Category Archives: Music

What’s New for the 18th of September: a story from Kage Baker, new music from Bua and Iron Horse, a new novel from Peter Beagle, a new collection from Patricia McKillip, a “cowboy” movie, Welsh sort of trad music, Indonesian sort of trad music, American pop and several other things as well

At no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, … Continue reading

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Various Artists, Gamelan of Central Java, Volume VIII: Court Music Treasures/ Gamelan of Central Java IX: Songs of Wisdom and Love

Volume VIII of the excellent and ongoing series of Central Javanese Gamelan produced by John Noise Manis is a pendant to the sixth volume, subtitled Kraton Surakarta. It represents an elaboration on the classical traditions of Javanese court music and, … Continue reading

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Jakob Bro’s Streams

Streams by Danish guitarist Jakob Bro’s trio, is a beautifully flowing project featuring the young American bassist Thomas Morgan and the veteran drummer Joey Baron on the skins, replacing Jon Christensen, who played on Bro’s previous trio outing Gefion. Even … Continue reading

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Billy Bragg & Joe Henry’s Shine a Light

When you speak of the Great American Songbook, you’re usually talking about the so-called standards, penned mostly in the 1930s and ’40s by the likes of the Gershwins, Berlin, Porter, Johnny Mercer, Ellington, et. al., and popularized by Sinatra, Ella … Continue reading

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Joe K. Walsh’s Borderland

Creating new music from old traditions is the hallmark of roots music anywhere in the world. And it’s what Joe K. Walsh does on his debut solo album Borderland. This mandolinist, songwriter and singer has been active in the Americana … Continue reading

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The Weavers’ The Best of the Vanguard Years

“What are you listening to?” my wife asked me in an incredulous tone of voice. I was listening to The Weavers singing “On Top of Old Smoky,” one of the priceless tracks on this collection, The Best of the Vanguard Years. I suspect … Continue reading

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What’s New for the 11th of September: Chicago’s Lincoln Park Conservatory, an Oysterband retrospective collection, contemporary Estonian music, a Swedish porridge restaurant, a Tam Lin novel, card catalogues and other matters…

I can remember the title, author, and location of every book in this library, Matthew. Every book that’s ever been dreamed. Every book that’s ever been imagined. Every book that’s ever been lost. Millions upon millions of them. That’s what … Continue reading

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Arvo Pärt’s The Deer’s Cry

I first ran across the music of Arvo Pärt many years ago, in a coffee shop owned by a man whose taste in music was as eclectic as my own. It was the Passio, and I was intrigued enough that … Continue reading

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Arvo Pärt’s Passio

Arvo Pärt’s Passio was the first recording of his music that I owned. It may very well have been the first available in the U.S. For one entire summer it was my beach music — I tended to go to … Continue reading

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Fred Hellerman RIP

Howlin’ Wuelf Media Fred Hellerman, the last surviving member of The Weavers has passed away. The NY Times ran a lovely and informative account of his and the band’s career mentioning the role Alan Lomax played in their ascent from … Continue reading

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