19 November 2024: Ian Boddy & Mark Shreeve (ARC); r beny (qd 25); Paolo L. Bandera

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I am also hosting Rural Electric from 7-9 pm on November 19 

Live albums have always been a big feature of the DiN imprints output with many of its releases featuring performances by label boss Boddy either solo or in conjunction with other artists. Seven such albums have been as the duo ARC with Boddy alongside his friend and musical collaborator Mark Shreeve who sadly passed away in 2022. Their show at E-Live in The Netherlands from 2007 was the only concert of theirs so far unreleased and hence Chronicle (DiN89) is both here to fill that gap and to provide a reminder of the power this duo could create in a live setting.

This concert was unusual in that ARC used it as a chance to showcase their recently released album Fracture (DiN28) and indeed the duo constructed their set around the five tracks from that album, interlinked by short ambient passages. Underpinning the rhythmic elements of each piece is the huge Moog modular utilised by Mark over the years to such sensational effect, not only in the ARC project but his band Redshift. In creating that Berlin School sound this system is the real deal and under his skilled sequencing the pieces have an organic life that breathe and can grow from a tiny staccato rhythm to a huge growl in seconds. Over this structure Boddy and Shreeve layer atmospheric effects, warm chordal motifs and blistering solo lines. The concert culminates in the sensational 22 minute epic track Rapture which begins with spacey, drifting atmospheres before chordal Mellotrons add a sense of the grandiose. This just lulls the audience into a sense of calm before those sequencers thunder in to produce a truly hypnotic and incredible sonic climax.

Chronicle is a testament to the music of ARC but more particularly in remembering Mark Shreeve who left us all way too early.
 

credits

released November 15, 2024
Our thanks to Ian Boddy for providing us with a copy of this release.
Performed by Ian Boddy & Mark Shreeve as ARC at E-Live, Auditorium of the T.U., Eindhoven, The Netherlands on 13/10/2007.

Mastered by Ian Boddy August 2024.

Thanks for making this album happen: Ron Boots and Sue Shreeve.

One-third of the proceeds of this album will be donated to cancerresearchuk.org

Dedicated to Mark Shreeve (June 2nd 1957 - August 31st 2022)


ARC played eight concerts between 1998 & 2017 and up till now seven of these have been released on the DiN label. Mark left us way too soon in 2022 and I have so many happy memories of the music we did together. I have two in particular from this trip. Firstly we had an incredible reaction from the audience after we played Mark’s track System Six as the encore (included on the 25 Years of DiN album) that the gig organiser Ron Boots said “you must play more” - Mark & I looked at each other behind stage and shrugged our shoulders, we had nothing else prepared - to which Ron replied “play that again”, which we did to even more applause. Then secondly as Mark drove the van around the M25 with our gear onboard we realised that the vehicle was speed limited and so we had to drive all the way to Eindhoven at a top rate of 55mph - rock n roll!

So here we have Chronicle (DiN89) the final ARC concert to be released. I hope you enjoy the music as much as we had fun playing it.

Tags

ambient berlin school em electronic electronic music electronica downtempo modular synth Sunderland

 

Music by r beny
Mastered by Alex at quiet details studios 
Our thanks to Alex for providing us with a copy of this release.
Artwork by quiet details in collaboration with r beny
Design by quiet details
© quiet details 2024 all rights reserved

Overjoyed to say that coming next, with a jaw-dropping interpretation of the quiet details idea, is the dearly-loved Californian artist, Austin Cairns, otherwise known as r beny.

Known for his incredible run of releases on Dauw and other labels such as Seil Records, Longform Editions, Past Inside the Present and numerous self-releases - he captured the hearts of listeners like few others with his innate melodic sensibility, unique talent for sonic world-building, and vast technical skill.

Austin’s huge and loyal fan-base have been looking forward to this moment and they’ve been rewarded with something truly special - ‘discerned in the fugue of streams’ is the product of all his emotion and introspection, an artist demonstrating complete affinity with his instruments and the ability to musically realise his innermost feelings with perfect clarity.

r beny’s music has always been typified by elegant and stirring melody, coupled with exceptionally sculpted textures - here we see him expanding on what has gone before, beautifully portraying the profound nature of his creativity.

Amaranthine clouds of pastoral bliss, inspired by the natural world and its nuances, completely immerse the listener. Each track emanating deep and soothing tranquility, expressed through expert manipulation of synthesisers, mandolin, samplers and field recordings.

Austin displays his finely honed ability to touch our spirits with his musical sincerity - his willingness to lay his soul bare comes through so powerfully on this album - that’s the very reason there’s something about his music that so many people can relate to: honest; full of integrity; and distilled to its purest essence.

As he says himself:

In times of distress and discomfort, I often find myself seeking out the white noise chorus of water in motion. With soft fascination, one can start to take notice of the individual resonances and frequencies that make up the whole. In a state of sense- making, solace can be found amongst the distinct tones of the water cascading over moss and stone - calm can be found amongst the roar of a busy mind.

This album is a contemplation on slowing down and paying mind to the quiet details within the threads of noise and patterns - finding meaning and hope in bodies of water in motion, the wind blowing through the forest, the white noise of a warming world, the endless barrage of algorithms and advertising, and the cacophony of internal voices and feedback memories of my anxious brain.

So pleased to share it with you, a gorgeous album of breathtaking beauty. Huge thanks to Austin for everything, a wonderful addition to the series.

The artwork was made as always influenced by the music and idea behind the album - originating from a photo from Austin which was then captured with analogue photography and processed here at quiet details studios.

As usual, the album is presented on the physical edition, a custom 6-panel digipack with a separate fine art print too.

The CD also has a special long-form continuous mix of the album, representing the music in its purest form.

rbeny.bandcamp.com
 

credits

released October 23, 2024

lambient chill-out downtempo drone electronic field recordings granular modular r beny United Kingdom

Riconnessione Iconoclastica Sacrale (USG100 / Dissipatio).  PAOLO L. BANDERA                                                         (a.k.a. NG5361)

“Does destruction of sacred images imply anything for the erosion of the role of the imperial icons?
Because divinity being destroyed is not a representation of a spiritual form disappearing, but a consequence of historian interpretation, scientists are doing exactly what everyone would do when tripping in ego-fixation, creating a transformation which is itself subversive and self-deconditioning.
The church of the Virgin has been rebuilt and lavishly refurbished, due to major insights regarding the biblical-theological backdrop: ecstasy combined with erotic and sexually-charge images drives the entire practice, which could be described as a meticulous process of reconnection.
Discussion about religious changes within the framework of monotheism opens an enclosure where it is fundamental to craft a discourse inside a radical environmental movement, aspiring to what can only be characterized as a move from nostalgia to wish-fulfillment.
The flux of the universe pertains to a higher epistemic realm, where a dark figure of iconoclastic power has acted against religious material cultures, that have subsequently left no trace.
The return and interpretation of a spiritual and academic heritage is visualized as a series of animal figures, set up by the gods of fashion, modernism, renaissance and renewal… urban topography becomes conscious and imprisons mental coordinates behind a desk.
Gestures direct viewers to names and key sentiments of the inscribed prayers, where they find a
rich ethnographic dataset of embodied and multi-sensuous performances: they breathe to reshape light inside and outside, in a gravitational bending of electromagnetic waves by massive bodies, subject of contemporary and future disasters becoming super dense and acting as a lens.” Paolo L. Bandera


Paolo L. Bandera (a.k.a. NG5361) has been propagating unconventional sounds and deviated cultural streams for decades with SIGILLUM S, together with Eraldo Bernocchi and other various acolytes.
On top of this, he has been generating noise textures in solo configuration as SSHE RETINA STIMULANTS, besides supporting and participating in many mutant projects by friends (THE SODALITY, IUGULA-THOR, ENSEMBLE SACRE GARCONS, SIDRA and more).
SSHE RETINA STIMULANTS devastates post-industrial sounds with a hyper - intellectual twist, in an apocalyptic context with morbidly visionary features: it’s a space where the most antagonist and abrasive currents get crazy, while pursuing a limitless synergy between underground acoustics and nightmarish visuals…under this moniker tens of works have been released through the years, in parallel with live performances in a lot of geographies.
Most recently, Paolo has started releasing some works under his own name, in order to differentiate more conceptually severe and abstract electronic productions from the SRS harsh volume.
Collaborations with other similarly alien projects are an important driver, including those with Aube, Mark Solotroff, Bad Sector, I Burn, The Fortieth Day, Gerstein, MSBR, Terence Hannum, Neil Jendon, The Land Of The Snow, Uncodified, Macelleria Mobile di Mezzanotte, LCB, Satanismo Calibro 9, Lorenzo Abbatoir, Avamposto Malato e many others.
Paolo has also written for various magazines (on music and other topics ), as well as having curated the two Italian editions of the Industrial Culture Handbook and having collaborated to RUMORI SACRI, a reference book on the Italian post-industrial music underground.
 

credits

released October 24, 2024

Bad Alchemy
Having become intrigued and invited by Pezzella, I gladly turn my ears to Riconnessione Iconoclastica Sacrale (USG100 / Dissipatio). This is another work by PAOLO L. BANDERA (a.k.a. NG5361), former Sigillum S member, and known as Sshe Retina Stimulants with "Ecclesiastic Audition Stories" featured in BA 116. He provides an equally cryptic explanation for the cryptic titles "Flessione Titanica Gravitazionale (expanded version)," "Moltiplicazione Infinitesimale Reattiva (evaporated version)," "Accolita Prostetico Oceanico (fermented version)," and "Territori Interiori Antecedenti (maximal version)."

It discusses the reconnection (Riconnessione) with divine urges obscured by iconoclastic power, in erotic-mystical ecstasy, and a longing that screams from nostalgia to wish fulfillment, feminine in the 'Church of the Virgin' and radically environmentally conscious. Accompanied by archetypal animal symbols, mental coordinates, key emotions, and multisensory performances—like his own.

It seeks to reform the light inside and outside, through a gravitational bending of electromagnetic waves by massive bodies, a subject of present and future catastrophes that become super dense and act as lenses. With droning glissando curves, dystopian impressions, through iron-like percussive sounds, a roaring, "breathing," abyssal groaning or singing wave. From resignation to sacred Risorgimento. With whistling and roaring wooshes, a slow, donging heartbeat, an organ-like sustained tone. Nietzsche’s The world is deep comes to mind... But from this deep dream, it has not yet awakened, trapped in nightmarish loops, disturbed by alarms. [BA 126 rbd]

Ver Sacrum
www.versacrum.com/vs/2024/10/paolo-l-bandera-riconnessione-iconoclastica-sacrale.html

Luminous Dash
luminousdash.be/reviews/paolo-l-bandera-riconnessione-iconoclastica-sacrale-unexplained-sounds-group/

Our thanks to Raffaele Pezzella for providing us with a copy of this release.

Co-released by Unexplained Sounds Group and Dissipatio.
Mastered by Paolo L. Bandera
Cd artwork by Nicola Quiriconi.
Cat. Num. USG100.
2024. All rights reserved.

 

29 October 2024: The Annual FreeForm Halloween Show!: PFM "Dracula"; Jacula

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We'll be playing the one disc release; a more comprehensive Dracula: The Musical two-disc version has also been released.
 
Review by lor68
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Finally a modern accessible Opera Rock, which can be appreciated by a wider crowd of listeners (not for the prog fans only!!), of course with the same mood of a musical, even though I can not say it's equal to the 70's majestic opera rocks, such as "Jesus Christ Superstar for example or the good work by Who entitled "Tommy"...nevertheless it's suitable for a thrilling music event live on stage (as foreseen in the next concert programme of 2006), starring the whole old line up of PFM, plus a few guest stars, as well as a young talented female singer called "Dolcenera", singing in the final track "Un Destino di Rondine"... the good and the evil living together, the perfect representation of Dracula, this latter character already represented in the cinematographic masterpiece by F. Ford Coppola and here helped by the orchestral sections and the symphonic chorus as well, really delightful ; it's strange that it's the second concept album only, after the controversial (and quite disappointing too) "Ulisse" dated 1997, as They try to be involved in the development of a famous story and this time reaching their goal in a lot of circumstances: in fact the style of PFM is inspiring both in the accessible classic rock genre and in the symphonic breaks-through as well, close to a kind of classic music and with a certain creativity which is often remarkable. The lyrics by Vincenzo Incenzo are clever, thanks also to the melodramatic passages (think of the overture): of course it's not a prog masterpiece nor strictly a progressive concept album, but their music taste is always pleasant, being able to represent the various dramatic and romantic moods!! It should be worth a "3 stars" righter score in comparison to their best albums ...long live PFM, anyway!! 

Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) (translation: Award-winning Marconi Bakery) is an Italian progressive rock band founded in 1970 which continues to the present day. They were the first Italian group to have success internationally. The group recorded five albums with English lyrics between 1973 and 1977. During this period they entered both the British and American charts. They also had several successful European and American tours, playing at the popular Reading Festival in England and on The Midnight Special, a popular national television program in the United States.

PFM introduced new sounds, such as the synthesizer, to the Italian musical world. They were also among the first to combine symphonic classical and traditional Italian musical influences in a rock music context. Such innovations and their longevity have earned PFM a place among the most important bands in the Progressive rock genre. 

                            In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum is an album by Italian rock band Jacula

According to the band sources it was recorded and self-released by the band (on their Gnome label in 1969) in 300 copies "for distribution to friends and the occult community".[1] In 2001 Black Widow Records released the album to the public market[2] but Antonio Bartoccetti (guitarist and bandleader) claims the reissue (as he calls it) is highly edited with Pro Tools, distorted guitars and samplers. No copy of the original issue can be found to support his claims though (if it exists at all).


 Review by micky
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

3 stars Another under appreciated gem here that deserves the Big Mick treatment.

For those who want a snapshot description of the music... look at the album cover... look closely at it and conjure up thoughts of music that might fit it. Music that conjures up up images of rotting decaying flesh, souls not at rest but tormented by things that can only be dreamed of the the most vivid of nightmares. A cover so descriptive of the music... they used the same cover on their second album 3 years later.

Jacula was formed in Milan in 1968 by occultist Antonio Bartoccetti. After finding his creative partner in Doris Norton, a partnership that would last through the next decade, they recorded a landmark album in London in 1969. The album had a limited pressing of some 300 albums, and for many years was forgotten. In fact many texts list their second album as their debut album. The otherwise excellent 'Return of Italian Pop' book evens says the group was founded in 1972. This group though predates many groups of Italian Progressive music if not in formation.. but the crafting of what we now know as Progressive Rock.

The music is fascinatingly dark, moody, atmospheric brand of music that conjures up Sabbath like gloom and doom without crunchingly heavy riffs but through the use of the organ, the church organ in particular. Also absent are silly childish lyrics that some have tried to use to convey horror or darkness. There are vocals here.. spoken word in places.. chantlike in others..that are interspersed through the songs. Never the focus of the songs.. being a narrative if you will. Bartoccetti is often regarded as one of the finest guitarist to come from this period of Italian rock. This is not his album to shine but what strikes me about his playing on this in ...lets check the year here... a tone that is downright metallic. Very different from what others were doing in that year. Commonplace a decade later.. but to these ears at least... very novel for the last year of the 1960's. His guitar is mainly texture on this album though and it leaves plenty of space for keyboardist Charles Tiring. The album is an organ lovers FANTASY. Along with Battiato's 'Melle le Gladiator' this is the album I point out to people who want to hear Church Organ in prog.. not a solo or a dash of it. but driving a whole album.

Anyhow. Another short album by today's standards, but we don't mind do we. I'll take 38 minutes of high-quality music over 80 filled with filler anyday. An album that non-Italian speakers will have no problems dealing with. When a man says he wants to rip your guts out and savor it with a nice Brunello di Montalcino, you really don't need a translation do you. For me 4 stars, an album that I reach for when I am looking to match a particular mood ..or wish to set a particular mood. For the site.. 3 stars. A good addition to any prog collection. Obviously not a varied album and one that may only apply to certain prog fans.. and even then.. at certain times and moods. But when the time comes for wanting something dark and atmospheric.. there are few albums better.

Michael aka Micky

 

22 October 2024: Ragnarok; Cousin Silas and Jonathan Ewald (litmus0001)

 

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Ragnarök is a Swedish prog-rock band, founded in Kalmar in 1972, by Peter Bryngelsson, Henrik Strindberg and Staffan Strindberg. Their first album was released 1976 by Silence Records
 
Ragnarök biography
Formed in Kalmar, Sweden in 1972 - Recording hiatus from 1992 to 2007 - Reformed in 2003

These Swedes managed four albums on Silence Record and some more (not listed here) in the early 90's. They are a typical example of atmospheric and melancholic prog like only Sweden can produce them. Their first album is a real classic known as a minor classic among progheads and they will participate to another group (KUNG TUNG - much harder) before doing their second album where those influences from that group will leave a mark. It is reputed to be as good as their debut. The later albums listed here remain of a good standard. Among the non-listed albums is "Well"(91) and is rather new age and sometimes industrial - not much to do with the earlier works.

: : : Hugues Chantraine, BELGIUM : : :

NOTE: Not to be confused with the New Zealand symphonic prog group from those very same years (also HERE on PA) or the Heavy Metal unit from the 80-90's.  

Review by siLLy puPPy
Special Collaborator PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic

4 stars RAGNORÖK has been one of Sweden's longest running progressive acts engaging in both progressive rock and progressive folk since its formation in Kalmar in 1972. Founded by Peter Bryngelsson (guitar, bass, vocals), Henrik Strindberg (guitar, flute) and Staffan Strindberg (bass), throughout the band's existence it has seen more than 25 members come and go. Despite this long existence the band has only released a total of six studio albums which all began with this 1976 self-titled debut. While mostly active during the 70s and 80s, the band took a hiatus and then reformed in 2002 but has only released one album "Path" since.

While RAGNORÖK would take a turn towards progressive jazz rock on its sophomore album "Fjärilar i magen," on this eponymous debut the band delivers a lush pastoral form of progressive folk that belies the band name that refers to the great event in Norse mythology that includes a great battle. On the contrary, RAGNORÖK's first album is one of the most mellow and dreamy styles of prog you could possibly experience with slow moving guitar and flute, piano arpeggios and a controlled drum and bass section. Hints of the jazz direction are dropped in some of the percussion moves but otherwise this sounds more like a mix of Bo Hanssen and Camel without any true points where the band rocks out.

A veritable mix of folk, classical guitar, semi-jazzy interludes and the pastoral aspects of prog ranging from Genesis to Anthony Phillips (sans vocals). The music also includes some interesting Swedish folk flavors including a bit of that famous circus music feel on the short "Fjottot" but mostly this is an acoustic guitar, piano and flute dominated album that takes you into prog placidity. While mellow prog such as this can often fall into tedium, RAGNORÖK keeps the album interesting by crafting an excellent instrumental interplay that keeps you in the zone. Too often folky albums will unnecessarily attempt to rock out at inappropriate moments and while that can be effective if done well, often it falls flat. In this case the band simply stays on mellow mode for the entire ride which makes it a beautifully compelling listen. Of course this would all amount to nought if not for the beautiful melodies crafted.

Another strength is the use of varying styles of folk music with even Celtic folk sounds being implemented on "Stiltje-uppbrott." Personally i find these low key prog albums hit or miss but occasionally a band nails it perfectly. This is something like Sweden's equivalent to Italy's Celeste who also went against the grain and delivered a rock-free slice of piano-based mellowness. To my ears this sounds like the prog equivalent of cool jazz and if Miles Davis was Swedish and took on the world of prog folk then perhaps this is the kind of album he would've produced. Any way you slice it, RAGNORÖK's debut is a one of those pleasant surprises that works because of its high quality and consistency throughout its run. The mix of instrumentation is family unique and the album doesn't sound like much else. A nice late to the game addition to the world of prog folk in 1976. 

 


Thanks to Litmus for his contribution.

litmus0001.bandcamp.com
 
This is the second Cousin Silas/litmus0001 collaboration to be featured on FreeForm Radio 

credits

released October 4, 2024

Thanks to Thomas Mathie for the cover design 
 

 

15 October 2024: Parallel Worlds; David Gilmour

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I'll also be hosting Rural Electric (Mostly) Country Music from 7-9 this evening.

 

                                                            Impressions by Parallel Worlds

Listener Reviews:

dbssll Parallel Worlds is an original and distinctive voice in a sea of samey electronic music. Off kilter quirky rhythms alternate with slightly uneasy ambience. The melodic fragments always arrive from an unexpected angle and catch your ear as they float by. Give it a go.
selfoscillate thumbnail
selfoscillate Another great album by modular master Bakis Sirros, crafted in his instantly recognisable style. His music arouses emotions without the need for overcrowded arrangements. The melodies speak for themselves and the delicate percussion programming is the perfect surrounding for them. It is all done to the point without clutter. Very nice. Fully recommended. Favorite track: Time Dimension.
mamonulabs thumbnail
mamonulabs This album delivers a rich tapestry of autumnal IDM and ambient sounds. A fusion of analog modular synthesis with digital / granular elements in classic Parallel Worlds style. Favorite track: In Harmony.


Artist: Parallel Worlds
Release: Impressions
Type: Album (Double 10",CD, Digital)
Genre: Ambient, Experimental, IDM
Year: 2024
Catalog number: MOA1225
Label: Móatún 7

bit.ly/--impressions

Machines used:

Eurorack Modular
Korg Wavestate
Buchla Modular
SQ64

credits

Our thanks to Bakis Sirros for providing us with a copy of this release.

released October 10, 2024

Written by Bakis Sirros
Design by Mason Verger
Mastered by Árni Grétar
© Móatún 7 2024

license

all rights reserved

tags

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Luck and Strange is the fifth studio album by English guitarist and songwriter David Gilmour, released on 6 September 2024 by Sony Music. It was produced by Gilmour and Charlie Andrew. Gilmour said Andrew challenged him musically and was not intimidated by his past work with Pink Floyd.

Gilmour's wife, novelist Polly Samson, wrote most of the lyrics, which she said addressed mortality and ageing. Their children contributed additional vocals, lyrics and instrumentation. The song "Luck and Strange" features keyboards recorded in 2007 by the Pink Floyd keyboardist, Richard Wright, who died in 2008. The album also features a cover of the 1999 song "Between Two Points," originally by the British band the Montgolfier Brothers.

Luck and Strange became Gilmour's third number-one album on the UK Albums Chart. "The Piper's Call," "Between Two Points," "Dark and Velvet Nights" and "Luck and Strange" were released as singles. Gilmour began a tour supporting the album in September 2024.

 
Luck and Strange

Studio album by
Released6 September 2024
StudioMedina Studio
Salvation Studios
British Grove Studios
Angel Studios
Astoria Studio
Iguana Studios
Length43:21
LabelSony
Producer
David Gilmour chronology
Live at Pompeii
(2017)
Luck and Strange
(2024)


Singles from Luck and Strange
  1. "The Piper's Call"
    Released: 25 April 2024
  2. "Between Two Points"
    Released: 17 June 2024
  3. "Dark and Velvet Nights"
    Released: 9 August 2024
  4. "Luck and Strange"
    Released: 12 September 2024
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Financial Times[2]
The Independent[3]
The Irish Times[4]
Mojo[5]
Rolling Stone[6]

 

08 October 2024: Tony Levin; Nad Sylvan & Bonamici (aka Christian Thordin) - Unifaun

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Tune in to the Fisheries Debate broadcast live on KMXT from 7-9 before the show.

Over the past half century, Tony Levin has been a prolific session player and one of the most active live performers on the planet. He’s contributed his talents to over five hundred albums amongst which include 15 with Peter Gabriel and 18 with King Crimson (counting live, studio, and compilations) alongside contributions to the work of John Lennon, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Herbie Mann, Paul Simon and many others. On tour, he’s traveled the World many times over with the aforementioned King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, and several of his own bands including Stick Men
.
This Fall, he’ll stage 65 performances in North America as a member of BEAT, celebrating King Crimson’s ‘80s repertoire alongside Adrian Belew, Steve Vai and Danny Carey interpreting “Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair.”

Levin’s seventh solo album, and his first since 2007, is an autobiography of sorts, with the themes drawn from Levin’s musical life. It features a myriad of collaborators from his half-century-plus on the road and in the studio with Peter Gabriel, King Crimson and many, many others.

Features a Murderer’s Row of guest musicians including Robert Fripp, Vinnie Colaiuta, Earl Slick, Mike Portnoy, Steve Gadd, Jerry Marotta, Gary Husband, L. Shankar, Pete Levin, Jeremy Stacey, David Torn, Pat Mastelotto, Larry Fast, Steve Hunter, Manu Katche, Alex Foster, Dominic Miller, Markus Reuter, Collin Gatwood, Chris Pasin, Jay Collins, Josh Shpak, Don Mikkelsen. 

credits

released September 13, 2024

1. BRINGING IT DOWN TO THE BASS
Drums: Manu Katche
Guitar: (solo) Dominic Miller
Keyboard: Pete Levin
Trumpet: Chris Pasin
Alto sax: (solo) Alex Foster
Baritone sax: Jay Collins
Bass: TL
Drums recorded by Toby Gendron at Planet Studios, Montreal
Guitar recorded by Tony Lake
Horns recorded by Scott Petito at NRS Studio
Horn arrangement by Pete Levin

2. ME AND MY AXE
Drums: Jerry Marotta
Guitar: Steve Hunter
Keyboards: Larry Fast, Pete Levin
Bass: TL
Drums recorded by Ariel Shafir at Dreamland Studios

3. ROAD DOGS
Drums: Jeremy Stacey
Keyboard: Pete Levin
Bridge rhythm touch guitar: Markus Reuter
Bass, cello, stick, vox: TL
Drums recorded by Milo Jerreira-Hayes at The Bert Jansch Studio

4. UNCLE FUNKSTER
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
Stick: TL

5. BOSTON ROCKS
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Guitar: Earl Slick
Keyboard: Gary Husband
Stick, vox: TL
Guitar recorded by Ariel Shafir at Dreamland Studios

6. ESPRESSOVILLE
Drums: Steve Gadd
Guitar: Joe Caro
Keyboard: Pete Levin
Bass: TL
Trumpet: Josh Shpak
Trumpet: Chris Pasin
Trombone: Don Mikkelsen
Drums recorded by Rob Katz at Wackerman Studios
Horn arrangement: Pete Levin
Espresso machine sounds by Tony’s Breville

7. GIVE THE CELLO SOME
Drums: Jerry Marotta
Organ: Pete Levin
NS cello, bass, vox: TL
Drums recorded by Ariel Shafir at Jersville Studio

8. SIDE B / TURN IT OVER
Vox and bass: TL

9. BEYOND THE BASS CLEF
Violin: L. Shankar (Shenkar)
Keyboards: Gary Husband
Oboe, English horn: Colin Gatwood
Stick, cello, bass: TL

10. BUNGIE BASS
Drums: Pat Mastelotto
Guitar: David Torn
NS Bass, cello: TL

11. FIRE CROSS THE SKY
Stick, vox: TL

12. FLOATING IN DARK WATERS
Soundscape: Robert Fripp
Percussion: Jerry Marotta
Steinberger bass: TL

13. ON THE DRUMS
Vox: TL

14. CODA
Cello: Linnea Olsson, & Bess Brydolf (in utero)
NS Bass, piano: TL 
 
 

Founded in 2004

Nad Sylvan and Bonamici (aka Christian Thordin) accidently stumbled upon each other on the Genesis website´s forum in 2003. Bon had written an instrumental song, "Tribute to Genesis" and wanted some critics from Genesis board members. Nad certainly liked it, contacted Bon and suggested a collaboration. Since they both live in Sweden, they teamed up quite effortlessly. What they both seemed to have in common, besides a passionate love for progressive rock, was also their backgrounds; At the age of five, both Nad and Bon started to play the piano - only relying upon their ears as they are self-taught.

Bon musical journey wandered towards jazz, fusion, folk/world music and latterly progressive rock.
He studied and improvised music at Hubbard High School, Ohio, USA 1977-78 and played keyboards in various musical constellations in the US, Sweden and Norway during the 70´s and 80´s.

With a young family and racing two small kids during the 90´s as his primary, it wasn´t until the 00´s that time had come for a full-blown musical endeavour, composing in many different styles - but in general more in the tradition of world/folk music as well as piano driven jazz excursions.

Nad picked up on his singing ability in his early teens, just as he did with a few more instruments besides the piano. Writing/recording and performing his own songs as a solo artist and in various bands throughout the 70´s, 80´s and the 90´s has become a lifestyle.

He looks at his singing voice being more of that of an instrument that can be "tuned" and changed to fit the music, rather than the other way around, hence the associations with Collins/Gabriel. You listen to Nad´s solo work, and you will hear quite a different approach - yes, Nad is a chameleon!

After three solo albums from 1995-2003, where Nad played and sang everything himself - he longed for a long term musical relationship, and found the perfect partner in Bonamici.

Together with Nad, progressive rock have become the foundation of this duo - and in the old farm house, Bon´s studio has grown into a high tech facility, incorporating everything from advanced gear for creating motion pictures, to all kinds of vintage- as well as software instruments.

With this first offering with "UNIFAUN", the duo set out to do "the songs Genesis never did", initially as a very innocent flirt with their old heroes and basically just for fun and games - very much with a glint in the eye!
After the second song ("Mr. Marmaduke and the Minister") had been uploaded to their website, a demand for a full album began to emerge from fans of both Gabriel- and Collins era Genesis. Seemed like fun!

After four years of writing/recording - the duo where approached by Hansi Cross of Progress Records, Sweden. And here we are.

"Ok, we survived goal number one! Now we must live up to the next one, "to become rock stars before we hit 50!", says Nad, 49 and Bon, 48... :)

Biography provided by Nad Sylvan of UNIFAUN

01 October 2024: Jimi Hendrix; Brendon Moeller (quiet details 24)

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The first Tuesday of every month we spotlight a classic progressive rock album from the 1960s or 70s. This week we feature Jimi Hendrix's classic album, Electric Ladyland, in its entirety. I bought this album when it was first released and I am still impressed with the variety of styles of music and Hendrix's virtuosity on this album.

From Wikipedia:

Electric Ladyland is the third and final studio album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, released in October 1968. A double album, it was the only record from the Experience with production solely credited to Hendrix.[nb 1] The band's most commercially successful release and its only number one album, it was released by Reprise Records in the United States on October 16, 1968, and by Track Records in the UK nine days later. By mid-November, it had reached number 1 on the Billboard Top LPs chart, spending two weeks there. In the UK it peaked at number 6, where it spent 12 weeks on the British charts.

Electric Ladyland includes a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower", which became the Experience's best-selling single, reaching number six in the UK and number 20 in the United States. Although the album confounded critics upon its release, it has since been viewed as one of Hendrix's best works and one of the greatest albums of all time, being featured on various "greatest albums" lists, including Q's 2003 list of the 100 greatest albums and various editions of Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", on which it was ranked 53rd in the 2020 iteration.     

Mirage - Brendon Moeller

Quiet Details 24

 Under a range of monikers, Brendon has been at the forefront of exploring some of the deepest planes of electronic music for nearly two decades. Dub, house, techno, experimental, drum and bass and more - releases on labels such as Echochord, Electric Deluxe, Soul People Music, Silent Season, Delsin, Deep Space Media, Mule Music and many others, show how well-regarded and widely-loved his music is.

Mirage sees Brendon take this wealth of experience to create the most incredible journey of hypnotic atmospherics - we get the feeling of a composer completely at ease with themselves and their vision of electronic music.

Grounded by the heaviest of bass-weight, each track presents a vast and seemingly endless sonic universe - gorgeous trails of musical fragments drift in every direction, floating away on crumbling echos and near-infinite reverberant decay.

Highly textured sonic particles come in and out of view - shifting drones, acidic undulations, synthetic waves, field recordings and broken percussion - all within a framework that harks back to the original dub masters, yet completely of today and this moment in time.

Deft and precise studio techniques mix with an intuitive and truly hands on approach to music creation - Brendon has a unique and innate understanding of both the exact sounds needed and the exact moment to let them live - conducting this dubwise ensemble with the maximum finesse to evoke the most powerful emotions and feelings at will.

As he says himself:
The soundscapes you’re listening to were recorded over a few days in the middle of a Summer heatwave in Patterson, New York, July 2024.

Endless hum… nature grinding slow, steady decay.  
Unmeasured rhythms syncopate… heat’s dissonance, fractured airwaves.  
Time drips, pools, melts—liquefied, slipping into cracks of unreality.  
Like vapor, slipping between what is and isn’t. The mirage hums.  
Frequencies hit—familiar but formless, just the pulse.  
Always the pulse.


So pleased to share it with you, a wonderful album of breathtaking beauty.
Huge thanks to Brendon for everything, a wonderful addition to the series.

The artwork was made as always influenced by the music and idea behind the album - originating from a photo from Brendon which was then captured with analogue photography and processed here at quiet details studios.
As usual, the album is presented on the physical edition, a custom 6-panel digipack with a separate fine art print too.
The CD also has a special long-form continuous mix of the album, representing the music in its purest form.

Credits:

FreeForm thanks Alex at quiet details for providing us with a copy of this release.
Music by Brendon Moeller
Mastered by Alex at quiet details studios
Artwork by quiet details in collaboration with Brendon Moeller
Design by quiet details
© quiet details 2024 all rights reserved

24 September 2024: litmus0001 & Cousin Silas; James Murray "

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We urge you to support the musicians you hear on FreeForm Radio. 
 

I am also hosting Rural Electric (Mostly) Country Music after the Island Messenger at 7 pm.  Tonight's playlist includes a few country songs by the Rolling Stones.

                                                                    Letters From America

New collaboration between Cousin Silas and litmus0001. This new release also includes three bonus tracks Cousin Silas and Jonathan Ewald collaborated on from the dark distant past.

credits

released September 13, 2024

Cover by Jonathan Ewald

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Weeds.  James Murray(Quiet Details 23)

Music by James Murray
Mastered by Alex at quiet details studios
Artwork by quiet details in collaboration with James Murray
Design by quiet details
© quiet details 2024 all rights reserved 
Promo Copy provided by Alex at quiet details.

Delighted to say that giving us the next instalment in the quiet details series is the prolific and much-loved visionary of minimal and ambient music, James Murray.

James is responsible for a back catalogue of the highest quality - establishing himself as an artist that falls squarely into the ‘essential listening’ category. With releases on top labels such as Home Normal, Ultimae, Eilean Rec, Fluid Audio, Morr Music (as Slow Reels) and more, and many on his own Slowcraft, his immaculate productions have earned him a place at the top table of modern ambient music.

Having already graced quiet details as part of qd15 Slow Reels (with Ian Hawgood), here we find James diving deep into experimental processes, guided by his peerless intuition and refined musical sensibilities.
The album is as conceptually fascinating as it is aurally beautiful, as James says:

Each track is a loose study of various structural, cultural or biochemical aspects of each plant's nature and reputation. As a collection Weeds celebrates the understated, overlooked, so-called inconvenient or arbitrarily maligned.

He continues:

This is a kind of sister album to Soundflowers (Slowcraft), though less sculpted and less formal. I've dialled back some of the intentionality and let generative methods take more of the lead compositionally and in terms of textural, granular detail.

This manifests itself into an album of gorgeous musicality created with vast technical skill. Each contains layer upon layer of detail, structured as a highly elegant and finely balanced whole. They unfurl in a serene and constantly shifting way, allowing the listener to be fully enveloped in these highly textured exquisite waves of sounds.

Minimal and perfectly formed melodic phrases dance freely within extended harmonies and ever-expanding atmospheric soundscapes - James has a way of creating ambient music that is engaging and demands close listening, and at the same time meditative and powerfully hypnotic.

This is music that rewards many listens and reveals more each time, and can be a companion to so many states of mind - truly timeless in its conception and delivery.

So pleased to share it with you, a wonderful album of breathtaking beauty. Huge thanks to James for everything, a wonderful addition to the series.

The artwork was made as always influenced by the music and idea behind the album - originating from a photo from James which was then captured with analogue photography and processed here at quiet details studios.
As usual, the album is presented on the physical edition, a custom 6-panel digipack with a separate fine art print too.

The CD also has a special long-form continuous mix of the album, representing the music in its purest form.

As a label we support the Cancer Centre - Milton Keynes University Hospital and all their wonderful NHS staff.

jamesmurray.bandcamp.com
 

credits

released September 11, 2024

license

all rights reserved

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