Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Elvis Costello circa 1989



I have to admit, i was thrown back by this album at first listen. I was used to the ease & magic of Armed Forces and My Aim is True, and Spike just didn't seem as cohesive & enjoyable. But after multiple listens I can really appreciate the more challenging nature of this album. With every subsequent listen the hidden pop web of each song emerges louder & louder.  At times the vocals by Elvis Costello remind me of a neo-Bowie awkwardness; not exactly pleasant but still perfect.

The music vid for Veronica perfectly complements the awkward sounds & structures of the album with its own awkward cuts, unaligned synching, and dull, off-putting & intriguing visuals.  I've just decided i want this video played at my funeral.


Monday, June 23, 2008

fruhling is not fire in my heart but it may be better than that:

Berlitz Drama - fruhling

This sweet bird song~ is the peak of the wider transylvanian soundwave movement of the 2nd half of the 20th century.  And exists as a prime motivationer and influencer of the post-contemporary pro-synthesizers.  

Music is such fresh air, fresh cool air at that, with crisp ground underneath your feet.  Dirt crackling in the cold.  But unexpected cold.  In fact everything is unexpected.  You never know what will happen.

And oh I feel the heart of this man who sings in the inperceptable language.  His soul speaks to me & his sounds speak to me.  And my heart is moved in the deeply personal cinematic sense


-djm

Sunday, June 22, 2008

"the most sentimental album of 2008"

Photobucket
Someone asked me recently what i thought was the most sentimental album to be released in the NY area this year 2008. I thought about if for a day & then i got back to him with my answer.


I said, "Its got to be poem box drawings."


"And what's that?" asked my female accompanier who was also there.


"Oh its the latest album by Thickly Painted Walls", I answered.


She said it sounded familiar. And in unison they both shouted out, "But is it really that sentimental?!"


I told them them yes. I mean even without the heart wrenching vocals, the sounds alone would be enough to make a grown man weep with sadness and rememberance of a time in his life where things seemed less complicated.


Now was this the intention of the maker? I don't have the answer & perhaps we'll never know.


You must keep in mind that this is a very short collection of songs. And for good reason because it really feels as if it was reduced to is most pure & cutting elements. No water ~ no filler! Just pure chicken?

-djm

Satanists

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