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Post by Offering on Jul 8, 2015 13:56:11 GMT -5
For this summer the new Dreamers is surely fun Pellucidar ! Just listening to this for the first time and ... yeuch! This could be a listen-to-only-once slab of cheese. Only the last track, "Jewels of Opar" sounds on first acquaintance to be worth revisiting. I felt like this at first (who really needs another Dreamers album?, etc) but I've found myself enjoying it about four times already. Yes it treads the same steps as all their previous work, but it is really enjoyable! No need for any more Dreamers music though, in my opinion. Or Masada music, now we're talking about it.
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Post by Offering on Feb 12, 2015 15:37:11 GMT -5
As for Valentine's Day / Enigmata, I think overall I prefer VD. I think that criticism may have come off as more severe than you intended! Valentine's Day has got to be drums recorded on the original Enigmata tracks, surely? The timing is way too similar for them to have re-recorded the pieces, and the original recording of Enigmata has a credit to John Zorn for conducting. On the credits for Valentine's Day it says "Recorded March 2010/June 2014 and mixed July 2014" so that seems to settle it. Mind you, it sounds almost trivial when put like that, but Sorey must have been playing out of his skin to put drums to improvisations that didn't originally have them. Coming back to Olympiad, the composition dates seem to be off somewhere. If you compare the list given in the Tzadik Cobra with the dates on the Dither album, you get the following: Curling (1977 according to both) Hockey (1978 according to Cobra notes, 1977 according to Dither) Fencing (1978 according to Cobra notes, 1976 according to Dither) I'm thinking that the new dates are probably authoritative. On my wishlist for the future volumes of Olympiad would therefore be the following pre- Cobra game pieces that do not seem to have been recorded (or at least, not currently available): (Klarina) - Baseball - Dominoes - Golf - Cricket Tennis - Track And Field - Jai Alai - Go - Croquet - (Sebastapol) - Rugby Klarina and Sebastopol may not count for this project of course as, to the best of my knowledge, they are not named after games or sports. Oh yeah, I hope future volumes do appear. Sadly, the "Game Pieces" series fizzled out, and the promise of key Naked CIty live shows has only reached one volume so far, and that was years ago! Here's hoping though. I bought the download of Valentine's Day, so didn't have that information in front of me. In that case, as you said, what a task for Tyshawn Sorey! Jesus, get your head round that music, let alone compose drums to it! Damn... Sarah - I'm jealous. It's going to be a storming set.
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Post by Offering on Feb 12, 2015 6:34:16 GMT -5
Well I don't need to be convinced.. and since I'm missing this week at the Vanguard, I'll try to compensate and give it a try, as well as Sonic Rivers and Valentine's day, which I didn't pick up earlier. Does the Olimpiad cd come with some explanatory text/notes? There's more explanation than is usual on a Zorn album thanks to some notes by James Moore, but without a reproduction of the score and copious annotation a general listener is never going to understand these pieces beyond what can be pieced together from listening. By the way, for what it's worth, I skipped Sonic Rivers but found Valentine's Day very hard going: it's a "better" reading of the same pieces than Enigmata, but you'd have to be a big fan of Enigmata to need it. If anyone has comments on Sonic Rivers I'd be interested to hear them. I really enjoyed Sonic Rivers. That said, I really love Wadada Leo Smith's playing, so am always interested in hearing any of his work. He puts out quite a lot though, and some of it is difficult to obtain (certainly here in the UK at least). As for Valentine's Day / Enigmata, I think overall I prefer VD. Since it came out I've been trying to compare the tunes on each record together, but with no real success! I'm still curious as to how Valentine's Day was put together though. Did Tyshawn Sorey just have Enigmata to work from and constructed his part solely around that album, or did Ribot and Dunn re-record their parts from scratch live with TS? I'd be curious to know. Definitely going to pick up Olympiad too. I've always enjoyed Zorn's game pieces and it's encouraging to read your positive thoughts on it. I admit I do have to be in the mood for such works, but when I am nothing comes close!
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Post by Offering on Dec 16, 2014 15:03:58 GMT -5
Good news! Definitely one of the Zorn ensembles I'd like to see. Hopefully a UK show!
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Post by Offering on Oct 7, 2014 2:04:36 GMT -5
Hmm... DMG always flat out refused to write "gift" on their packages. My record customs fee was £40 and they hadn't even opened the package. Awesome.
I totally respect those that collect the physical product, and I truly love Chippy's art. The simple fact is that many people just want the music (the most important part). It's an age old discussion and one that we won't ever solve. I'm just annoyed as I want to check out the new Zorn records! It is no wonder people download illegally, which is another reason why they should do their own downloads.
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Post by Offering on Oct 6, 2014 14:22:32 GMT -5
I really want to check out Dream Membrane, but I don't want to purchase the actual disc and incur import duties. Amazon don't have it listed for download, and Valentine's Day is grossly overpirced for MP3s. Seriously, the Tzadik business plan is pretty ridiculous in 2014 - especially in the age of Bandcamp, where not only can bands sell physical copies of both vinyl and CD, but also sell digital in various bitrates including .FLAC AND also sell merch there too. With the band taking all the money directly.
And here's Tzadik, not only with NO digital facility on their outdated website (which would make them a TON of extra income), but still ONLY peddling compact discs. Great if you live in the USA and collects CDs I guess.
LUDICROUS!
(Rant over)
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Post by Offering on Sept 5, 2014 12:59:43 GMT -5
Has anyone here heard The Testament Of Solomon? Hard to tell from the excerpts on Amazon, is it worth checking out if I wasn't overly fond of the previous Gnostic albums?
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Post by Offering on Aug 24, 2014 10:00:46 GMT -5
Oh, and Adramelech is awesome. Definitely one of the more exciting BOA volumes. Listened twice now and love it.
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Post by Offering on Aug 24, 2014 9:59:38 GMT -5
I received both Adramelech and Leaves a couple of days ago, both sound amazing, but for the moment Leaves is on repeat all day long... Are you guys planning on buying Valentine's day? Will Sorey make it much more different than Enigmata to justify another 15 bucks? Mrrrhm... I'll buy it, it sounds interesting! Enigmata is great, but it's a difficult listen. Not sure if adding drums to it will make it an easier listen, but it's certainly a tasty thought. I wonder how TS has gone about adding the parts to it? Left to his own devices or guided / scored by JZ?
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Post by Offering on Aug 22, 2014 14:51:55 GMT -5
Purchased the Zion 80 for listening tomorrow. Love the samples I've heard so far!
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Post by Offering on Aug 15, 2014 4:57:50 GMT -5
See, I'm the opposite. I don't really care for physical CDs at all nowadays. Of course Tzadik releases always looks awesome, but personally for me it is only about the music. For years I collected and archived CDs, until the literally took over my house. Now I appreciate the artwork and packaging, but just choose not to buy it.
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Post by Offering on Aug 14, 2014 11:03:51 GMT -5
Wow, people posting!
Re the new releases, I'm yet to buy Adramalech though I plan to soon. Myth & Myopiea I think is fantastic. Definitely my favourite so far this year.
Agreed about Leaves... - it reminded me of Alhambra at times too. Definitely more sedate than the previous Nova albums, but it's just as entertaining. I hope Zorn doesn't continue writing this way for them though, I certainly prefer the more frenetic music of Dreamachines, and this "nice" stuff is more than catered for elsewhere in Zorn's ouvre. Wolleson is on fire!
In The Hall Of Mirrors I enjoy too. Tyshawn Sorey is the man. His solo albums are worth checking out if you haven't heard them already. He is an absolute master. Great news that he is also featured on another of Zorn's upcoming albums.
I'm not too fussed over the upcoming Gnostic album. Their previous two, although lovely and brilliantly played seldom get airings here. Too safe!
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Post by Offering on Mar 23, 2014 4:56:38 GMT -5
Awesome review(s) Sarah! What a night that must have been, all those bands and musicians. You're lucky! I think it's cool that Zorn himself knows when enough is enough too - it's not like he is ever short of ideas anyway, and also the releases and music will still live on and be played!
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Post by Offering on Mar 5, 2014 16:13:48 GMT -5
Added a Merzbow kickstarter reward thingie... "Pledge $200 or more - You will receive a very special lathe-cut clear 7" record by legendary Japanese recording artist, activist, author, and vegan Merzbow entitled "Pulse Vegan," recorded especially for us! Released on Colin's Elevator Bath label, this is a limited edition of 26 lettered copies, only 20 of which are offered to the public. The record will be packaged in an intricately unique die-cut, laser-engraved, wooden sleeve, handmade by Colin. Each copy will feature a print of a beautiful collage by Masami Akita (Merzbow) as well as a code for free digital downloads of the 7" songs. This record (and these two songs) are not physically available anywhere else! Also included is a voucher for one free sandwich (voucher must be redeemed in person, at Pulse Vegan) and our heartfelt thanks! Limited (6 of 20 remaining)" Wow, I'm glad I am no longer a hardcore Merz-collector or I'd have to have that 7"! Great idea though, looks like a worthy business venture.
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Post by Offering on Feb 22, 2014 11:34:47 GMT -5
I will purchase this. Digitally though. It's awesome that the artwork is great, and that it is available on disc should people want to buy it. Tzadik is missing a big trick by not having their albums available for download on the site. Also Bandcamp, Soundcloud etc. - Tzadik would benefit greatlyfrom putting the catalogue on these.
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