Archive
‘Downtown Express’ (film) with Nellie McKay & Philippe Quint
Downtown Express is a new film by David Grubin. Check out the trailer below:
Set in the world of Russian immigrants living in New York City, Downtown Express uses music to explore the clash of old world values against the lure and excitement of a new country. Under the watch of his loving but overbearing father, virtuoso violinist and Juilliard student Sasha (Grammy nominee Philippe Quint) prepares for a critical recital meant to launch his career.
Yet, he is increasingly drawn to the rhythms of the streets of New York, and when he meets singer-songwriter Ramona (acclaimed recording artist Nellie McKay), he joins her band, falls in love, and begins to lead a double life, careening frantically between two worlds. As his classical debut nears, Sasha must decide whether or not to break with his father, forging his own destiny.
And, per the film’s webpage…
[Nellie McKay’s] fifth album is due this September.
Downtown Express opens April 20th 2012 at the Quad Cinema in New York City.
http://downtownexpressfilm.com/
~Dan – np: Radiohead – The King of Limbs
Sigur Rós concert film Heima (free today only)
Today (monday, september 5th) icelandiccinema.com is free streaming the Sigur Rós concert film Heima from their website.
After midnight Icelandic time (5pm monday san francisco, 8pm monday nyc, 1am tuesday london, 9am tuesday tokyo) the film will be available to stream for a fee.
~Dan – np: Austrian Death Machine – Double Brutal
Daniel Johns & Josh Wakely at TEDxSydney
As previously reported, Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns is collaborating with filmmaker Josh Wakely on a musical feature My Mind’s Own Melody. Here they are talking about it at TED Talks Sydney (aka TEDxSydney):
TEDxSydney featured a selection of Australia’s leading visionaries and storytellers showcasing their Ideas Worth Spreading LIVE … as well as online to the world at large. TED is a not-for-profit enterprise devoted to the propagation of Ideas Worth Spreading. TED started out in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment & Design.
~Dan – np: Klezmerson – Siete
Jonny Greenwood – Norwegian Wood (2011)
Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood put out his most recent film score today on CD… Norwegian Wood. The mp3 version (out earlier this year) is on sale at the Amazon ($7.99):
The Nonesuch Records PR on Mr Greenwood…
Jonny Greenwood, while perhaps best known for his role as guitarist/multi-instrumentalist in the rock band Radiohead, was trained as violist, Greenwood had begun studies in music at Oxford University before leaving to concentrate full-time on touring and recording with Radiohead. Nonetheless, Greenwood has maintained a passion for classical music that began at least since his teens, particularly the work of French composer Olivier Messiaen. Since the early 2000s, and particularly in 2004 when he received his BBC appointment, Greenwood has slowly been building a body of work in the classical tradition, for groups ranging from string quartet to full orchestra.
~Dan – np: Colin Stetson w/ My Brightest Diamond – New History Warfare – Judges, Vol. 2 
Jonny Greenwood’s Norwegian Wood out in March
Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood‘s score for the film Norwegian Wood has been available in Japan for a while now, but it now finally has a release date in Europe and North America. The score accompanying the film Norwegian Wood, based on the novel by Haruki Murakami will hit stores on March 8th.
The film itself will be in the theater March 11th, NME reports. Jonny Greenwood’s score is performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Emperor Quartet.
~Dan – np: No-Man – Speak
Silverchair/Daniel Johns short film + free music from Owen Pallett
Two unrelated music new tidbits…
First off, Daniel Johns (frontman for Aussie rock trio Silverchair) will be part of a short film that received a grant under the 2010 Screen NSW Emerging Filmmakers Fund. Josh Wakely, an experienced actor and writer and an emerging director, will have the opportunity to make My Mind’s Own Melody, a short musical drama he has written with Daniel Johns. http://www.chairpage.com/news
Second, Owen Pallett just put out a free demo EP on soundcloud. It’s instrumental except for a spot vocal appearance from Shara Worden (aka My Brightest Diamond). It is delightful. Get it while it’s still a free download. For other great Shara Worden guests spots… well, the Clogs record (with Sufjan Stevens guest spots, too) and Sarah Kirkland Snider‘s Penelope concept album rank high this year.
Yeah, my “Best Of” lists are still in the works. It’s still 2010; so I’m not late. (I hate it how some people start putting out their lists in October… argh…)
~Dan – np: The Weepies – Be My Thrill
Dave Douglas – Spark of Being making of video
Check out the “making of” feature for Dave Douglas‘ Spark of Being…
And, if you’re lucky, they have a handful of dates…
October 7th, 2010
Spark Of Being in MN: preview in CityPages
Event screens at 8:00 @ Walker Art Center [tickets] [map]
October 8th, 2010
Spark Of Being in KC: preview in Kansas City Star
Event begins at 8:30PM @the Blue Room [tickets] [map]
October 24th, 2010
Spark Of Being in NYC
Event screens at 8:00 PM @ the Highline Ballroom [tickets] [map]
~Dan – np: The Weepies – Be My Thrill
Sufjan Stevens – The BQE (Oct 20th)
Well, ask and ye shall receive…
The BQE – out 10/20/2009
Sufjan Stevens‘ has a new project coming out, The BQE. Nope, not a state… it’s a a cinematic suite inspired by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the hula hoop. It’s due out on October 20, 2009, and will be available as a CD/DVD combo, a double gatefold vinyl with large scale booklet & black-and-white comic book, and a sold-separately color version of the comic book.
The assumed cover art (at top of blog) has a dreadful, tangled mass of a font… much like what I imagine driving on the BQE is like. :)
Sufjan performing the BQE suite at the Howard Gilman
Opera House in Brooklyn, 11/1/07 (theanimalshow)
View the cinematic trailer to the release here:
http://vimeo.com/5682252Read TONS more about The BQE over on the Asthmatic Kitty webpage:
http://asthmatickitty.com/the-bqe
I’ll post pre-order information on The BQE once it’s announced.
~Dan – np: Dave Douglas & Han Bennink – Serpentine
no free download or torrents available here
Burn After Reading
This looks like a good one… Burn After Reading (new Coen Bros. movie)…
~Dan
-Eyvind Kang
-Frank Zappa
Amazon.com mp3 downloads
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