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Fanfarlo Winter Tour // Symphony of Science

6th Jan 10 (Wed) Leave a comment

So, I missed the last Fanfarlo U.S. tour… but that’s OK, they coming through again… yippie…

U.S. Winter 2010 Tour

February 20 – El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, CA
February 22
Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA
February 23
Doug Fir Portland, OR
February 24
Crocodile Café Seattle, WA
February 25
Knitting Factory Spokane, WA
February 27
Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT
February 28
Larimer Lounge Denver, CO

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In other news, there’s a new Symphony of Science song / video out.  It is “The Unbroken Thread,” featuring Carl Sagan (yet again), along with David Attenborough and Jane Goodall, and it is biology themed.  The clips used in this installment come from Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, David Attenborough’s Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life, The Life of Mammals, The Living Planet, BBC Life, XVIVO Scientific Animations, IMAX Cosmic Voyage, Jane Goodall’s TED Talk, and a clever Guinness Commercial. The themes present in this song attempt to explore the wild diversity of life on our planet, the intricacy and origin of its mechanisms, and its close relation to all other life forms.

If you don’t know what Symphony of Science is… it started with “A Glorious Dawn” with Carl Sagan (from Cosmos).  It’s a brilliant auto-tuned mashup, and they also released it on vinyl (best of the year for me in 2009).  You can download the mp3s of the various songs over at the SOS site.

~Dan – np: Good for CowsBebop Fantasy
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Floss // Steven Wilson

6th Jan 10 (Wed) Leave a comment

2010… rollin’ in with some music news…

Floss, a jazz band that is part of Seattle’s Monktail Creative Music Concern, has a new album out called Vitamin A.  It’s for sale at their shows… or for a limited time as a freebie on their website.  Download it, and if you like what you hear, send them some coin (buy it)!

http://monktail.com/monknew/blog/archives/105

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Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson started his Cover Versions singles (CDR and 7″ vinyl) back in 2005.  They are always one new SW song and one “mysterious” cover version (CV1 was Alanis Morissette’s “Thank You”).  Coming the next few months will be the 6th and final CV release, complete with a box to house all six.  SWHQ/Headphone Dust will have the CDs once available (no conclusive date was mentioned – – but the original SW song “An End to End” is now streaming on his MySpace page).  ToneFloat Records will have the CV5 & CV6 vinyl singles once released.

~Dan – np: Medeski Martin & WoodLive at Moog

2010 anticipated albums

30th Dec 09 (Wed) Leave a comment

So, the year end and decade end recaps are in process (the monkeys I ordered are in the back room typing away) … I needed something to fill the gap… here are some artists who are expecting to release new material in 2010, all of which I’m looking forward to…




The Album Leaf‘s A Chorus of Storytellers, My Brightest Diamond‘s Shark Remixes box set, Go from Jónsi Birgisson of Sigur Rós, French singer Jeanne Cherhal‘s Charade, George Hrab‘s Trebuchet, 12 new albums from John Zorn, Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane and hopefully Crudo (if they’re both not put off due to Faith No More reunion touring), Derek Webb‘s Democracy Vol 1 (and he’s even recording with Caedmon’s Call for a 2010 release or two), guitar phenom Kaki King, maybe the Secret Chiefs 3 will finally release Book of Souls (it’s their “Chinese Democracy”), Eisley & Perma (a side project with Sherri from Eisley), Ellery from Cincinnati, Ty Tabor of King’s X, A.N.M. featuring Doug Pinnick of King’s X and Jimi Hazel of 24-7 Spyz, Ken Andrew and Co’s Digital Noise Academy, Trent Reznor’s just announced new Nine Inch Nails album, Silverchair are working on one, Radiohead are hitting the studio (maybe something out by year’s end), and… Ani DiFranco – I mean, it’s inevitable… right?

Plus many more great albums due out in 2010, I’m sure.

~Dan – np: Skerik / Dead Kenny G’sBewildered Herd

Jazz is not hindered by boundaries, Wynton!

21st Dec 09 (Mon) 4 comments

Wynton Marsalis photo by Steve Mack

An open letter to Wynton Marsalis, self-professed “CEO of Jazz,” in response to this article:

Wynton Marsalis seeks purist fan . . .

The legendary jazz musician wants to give a present to the jazz buff in Spain who complained to the police that the music at a gig wasn’t ‘jazz’ – and has asked the Guardian to find him. Problem is, we can’t . . .
{read more of Giles Tremlett’s article from The Guardian UK}

While I enjoy much (if not all) of your catalogue, while I will likely continue to enjoy your future work, and while I will likely continue to go see you if you swing through my town – sometimes you are a close-minded nitwit.

Regardless of the fact that you may play what some to be considered “true jazz” that fits more with the founding New Orleans sound, you and your music do not define the genre.  Jazz is not something that is defined so narrowly.

For the sake of the artform, shut up, Wynton.  Quit trying to trumpet from the mountain-top that jazz is limited to that which you want it to be limited.

Free jazz and avant-garde/experimental jazz aren’t supposed to be called jazz?  Fine, that’s your opinion.  Just quit being such a pompous jerk about it.

Sincerely,
Daniel Temmesfeld

np: Dave DouglasA Single Sky 

Kim Taylor – Little Miracle

21st Dec 09 (Mon) 1 comment

Cincinnati artist Kim Taylor just put out her latest full length, Little Miracle (and I mean “just”).  It’s digital only at this time (but DRM free)… pick it up via her Nimbit store at http://kim-taylor.net/

I’ll be picking it up tonight when I get home… and you know what this means?  My Top 25 for 2009 is not done (crap – I just finished it yesterday).  Eh, it just means my current #25 (U2‘s No Line on the Horizon) is very likely getting bumped.

Support indie music!  With Kim Taylor, you can’t go wrong!  Srsly.

~Dan – np: SF Jazz Collective2009 

Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 1

21st Dec 09 (Mon) 5 comments

Before I get started… happy birthday, Frank Zappa!  Ya hozna!

OK, now on to the music news…

Derek Webb, whose Stockholm Syndrome is seriously gonna rank well in my soon-comingBest of / Favorite CDs of 2009” list, is doing something new for 2010.  He’s going to have a subscription music deal where he digitally releases cover songs each month… and subscribers get to pick the songs.  People who bought/buy a limited edition of Stockholm Syndrome over at the DW store got first crack at selections.

I already put in my votes a couple days ago… Chroma Key‘s “Colorblind” (longshot due to obscurity), Tori Amos‘ “Crucify” (that would pwn), and I think jokingly I put Opeth‘s “Blackwater Park” (even more of a longshot) – but I forget if I recanted and switched at the last minute to something else.  I’m pulling for a “Crucify” cover by Derek – I think he’d do it justice.

The cover songs will likely be a more stripped down, singer-songwriter style when compared to his 2009 record… but those are his roots and how I first got into him; so I’m stoked.  Plus… ya know, if he does Tori Amos’ “Crucify,” I’ll have his babies.

Derek Webb’s “What Matters More” video
{from Stockholm Syndrome}

http://www.derekwebb.com/

~Dan – np: Borah Bergman TrioLuminescence

I {lessthanthree} Jónsi

19th Dec 09 (Sat) Leave a comment

SO, Jónsi of Sigur Rós is a rare bird…

No, he’s not a stuffed penguin.  But his glimpse into the studio for the upcoming album, Go, is fun and just what I’d expect from him.  All I know is that if his promised tour hits anywhere close to me, I’m sooooo fucking going.  Pardon my French, but… Je baise ainsi aller à ce concert.

He’s a rare bird, in that I think musically he hits me in a way that others don’t and/or can’t.  The little snippets of sound coming from Jonsi.com are spot on what I want to hear.  Plus he’s got the aesthetic approach that can do no wrong in my book.  Check out his recent PR shots (shot by Lilja & Inga Birgisdóttir and posted on his Facebook page):

Proof for aliens.  Icelandic people can’t possibly be human.  They make things that are too beautiful.

~Dan – np: Derek WebbStockholm Syndrome

nouvel album par Jeanne Cherhal

18th Dec 09 (Fri) 1 comment

Quirky French songstress Jeanne Cherhal will have a new album coming out on March 8, 2010.  It’ll be called Charade and likely hard to find in the U.S.  Luckily Amazon.fr’s buttons are in roughly the same place as Amazon.com’s… that’s how I blindly ordered her last album, L’Eau. :)

I found out about Jeanne when we picked up her (brilliant) debut album, Douze fois par an, in a record store in Toulouse, France.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to a new one…

~Dan – np: MegadethEndgame

Le songstress français bizarre Jeanne Cherhal aura un nouvel album sortir le 8 mars 2010. Ce s’appellera Charade et probablement difficile à trouver aux États-Unis heureusement Amazon.fr’s les boutons de s sont dans rudement le même lieu comme Amazon.com’s. C’est comment j’ai aveuglément commandé son dernier album, L’Eau.  J’ai découvert au sujet de Jeanne quand nous avons pris son premier album brillant, Douze fois par an, dans un magasin record à Toulouse, la France. Quoi qu’il en soit, j’attends avec intérêt un nouvel album…

David Byrne’s Here Lies Love

17th Dec 09 (Thu) Leave a comment


What do Tori Amos, Nellie McKay, Sia, St Vincent, Steve Earle, Natalie Merchant, Cyndi Lauper and more all have in common?

They are all featured vocalists on the upcoming 2CD/1DVD concept album by David Byrne and Fatboy SlimHere Lies Love (due out 23 Feb 2010).  They had me at Tori Amos and Nellie McKay… then the list kept going.  My dad claims that “crap isn’t holy,” but quite frankly, I beg to differ.  “Holy crap” is a primo utterance afforded upon this new album.

The concept… “Here Lies Love presents Imelda Marcos meditating on events in her life, from her childhood spent in poverty and her rise to power to her ultimate departure from the palace. In particular, the production looks at the relationship between Imelda and a servant from her childhood, Estrella Cumpas, who appeared at key moments in Imelda’s life.

Read more over at David Byrne’s site.

~Dan – np: Porcupine TreeThe Incident

Puscifer – Spring 2010

16th Dec 09 (Wed) 1 comment

Maynard James Keenan is taking Puscifer to the midwest and east coast in Spring 2010… I’d highly recommend the VIP wine tasting tickets, if you can.  It was only an extra $20-25 or so, and you get some Caduceus/Merkin wine and meet Maynard.  This tour is also right on the heels of the release of the Arizona wine documentary Blood Into Wine (click link for trailers).

Mar. 02 – Atlanta, GA – CW Center Stage
Mar. 03 – Atlanta, GA – CW Center Stage
Mar. 05 – Washington DC – Lincoln Theater
Mar. 06 – Washington DC – Lincoln Theater
Mar. 08 – Philadelphia, PA – Theater of the Living Arts
Mar. 09 – Philadelphia, PA – Theater of the Living Arts
Mar. 11 – New York, NY – Grand Ballroom
Mar. 13 – New York, NY – Apollo Theater
Mar. 15 – Boston, MA – Berklee Academy of Music
Mar. 16 – Boston, MA – Berklee Academy of Music
Mar. 19 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theater
Mar. 20 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theater
Mar. 21 – Lorain, OH (Cleveland) – Lorain Theater
Mar. 23 – Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Theater
Mar. 24 – Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Theater
Mar. 26 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theater

Mar. 27 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theater
Mar. 28 – Columbus, OH – Lifestyles Community Pavilion (added 1/12)
Mar. 30 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater (date changed)
Mar. 30 – St Louis, MO – Roberts Orpheum Theater (canceled)
Mar. 31 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
Apr. 02 – Minneapolis, MN – Pantages Theater
Apr. 03 – Minneapolis, MN – Pantages Theater

Have fun, folks!  Puscifer in Portland last month was a blast or two. :)

~Dan – np: My Brightest DiamondShark Remixes, Vol 4: DM Stith

2010: The Year of the Zorn

15th Dec 09 (Tue) 1 comment

As posted on Tzadik.com

GREAT NEWS FOR ZORN FANS!

2010 will be a landmark year for John Zorn who promises 12 new CD releases-one every month! Included will be new music from The Dreamers, Moonchild and Alhambra, 3 new releases in Masada Book Two: Book of Angels series, a major new studio composition dedicated to the Korean-American writer Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, a classical release featuring his acclaimed violin concerto Contes des Fées, the DVD release of his opera with Richard Foreman ASTRONOME, a ripping improvised duo recording with Fred Frith and undoubtedly several surprises. Most of the recordings are already completed and the release schedule set, so keep your eyes and ears open and expect a new Zorn release every 4th Tuesday of the month in 2010!

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Also on the new album front… as discussed earlier, the My Brightest Diamond remix boxset (4 EPs on 2 CDs) is now up for pre-order.  There are only going to be 1,500 sets pressed, signed and numbered by Shara Worden.  Find out more HERE.

~Dan – np: Nellie McKayNormal As Blueberry Pie

Ric Hordinski – Notes from the Monastery

14th Dec 09 (Mon) 4 comments

So, I’ve gotta tell you about a fantastic new collection of previously unreleased songs from Ric Hordinski‘s monastery studio… Notes from the Monastery.  It ships December 18th, and with the pre-order you get an immediate 320kbps mp3 download of it.  It has new songs by Ric Hordinski (aka Monk), Over the Rhine, Ellery, singer-songwriters Kim Taylor and Sarah Masen, a great new instrumental piece by guitarist Phil Keaggy, et cetera…

http://richordinski.portmerch.com/stores/product.php?productid=17109

Track Listing:

  1. With Me Tonight (Ellery)
  2. I Used to Know (Sarah Masen)
  3. Hard Times (Over the Rhine)
  4. Rabbit (Harrod and Funck)
  5. Clover (Kim Taylor)
  6. Always Right (David Wilcox)
  7. Hopscotch (Phil Keaggy)
  8. Bella Luna (2K9) (Venus Hum)
  9. Yesu Bhajan (Aradhna)
  10. Villainous Company (Ric Hordinski)
    MP3 Bonus Track:  Flown Free (Over the Rhine)

I’ve been a fan of Ric Hordinski for a long time.  Ric (pronounced “Rich”) was a founding member of Cincinnati band Over the Rhine.  When he left Over the Rhine, he went on to make some gorgeous music via his creative outlet called MONK.  The mostly instrumental affairs hit the spot on a great fall or winter day – sipping your favorite warm beverage and chillin’ with loved ones (or a loved pup). :)  Ric has moved lately to more of a producer / studio expert… and the above songs are unique glimpses of his varied studio work (all previously unreleased by the artists).

I’d highly recommend the above Notes from the Monastery… and check out some of Ric’s other work (all kind of harder to find now except the more recent ones: The Silent of Everything Yearned For and When I Consider How My Light Is Spent).  Anyway, here is his key discography in reverse order…

(easier to find)

(harder to find)

If you can dig up the O -EP- on eBay, I’d also recommend it.  I got it hot off the presses… and I ain’t lettin’ mine go. :)  Oh, and yeah, searching for Ric’s Monk CDs on eBay is really difficult due to a certain Thelonious Sphere Monk who may have released a few albums.  Just a few… happy hunting!!

Anyway, I get hundreds of records a year, and I don’t specifically blog about all of them (this is more of a news and concert reviews blog).  That should clue you in that this new Ric Hordinski compilation is a special one… go get it.

~Dan – np: RAZR13 w/ Doug PinnickRAZR 13

Maynard’s BLOOD INTO WINE

11th Dec 09 (Fri) 1 comment

Two new trailers for Maynard James Keenan‘s forthcoming documentary Blood Into Wine

(the serious trailer)

(the silly trailer)

I heard about this during the wine tasting portion of the Portland Puscifer show… now seeing the trailers – I’m stoked to see the movie.  It looks great… they need to find a way to package a 2-DVD with a 375 mL of the 2007 Judith. :)

Or, heck, even the recent Chupacabra / DVD combo would be nice, as the Judith is rarer than rare (20 cases).

Note: Maynard is the singer in Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer… and he makes great wines.

~Dan – np: Madeleine PeyrouxBare Bones

Daniel Johns (Silverchair) on JJJ

10th Dec 09 (Thu) Leave a comment

Silverchair front-man Daniel Johns called into Australia’s Triple J to give info about the upcoming album.  You can go listen to the 7+ minute interview at Triple J.  He’s back in Australia and has worked on the new songs with his band mates.  Gleaned from the interview… the album currently comes off as “dirtier than Young Modern” (per Daniel), and there is a less frequent use of guitars so far (only on 4 of the 15 or so songs currently in the works).

Who knows how things will turn out, but I think we can expect a new Silverchair album in 2010.  No album name yet… unless it’s gonna be called Fly Fishing. ;)

~Dan – np: Works Progress AdministrationWPA

Good :) & Bad :(

9th Dec 09 (Wed) Leave a comment

First, the good newsBrian Borcherdt of one of my favorite groups (HOLY FUCK) just released his solo album, Torches (along with the Ward Colorado demos).  It’s available for free download over on his website… and if you like it, you can (and should) buy the CD or vinyl.  Get the free album by going to his site (click the album cover below):

(click it and download the music free)

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And now the (probably) bad newsApple bought Lala.  OK, it may turn out for the best… but I really dug Lala when it started out as a CD sharing service (you mail off CDs you don’t want, get CDs you do want from others).  It’s been a while since my peak use with them (I’ve run out of stuff to send), and they changed their focus away from CD swap to streaming about a year or more ago.

Anyway, I like Apple, I like Lala… but I dread what the acquisition will mean.  I mean, pretty soon, are we gonna have to log-in to our iTuMyFaceChaseTube to check the video upload of our bank account’s status update with a free music download?

I just hope my indie bastion of hope, CD Baby, doesn’t get swallowed up by Apple or Amazon or Goodyear or Olive Garden… that would be a sad day for sure.

~Dan – np: CelldwellerWish Upon a Blackstar Ch 2

Wussy… and rumors of Wussy

8th Dec 09 (Tue) Leave a comment

One of my beloved Cincinnati locals, Wussy, has put out some great rock.  Three albums, an EP, and some vinyl to be exact… they continually put out great material.  And while not an “official press release,” they leaked some great news via a status update on the Facebox on Monday…

(highlighting by me)

I got into Wussy via knowing their lead singer Lisa Walker in college… Lisa plus Ass Ponys‘ Chuck Cleaver, Mark Messerly, and Joe Klug make up Wussy.  They put out drony-yet-hook-laden rock, and they release their stuff via hometown Shake It Records (in the lovely Northside neighborhood in Cincinnati).  They’ve gotten some buzz in national rags (like Spin, CMJ, et cetera).  First national tour, first time they’ve hinted at coming out my way = Yippie!

Anyway… I hope it happens.  Srsly.

Oh, check out a recent article about Wussy’s Chuck & Lisa in Cincinnati Magazine (click picture):

PS- Celldweller‘s Wish Upon a Blackstar Ch 2 is out now.  Just DL’d it… looking forward to spinning it…

~Dan – np: Iron & WineAround the Well

no free download or torrent available here

more Jónsi news

7th Dec 09 (Mon) 1 comment

more  Jónsi news… reposted from sigur-ros.co.uk

jónsi’s debut solo album “go” will be released march 22nd 2010 in europe, march 23rd in usa. the album contains nine songs, most of which are sung in english, and was co-produced by jónsi, alex somers and peter katis (the national, interpol). jónsi will be embarking on an extensive world tour throughout 2010, of which more information will be annonced later.

“go” initally began as a low-key acoustic record, but, according to jónsi, “somewhere along the line it just sort of exploded”. the result is a joyful and dramatic album, featuring ecstatic string, brass and woodwind arrangements by composer nico muhly (antony & the johnsons, grizzly bear), as well as warmer, more melancholic moments.

in the coming weeks, jónsi’s official site www.jonsi.com will be updated with exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and videos of jónsi and collaborators making the record. in addition you can download the track “boy lilikoi” for free, and listen to samples from the album by clicking the “jónsi” letters. artwork on the site was created by jónsi’s sister inga birgisdóttir (press images for the album were shot by jónsi’s other sister lilja birgisdóttir).

“go” tracklist

go do
animal arithmetic
tornado
boy lilikoi
sinking friendships
kolnidur
grow till tall
around us
hengilas

Yay!  A world tour, too!

~Dan – np: Medeski Martin & WoodRemixolarians no download or free torrent available here

Jónsi.com free download

5th Dec 09 (Sat) Leave a comment

More than 5 days have passed since the original announcement of jonsi.com.  Now each letter offers a glimpse of the music that’s forthcoming.

On Friday (12/4), if you’ve signed up for the mailing list (highly recommended), you got a link to download a free song, “Boy Lilikoi,” from the solo album Go, due out in 2010.

~Dan – np: Jeremy EnigkOK Bear

new Kim Taylor… soon…

3rd Dec 09 (Thu) Leave a comment

Recently featured on The Ghost Whisperer (a “TV show,” or so say my sources)… Cincinnati singer-songwriter Kim Taylor popped the news on her website yesterday that her follow-up to 2006’s I Feel Like a Fading Light will be out in a few weeks.  It’ll be called Little Miracle, produced by Jimi Zhivago, and the first 100 downloaders will get “an added bonus.”

I’m hoping there’s also a physical release (or a repeat of the vinyl / different edition like she did for Fading Light).

~Dan – np: dredgThe Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion

Celldweller *Wish Upon a Blackstar* Chapter 2

2nd Dec 09 (Wed) 1 comment

The pre-order for Celldweller‘s Wish Upon a Blackstar: Chapter 2 went live yesterday.  The second chapter (of five total) will feature the songs “The Best It’s Gonna Get” and “Eon.”

Chapter 2 will be available for download in several bundles (including a deluxe edition for $4.99) on December 8th from Celldweller’s FiXT store.  The deluxe edition features a remix from chapter one, “So Long Sentiment” mixed by Toksin’s Anhedonia

After all five chapters are released, I expect there will be a full-length album (and hopefully CD) issue.

~Dan – np: CelldwellerWish Upon a Blackstar Ch 1 (coincidence, I swear)