DeBaser's Inimitable Listening List

Very often #zot2017 equals beautiful, stunning records. Like in this case here.

Saz'iso? – At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me (The Joys and Sorrows of Southern Albanian Song) (Glitterbeat, October 13, 2017)

Clearly one of the most interesting albums released in 2017, and it would be a crime not to revisit it. The label, of course, is Glitterbeat (God bless it). It all started from an idea by the historic producer Joe Boyd (Pink Floyd and Nick Drake among others) and his collaborators Edit Pola and Andrea Goertler, with the blessing of a great like Ry Cooder. Saz'iso is a collective of virtuoso musicians and performers that I would define as essential (Adrianna Thanou, Donika Pecallari, and the Orthodox priest Robert Tralo) for the musical heritage of southern Albania. If we historically and geographically contextualize "At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me (The Joys and Sorrows of Southern Albanian Song)," we cannot consider this album merely an episode of ethnic music (a definition I personally despise) or folkloristic music. Instead, it is a true work of "world music," where this definition implies contamination and a cultural vision that goes beyond its own borders, with the content of the songs mostly tragic and about stories of longing and abandonment. But this is inevitable for artists who have a very particular history behind them, as we could also define the "particular" history of Albania and the entire region, especially since the nineties. Many of these musicians have been forced to stay away from their homeland for a long time. Adrianna Thanou and Donika Pecallari lived for decades in Greece due to the ostracism of Enver Hoxha, and the violinist Aurel Qurjo can be considered a true wanderer... It's difficult to select specific highlights from this beautiful album, where instrumental tracks like "Kaba me violine," "Valle minushi," "Valle e osman" stand out, particularly showcasing Qurjo's violin, reminiscent of both Albanian music and Middle Eastern and almost "Gypsy" sounds, as well as the qualities of the other musicians: the clarinet of Telando Feto, the percussion of Agron Nasi, the lute of Agron Murat, and the flute of Pellumb Meta. But the most evocative moments feature Adrianna Thanou and Donika Pecallari, starting with "Nenocke," "Penxherene e zotrise"... performances that are reinforced by the voice of Robert Tralo, which contrasts beautifully with the tones of the two vocalists. The result is an album rich in hypnotism and sometimes obsessive rhythms, especially thanks to the lute's contribution, filled with emotional and dramatic moments but all expressed with a certain elegance, light-years away from that noisy sound in the style of Goran Bregovic, which in the end has somewhat worn us all out.

#folk #worldmu

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perfect element

10 jan 18

DeRank™: 0,00

Engine - Falling Star

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R13572432

10 jan 18

DeRank™: 4,77

Metal from Rising Sun n.6

earthshaker - more

Earthshaker is a Japanese heavy metal band formed in Osaka in 1978. Initially, their music was very similar in style to their compatriots Loudness and Anthem, before moving to a more pop sound (utilizing keyboards and synth) in subsequent albums. They preferred to record and tour in their home country rather than aiming for worldwide success. The song "Dark Angel" from their debut album was written by Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden. In 1986, they managed to perform at Nippon Budokan, becoming the first Japanese heavy metal band to do so. After several years of success, in 1994 they decided to disband due to musical differences. After the breakup, the individual members formed various bands; for example, Yoshihiro Kudo joined Niji Densetsu, a well-regarded tribute band to Rainbow, which included among its members the Anthem and Powernude singer Yukio Morikawa, as well as Akira Kajiyama. The Ex-Rainbow members Joe Lynn Turner and David Rosenthal also participated in the project as guest performers. In 1999, Earthshaker reunited and continues to release albums to this day.

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imasoulman

10 jan 18

DeRank™: 9,96

"Let's Gimmie Indie Rock!" - that is: when rock fought the Wars of Independence (and often won) (54)
Squirrel Bait - Skag Heaven (1987) + Squirrel Bait EP (1985) - full album

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sotomayor

10 jan 18

DeRank™: 0,00

Apparently, the best French are always Algerians. Aside from Claire Keim, whom I saw last night in a movie and honestly, I would have her in any position possible (ah, those French ladies...). Now, joking aside, I propose a nice avant-garde record for the #buzz collection, which is actually a "compilation" containing two masterpieces by Franco-Algerian artist Jean Cohen-Solal, brother of the legendary Robert Cohen-Solal, and suggested to me by the legendary @ALFAMA. Enjoy the listening.

Jean Cohen-Solal - Flutes Libres & Captain Tarthopom (MIO Records, 1973)

Jean Cohen-Solal is the brother of Robert Cohen-Solal, historically considered one of the leading figures of the French avant-garde. Born to an Algerian family in Nîmes, Jean studied music at the National Academy from the late fifties to the early sixties, specializing particularly in flute studies. Involved in countless projects since the mid-sixties, between 1972 and 1973 he produced these two albums "FLutes Libres" and "Captain Tarthopom," which are collected here in a single volume. The two records can be considered as psychedelic fusion compositions in which Jean clearly demonstrates being a virtuoso of the instrument in songs where the central role of the flute accompanies and guides neo-classical ambient compositions ("Matiere") sometimes dense with a certain tropicalism like "Ludions" or influenced by Indian sounds in "Raga DU Matin," progressive psychedelic moments like "Fossette Surprise" or "Ad Hoc Et Ab Hac." The most significant moments are undoubtedly the long minimalist ambient session of "Quelqu'un," the jazz fusion of "Concerto Cyclique," and the more minimalist and ecstatic vibe of "Memories d'un ventricule." Nevertheless, all compositions showcase the musicians’ remarkable technical qualities. It's worth noting the central role of the bass and drums that engage both in high-level technical moments and by showing a certain predisposition towards avant-garde and experimentalism, along with the collaboration of Serge Franklin on sitar and Marc Chantereau on tabla.

#experimental #progressive #avantgarde

Concerto Cyclique - Jean Cohen Solal