tone Dialing (Harmolodic/Verve CD)

* Sam Rivers: Dimensions & Extensions (Blue Note CD)

* Anthony Braxton, et al.: Tri-Centric Festival, Roulette, Brooklyn NY 2014-04-10 (AUD FLAC)

* Anthony Braxton, et al.: Tri-Centric Festival, Roulette, Brooklyn NY 2014-04-11 (AUD FLAC)

* Charles Lloyd Quartet: Mirror (ECM CD)

* Billy Cobham: Crosswinds (Atlantic LP)

* Stanley Clarke: Stanley Clarke (Nemperor LP)

* Mandrill: Mandrill (Polydor LP)

* Mandrill: Composite Truth (Polydor LP)

* Mandrill: Madrilland (Polydor 2LP)

* Grateful Dead: Spring 1990 (The Other One) (selections) (GDP/Rhino 23HDCD)

* Joni Mitchell: Court And Spark (Asylum HDCD)

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

* McDonald & Giles: McDonald & Giles (Cotillion LP)

* Pete Sinfield: Still (Manticore LP)

* Camel: Rain Dances (Decca CD)

* Gong: You (Virgin LP)

* Goblin: Zombi (Cinevox LP)

* McKendree Spring: Spring Suite (MCA LP)

* The Cure: …Happily Ever After (Fiction/A&M 2LP)

* Shellac: Dude Incredible (Touch & Go LP)

* Tortoise: Beacons of Ancestorship (Thrill Jockey LP)

* Spring Heel Jack: Songs & Themes (Thirsty Ear CD)

* Wilco: The Whole Love (Nonesuch CD+CDEP)

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

* Opeth: Pale Communion (Roadrunner CD/BD/7” box)

* Steven Wilson: Cover Version (KScope 2LP)

* BORIS: New Album (Sargent House CD)

* Hot Chip: Mexico EP (Victory Garden CDEP) †

* Hot Chip: One Life Stand (Parlophone 2LP/CD) †/‡

* Hot Chip: In Our Heads (Domino CD) †/‡

* Fontanelle: Vitamin F (Southern Lord LP)

* Wye Oak: The Knot (Merge LP)

* Wye Oak: Civilian (Merge LP)

* Wye Oak: Shriek (Merge LP)(†/‡)

* Broken Bells: After The Disco (Columbia LP)

* Lower Dens: Nootropics (Ribbon 2-45RPM LP)

* Pallbearer: Foundation of Burden (Profound Lore 2LP/CD) †/‡

* Myrkur: Myrkur (Relapse EP)(†)

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary: 

Tennessee, Tennessee

There ain't no place I'd rather be!

Playlist Week of 2014-09-13

* Ives: Sonatas for Violin and Piano (Zukofsky/Kalish) (Nonesuch 2LP)

* Ruggles: Complete Music (Buffalo Phil. et al./Tilson Thomas) (CBS Masterworks 2LP)

* Charlie Parker: Charlie Parker With Strings: The Master Takes (Verve CD)

* Sun Ra: Astro Black (Impulse!/iTunes MP3) †

* Joseph Jarman & Famoudou Don Moye: Egwu-Anwu (Sun Song) (India Navigation 2LP)

* Henry Threadgill Zooid: Jazz Gallery, NYC 2010-02-11 (AUD FLAC)

* Henry Threadgill Zooid: Village Vanguard, NYC 2014-07-31 (AUD FLAC)

* Henry Threadgill Zooid: Village Vanguard, NYC 2014-08-03 (AUD FLAC)

* Billy Cobham: Simplicity of Expression – Depth of Thought (Columbia LP)

* Eddie Henderson: Sunburst (Blue Note LP)

* Bobbi Humphrey: Blacks and Blues (Blue Note LP)

* Ronnie Laws: Friends and Strangers (United Artists LP)

* Jaco Pastorius: Modern American Music…Period! The Criteria Sessions (Omnivore LP+MP3) †

* Nils Petter Molvær: Khmer (ECM CD)

* Tim Berne: Snakeoil (ECM CD)

* Mary Halvorson Quintet/Septet: The Stone, NYC 2011-10-14 (AUD FLAC)

* Grateful Dead: Spring 1990 (The Other One) (selections) (GDP/Rhino 23HDCD)

* Goblin: Contamination OST (Cinevox LP)

* U2: Songs Of Innocence (iTunes MP3) †

* Sleep: The Clarity (Praise Iommi 12”) (†)

* Opeth: Pale Communion (Roadrunner 2LP)

* In Flames: Siren Charms (Sony CD)

* Triptykon: Melana Chasmata (Century Media 2LP)

* Black Tusk: Tend No Wounds (Relapse EP)

* Sòlstafir: Ótta (Season of Mist 2LP)

* Windhand: Soma (Relapse 2LP)

* Pallbearer: Foundations of Burden (Profound Lore 2LP) †

* Mortals: Cursed To See The Future (Relapse LP)

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

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

I guess the big news this week is U2’s new album, Songs of Innocence, released for free on iTunes in conjunction with Apple's latest product announcement.  What’s more interesting to me than the music is the reaction to it all.

Many people are incensed that U2 (and Bono in particular) have invaded their precious iTunes Library, forcing them have this (presumably) horrible album appear unbidden on their computer. Some are comparing the move to spam, the unwanted, useless data which clogs our inboxes everyday.

Well, my experience was a little different. I’m not a huge U2 fan, but I was curious to hear the album for free. Why not? I loaded up iTunes expecting to see it lurking there—but no. When I went to the iTunes Store, it stated that the item was “purchased” but not obviously downloadable. As a matter of fact, I had to do a bunch of research and change a bunch of settings before I finally got it to work. I rarely ever buy downloads and don’t use “The Cloud” to store my music, so perhaps I am not the most sophisticated iTunes user on the planet. But I certainly had to jump through some hoops to even see the damn thing, much less download it.

Others are annoyed with U2 for promoting the idea that music should be “free” and thereby devaluing the art form, etc., etc.  Of course, U2 got paid (and big!)—but by Apple, not the end user. Songs of Innocence is really just part of Apple’s new advertising campaign, which I agree devalues the art form. But make no mistake: U2 made plenty of money, up front off this stunt. What bothers me is that a crummy 256kbps MP3 is so massively over-valued in this move.

Ever since the rise (and fall) of Napster, I have argued that lossy MP3 files are inherently worthless and should be given away as promotional items, in the same way that records used to be given away to radio stations and journalists by the thousands back in the music industry's heyday. With radio pretty much a closed door, it would have been smart of the labels to embrace Napster back in 2000 rather than suing their customers and fighting tooth and nail to preserve an obsolete business model. A 256kbps MP3 file is, sonically speaking, barely acceptable—but it’s perfect for a promotional tool.

So while I admire U2’s seeming willingness to “give away” an MP3 of their forthcoming album as a promo, it turns out that Songs of Innocence is not quite what it appears. It’s still all about money, leverage and rock-star power moves. Whether or not this stunt results in increased sales once the physical album arrives later this year remains to be seen.

As for the music, it’s…OK. Actually, better than I expected. But the reaction to its surprise pre-release has been far more intriguing. I hope such discussion will help reinvigorate the music industry—what’s left of it, anyway.

Playlist Week of 2014-09-06

* Ornette Coleman: Skies of America Live, Verona, Italy 1987-06-27 (SBD 2CDR)

* Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto: Getz & Gilberto (Verve CD)

* Cecil Taylor: Jazz Advance (Blue Note CD)

* Alice Coltrane: Journey In Satchidananda (Impulse! CD)

* Alice Coltrane: Ptah The El Daoud (Impulse! CD)

* Dollar Brand: African Space Program (Enja LP)

* Dollar Brand: African Marketplace (Elektra LP)

* Randy Weston: African Cookbook (Atlantic LP)

* Keith Jarrett: Mysteries (ABC/Impulse! LP)

* Bobby Hutcherson: Dialogue (Blue Note CD)

* Eddie Henderson: Sunburst (Blue Note LP)

* Eddie Henderson: Heritage (Blue Note LP)

* Bobbi Humphrey: Blacks And Blues (Blue Note LP)

* Joanne Brackeen: Prism (Choice LP)

* David Sancious: Forest of Feelings (Epic LP)

* Pat Metheny Group: Pat Metheny Group (ECM LP)

* David S. Ware Quartet: Renunciation (AUM Fidelity CD)

* Dawn of Midi: Dysnomia (Thirsty Ear 2LP)

* Michael Hedges: Aerial Boundaries (Windham Hill LP)

* Mandrill: We Are One (Arista LP)

* Vashti Bunyan: Just Another Diamond Day (Dicristina LP)

* David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name (Atlantic/Rhino LP)

* The Free Design: Kites Are Fun (Project 3/Light In The Attic LP)

* Big Star: #1 Record (Ardent/Classic LP)

* Big Star: Radio City (Ardent/Classic LP)

* Dereck Higgins: Murphy (DVH/Bandcamp ALAC) †

* Earth: Primitive And Deadly (Southern Lord 2LP)

* Opeth: Pale Communion (Roadrunner CD/BD/7” box)

* Meshuggah: Catch Thirtythree (Nuclear Blast CD)

* Mastodon: Once More ‘Round The Sun (Reprise 2LP+CD) †

* Sunn O))): 00 Void (Southern Lord CD)

* BORIS & Merzbow: Rock Dream (Southern Lord 2CD)

* YOB: Clearing The Path To Ascend (Relapse 2LP)

* Animal Collective: Centipede Hz (Domino 2LP)

* Locrian: Territories (Bandcamp ALAC) †

* Locrian: Return To Annihilation (Relapse 2LP) †

* Cynic: Kindly Bent To Free Us (Season Of Mist 2LP)

* Liturgy: Renihilation (Thrill Jockey LP)

* Sòlstafir: Óta (Season of Mist 2LP)

* Pallbearer: Foundations of Burden (Profound Lore 2LP)

* Nothing: Guilty of Everything (Relapse LP) †

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

Although I have spent a lot and time and effort putting out Cosmologies, I also continue to make music in my home studio—much of it quite different from the free, acoustic jazz found on my recent records with Sam Byrd.

I love electronic music and analog synthesizers, but have never been able to afford the real thing. But I purchased a MIDI keyboard and the Arturia Analog Collection when I set up my studio, which includes digital emulations of classic synths like the MiniMoog and Moog Modular, the ARP 2600,  Yamaha CS-80, Prophet V and Oberheim SEM V. No they don't sound exactly like the originals—but they behave in similar ways, with all the buttons and knobs fully functional. It's easy for me to get lost in a world of sound.

Some of my experiments have been recorded and remain in various stages of completion and I'm contemplating putting together a digital release some time in the future, just for kicks. But whether or not any of this music ever gets heard matters little to me. I feel like a kid in a candy store every time I go into my studio!

I've also been playing a lot of guitar and have some some projects in the works with local drummer, Andrew Dickson. Plus, I'm hoping to get some time in the studio with Sam around Christmas. So while I am extremely proud of Cosmologies, I am also excited about what's coming next.

+++

Speaking of Cosmologies, VC luminary Dereck Higgins talked about it in one of his recent YouTube videos. Dereck and the rest of the Vinyl Community were a big inspiration for putting this music out on vinyl and I really appreciate the positive response. His remarks about listening and commitment are right on: