After yesterday's blog entry, it's only fair to give you something a little closer to the unicorns and rainbows end of the musical scale. The Portico Quartet are lovely . The Portico Quartet are polite . This is mannered, Oregon-esque chamber jazz, and while Cittàgazze does little to surprise you, it does so delightfully. Portico Quartet - Cittàgazze (alternate download)
. Πρώτη φορά είδα και άκουσα hang στο εμπορικό κέντρο της Βιέννης, όπου ένας καλλιτέχνης του δρόμου έπαιζε αυτό το σαγηνευτικό στην όψη και ακοή όργανο με ένα καρτελλάκι να εξηγεί διακριτικά ότι σχεδιάστηκε πρόσφατα στην Βέρνη. Ο ήχος του hang περισσότερο παρέπεμπε στην υδάτινη μουσική των αφρικανικών βαρελιών ή την ασιατική μουσική, παρά στους ήχους της ...Ελβετίας. Μου είχε έρθει να το αγοράσω επί τόπου. Κάτι σαν θεραπευτικό bowl μου είχε φανεί. Μερικοί το λένε ιπτάμενο δίσκο, άλλοι...μανιτάρι. Φυσικά και δεν το πήρα. Δεν είμαι μουσικός. Με είχε μαγέψει πάντως, αυτό το θυμάμαι [...]
kasper eistrup har endnu engang følt kreativiteten af isolation og er sammen med sine 3 kompagnoner, som tilsammen udgør danske kashmir , nu klar med forløberen for deres næste album. vanlig kashmir stil falder udgivelsen denne gang 0102 2010, der - hvis nogen skulle være i tvivl - er et tal palindrom. jeg læste i dag, at kasper har udtalt, at sangen er en opfordring til os om at komme ud med vores tanker, og om at tør tage små diskussioner op, i stedet for at bygge en vrede op indvendigt. så [...]
The Portico Quartet are a 4-piece (hence the quartet part!) modern jazz group from London. They comprise Jack Wyllie (soprano and alto saxophone), Duncan Bellamy (hang and percussion), Milo Fitzpatrick (double bass), and Nick Mulvey (hang and percussion). There new record is called Isla. The video above is for their single "Line" which was featured on the award winning 2008 album Knee-Deep in the North Sea . Mp3: The Portico Quartet - "Johnson" [...]
Portico Quartet - Clipper A beautiful introduction to the new album from Portico Quartet, a contemporary jazz ensemble made up of four lads in their early 20s living together in East London. Isla is the follow-up to their Mercury nominated debut album, Knee Deep in the North Sea , which also picked up an album of the year award from Time Out in 2007. It drops on October 19 through Real World Records and the album launch is November 2 in London's KOKO - based on the strength of this, I will almost [...]
Download audio file (portico_quartet.mp3) I've come across a band that has me questioning the already loose definition of jazz I thought I knew. Perhaps it's just how modern jazz is evolving, or maybe it's the blatantly different atmosphere painted by the band's instrumentation. Whatever it is, Portico Quartet is without a doubt very unique. The band consists of drums, a saxophone, an upright bass, and a hang . What's that? Never heard of an instrument called a hang? Yeah, me neither until I found Portico Quartet. It was apparently first developed in 2003 by a [...]
The best year for albums so far this decade? It seems likely - when I first heard Alphabeat's debut late last year I thought that when it was released mid-spring 2008 it would be by far the best pop record in my end-of-year charts. When I first heard Goldfrapp's album three months before it's February release I reckoned it would easily top the Best Album category. That now, a mere eight months
Tomorrow at 10pm the Mercury Music Prize will be presented at an awards show somewhere in London. For me, it's a relatively strong shortlist; some of the albums made my Top 10 of 2007, and a few will make 2008's list. My prediction for the prize is Radiohead's excellent In Rainbows . Whether I think this because of its musical strengths, or the industry moving to applaud the strategy surrounding the release I'm not sure. It would be a worthy winner either way. However, it isn't my favourite album on that list. That honour goes to Laura [...]
So this afternoon Emily and I were watching our new obsession, Later with Jools Holland. I know it's not new, and I had heard of it before, but just an FYI, they're now showing episodes on the Ovation network if you get it. Anyway, this afternoon we saw an older episode that featured The Coral , a pre-methamphetamine Amy Winehouse and Elbow circa "Cast of Thousands". It was a great show, and as we were watching, Emily decided to see what Elbow were up to on the old Webbertubes, which leads me to today's post. [...]
Over the next few weeks I shall be having a more indepth look at the 2008 Mercury Music Prize nominees, examining the music and their chances at victory. Part one is Radiohead and Burial... Radiohead - In Rainbows Latest Odds 9/2 The 21st Century has witnessed Radiohead at the forefront of musical innovation. Constantly evolving and challenging their fans and critics alike with maddening left turns and an almost hedonistic indulgence in the avant garde and generally strange. Few bands on the verge of [...]
The Mercury Prize is a really odd contest. While at times it seems to pick legitimately interesting artists, there are other occasions where it seems to choose absolutely inexplicable winners. Like back in '94, when the completely forgettable M People won over both Blur AND Pulp! Or in '97, when Roni Size (who isn't bad actually, but I've never been a big d'n'b fan) somehow managed to beat not only Radiohead's OK Computer , but Beth Orton's Trailer Park , The Prodigy's Fat Of The Land and The Chemical Brothers' Dig Your Own Hole . [...]
El día de ayer se anunció en un desayuno la lista de los nominados al prestigiado Mercury Prize , que premia lo mejor de la música británica. Este año, los doce discos nominados fueron escogidos por un panel independiente de entre más de 240 artistas, incluyendo a glorias de la música como Elbow, Robert Plant y Radiohead , además de caras nuevas como Adele (quien es una de las favoritas). La ceremonia de premiación será el próximo 9 de septiembre y se transmitirá en vivo por el canal BBC2. [...]
It's that time of the year again! Below are the 12 nominees for 2008's Mercury Music Prize. And the latest odds as of the 22nd of July. * Adele - 19 8/1 * British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music? 8/1 * Burial - Untrue 6/1 * Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid 6/1 * Estelle - Shine 8/1 * Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim 8/1 * Neon Neon - Stainless Style 10/1 * Portico Quartet - Knee-Deep In The North [...]
So, today the Mercury Prize Shortlist was announced. Whether or not you place any value in the award, it's undeniably one of the few prizes that hold any kind of credible worth. There are always good albums in the list; even if the phrase "something for everybody" springs to mind. My prediction yesterday was "I'm certain Burial will get nominated, also Radiohead, Hot Chip, Last Shadow Puppets" and looking at that I wasn't far off. The List is as follows; Adele - '19' British Sea Power - 'Do You Like Rock Music?' [...]
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