Art is the music we make from the bewildered cry of being alive. ~Maria Popova
02 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
in General Posts Tags: saxophone battle
Normally, the feeling you get when a subway musician starts playing is “oh, shit. This is happening.”
However, when a normal subway saxophonist is suddenly challenged by an unknown upstart, the feeling on this car was unequivocally, “OH SHIT! This is HAPPENING!”
Plus, it’s always great when the musicians really get going because they don’t have time to ask you for change.
(Reprinted from Happy Place)
02 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: camel, elke
Camel: “Elke” (1977)
With guest appearance by Brian Eno on mini moog, bells and piano, English prog band Camel’s quietest tune is the ultimate song for stargazing–either mental or actual. It’s not the only Andrew Latimer song, instrumental or no, to evoke extraterrestrial landscapes: their 1976 Moonmadness album was a gentle and sweetly melodic masterpiece of space rock.
But close your eyes while “Elke” plays if you wish to let the infinite beauties of the cosmos flash in the mind’s eye. Camel were among the best at making music that did what so much of the best progressive rock can do: sweep you away to far-flung realms of the mind.
My theory is that anyone with a good imagination has a favorite prog rock band. Some just haven’t discovered theirs. Yet.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/10/23/recommended-albums-27/
30 Mar 2013 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: enya, i want tomorrow
Enya: “I Want Tomorrow” (1986)
In all likelihood you’ve already formed an opinion about multi-million selling Celtic new age superstar Enya. Still, you may not be familiar with one of her most beautiful melodies, “I Want Tomorrow”, from her debut, which was served as musical score for the BBC-TV series The Celts a couple years before the Watermark album–and international acclaim–came her way.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2016/01/13/songs-you-may-have-missed-565/
30 Mar 2013 2 Comments
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: fyfe dangerfield, so brand new
Fyfe Dangerfield: “So Brand New” (2009)
The chorus of “So Brand New” sounds like it owes a little something to “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”. But’s a nice pop song in its own right.
Classically-trained pianist Dangerfield was founding frontman of British top-20 selling band Guillemots.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/02/15/songs-you-may-have-missed-333/
30 Mar 2013 1 Comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: matriarch, owsley
Owsley: “Matriarch” (2003)
Will Owsley, former guitarist/harmony vocalists in the touring bands of Amy Grant and Shania Twain, leaned more toward power pop in his self-written solo work. His two albums show combination of influences from Ben Folds (a former member of one of Owsley’s early bands) to 10cc and Something/Anything-era Todd Rundgren…and, of course, the Beatles. An apparent suicide victim, this talented writer, singer and musician was taken too soon.
Owsley makes it clear who “Matriarch” is dedicated to with a whispered “Thanks, Sis” at precisely 3:38 of the song. (If you miss it the first time, click on the elapsed time to skip back 30 seconds.)
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/04/24/songs-you-may-have-missed-89/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/01/11/recommended-albums-36/
29 Mar 2013 Leave a comment
in General Posts Tags: jerry garcia, jerry garcia's death, the grateful dead
This would have been more appropriate to post in August of course. But here it is anyway…
Every Moment Has A Song 