JohnOfPatmos

I'm ignorant both about the record and the label. But the review, that's what I rate, absolutely. But when will you review a record by "esangui desolazioni," odradek?

Thank you again, Kafkaesque spool. Perhaps life is truly a constant exposing of oneself, a continual offering of the flank, a continuous putting oneself on the line, and maybe sometimes (I'm not sure if it's really right, though; I'm not very evangelical these days!) turning the other cheek. It wasn't easy for me to "understand" this album right away, but in the end, I managed to get there. It was an epidermal sensation that I can now grasp, distinct and beautiful, listen after listen. Warm regards and see you soon, JoP. PS Speaking of "turning the other cheek," I thank the Christian up there for so thoroughly and exhaustively motivating the reasons for his vote for both the album and the review! :))

Ah, the Jupiter! A breath of life that we sometimes need!! Well done, Grass, for bringing the splendid "Molto Allegro" finale into the right light, which was also a soundtrack of my distant youth! :)) PS Anyway, I really miss the great Lenny!!

The album is truly a masterpiece; the review does it no justice at all. Curtis's sadness was a demiurgic and proactive sadness, something that absolutely does not come through in the review. A sadness that is also "seminal," if you will, especially because it is from the seeds of that sadness and that "mood," more than from the sound of the JD, that many other bands have taken root. And without Jan, New Order were something entirely different, much less incisive and convincing. This is precisely because Ian's seemingly "overwhelming" sadness was, in fact, the lifeblood for the band. Always the fragile boundary between despair and extreme joy. Creatively generative, indeed. I do agree, however, that the album is unmissable, indeed essential.

An essential review that perfectly expresses the spirit of this "mythical" quartet. The theme is the eternal one of division (always subtle) between life-death, joy-pain, precariousness-certainty. And in the end, what Schubert wants to convey with this work is precisely the idea of overcoming pain in a kind of "nirvana" (in the manner of Schopenhauer) characterized by the annulment of desire, where the image of death transforms into that, sweeter yet no less haunting, of woman. I am not familiar with this edition, but I trust Lello's choice, as usual. A warm greeting to the entire "loggione" of DeB. JoP

By mistake, I voted for the review, but the 5 is for the album, as obvious!

Hello Wanderer, hello Kurz, and thanks for the visit! I think this album is more challenging compared to the "Psalms." It's also more heterogeneous (and perhaps, in this particular aspect, this CD is more typically Schnittke). Personally, I love both, but if I had to choose between the two albums, I would lean towards the psalms. That work is simply too monumental and important, leaving one truly speechless with its greatness, breadth, and inner depth. Perhaps in Schnittke's oeuvre, only the "Concerto for Choir" reaches greater heights. Anyway, this CD features the quintet which is also impressive!! But not least: this "Chamber Music" costs less, being a Naxos compared to the very expensive ECM :)) Thanks again and see you soon! JoP

Many thanks, josi_ :)) Sofia is also among my future goals!

But it's not just a problem of song selection, kosmo. There are too many things wrong with this record (which, I reiterate, is not to be entirely condemned, quite the opposite). The problem is that bringing Will Oldham's voice into such an electronic context, with so many reverbs... well, it ends up drowning it out, even annoying (a lot) for someone used to the alternative (without punk) sounds of BPB. Everything here seems a bit over the top, and in the end, it sounds (almost) all fake, except for "Thunder Road," where you can tell there's a certain discourse behind it: Will's voice, some bass lines resonating deep and haunting. The best cover album by Oldham remains perhaps the obscure "More Revery," credited simply to "Bonny Billy." I thought about it a bit while re-listening to it tonight, and for me, the rating for the album could be at most a two. Anyway, we forgive Will everything, as obvious! Even this "escapade," in my opinion, didn't quite succeed. Hello everyone, JoP

Unreviewable review for an unreviewable album (actually, I would have liked to review it myself, but then I preferred to let it go...). Partly it's a commercial operation (but for whom? Certainly not for BPB fans or Tortoise fans), partly snobbery, partly a fall from grace, even if (it’s undeniable) there are some (rare) beautiful moments that can be found on this record. The opener "Cravo E Canela" is unrecognizable, the poor Milton is turning in his grave... while "Thunder Road" would be perfect if it didn’t have that truly unbearable introduction. Anyway, at least in this latter track the soul of Will Oldham shines through, while everything else on this Tortoise album does not. Many other pieces are questionable or frankly useless (Daniel, Love is Love). Advisable (and perhaps appreciable) only if one is under the influence of alcohol, not to mention worse :) JoP