Here We Go Magic’s new CD Pigeons many not be for everyone, but there is something here that I am really enjoying. The texture, the highs and lows. It just seems to fit the place that I am in today.

Best CD for Air travel: Sigur Ros – Anything after ()

Best song that brings me instantly back to Tanzania: Gaudi – Bethe Bethe Kese Kese

Best song that asked me a question that I wanted answered: Daniel Lanois – Where Will I Be

Best CD that I avoided for to long: Radiohead – In Rainbows

Best CD that I wish I wrote: Brian Eno – Another Day on Earth

Best CD with the craziest vocal manifestations: Zawose – Assembly

Best time machine back to old europe: Beirut – Gulag Orkestar

Best frat boy sound: Vampire Weekend

Best aleatoric music: The Books – Lost and Safe

Best song most likely written about my good days: Colin Hay – Beautiful World

Best song most likely written about my bad days: Chris Letcher – Harmonium

Most anticipated let down: Robert Fripp – Exposure (reissue)

Best historic rumor to come true: Brian Wilson – SMiLE

Best singer song writer that used  Condoleezza in a song: Robyn Hitchcock – Spooked

Best mass media music if someone knew who he was: Magnet – On Your Side

Best hidden anger management I just got divorced & we just went to war: Nine Horses – Snow Borne Sorrow

Best Resurgence of the 80’s sound of pop: The Postal Service – Give Up

Most impact on opening the musical sound of Africa to popular culture: Amadou & Mariam – Dimanche a Bamako

Master class: David Sylvian – Dead Bees On A Cake

The Brian Eno atmospheric music award: Fennesz – Venice

Most missed guitarist under 100lb (RIP Chris): Chris Whitley & Jeff Lang – Dislocation Blues

Most missed guitarist over 100lb (RIP Joe): Joe Strummer – Global A Go-Go

Best CD of the Decade: The Arcade Fire – Funeral

Ah, It has been awhile my music friends. please expect my apologies for not posting more, I have been focused on larger projects of change.

I though wanted to pass on the summer mix (a little late) that was given to the Magnificent 7 this year. I hope you enjoy, best listened in this order.

What Now, What Next (anything is possible)

1. Chest Of Drawers / Daniel Lanois 0:24

2. Transit Lounge / Crowded House 4:26

3. Good Morning Good Morning / Steel Pulse 2:50

4. Advent In Ives Garden / Sin Fang Bous 3:07

5. Daylight / Matt and Kim 2:51

6. Reckoner / Radiohead 4:50

7. St. Peter’s Day Festival / Ra Ra Riot 3:36

8. Cello Song / The Books 3:54

9. Dirt On Your New Shoes / Bishop Allen 2:45

10. Talk About the Passion / R.E.M. 3:24

11. Art / Tanya Davis 2:52

12. The Concubine / Beirut 3:30

13. All the First Pages / Anathallo 5:18

14. Supermellofied / Peter And The Wolf 3:06

15. Drowning Man / U2 4:15

16. Tunnelvision / Here We Go Magic 4:24

17. Ah…, I See / The Books 0:21

18. God Only Knows / Cornelius 4:57

Patrick Watson new CD Wooden Arm is a brilliant selection of well crafted songs. Now, I have to say this seems more like a fall collection of songs than spring, but the last few days of rain and fog it feels very much at home with nature right now.

Cello’s bello in and out, harmonized singing, textured sounds and a percussion selection that is not to far out, but walks on a very creative line of rhythms. I highly suggest this CD, if you are looking for a low key selection of songs for a raining day or to play in the background of a working day.

Two weeks ago a gave a talk about my trip and book about Tanzania. One of the subject that hit the cutting room floor for this talk was music or more importantly what was going through my head sonically.

There were many times that I heard a song from “Moonlight In Glory” from the the CD Life in a Bush of Ghosts. There is a speaking part toward the end of the song that I was reminded of almost daily. “Please Mama, Can we stay the night here, we are far from home…”

Another song was Bethe Bethe Kese Kese from the CD Dub Qawwali, which is just that, remixed Qawwali lyrics by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan with a Jamaican dub sound. Yes, it sounds strange, but I have really enjoyed this track.

Then I am left with The Marsh from the CD Whitewater, it is an amazing track acoustic guitar work, with the many highs and lows that take me on a ride of joy, happiness and reflection.

This is a collection of songs that 4AD has released with profits benefitting the Red Hot Organization – an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS.
Dark was the night, has something for everyone. It really is a who’s who of alternative music. The first disc I am really enjoying the tracks Train Song, Cello Song and Knotty Pine, but I for see that it will be only a matter of time that the rest starts growing on me.

Yep, listen. There is something here that is about to break out into brilliance.
If you are from Cape Ann, you should download it, for all the cross references to our lives and the understanding of the underling stories.
Thought the stories were not what caught me, it was the Kate Bush cover of Suspended In Gaffa, it is brilliant. If you are a fan of Vampire Weekend, run, don’t walk and take a listen.

And I leave you with some of the lyrics of “St. Peter’s Day Festival”

If I go to Gloucester you know I will
wait there for you
The Rhumb Line is waiting there too
you know it’s worth the nights we wait there
it all falls apart, apart
come on
come on

Brian Eno and David Byrne are coming out with a new CD this month.
Byrne is going on tour with the new music and they have offered a free track for your e-mail address. Well worth the e-mails, it’s a great track.

Learn more and get the free track at their new website.

http://www.everythingthathappens.com/

Till then – let the beat go on.

Welcome guys!

-Eoin