Music, Music and more Music
Some interesting data from my 2 music platforms that I primarily use besides Bandcamp. I always feel the data is a bit off when it comes to specific tracks. Songs that I know were on massive repeat don’t show up, while other do. That’s why my end of year lists are always excruciatingly manual, compiled across 3 platforms. Nevertheless, always interesting to see what a computer thinks of my music habits.
19,616 total minutes
1,422 different artists
And they actually plan to perform live in September?
New Slowdive album out on Nov 1. We had to wait less for this one than the 22 years for the self-titled gem that came out in 2017. The single “Kisses” makes this release quite promising.
Anything Mark Linkous touched was simply beautiful. He left this world much too soon. He died by suicide in 2010 and there hasn’t been a lot of material that’s been found other than some collaborations with Danger Mouse & MF Doom. His family has been managing his estate and have worked to get a new EP out entitled Bird Machine later this year.
2023 is starting off with wonderful new tunes to wash away the forgettable year of music we had in 22.
Already have some contenders for albums of the year this early.
New Pornographers are back, but so far they are following the same pattern of the last few albums of having some gems surrounded by blasé tracks.
The new Liturgy has already stunned me for repeat listens.
The new Caroline Palochek album is already a top album of the year.
Not one but two albums from Skrillex. Quite different with 1 being well worth the listen.
There isn’t a bad track from the new Japanese House.
I’ve been a John Vanderslice fan since ’99 and throughout his “424” album phase. It’s been awhile that his music has caught my attention but this CRYSTALS album has been quite unique and abstract in all the right ways.
Slowthai is back with some incredible tracks.
Initial tracks from the JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown prove promising.
Ooooo new Junip? Please let it be so.
It has been almost 10 years since we’ve gotten a new Blonde Redhead album. Single sounds unmistakably like their old selves, so I’m eager to hear the rest from their 10th release.
New Nation of Language isn’t hitting as hard as their previous material but I’ll take it.
Absolutely loving the new Indigo De Souza
Sad news. Japanese composer and electronic pioneer passed away today of cancer. I met Ryuichi under unique circumstances. I was working at the Knitting Factory when my team crafted a unique festival idea to spotlight the soundtracks behind our favorite films. My dual passion for film & music being fulfilled, we planned a multi day festival and a documentary. Lugging around my camera equipment and light gear, I set off to interview a musician I wasn’t that familiar with. He invited me into his music studio which had an immediate brightness and warm feeling imbuing from it. I was surrounded floor to ceiling of stacks of cd’s and records. His studio validated my obsessive collection of music which was overflowing from every room in my parent’s house. I felt at ease with another musicphile. Immediately I became overwhelmed with his love and study of music. We chatted for a long time after the interview ended off camera with no rush to kick this naive kid out of his home.
A few weeks later we booked Ryuichi to play on our main stage. I was surprised that it sold out faster than our other acts. Simply with his piano, he had built such an emotional tension, that by halfway into his set the room began to cry. It was the first time I had ever witnessed such a reaction from a crowd, and by the end of it, I was overcome as well.
Goodbye Ryuichi. Thank you for all the amazing music you created and making me realize there is so much more out there in the world. Thank you for your advice and kind words during a formidable time in my career.
“The world is full of sounds. We just don’t usually hear them as music.”
– Ryuichi Sakamoto