Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Moss: Sub Templum

Hey all,
I've been a little down lately. Perhaps it's for that reason that I haven't been updating as often as I said I would.
Regardless, I have an album for you that has been getting me through these tough first-world white boy problems.*
It's by a little doom metal band called Moss, from Southampton, England.
Just a little disclaimer: this is some HEAVY material. So heavy, in fact, that it lends itself to feeling heavy and lethargic when you listen to it. Paradoxically, listening to it has somewhat expunged the heaviness I've felt in my heart.
But that's just me.
It's hard to write about this album, primarily because so much of it is not based on melody, but on raw feeling.
With that said, "Subterraen" does have a pretty cool riff, when you catch on to it. Especially the little bit where the same chord is played twice, but the second time with feedback.
This album is not for everyone. If the idea of twenty-odd minute songs with almost no semblance of melody or commercial appeal does not sound like your cup of tea, it probably isn't. But for the exceptionally open-minded, I present a cup of a dark, robust brew.
For people who are any two of the three below:
  • advanced-level music listeners**
  • people struggling with their own personal demons
  • stoners
Enjoy, if you dare...

-The Anachronist

Video for Subterraen, and footnotes after the break.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Charles Mingus: The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady

Ladies and gentlemen, I must make a confession before I proceed any further. You see, although I profess myself to be a music aficionado, the fact is...I'm just not a huge fan of jazz.
I like it, don't get me wrong; it's just sort of like hearing poetry in another language. Yeah, on one level, I can appreciate it, but I don't totally "get" it. I don't know. Maybe you have to be an actual jazz musician to get it, or at least just have the ear of one.

With this said...there is one jazz album that I hold near and dear to my heart, and that is Charles Mingus' 1963 opus The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady.

This is a tremendous album that makes me say, forget Davis, even Coltrane; Mingus brings something startling here. This album was apparently composed partially as a ballet, but with swirling cadences are juxtaposed the wails and shouts of a rioting crowd. Or it might as well be one. On the second track, "Duet Solo Dancers", this contrast is best illustrated by...hold on, is that a hardcore drumbeat I'm hearing?!

A lot of jazz these days is synonymous with background music. If you want music to play for your elevator, stay away from this album. You might singe your hand just touching it. But if you want to find out how raw and soulful jazz can be, check this album out. It might just blow your mind.

-The Anachronist

Videos of Track 1, "Solo Dancer", and Track 3, "Group Dancers" after the break.