What Are You Listening To?

[JeromeD]

Will give this a whirl tomorrow.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS  "natty dread" cd, 1974

their seventh...
from the box set i bought a year or so ago containing all of his "islands records" albums...
i was never a big fan of reggae overall but i thought there would be enough likeable songs on the boxset to enjoy or at least get a feel for Marley as an artist...
not a fan of this album though but there are a few tracks i like including "no woman no cry" and my favourite track "rebel music" which is almost seven minutes long...
at least half this album is boring musically, well to be perfectly honest, most reggae sounds the same, the only difference is when you have intelligent lyrics and Marley has that on his side....
I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

fave:

[Ruby]

Another Jordi Savall concert - with Hesperion XXI ...

[Ruby]

The Idan Raichel Project - Tower of Light. A new album that was released on 6th February this year with little fanfare outside of Israel, it would seem. I can't find any English entries for it other than on Discogs so have been employing Google translate to get the gist of things from the lyrics that are posted on YouTube. This album sounds like the early project albums - I love the sound of the oud and the various other instruments that hark back to ancient dust. It just gets to my soul somehow. This is a mix of live instruments and programming - effective, I think. All in Hebrew and only the first of the ten tracks is instrumental so it's been a bit of puzzle working it all out! However, I don't care that much about not knowing the language which in a strange kind of way, speaks for itself. There are some gorgeous vocals, both male and female - nothing overtly political although there is a lamenting for those who have vanished from the landscape. Perfectly human to feel such emotions. I've been very tired of run of the mill sounds lately, so it was good to listen to something outside of that spectrum. Also - they're so professional and well rehearsed. 

The instrumental opener ... Ara Dinkjian on the oud - Idan Raichel is a keys guy and multi-instrumentalist so he's pretty much played or programmed all the other stuff ... except the drum programming, in this instance, I think! 






With Roni Dalumi - 'Tachzor' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTXAA96W1Ww - lovely voice

With Shai Tsabari - 'Lo Yashol Lichon' - 

[Ruby]

Was not expecting to come across a 'new age' album by Boris Grebenshikov! But here it is ... Songs of Clear Light released in January this year. He is known for his interest in mysticism and is a bit of a student of religion/s so I suppose with that in mind, it shouldn't really be a huge surprise, although it was. It's kinda fascinating to find this particular Russian bear making a contribution to the genre considering he's the godfather of soviet underground rock. It was ok, strangely enough. Inoffensive and inducive of a good mood. Lots of repetition, as is the nature of chanting, but it didn't get tedious. Not your average wafty new age artist this one! Lol!

[CRAZY-HORSE]

JOE JACKSON  "will power" vinyl 1987

yup, its the "is she really going out with him" dude....
his eighth studio album...
a classical album and fully instrumental...
the critics panned it and fans avoided it like the plague (or covid if you will!)...
a couple of rock orientated tracks on the first side but strictly classical..
a pleasant listen whilst tidying up my music room and rearranging my shelving in there...
I LIKE THIS ALBUM

[JeromeD]

Today's pick - https://youtu.be/2zBV6AWvdr0?si=dm9VymLHJOwS6RXT

[Ruby]

Recently read a historical novel - 'Diva' based on the life of Maria Callas. I've also read a biography before - a long time ago so it was good to refresh, albeit with quite a lot of poetic licence involved on this latter occasion! A fascinating and tragic life - from her childhood to her untimely death. As a result, I have been immersed in YouTube clips - astonishing what you can find - from way back when! What is so interesting to me is that it's a almost as though her singing was torturous, in some ways. She was an absolute slave to the music. Her voice was her instrument and she was a perfectionist - that is why we speak of a Prima Donna - the meaning has been lost. The most important 'voice' in the orchestra. Callas was taught in the old style of operatic singing - 'Bel Canto' - probably one of the last ever to have a true understanding of all that that entailed - and she could act too! Her own persona disappeared on stage and she became the character she was playing. 

The rigors and technicalities of singing at that level are ridiculous - the necessary control requires years and years of training, and it's easy to understand why she had no time for popular music. To her, it simply was not musical. There is so much to this particular artist's story, not least the fame and fortune - which turned out not to be so fortunate - there always seems to be a price to pay. 

I was a bit baffled by the casting of Angeline Jolie to play La Divina in the upcoming movie, but let's see. A role not for the faint of heart! 

[CRAZY-HORSE]

^^
Angelina, Hmmm???

to be perfectly honest i would have thought Lady Gaga would have made a good choice but i guess she is already in the new 'The Joker' movie...