Sounds and Zounds

When I first heard of the Bang on the Can cover of the classic Brian Eno CD Music for Airports I was very skeptical that anyone could rework this selection of music and bring something new to it without ruining it. After the first listen, I felt like I was hearing this masterpiece for the first time again. They brought something new and creative, bringing it into there world, without destroying the core of the tracks. In the days, of today, when everyone is doing covers, it is nice to hear one that lives up to the original.

More Surprises. At least that is what a long trip to Tanzania will bring out in a ipod. I have for some time been a fan of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan music. This is due mostly to the work he did with Michael Brook before his death. So, before I left I noticed that Gaudi (who I had never heard of before) had done a CD of Dub music with his sing over lad it. At first listen I was not very impressed by it, but I put it on my ipod for a future listen.

On the first night of my trip this CD was found and from that point on every night it became my sleeping music. To note this music is not for everyone. If you do not like the Qawwali chant sound one might feel like it sounds like someone crying, but I find some amazing emotion and peace in this type of music. Plus the mixture of Dub and Qawwali is a pleasant surprise.

When does strange turn to really enjoyable? When there is a cover the song “Brazil” that sends you into Terry Gilliam flash backs?

Cornelius, who yes does a cover of Brazil, is on of the modern artist that I have been watching and “Point” is a very approachable abstract almost dance music that explores music in a no conventional almost noise form. He fits somewhere between “The Books” and Fennesz, playing with loops and pressing on with a message of understand the “point” of view. I have to say I hate “I hate hate” thought I have been caught chuckling at the power cords once, I debate if the song is worth the hard-drive space.

I fall into the more laid back songs, Tone Twilight Zone and Brazil on this CD, but there are treats to be found if you are looking for it… Yes I think that is Fred… that Macintosh voice that visits on the weekends…

Tony Allen for many are three different people. For many listeners of Afro-beat he was the drummer for the late Fela Kuli band, for others he was a powerful Nigeria drummer that has had a successfully solo career and modern listeners think of him as the drummer for The Good, The Bad & The Queen.

HomeCooking is a solo CD that mixes the Afro-beat funk with a fusion of smart London hip-hop. It foundation is a very powerful bass and bass drum selection of songs that at times remind me Holger Czukay and then of Lilly Allen (no relation) . Though for the most part it is beats and hip-hop that has the underline theme of self awareness.

Somehow over the years I have collected more Tom Waits Records and CD,s than any other artist in my collection. It is kind of a strange, since I really have not been enjoy his work recently. But with the hopes of hearing some lost tracks from Franks Wild Years I download the 56 Track Orphans.

There is so much music here, at times too much music. The tracks seem mostly come from the vain of his more bluesy Mule Variations. Though there is some really nice story telling tracks like Missing My Son and Pontiac which remind me on what a amazing observer of life Mr. Waits is. I am glad to have the collection, but it is hard to listen to top to bottom, but a joy to listen to in the shuffle.

Sometimes the second or third CD from a artist disappoints, they get trapped in what got them there. This is one of the times that I really feel like I am listening to the artist grow, and I like what I am hearing. On “Until We Felt Red” Kaki has a band, and the sound and power bring me into a great moments of highs and lows with power and grundge and picking and peace. Kaki pulls on some of the more intriguing parts of her past CD’s her sultry vocals and masterfull guitar work. I have not had the time to dig threw the lyrics but so far I think they are a hit. At one point I would describe Kaki King and a Michael Hedges like musician, I can no longer say that with this CD. Kaki King is Kaki King.