Spent part of the month with CARRINGTON MACDUFFIE (
West Cost PERFORMER magazine did a little interview with me mid-month. Don't know which issue it will be in, but I'll give you the "heads up" when it happens
The HYPATIA LAKE record is now mastered and looking for release early this year. (
WILL OLDHAM sent me a new record for mastering. It's really nice and serene. I don't know if it's a Will record or a Bonny Billy but you'll find out soon enough
WIZARD PRISON started the recording of a soundtrack to a documentary film about the Pilchuck Glass School
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Speaking of the Priz, we have a show coming up on Jan 8th at Chop Suey in Seattle, WA. here's a write up.
Also, looks like 2007 was a good year for me in that ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - "Strawberry Jam" and ARCADE FIRE - "Neon Bible" are hovering very close to the top of everyone's "best of" list. Strawberry jam came in at #6 at Pitchfork and in the early 20's at KEXP. while "Neon Bible" has a Grammy nomination and is #2 behind Radiohead at KEXP.
At the end of every year, I look back at my musical purchases for the year to decide what my faves of the year are. The unfortunate side effect for me is that sometimes I discover things a bit late and therefore my list isn't exactly reserved to 2007. Here it is anyways
BEST RECORD purchased in 2007
SEASTONES - this is hands down my favorite record this year, but it was issued in 1974. It's sort of a Grateful Dead side project but sounds like Throbbing Gristle. Absolutely beautiful electronic record and the vinyl version is in SQ quad!!!
MILES DAVIS - Complete Bitches Brew. 4 CD set, again, released in 1998, recorded in 1969 and 1970. What is amazing about this set is that the unreleased material is BETTER than the original album and I love the original album. But when I heard how far out there these dudes were playing on the unreleased stuff...well it begs the question..."who was responsible for making these cuts?"
FRANK ZAPPA - Buffalo CD. recorded in 1980 and just released this year! A super hot performance by a great band at a great time
DIONYSOS - La Mecanique Du Coeur 2007 . I met the leader of this group while in France this year and he had just issued a book with this CD being the soundtrack to it. I love it. It's like a Tim Burton animated film in music.
BROWN WHORNET - Radio Album. Absolutely wild cut up record from 2001. weird musical changes that make Mr. Bungle sound like a pop band
OMEI - Black Eyed Angels. I heard this at Hospital Record in NYC and bought it immediately. Don't know what year it came out, but its darkness is timeless.
ENDLESS DISMAL MOAN - anything you can find. I have releases from 2005, 2006 and 2007 that are priceless. Japanese one man black metal band.
DAVID LYNCH - The Air in On Fire. 2007 . ultimate drone record produced by the director who can make you uneasy by putting music like this to a scene of someone sitting in a chair. This is a "soundtrack" to a gallery installation of his artwork in Paris this last year. amazing book and CD set. I will also go on record saying that his film this year (Inland Empire) for me is very close to being as good as Eraserhead. Lynch is in his prime right now!
NIGHTBRINGER - Temple of Not. this is a 2 record set and the second disc is a side project of Nightbringer called Temple of Not. I can discard the Nightbringer stuff, but the Temple stuff is another nice slab of dark drones to set the mood.
AT JEANIE RITCHIE - Rectums Merging. 2007 one sided 12" of perfect noise/ drone music
HANS GRUSEL's KRANKENKABINET - Another Miserable Day LP. Another fantastic work by this group. Synths and circuit bent electronics, carefully composed and wonderfully energizing
and
best records I RECORDED this year (some available and some soon to be available)
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - Strawberry Jam
FERAL CHILDREN - Second to the Last Frontier
CALI - l'espoir
HYPATIA LAKE
WYNNE GREENWOOD
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