Scrambled Music

The five myths about contemporary classical music Tom Service,...

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:40:16 +0100

The five myths about contemporary classical music Tom Service, guardian.co.uk Contemporary classical music is devoid of melody and appeal, all noise and no fun. At least, that’s the cliche. But this is music that is very much at the heart of our modern world 1. It all sounds like a squeaky gate There are two side… Perfect summation of an open minded approach to music appreciation. Music is, after all, music…

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Steve Reich Rewrites Radioheadthequietus.com Influential...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:12:00 +0000

Steve Reich Rewrites Radiohead thequietus.com Influential minimalist composer Steve Reich is to debut a work based on two songs by popular Oxford group Radiohead, reports The Guardian. Radio Rewrite will be performed at the Southbank Centre next March by 13 musicia… Interesting to see what this produces…

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Left Silver Apples halfway through for fear the gig would ruin a...

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:41:51 +0000

Left Silver Apples halfway through for fear the gig would ruin a great album for me. Didn’t click with Junior Boys (Spandau Ballet covers). Omar Souleyman, whilst a default choice, is bringing a huge grin to my face.

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Sun Ra Arkestra win the prize for sparkliest capes, hats and...

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:11:37 +0000

Sun Ra Arkestra win the prize for sparkliest capes, hats and outlooks of the festival. Strangely Christmassy.

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Pharoah Saunders: Legend! This will certainly be the most...

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:25:22 +0000

Pharoah Saunders: Legend! This will certainly be the most original thing I hear all weekend.

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One of the finds of ATP, for me: Dead Rider

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:06:52 +0000

One of the finds of ATP, for me: Dead Rider

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Flying Lotus doing some astounding things with a laptop.

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:03:04 +0000

Flying Lotus doing some astounding things with a laptop.

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Dead Rider.

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:59:15 +0000

Dead Rider.

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This what people came to see Gary Numan for. He didn’t...

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:38:28 +0000

This what people came to see Gary Numan for. He didn’t disappoint, but I get the sense there was more new material than old. Good set - very gothy-industrial. I expect Are Friends Electric was the closer, although a potentially yelling daughter meant I missed the last 10 minutes.

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Battles, co-curators of ATP Nightmare Before Xmas, kicking off...

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:42:54 +0000

Battles, co-curators of ATP Nightmare Before Xmas, kicking off day two. Yesterday was pretty good - one or two duds, but set the standard for what’s promising to be a great line-up.

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Holy Fuck. Holy fuck!

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:35:44 +0000

Holy Fuck. Holy fuck!

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Oxes cover of Wild Thing. Who needs more than guitar, vocals and...

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:02:00 +0000

Oxes cover of Wild Thing. Who needs more than guitar, vocals and drums. I am standing near the PA, vibrating gently.

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The Budos Band: bastard offspring of The Horny Horns and...

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:57:01 +0000

The Budos Band: bastard offspring of The Horny Horns and Metallica. Like ‘em!

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ATP Nightmare Before Christmas: Les Savy Fav/Battles/Caribou

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:24:35 +0000

Bodes well - Marnie Stern (2nd band on) tearing the roof off…

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Elbow: build a rocket boys!

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:01:05 +0100

As I’ve probably mentioned before, Elbow’s previous album was a firm favourite, and a deserved Mercury Prize winner. Garvey and co. really know how to write a tune, and Seldom Seen Kid was a masterpiece of simple, direct and heart-rending tunes, so I was keen to hear where they’d go next: a retread of the commercial and critical success, or something else entirely? The answer seems to be that build a rocket boys! builds on...

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Adele: 21

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 20:01:05 +0100

Adele’s 21 is definitely the commercial hit of the shortlist. 17 weeks at number 1 thanks largely, it would seem, to a performance of Someone Like You at the Brits. So does the album merit this huge success? The first thing to say is that the opener, Rolling In The Deep, is a really great bluesy stomp of a track which showcases Adele’s voice perfectly. (As an aside, I’m guessing I’m not alone in finding this somewhat...

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PJ Harvey: Let England Shake

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:00:05 +0100

I’ve heard PJ Harvey talking in interviews about how this is a set of folk songs. Well, not sure about that Peej, but it is a fine, evocative album, dealing with the horrors of war in an honest and often outspoken manner. It’s being hailed as her masterpiece, which I can kind of see, but then I’m a long-time admirer of her music, so it’s a bit difficult for me to get perspective. There’s certainly much for the...

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Gwilym Simcock: Good Days at Schloss Elmau

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 20:00:05 +0100

…aka “the jazz one”. It starts at a cracking pace with some lovely rhythmic and free (tonally) piano work. It’s another mood-evoking album which moves from joyous celebrations to thoughtful ramblings to wistful, erm, whistlings. I’ve no idea, really. It’s a nice set - all beautifully played on solo piano (including interacting with the case and strings directly). The cool-jazz-ish sound owes something to...

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Anna Calvi: Anna Calvi

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:00:05 +0100

I already own, know and love this album. It’s a really great combination of intimate, whispered moments and (ahem) “rocking wig-outs”. Obvious touch points are PJ Harvey, Chrissie Hynde, Patti Smith, the angular cool of Walkmen or Interpol, but this does not come across as derivative (although The Devil has definite echoes of Ms Harvey’s song of the same name). This is a hugely self-assured, strong and vibrant collection...

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King Creosote & Jon Hopkins: Diamond Mine

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:00:05 +0100

Every Mercury shortlist has its “the folky one”, and Diamond Mine is this shortlist’s. Reductionist genre-tarring over, this is a lovely set of songs. Very pastoral, with the album being kicked off with a field recording of what sounds like a small Scottish cafe. Vocally and instrumentally, this is a restrained affair which will repay many listens, indeed at a running time of just 32 minutes, this is no big ask! Somewhat...

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