Jay Bennett – Whatever Happened I Apologize (2008)

Just wanted to point out that his final album Whatever Happened I Apologize is available for free download here. It's quite good.

Rest in peace.

Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares (1975)

"Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares" is an ensemble of a rare artistic gift and enormous popular appeal. Its story is a story of a success. Created fifty years ago, its goal was to enrich the heritage of the Bulgarian solo folk song with harmonies and arrangement that highlighted its beautiful timbres and irregular rhythms.
They transform sounds into strange vocal colors as if something other than the human voice, perhaps some strange instrument is playing. They jubilate, shout, ornament, form fast and perfect glissandos, let one crazy rhythm follow another and make their voices build the most darling chords. And suddenly the folk cliché does not apply any more. A listener believes he has heard” an archaic world of sounds from times long ago”, another –“the marriage of avant-grade and the middle ages”. With their bell-like voices that seem to float lightly trough space, these women have become international stars, whose hypnotic chant circles the globe." (*)

"The distinctive sounds of Bulgarian folk singing come from many cultural influences, as a country that was under the rule of the Tartar from central Asia and the Ottoman Turks. Many Asian elements can be heard in the use of modal scales, dissonant harmonies and rhythmical and metrical variety. The diaphonic singing tradition of two voices moving in parallel seconds, sevenths or ninths along with the metallic vocal timbres is preserved in the many arrangements. To western ears, this style of singing seems very strange. The a cappella singing is occasionally accompanied by traditional instruments. On this recording can be heard the flute-like kaval (Pritouritze Planinata), and the fiddle-like gadulka (Brei Yvane). The Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Vocal Choir is led by Philip Koutev and Krasimir Kyurkchiyski who were the forefathers of the Bulgarian folk movement. From the dissonance of "Pilentze Pee" to the beautiful melody of "Polegnala e Todora" this music is simple and enormously diverse." (*)

http://www.mediafire.com/?zybywtzlior

Deradoorian – Mind Raft (2009)

An amazing little release by the Dirty Projectors bassist/vocalist. Alternates between sparse, dirge-like acoustic tracks and denser, brooding R&B-ish numbers. I really like her voice.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ennzgjxjzya

Françoise Hardy – Soleil (1970)

Really nice little album by the French singer. “Fleur de Lune” is an amazing song.

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yqqn3ymmjto

Strange Wikipedia Findings: Installment 3

Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico


One of my favourite historical figures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_A._Norton

Strange Wikipedia Findings: Installment 2

Sir Nils Olav, Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King’s Guard

Yup, he's a penguin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nils_Olav

ZZYRUS Mix #2

1. Kandia Kouyate – San Barana
2. Funkadelic – Can You Get to That
3. Paul Parrish – Walking in the Forest (of My Mind)
4. Thom Yorke – And It Rained All Night (Burial Remix)
5. Mikey Dread – Rockers Delight
6. Iron and Wine – Freedom Hangs Like Heaven (Live)
7. Karen Dalton – Katie Cruel
8. Bert Jansch & John Renbourn – The Time Has Come
9. Animal Collective – Daily Routine (Phaseone Remix)
10. J Dilla – In The Night (Owl N Out)/While You Slept (I Crept)
11. The Crystals – He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)
12. The Supremes – When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes
13. Akron/Family – Running, Returning
14. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Over the Rainbow
15. Konono N°1 – Kule Kule Reprise
16. Sibylle Baier – Remember the Day
17. Das Bierbeben – Abschied
18. Lindsey Buckingham – Bel Air Rain
19. Alèmayèhu Eshèté – Tchero Adari Negn
20. NOMO – Banners On High
21. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Shams-Ud-Doha, Badar-Ud-Doja
22. David Bowie – All the Madmen

23. Horace Andy – Spying Glass

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RIX9W478

The Upsetters – Upsetters 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle (1973)

One of the very first dub records. A tremendous album, full of deep, hypnotic grooves. And what a cast of characters…Lee Perry is the ringmaster here, but King Tubby acts as co-engineer. Then you’ve got, among others, the Barrett brothers’ rhythm section, and even Augustus Pablo drops in to contribute some haunting melodica lines.
There are a bunch of different versions of this record floating around, and this one probably has the best track selection. The only problem is the way that it’s mixed. It sounds great coming out of speakers, but the way they’ve panned the bass and drums to one side and everything else to the other makes it hard to listen to with headphones. But whatever, that’s a small gripe.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UWDS9CEM

Richard Thompson – Small Town Romance (1984)

1982 was a year of both tremendous highs and lows for Richard and Linda Thompson. After a decade of critical praise but abysmal record sales, they managed to break into the American market with Shoot Out the Lights, their best selling album to date, and completed a triumphant tour of the U.S. Their brush with success was to be fleeting however, as it coincided with the breakup of their marriage and the end of their artistic partnership. So in an effort to cool down and gather his bearings, Richard Thompson embarked on a low-key solo-acoustic tour of the States. This album contains recordings from two of those shows, both in New York. The song selection is varied, but for the most part he chooses to perform slower numbers, many of them songs that his ex-wife had sung on record. Other than that there are a couple of older tunes dating from his time in Fairport Convention, a Hank Williams cover, and bizarre but funny little song about a person who may or may not a drag queen.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XKEZ7JIR

Soul Coughing – Ruby Vroom (1994)

An amazing album by one of the most interesting bands of the 90s.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VUQBS7WW

Department of Eagles – The Cold Nose (2003)

Saw Grizzly Bear last night. Holy crap what a great live band. They played just about everything I wanted to hear, and Leslie Feist made a surprise appearance for a couple of songs. So yeah, I am content. Definitely catch their show if you get a chance to.
In my ignorance I had always thought of them as Ed Droste’s band, and was surprised by just how vital Dan Rossen’s contribution is to their sound. He sang lead more often than not, and his guitar playing is pretty much the crux of the band. And what a big voice for such a little guy. So I went back and listened to this old Department of Eagles album that’s been lurking in my hard-drive for a while, and no surprise it rips pretty hard.

http://www.mediafire.com/?2hzm2w0mjyo

Brian Eno – Curiosities Volume 1 (2003)

Info

http://www.mediafire.com/?n1y0y2k0jjw

Linval Thompson – Ghetto Living (2008)

A phenomenal reggae album by an underappreciated master of the genre. Linval Thompson cut his teeth working in Lee Perry’s Black Ark studio before moving on to a successful career both as a singer and producer. This album, his first in over 10 years, sounds sleek and modern without being overproduced or overly digitized (a common criticism when it comes to contemporary reggae). Thompson’s voice, though sounding a little weatherworn, is still an evocative instrument, and the songs are all top-notch. Check it out.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3SM3ERNM

Tetris

I have an unnatural, potentially unhealthy obsession with Tetris. It’s becoming my go-to thing for whenever I have time to waste, which is pretty often these days. Only problem is that I’m not very good at it. I have terrible hand eye (or finger?) coordination and my brain overloads easily when stressed out. But I mostly blame it on the Tetris song. While it’s a great little tune and integral to the overall experience, it’s just a bit too fast paced and intense for me. So rather than play the game on mute, I recorded my own version of the Tetris theme a while back. It’s a bit slower, more chill, definitely helps me concentrate, and makes for a much more relaxing gaming experience.
Not really sure why I’m posting it. Figured I might as well share it, in case there are any other Tetris-heads out there who want to give it a try. It’s really simple; just a 15 second loop that goes on and on for about 10 minutes. Done with acoustic guitar, synthesizer, and banging on various objects with drumsticks and fists.

http://www.mediafire.com/?2nww0wmjwdj

Terry Riley – A Rainbow In Curved Air (1967)

A classic album of minimal electronic composition. If you like squiggly synthesizers as much as I do you’ll definitely like this one.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ntz4z5nnyjd

Various Artists – Dubstep Allstars, Vol 1 (2003)

This one’s been around for a while, but I still listen to it a lot. A great batch of tunes, flawlessly mixed by DJ Hatcha.

http://www.mediafire.com/?obdondyojct

Bert Jansch

Definitely one of the more interesting figures to emerge from the 60s folk revival. Bert Jansch is as authentic a rambling bluesman as the British Isles ever produced. Hailing from Scotland, he spent several years traveling and busking for a living, developing his folk-blues songwriting style and perfecting his unique approach to the guitar, before a bout of dysentery in Tangiers forced him back home. He took part in the budding London folk scene of the mid-60s, recording his first album at friend’s home and selling it to Transatlantic Records for £100 (it went on to sell 150,000 copies). Several albums followed, including Jack Orion, his first serious foray into traditional folk material. That record featured fellow acoustic guitar luminary John Renbourn, with whom he would found the short-lived but groundbreaking jazz-folk band Pentangle. He’s been steadily releasing solo records ever since, highlights including the upbeat Birthday Blues, the uncharacteristically gentle and largely instrumental Rosemary Lane, which was recorded at his country home, and the 2006 guest-star-laden comeback record The Black Swan.
Jansch’s voice, though pleasant, is of kind of an acquired taste. It’s the guitar playing that really stands out on his records. His love of jazz and non-Western music is apparent in the complex chords and unusual time signatures he regularly employs. He’s also got a unique way of playing simultaneous, contrapunctal melodies in the upper and lower register, making it sound as though there are several instruments playing at once. If you enjoy stuff like Nick Drake, or any kind of folky music really, be sure to check him out.


Bert Jansch (1965)

http://www.mediafire.com/?mudvym0tmze

Jack Orion (1966)












http://www.mediafire.com/?wtzvjzzmto3



Birthday Blues (1969)












http://www.mediafire.com/?zm0znvdeizd



Rosemary Lane (1971)












http://www.mediafire.com/?cnlommzjyg1



The Black Swan (2006)

http://www.mediafire.com/?5ywmgb4zl1n

Captan, obvio – Wachu Min (2008)

"Conceived halfway between a basement and an empty swimming pool in Caracas, Venezuela during the summer of 2008. Captan, obvio is a free-form rock'n roll band deeply grained in improvisation and psychedelic. Having met some six months prior, the three members passion for discovering new music and experimenting with their instruments fused into what was to be the base for the bands sound.The band consists of Pericles (Bass, programming), Mario Anzola (Guitar, programming) and Alejandro Delgado (Guitar, whisky). The debut album Wachu Min was recorded in a single day as one session, unrehearsed and completely improvised (true to the bands form and spirit)."

http://www.mediafire.com/file/nvbtnmmimvz/COWM.rar

www.myspace.com/captanobvio

Ellen Allien & Apparat – Orchestra of Bubbles (2006)

Another electronic record I’ve been listening to a lot lately. This one rips. Big chunky beats and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Really nice.

http://www.mediafire.com/?tjzzgnntyak

Mokira – Persona (2009)

Swedish producer Andreas Tilliander’s latest release. Really nice ambient stuff, kind of reminiscent of Gas and Vladislav Delay, just a little less intense.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zjam4omnjzg