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Dusted Features
Every Friday, Dusted Magazine publishes a series of music-related lists compiled by our favorite artists. This week: Over the Atlantic and Keenan Lawler
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Listed: Over the Atlantic + Keenan Lawler
Over the Atlantic
Over the Atlantic is a collboration between two of New Zealand's finest: Bevan Smith and Nik Brinkman. Recalling some of the best moments of early Pavement as well as Morr Music's finest. A departure in the pop direction for Smith, Over the Atlantic's debut album, Junica, is a sweet and satisfying debut, and one that will hopefully bring them some recognition on all sides of the oceans. Junica is out now on Carpark.
Bevan:
1. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
I'm listening to this record a lot at present. It's so immersive.
2. Autechre - LP5
My favourite autechre album. It's been in the 'recently played' pile very close to my turntable for over a year now.
3. Stina Nordenstam - This is Stina Nordenstam
Tchad Blake (who I worship) and Mitchell Froom produce this and it's just ridiculously good sounding. The songs are beautiful as well but the production is just so so powerful. I can't leave the room when this album is on.
4. Low
All their albums are fucking brilliant.
5. The Reduction Agents - The Dance Reduction Agents
This is an example of a kick ass new New Zealand band. There are a few around at the moment. Why I chose this one is that it is a kind of supergroup and contains some of my favourite musicians at the moment Ryan Mcphun, James Milne (Lawrence Arabia), Jol and Ben. Even when these guys play at 5% of their capacity they still destroy it. had the pleasure of touring around NZ with them (thanks Blink) and it was a blast.
Nik:
1. Peter Gabriel - So
I have always loved this record. It was a record my father played heaps when I was growing up, so I got to know the songs really well. And now when I listen to it i hear so much more in it. He has a great voice, great ideas and reminds me of the year 1990.
2. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
When I first heard this album I didnt have much knowledge of their previous albums. So when I heard A.M. and Being There I was quite suprised. I think the Jim O'Rourke collaboration on YHF really pushed this band in a new direction that really works for them. I love the idea of stripping back layers from songs, and Jim'smixing of this record is a good example of that. I also like how Jeff Tweedy's vocals are quite dry and full in the mix.
3. Crowded House - Woodface
Again, another record that reminds me of growing up and holds more snetimental value than anything. Neil Finn is a great writer and manages to get away with songs that have lyrics like 'can I have another piece of chocloate cake' but does it very well. haha. I wish i had seen this band live.
4. Bailterspace - Robot World
Bailterspace are a band that appeals to so many musicians/guitarists. Alistair Parker is a guitarist that hits all the right notes! He has this brilliant open chord thing going on that somehow manages to get this clean guitar sound that also sounds like it is heavily overdriven. I think it's the volume that he plays his amps. But in saying that, I have heard theories on how this band use phasing to boost their overall volume.. Apparantly you dont need to play super loud, you just have to get your band playing in a particular phase and the volume can significantly increase. I cant explain it and im not sure if it's true, but they really hit you in the guts if you have ever seen them live.
5. The Cure - Seventeen Seconds
Robert Smith is probably my favourite songwriter. This record is one of the darker ones, but its got a neat simplicity that I respect. The drums sound just like a Roland TR-505 drum machine which is interesting. I think it was ' In your house' that made me pick up this record and give it a good listen. I am probably a bigger fan of the cure's poppier hits like ' Letter to Elise' , ' Friday im in Love' and ' Just like heaven' heheh, either way, the Cure make music that is full of emotion and really bares all to the listener.
Keenan Lawler
The resonator guitar is an instrument steeped in tradition and nostalgia, creator of a distinctly American sound, but it’s impossible to mistake Louisville native Keenan Lawler for any sort of wistful revivalist. Lawler’s work echoes the deepest corners of the blues and bluegrass styles where the resonator is commonly used, but his highly idiosyncratic technique creates music of a distinctive sort, and while “weird folk” has come to connote something wholly different, the dark vein of Americana that Lawler mines illustrates the term beautifully. Lawler uses fingerpicking, bows and other extended techniques in his improvisations, finding a familiar rustic aura in music of that’s decidedly alien. His 1999 CD-R Ghost of a Plane of Air was recently reissued by Music Fellowship, and Lawler also appeared, along with Spiderwebs, Mike Tamburo and Michael McDowell, on a disc in the label’s Triptych series. Lawler’s upcoming Music for the Bluegrass State will be released by Table of the Elements later this year, and he’ll play the opening night of the label’s Bohrium festival this weekend. He also took part in this week's Listed.
1.Kadri Golpanath - Gem Tones
Like Mandolin U Srinivas, Gopalnath has transformed a western instrument, the saxophone into a truly expressive voice in Carnatic music. Call me nuts but I hear the spirit of Ayler and Sonny Rollins in the big broad tone of his tenor.The interplay of mdangam and ghatam lighthing fast morsing (jaw harp) is razor sharp and superhuman.
2. Foday Musa Suso - The Dreamtime
Beautiful west African harp, bowed fiddle and varius string and percussion instruments. An influence on my own music. I learned to "fingerpick" listening to this cd.
3. Lois V Vierk - River Beneath the River
I'll go on record here - this woman is the most criminally under documented genius of modern american music. She speaks a language all her own. This Tzadik release features some of her greatest signature works. Including "Jagged Mesa"and the spiraling Red Shift 4".
4. Charles Ives - The Universe Symphony (Johnny Reinhardt realization)
This version of Ives' most famous un"-finished" work. Years ahead of its time, brings out the microtonal elements on a huge sound canvas. A sprawling work for multiple orchestras..lots of percusson.
5. Ut Gret - Recent Fossils
Full Disclosure: I play on this but only for short intervals and only on the first disc of this retrospective 3 disc set. It's quite bold in concept. The aforementioned first cd is an expositionon of a modern gamelan form. Disc 2 gathers various improvisations from over 20 years in different locales and features among others, Henry Kaiser,Davey Williams, Eugene Chadborne. Fianlly disc 3 consists of a riveting live performace of Terry Riley's "In C." In addtion to being one of the finest versions I can recall..it has a certain signicance to me as I was there 16 years ago as it was performed.
6. Paul K and the Weathermen - Panopticion
Paul Kopasz,when in top form is right up there with the best of all living songwriters and plenty of departed ones.
7. Mississippi Fred McDowell
Raw and bristling with clanging earthy spirit, the slide work is astonishing.
8. Don Cherry - Brown Rice
Don's masterpiece of the 1970s. Erases the walls between gamelan,funk,raga and propulsive trance jazz.
9. Mangkunergaran one - World Music Library
This is truly hypnotic, slow and stately court gamelan from Java. Ideal to play at 3 a.m. Unearthly beauty.
10. Erik Satie - Piano Works
Like his american counterpart Charles Ives he took a long look at the contemporary music of the time and said "enough of this "!
By Dusted Magazine
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