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After a storm, the sun would come out and throw an enormous spotlight on the ocean, setting everything ablaze with ever-changing colors and shapes. Words like "glorious," "heavenly," and "miraculous" kept coming to mind.
Toward the end of 2009, I read a lot about Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, an 18-piece big band, and its debut CD, Infernal Machines, which was showing up on several best-of-the-year lists. But I never received a copy of the album and couldn’t figure out how to contact the label, New Amsterdam. Finally, I bought a copy from Downtown Music, a terrific alt-jazz record store in Manhattan, and, it turns out, the excitement is justified.
Argue hails from Vancouver, has a background in chamber music, studied jazz composition with Bob Brookmeyer and Maria Schneider, and started what he calls…
While Jon was on his way home, I was back at Lucia Lodge, working on “Recommended Components.” Earlier in the day, Jon and I had had a big lunch, but I knew that Tom, the lodge manager, would be expecting me for dinner at Lucia’s restaurant. Though I wasn’t particularly hungry, I shut down my laptop, and walked outside. Funny how things work out.
Outside, I was greeted by the rainbow. I, of course, held a different perspective. From my vantage point, the rainbow seemed to be perched immediately above the lodge. It began at the rocky shore, extended over the lodge, and finally…
On Wednesday, at around 5PM, Jon Iverson pulled off the road and snapped this shot of a complete double rainbow. The symmetry was accidental. Jon just happened to be in the right place, at the right time. Funny how things work out.
Spending time on the coast, with nothing to impede your view, leaves you feeling more aware of your connection to the planet, this gorgeous blue rock, spinning about in space. One remarkable thing about being so close to the edge of the continent is that you can actually see the curve of the earth. Here I am, committing it to memory.
The February 2010 issue of Stereophile is now on newsstands. What do you think of the cover? I like it more than any cover we’ve done since the October 2009 issue, which featured the lovely Zu Essence speaker. The styling of the current cover may seem a bit soft and feminine (for Stereophile), but I think it’s elegant and graceful, like the speaker it frames. Vienna Acoustics’ Kiss is a beautifully finished three-way design with an integral stand. It uses a 1" silk-dome tweeter coincident with a 7" proprietary Spider-Cone midrange and a 9" Spider-Cone woofer. Wes wanted to make…
These are previously unreleased tracks, with a previously unknown fire and happiness. I pried the advance copy from Robert Baird's kung-fu grip, and listened to it on the hi-fi. I don't want to say too much about it because our April issue will include a whole psychedelic feature on the topic, as well as a formal album review, so I'll just say this: I need it.
Due out this March.
Any album named There Is Love In You is an album for me. Especially when it’s the new one from Four Tet, aka Kieran Hebden, 32-year old, post-rock/electronic DJ/musician/wizard.
Need it.
Dreamy deluxe vinyl due out any day now, I believe.
It’s been awhile since I last hooked up with Massive Attack. Heligoland is the unit’s fifth full-length studio release and, with collaborations from Damon Albarn, Hope Sandovol, Tunde Adebimpe, and Martina Topley-Bird, it has to be good. Right?
I think I need it. Do you need it? You can listen to a track (“Girl, I Need You”) at the Massive Attack site.
Due out February 8. I believe there'll be a review of this in an upcoming issue of Stereophile, as well.
Wild Nothing is 21-year old Virginian, Jack Tatum. Last year, he released a 7" single on Captured Tracks, another one of those labels that just knows what I like. Gemini, his full-length debut, is scheduled to be released on May 18. You can listen to a few tracks at the Wild Nothing Myspace page.
I’m not sure if I need this one, or if I just really want it. But I do love the massive collision of pop hooks.
Yeah, I need it.