Archive for 31 March 2008

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Glow Worms - Vashti Bunyan (1970)

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31 March 2008 by Steker

Vashti Bunyan

In the early 60, this artist, born in London, study painting. Her roommate makes her discovered the guitar and teach her the basics. She discovered a passion and is expelled of her school for never going to lessons. She spends her time writing songs. In 1963, during a trip to New York, she discovered the music of Bob Dylan and decided to devote herself entirely to the music.

The album Just Another Diamond Day, from which is extracted this track, was released in 1970, and unfortunately struggles to find an audience. Vashti, deeply disappointed by the music industry, suffers from a complete incomprehension and decides to withdraw from music to raise her children in the countryside in Ireland.

During the 30 years that followed, she never imagined that her album became one of the most popular of its era. The original edition sold on E-Bay up to $2000.

Thus, in 2000, this album is re-edited and meets a great success. She can return to the front of the folk scene after 35 years’ absence to produce her 2nd album in 2005.

” Dreamers we should be asleep in bed
Moving slowly through the springtime air
Holding moments in the depth of care “

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Further information on Wikipedia [en]
Album Info Website
Buy Just Another Diamond Day on Amazon.com

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And They All Look Broken Hearted - Four Tet (2003)

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24 March 2008 by Steker

Four Tet

Kieran Hebden, from the post-rock band Fridge, begins in 1998 his solo project of electronic music under the name Four Tet.

Kieran’s music format generally avoids traditional pop songs format, it is moving towards a more abstract approach. His tracks are made of rich and organic sounds with very harmonious elements. It incorporates hip hop, electro, techno, jazz and folk elements. Moreover, Four Tet sound have obvious similarities with other musicians, like Prefuse 73.

Rounds was released in May 2003. It was the most ambitious project of Kieran until then, by integrating various samples such as the mandolin on “Spirit Fingers” and even a plastic duck on “Slow Jam”, the last track of the album. This last one was used in an advertisement for Nike in the United States in 2001 and 2002.

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Broken Hearted on Youtube
Four Tet Website
Buy Rounds on Amazon.com

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Le Danseur - Arthur H (2005)

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17 March 2008 by Steker

Arthur H

On March 27, 1966 in Paris, Arthur H was born. His real name is Arthur Higelin, he is none other than the son of Jacques Higelin. He was a very lonely teenager and was hardly passionate for education.

He released his first album: Arthur H, at the age of 24 years. His influences are numerous and range from Thelonious Monk to Tom Waits through the Sex Pistols or even the jazz, blues or tango. Based on these inspirations, Arthur H has been able to create a unique musical universe.

The album Adieu Tristesse, on which you can find Le Danseur, was released in 2005. Some consider this album as the most accessible of his career. It allowed him to win a great success and receive a Victoire De La Musique for the videoclip of the song “Est-Ce Que Tu Aimes ?”.

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Arthur H Website
Buy Adieu Tristesse on Amazon.com

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Nocturne Mi Bémol Mineur - Chopin (1845)

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10 March 2008 by Steker

Chopin

Frédéric Chopin played rarely. […] Lizst, on the other hand, was always playing, well or not. On a May Evening, between eleven and midnight, the society was held in the grand salon. […] Liszt was playing a Chopin’s Nocturne and, as he was used to, was playing it in his own way, mingling trills, tremolos, and some “points d’orgue” which were not there originally. On several occasions, Chopin gave signs of impatience ; finally, out of his nerves, he came close to the piano and said to Liszt with his english phlegm :

– Please, my dear, if you honor me by playing one of my pieces of music, play it by the book or play something else : only Chopin can change Chopin.

- Well, play it yourself ! said Liszt, standing up being a little upset.

- Certainly, said Chopin.

At that time, the light was extinguished by a dizzy butterfly which had come there to burn its wings. It was going to be relight.

- No ! exclaimed Chopin ; on the contrary, turn off all the candles ; the moonlight is enough.

Then he played… he played a complete hour. […] The Audience, in a silent ecstasy, was barely breathing, and when the spell ended, all eyes were filled in tears, particularly those of Liszt. He shook Chopin in his arms as exclaiming :

- Ah ! my friend, you were right! The work of a genius like yours are sacred, it is a desecration to touch it. You are a true poet and I am only a saltimbanque.

- Come on ! returned strongly Chopin, we each have our style, and that’s it. You do know that nobody in the world can play Weber and Beethoven as you can. Oh, I beg you, play the adagio in C-sharp minor of Beethoven, but do it seriously, as you can do when you want.

Liszt played this adagio and with all his heart. […] It was not an elegy, it was a tragedy.

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Further information on Wikipedia [en]
Buy Nocturnes And Impromptus on Amazon.com

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A Rabbit In Your Headlights - Unkle (1998)

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3 March 2008 by Steker

Unkle

In 1994, under the leadership of James Lavelle, label Mo’Wax’s boss, and Tim Goldsworthy, accompanied by Kudo, from the Japanese collective Major Force, U.N.K.L.E. was born. In 1995, divergent musical directions push Goldsworthy, who wants to produce House music pieces, to leave the group. Lavelle, who is aiming to work with singers, hip-hop and rock artists, is quickly joined by DJ Shadow, who will remain at its sides until the end of Psyence Fiction’s tour.

A Rabbit in Your Headlights, composed by DJ Shadow and Thom Yorke, has been produced as a single in 1998, to introduce the release of the album Psyence Fiction. This piece, at the crossroads of UNKLE’s trip-hop universe and Radiohead singer’s anguish is overflowed with energy cleverly restraint.

The clip directed by Jonathan Glazer reveals perfectly the illness associated with death that is present in this song: “If you’re frightened of dying and you’re holding on; You’ll see devils tearing your life away; But if you’ve made your peace; Then the devils are really angels; Freeing you from the Earth”.

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A Rabbit In Your Headlight on DailyMotion
Further information on Wikipedia [en]
Unkle Website
Buy Psyence Fiction on Amazon.com

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