Mathias Eick

'Skala' from Mathias Eick. On ECM Records from 2011.

ECM's motto, 'The most beautiful sound next to silence.' ..... I've probably mentioned that here a time or two previously.

Trumpet player.

My continuing search for new sounds and directions in Jazz has led to the discovery of Mathias Eick.

And a bonus with beautiful cover art!! Which has become a general necessity these days to be added to my collection.  

AND it's on vinyl!!! 

There's two additional recordings currently in the mail. It appears that I'm officially hooked. 

Steely Dan Playlist

I don't know why I'm doing this. Don't know why I'm torturing myself. Few things make me so achingly nostalgic. So sad for lost youth. But here goes. A Steely Dan playlist .....

Doctor Wu ..... These days, this is where Steely Dan's music starts for me.

My Old School ..... Might as well just get out the old yearbook and inflict nostalgic memories of what once was. Remembering the old faces and places as I listen.

Rikki Don't Lose That Number ..... This is the one that now says, high school to me. And I don't think it actually received radio play until I was out of high school.

Deacon Blues ..... I wasn't much of a fan initially. But the album, 'Aja' grabbed my attention. By then I had some getting acquainted to do.

Dirty Work

Throw Back the Little Ones

Kid Charlemagne ..... "And I'm never going back to my old school."  It is more difficult than I would have ever thought.

Hey Nineteen ..... "Please take me along when you slide on down."

Only A Fool Would Say That

49th Parallel

Neil Swainson Quintet - '49th Parallel'

A recent vinyl reissue of this 1989 album arriving at my front door. I'm really loving when that happens.

I love the packaging on this record. Gatefold sleeve with liner notes and an interview. Just the way that it all is presented ..... catches my eye.

Previously unknown Jazz sounds. Neil Swainson is a bass player. Original songs except for one Joe Henderson cover. And there's a bonus download track to be found in the packaging.

It's amazing how there's always something old, especially with Jazz, that's exciting and unique to discover. That's new to one's ears.

Trumpeter Woody Shaw's final studio recording.

I do wish that they had kept the original 1989 album cover for this reissue. I would have purchased that upon first sighting, no song samples needed .....

London Jazz News Review

Ghost of David

'Ghost of David' by Damien Jurado.

You just might see his photo next to an entry in your dictionary for Indie singer/songwriter. Early stripped down Neil Young meets Nick Drake and Elliott Smith. 

Not my first Damien Jurado experience. I have at least a half dozen of his albums. Was feeling extreme frustration at the ongoing non-delivery of his latest and discovered this gem while messaging amazon support. So great things do sometimes arise from displeasure. And I've been assured that the initial frustration will ease by this coming Friday .... "at the latest." I'll likely play this album three or four times before then.

From 2000 on Sub Pop records. Usually an indication of quality. Beautiful melodies are to be found within!! 

On the song 'Paxil' he shows that he can switch direction and rock as well as anyone. Surrounding it are more acoustic sounds. 'Walk With Me' reminds of Neil Young's, 'Love in Mind.'

Mix-Tape For You, From A Life Of Listening

 If I could sit down and create s mix-tape tonight for you, wherever you are .....

• Steely Dan - My Old School ..... More than anything else, their music causes flashbacks to high school.
• Neil Young - Tell Me Why ..... I never tire of hearing this. You say, "Neil Young" and this is almost always the first song that comes to mind.
• Son Volt - Back Into Your World
• Bob Dylan - Precious Angel
• Tom Rush - River Song ..... I have this memory from fifteen or twenty years ago, of sitting in my car in a parking lot, waiting for my Mom to arrive for a lunch date and this song playing on my ipod.
• Mike Oldfield - Moonlight Shadow
• The Eagles - Peaceful Easy Feeling ..... Always been the first song that comes to mind when FM-Radio is mentioned.
• Gordon Lightfoot - Seven Island Suite ..... As goofy as it might sound, I used to visualize myself strumming along, adding an additional air acoustic guitar to the song.
• Warren Zevon - Accidently Like a Martyr ..... "We made mad love, shadow love, random love and abandoned love, accidently like a martyr." 

Gold Record

'Gold Record' by Bill Callahan.

I know next to nothing about Bill Callahan. He's a new voice for me that I stumbled across while perusing possibly Amazon or itunes, where he seems to be very popular.. A low key singer/songwriter that I've been trying to decide who he reminds me of. Maybe a cross between Bill Morrissey, Greg Brown and Tom Rush .... which certainly adds up to a good thing. More Bill Morrissey than the others.

This recording has just been released.

Pitchfork Review

Pieces Of A Man

Gil Scott-Heron - 'Pieces Of a Man'

A recent vinyl find of this 1971 recording.

I think my introduction to his music was forty years ago with the 'No Nukes' benefit concert compilation and his contribution, 'We Almost Lost Detroit.'

Great lyricist. 

All Music Guide Review

"I saw my daddy greet the mailman                          And I heard the mailman say                                "Now don't you take this letter to heart now Jimmy      Cause they've laid off nine others today"                  He didn't know what he was saying                          He could hardly understand                                    That he was only talking to                                  Pieces of a man."

Drive-by Playlist

Another Saturday playlist. Just because. Just stuff heard on the radio in hopes of hearing something new where I feel the need to investigate further  ..... 

• Angie McMahon - Keeping Time ..... Sounds a little like The Pretenders to my aged ears.
• White Stripes - 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues ..... I'm reminded of Bob Dylan now. 'Tom Thumbs Blues' to be specific.
• The Sea and Cake - Harps
• Land of Talk - Weight of the Weekend *****
• Kingsley Ibeneche - My Freedom
• The Black Keys - Run Right Back
• Sault - Over
• Leon Bridges - Sweeter
• Love - Skid
• Gorillaz - Aries *****
• Daniel Romano - A Rat Without a Tail ..... Geez, I sure hope that's not the true inspiration behind the song.
• Elephant Stone - Motherless Child (Love's Not For War)
• SASAMI - Not The Time
• The Decemberists - This Is Why We Fight
• Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - 40 Day Dream

The Clean

'Getaway' by The Clean.

A vinyl find!! Indie Rock.

A new band for me, discovered in the wake of my record store closing and the resulting increase in  research for new sounds. I just can't physically stumble onto new things like usual. Discovering that there is something exciting about finding new music on your doorstep.

Incredible cover art, which is also on display inside the gatefold and individual record sleeves. (It's a double LP with a bonus cd.) Eye catching cover art has become a huge purchasing factor for me these days.