LA FOLIE DU JOUR

ULRICH LASK "Sucht + Ordnung" (GER, 1984)

2009-07-08T10:36:00.012+03:00

Having not much to do with "ECM sound", "SUCHT + ORDNUNG" is one of the label's greatest obscurities. LASK suggests an unsual but delightful sound based on jazz, improvisation, programmed sounds, electronic rhythms, and vocal experimentations... The references are a lot... and the way they are combined really challenging. In spite of the many "weird" ingredients, the album has an accessible avant-pop taste that is still irresistible.

ULRICH LASK (saxes, programming, composition, lyrics)
MEINOLF BAUSCHULTE (drums, electronics, percussion arrangements)
MAGGIE NICOLS (vocals, donky kong II, lyrics on "None The Wiser")
SIGRID MEYER, MONIKA LINGES (narration)
Recorded Jan 1984, engineered by Martin Wieland, produced by Lask/Bauschulte

SUCHT + ORDNUNG
(11 tracks, 40min)

NEW & USED "Consensus" (US, 1995)

2009-07-08T09:34:00.008+03:00

NY outfit NEW & USED explore the spaces between jazz improvisation and modern composition. "CONSENSUS", their second work, recorded in 1993 and released in 1995 through Knitting Factory label.

Musicians: DAVE DOUGLAS trumpet, MARK FELDMAN violin, ANDY LASTER sax, KERMIT DRISCOLL bass, TOM RAINY drums.

CONSENSUS
(10 tracks, 70min)

The Discovery Of Fire

2009-07-04T12:09:00.024+03:00

RENE MAGRITTE, La Decouverte De Feu, oil on canvas, 1934/5

Le Feu Du Jour

01. LES I - Zukini
(album: Dans L' Hemisphere Nord, 1983)

02. LES I -Itineraire Perilleux
(album: Ou Bien, 1986)

03. LES BATTERIES - Dummy up
(album: Bell System, 1998)

04. LES BATTERIES - Identity Parade
(album: Noisy Champs, 1986)

05. ULRICH P. LASK -Kleine Narkosen
(album: Sucht + Ordnung, 1984)

06.JIM STALEY (with SHELLEY HIRSCH) - Genuine Risk
(album: Mumbo Jumbo, 1987)

07. THE DANUBIANS - Odpoledne
(album: THE DANUBIANS, 1999)

08. X-LEGGED SALLY - Two Volcanoes
(album: Eggs & Ashes, 1994)

09. X-LEGGED SALLY & SMITH QUARTET - Der Doppleganger
(album: Bereft Of A Blissful Union, 1997)

10. THE WORLDS OF LOVE - The Whirls Of Love
(album: The Worlds Of Love, 1989/2000)

11. LA SOCIETE DES TIMIDES A LA PARADE DES OISEAUX - ...2
(album: sametitled, 1990)

12. GUIGOU CHENEVIER - Le Demarche Du Crabe
(album: Les Rumeurs De La Ville, 1998)

13. GUIGOU CHENEVIER - limelight
(album: Les Rumeurs De La Ville, 1998)

Few infos:

French prog band LES I made 3 albums. Name of (sometime Etron Fou's member), Bruno Mellier in their lineup, may have caused for LES I, in some circles, an interest rather bigger than they deserve.

Another Etron Fou musician, the important percussionist/improvisor Guigou Chenevier is behind LES BATTERIES. Their "DEMESURE REVOLUTIONNAIRE" LP was posted by paramo few months ago on this blog. Chenevier's solo release "LES RUMEURS DE LA VILLE"

(Cuneiform) mixes succesfully at parts, live and taped material.

The first lp of LA SOCIETE DES TIMIDES...seeks for innovations in a rather tired avant-prog/RIO ground... Some good new ideas appeared here, but the overall result seems to be sentimentally blocked by an excessive eccentrity.

Belgian avant band X-LEGGED SALLY are influenced by Zappa but their experimental rock explores also music relations beyond prog. Some fine tracks can be found in most of their works.

JIM STALEY is a trombonist and improvisor known for collaborations with avant musicians and composers such as FRITH, WEINSTEIN, CORA and others... Important vocalist SHELLEY HIRSCH participated on some of the best moments of Staley's "MUMBO JUMBO" release.

DAVID GARLAND and IKUE MORI (plus Cinnie Cole on vocals, banjo, synths) are THE WORLDS OF LOVE. A sametitled album released in 1989 from Review label. The composition "The Whirls Of Love" belongs to the extra material appeared in 2000 reissue.

DANUBIANS are AMY DENIO, PAVEL FAJT and members of KAMPEC DOLORES. Their selftitled release consists of live recordings with exquisite vocals and ethic-flavoured experimentations.

Fusing electronics, minimal electronics, jazz improvisation, narrations, etc... saxophonist ULRICH LASK created back in 80's, two albums quite unsual for the general aesthetics of the ECM label which released them. "Kleine Narkosen" is taken from the second one...

Listen to
Le Feu Du Jour compilation

a collective post by Koroviov, Semilunio, paramo

Stella Gadedi "gardens of the night"

2009-06-25T20:10:00.008+03:00

Στέλλα Γαδέδη "Οι κήποι της νύχτας"

"Tα ποιήματα είναι αυτόνομα έργα και έχουν γραφτεί για να υπάρχουν χωρίς μουσική. Προσθέτοντας μουσική ο συνθέτης τα -οικειοποιείται-, τα φωτίζει με το δικό του τρόπο και φτιάχνει ένα νέο διαφορετικό έργο".

Φλαουτίστρια και συνθέτρια με κλασσική μουσική παιδεία η Στέλλα Γαδέδη στον τρίτο προσωπικό δίσκο της (ΣΕΙΡΙΟΣ, 1996) μελοποιεί με "Χατζηδακική" ευαισθησία (όντας μόνιμη συνεργάτης του Μ.Χ) δεκατρία έργα κορυφαίων νεοελλήνων ποιητών.

1 ΤΡΑΓΟΥΔΙ ΤΟ ΦΘΙΝΟΠΩΡΟ (SONG IN AUTUMN)
Ποίηση Ναπολέων Λαπαθιώτης
2 ΛΥΠΗΣΟΥ... (HAVE PITY...)
Ποίηση Ναπολέων Λαπαθιώτης
3 ΕΝΑ ΤΡΑΓΟΥΔΙ ΤΗΣ ΑΥΓΗΣ (SONG AT DOWN)
Ποίηση Ναπολέων Λαπαθιώτης
4 ΕΝΑ ΞΕΡΟ ΚΙΤΡΥΝΟ ΧΡΩΜΑ (A DRY, YELLOW COLOUR)
Ποίηση Γιώργος Χρονάς
5 ΤΟ ΧΑΜΟΓΕΛΟ (A SMILE)
Ποίηση Λάμπρος Πορφύρας
6 ΑΠΟΔΕΙΠΝΟ (EVENING SERVICE)
Ποίηση Γιώργος Χρονάς
7 ΜΕΛΑΓΧΟΛΙΑ (MELANCHOLY)
Ποίηση Ναπολέων Λαπαθιώτης
8 ΜΟΝΗ (ALONE)
Ποίηση Γιώργος Σεφέρης
9 ΓΡΑΜΜΑ (LETTER)
Ποίηση Ναπολέων Λαπαθιώτης
10 Τ' ΑΗΔΟΝΙ (THE NIGHTINGALE)
Ποίηση Ναπολέων Λαπαθιώτης
11 ΠΗΝΕΛΟΠΗ ΔΕΛΤΑ (PENELOPE DELTA)
Ποίηση Αφροδίτη Ραϊλα
12 ΒΑΛΣ (WALTZ)[instr]
13 ΤΑ ΛΥΠΗΜΕΝΑ ΔΕΙΛΙΝΑ (SAD EVENINGS)
14 ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ ΒΡΑΔΥ (SATURDAY NIGHT)
Ποίηση Κώστας Καρυωτάκης
15 ΤΡΑΓΟΥΔΙ ΤΟ ΦΘΙΝΟΠΩΡΟ (SONG IN AUTUMN)[instr]

Λυπήσου...

Λυπήσου εκείνους που πονούν, βουβά κι ανώφελα για κάτι, και παίρνουν για να λησμονούν,
της ζωής κάποιο άθλιο μονοπάτι

Λυπήσου αυτούς που εχουν χαθεί, μες στην θλιμμένη ύπαρξή μας, κι έγιναν αίνιγμα βαθύ,
μια και δεν είναι μεταξύ μας....

Κι αυτόν, κι αυτόν που αναπολεί τα περασμένα του λυπήσου: μα όμως, ακόμα πιο πολύ,
τις ώρες της βαθιάς σιωπής σου,

λυπήσου αυτούς, που μια φορά, με φτερά ζούσαν, και τα χάνουν, και δεν τους μένει άλλη χαρά, παρά η χαρά πως θα πεθάνουν...

STELLA GADEDI - Have Pity... (poetry: Napoleon Lapathiotis)

Άνθρωπος ανήσυχος, ο Ναπολέων Λαπαθιώτης ( 1888-1944) κατά πολλούς προσπάθησε να ενσαρκώσει το Ουαϊλδικό πρότυπο. Το έργο του αποτελείται από μια έκδοση εν ζωή πενήντα περίπου ποιημάτων του καθώς και απο διασκορπισμένο υλικό σε εφημερίδες και περιοδικά.

In her third album, flutist and composer Stella Gadedi sets thirteen greek poems to music using conventional instruments and synthesizers. Orchestration is by Minas Alexiades. Gadedi's interpratations are influenced by composer Manos Hatzidakis.

Napoleon Lapathiotis (1888-1944) was one of the characteristic greek poets of the first quarter of the 20th century. His life was an extension of the decadent spirit of his poetry. He killed himself in 1944.

GARDENS OF THE NIGHT
(15 tracks, approx time 44min)

the free art-directions of nato label

2009-06-22T20:05:00.096+03:00

September 1980, jazz artists FRANCOIS MECHALI and BEB GUERIN appear as a bass duo at Chantenay - Villedieu festival... About a year later, festival co-founder, photographer and music producer JEAN ROCHARD releases these contrabass dialogues on vinyl LP... and here it is, label nato is born. Soon, more releases from festival artists will follow and gradually, the label will become the joining point for pioneering musicians and artists from France (Berrocal, Pauvros, Sclavis, Levaillant, Doneda, Thollot, Portal...), UK (Beresford, Eastley, Coxhill, Toop, Coe, Hymas...), Europe (Bennink, Sommer, Gumpert...), U.S. (Lindsay, Frisell, Zorn...), Japan (Ikue Mori, Kazuko Hohki...).

Jazz, improvisation, avant pop, classical, world music, electronics, poetry, visual arts, melt together into humorous and often happy eccentrity... famous themes are revisited... conceptual projects give honours to great masters (F. G. Lorca, Erik Satie, Alfred Hitchcock, J-L Godard...)... fine painters/illustrators (Espagnon, Moebius, Pierre Cornuel...) add their art... nato embraces life and creation in both a fictional and a documentary way.

Sublabels: Chabada, Cinenato, Hope Street, wan + wan

La Folie Du Jour selects natomusic:

GUNTER SOMMER ET TROIS VIEUX AMIS isabel records boxes
(album: Ascenseur pour le 28, 1985)

ALTERATIONS sleeping beauty
(album: My Favourite Animals, 1984)

JAC BERROCAL distinguee

(album: Hotel Hotel, 1986)

JAC BERROCAL minuit la nuit
(album: Hotel, Hotel, 1986)

JACQUES THOLLOT l' au-dela
(album: Tenga Nina, 1996)

STEVE BERESFORD altitude
(album: Dancing The Line, 1985)

BERESFORD, TOOP, ZORN, MARSHALL jayne manshfield
(album: Deadly Weapons, 1986)

CAROLINE GAUTIER & OLIVIER FOY la croisiere immobile
(v.a. album: Godard ca vous chante?, 1985)

THE MELODY FOUR Lydia the tatooed lady
(album: Hello! We Must Be Going, 1987)

LEE KONITZ as tu le cafard
(v.a. album: Vol Pour Sidney, 1992)

DENIS COLIN par rayonnement
(album: Etude De Terrain, 2000)

KAHONDO STYLE werewolf woman
(album: Green Tea & Crocodiles, 1987)

KAZUKO HOHKI rain on the railway line
(album: Love In Rainy Days, 1991)

JEAN FRANCOIS PAUVROS cri de cour
(album: Le Grand Amour, 1985)

JEAN FRANCOIS PAUVROS phillipine
(album: Le Grand Amour, 1985).

II.

BERESFORD, TOOP, ZORN, MARSHALL king cobra
(album: Deadly Weapons, 1986)

COXHILL, THOMAS petite fleur
(v.a. album: Vol Pour Sidney, 1992)

BRITISH SUMMER TIME ENDS la nuit est une sorciere
(v.a. album: Vol Pour Sidney, 1992)

FAT KID WEDNESDAYS bamako love
(album: The Art Of Cherry, 2004)

DENIS COLIN TRIO sing swan song
(album: Songs For Swans, 2006)

TONY COE la legende de l'oiseau
(album: Les Voix D'Itxsassou, 1990)

TONY COE nuit sur une place Helsinki
(album: Les Voix D'Itxassou, 1990)

MICHEL DONEDA, DAUNI LAZRO fla flu
(album: General Gramofon, 1988)

THE LONELY BEARS entre le Tigre et l'Euphrate
(album: Injustice, 1993)

THE RECEDENTS zombie bloodbath on the isle of dogs
(album: Zombie Bloodbath On The Isle Of Dogs, 1991)

PHILIPPE DESCHEPPER choc ou louvre
(v.a. album: Bandes Originales Du Journal De Spirou, 1989)

THE MELODY FOUR working is the job
(album: Shopping For Melodies, 1988)

CLIVE BELL aventure birmane
(v.a. album: Bandes Originales Du Journal De Spirou, 1989)

TONY HYMAS qnr sur bretzelburg
(v.a album: Bandes Originales Du Journal De Spirou, 1989)

AMATI ENSEMBLE sonate en re mineur
(v.a album: Godard ca vous chante?, 1985).

listen here: part I & part II

La Folie Du Jour recommends nato works:

"Depechons-nous d'oeuvrer ensemble avant que ce qui nous fait converger l'un vers l'autre ne tourne inexplicablement a l'hostile"
[Let's swiftly act together, before what makes us converge inexplicably turn hostile]
RENE CHAR

VICTORY OF THE BETTER MAN " >L'utopiste< " (GER, 1991)

2009-06-17T18:16:00.018+03:00

...victory of the better man is the result of a labour, not the result of a competition; it is the long neglected and unseen forces prevailing against easiness and any profitable "goodness"... [excerpt from KOROVIOV notes]

">L'UTOPISTE<" is the first work of the german ensemble VICTORY OF THE BETTER MAN. It created the years 1989-90 under the significant assistance of CMP's sound-engineer WALTER QUINTUS. Band's line up, that period, beside core members UK RATTAY (guitar, synth, various sounds) and ex-NECRONOMICON drummer HARALD BERNHARD (voice, percussion, keyboards) included MATTHIAS KRATZENSTEIN on bass, piano, keyboards, guitar and MARTIN FREDEBEUL on sax, flute, clarinet, piano, keyboards. (Additional musicians: MARC LEHAN on drums, percussion & PETRA SAHM on vocals).

>L'UTOPISTE< is a seductive mosaic of influences, a solution of recognisable but indivisible different densities. Avant poetic-operatic narrations of Harald Bernhard, bathed into fluid, unquiet, intellectual, jazz-impro atmosphere, recall artists like SCOT WALKER or KIP HANRAHAN, to mention only two... And, trully, an encounter of the schizophrenic universe of the former with the enigmatic after-hour eclecticism of the later, how hypothetical can really be?

VICTORY OF THE BETTER MAN works:

" >L'UTOPISTE< ", (CMP, 1991)

" ...WEGEN BROT ", (CMP, 1995)

" CITIZENS ", (rent a dog, 2004)

sample track: GONDOLA

track provided by KOROVIOV

KIRJUHEL : Pulsating Transparencies

2009-06-10T13:39:00.021+03:00

Με ορμητήριο τις μεταλλαγμένες σε ιδίωμα προσωπικό, κέλτικες παραδόσεις της ιδιαίτερης πατρίδας του Βρετάνης, αλλά και τους παγκόσμιους ήχους, το διαχρονικό μεσογειακό πολιτισμό και την ποίηση... η μουσική του JEAN-FREDERIC KIRJUHEL, επικεντρωμένη λιτά κυρίως γύρω από κέλτικη άρπα και φωνή, ονειροποιεί την χωροχρονική συνάφεια, επιδιώκοντας μια βαθύτερη εμπλοκή του σύγχρονου με τις αρχέγονες δυνάμεις της ύλης: τη γονιμότητα , την αρμονία, την κοσμική συνοχή...

tide
(photo by SOLVEIGH KAEHLER)

For an introduction to the art of french harpist/composer/poet KIRJUHEL, listen here to the 1999 REVOE compilation "Portrait". KIRJUHEL releases are often accompanied by the fine works of german photographer SOLVEIGH KAEHLER, so check out website of REVOE publishing company for the original items (CDs, photobooks, poetrybooks, etc... ).

CARNAC words of stone
(photo by SOLVEIGH KAEHLER)

epic fragments
(photo by SOLVEIGH KAEHLER)

transparencies
(photo SOLVEIGH KAEHLER)

KIRJUHEL - PORTRAIT
(13 tracks, 55 min)

KAHONDO STYLE

2009-06-05T12:24:00.013+03:00

Crazy multiculturalists, experimentalists and improvisators, KAHONDO STYLE represented in 80's one of the most idiosyncratic attempts for making original music against geographical and stylistic separations.
Collecting (or stealing) sound elements from any corner of the planet and unifying, at the same time, both structures and improvisations under one elastic form, KAHONDO STYLE created original music with plethora of references... music exotic, humorous, surrealistic, theatrical, strongly rooted to the far-east culture, to eastern and south europe folk traditions, to old jazz, to pop...

KAZUKO HOHKI (vocals) - PETER CUSACK (guitar, bouzouki) - MAX EASTLEY( guitar, percussion, arc, various) - SIANED JONES (violin) - STUART JONES (cello, trumpet, bass) - DAVID HOLMES (drums, clarinettes) - ALAN TOMLINSON (trombone) - CLIVE BELL ( accordion, flute, shakuhatsi,) - TERRY DAY (drums) - STEVE NOBLE (drums).

Selections from the two KAHONDO STYLE albums released for Nato label you can listen
HERE

tracks: 01. Tokyo Ondo / 02. Barbaria* / 03. Holloway Road / 04. Ghost Of A Flea / 05. My Heart's In Motion [1985] / 06. No More Gravity / 07. Green Dream / 08. Shanghai Rain / 09.Werewolf Woman /10. Survival [1987]

(approx 52 min - compiled by LFDJ)

*originally greek folk song

"MY HEART'S IN MOTION", 1985, nato

"GREEN TEA & CROCODILES", 1987, nato

JIRI STIVIN "Alchymia Musicae" (CZE,1995)

2009-06-03T10:45:00.010+03:00

Seeking new passages towards both future and past, this work tests the flexibility of medieval/renaissance/baroque forms in their fusional or transformative coexistence with the angular directions of modern composition and freejazz.
Czech composer Jiri Stivin engages a jazz trio, a string quartet and a vocal ensemble to give life to his vision. Himself plays flutes, clarinets, saxophones... and calls this ambitious, daring or at least humourous plan, ALCHYMIA MUSICAE. Listen to it HERE (7tracks, 1hour).

HARMONIA ENSEMBLE "Nino Rota" (ITA, 1992)

2009-05-31T00:05:00.011+03:00

Italian chamber music ensemble HARMONIA works at the crossroads of classical and modern musical languages. Initially a trio of ORIO ODORI (clarinet), DAMIANO PULITI (cello) and ALESSANDRA GAROSI (piano) formed in 1991 and debuted in Materiali Sonori label with a work dedicated to NINO ROTA.
Including both covers on Rota's famous themes (from "8 1/2", "La Strada", "Rocco e i suoi frattelli", "Il Gattopardo", "Amarcord"...) and original HARMONIA compositions, the album suggests perhaps a not so innovative but certainly a romantic and emotionally valuable view of the work of the great master, refreshing the pleasures of that unrepeatable cinematic magnificence.

HARMONIA - Nino Rota
(12 tracks, approx 49 min)

*Check out also their remarkable 1994 release "Harmonia Meets Zappa"

CLUSONE TRIO 1988 - 1998

2009-05-27T23:23:00.025+03:00

Cellist ERNST REIJSEGER, clarinetist/saxophonist MICHAEL MOORE and legendary dutch percussionist HAN BENNINK started their collaboration in 1980. After their contributions to BENNINK's famous ICP ORCHESTRA, they formed in 1988 CLUSONE TRIO, touring in many countries and leaving behind some interesting live and studio works.
Apart their own compositions their repertoire included many old jazz standards which were performed by the trio in an unpredictable way ranging from faithfulness and form respect to inventive improvised free ways.
CLUSONE TRIO paused activities in 1998.

The selected tracks of this compilation are from albums: "Clusone 3" (1992, live) "I Am An Indian" (1994, live), "Love Henry"(1997, live), "Rara Avis" (1998).

TRACKS: 01 Hindu wu (1992) - 02 Angelica - 03 Bella Coola - 04 Sonoroso - 05 Salish (1994) - 06 Uninhabited island - 07 Restless in pieces - 08 Love Henry (1997) - 09 Yellow bird - 10 Le cygne - 11 Tico tico no fuba - 12 My bird of Paradise (1998)

CLUSONE TRIO - Baltimore Oriole

CLUSONE TRIO
(51 min, compiled by La Folie Du Jour)

DAVID THOMAS AND TWO PALE BOYS "Erewhon" (1996)

2009-05-23T00:18:00.015+03:00

Urban siberiana for places exiled from reality and sheltered to nowhere.

DAVID THOMAS - voice, mellodeon
KEITH MOLINE - guitar
ANDY DIAGRAM - thumb piano

EREWHON
(9 tracks, approx time 50 min)

Morbid Sky

lyrics

The Saragossa Manuscript

2009-05-17T01:09:00.024+03:00

He spend his days filling the silver sphere that adorns his tea kettle lid.

Still too big.
A bizzare avocation that marks his life’s last three years.

A STRANGE LIFE

A young Polish aristocrat, Jan Potocki (1761-1815) inherits 18th century treasures. A citizen of the world, he can fluently speak eight languages and, very young, dives into the vortex of travels: aside from Poland and Europe – which is his country - he is fascinated by Turkey and Egypt. In 1805, recommendend by the Russian foreign minister, the Polish prince Adam Czartoryski, he joins a russian expedition in China.

His encyclopaedic education allows him to commit in a series of scientific researches: he either traces the origin of the Slavs in a amazingly’s erudition work entitled Rechearches about Sarmatia (1789-1792) or fly over Warsow into Blanchard’s balloon, accompanying the French scientist along with his Turk servant and his dog Lulu.

Devoted to political intrigue, being a deputy favourable to reforms, he develops an intence political activitie in Poland, in the era of the four year diet ( the Polish parliament). Suspect of affinity to the Jacobines, he is forced to leave Poland for Spain and Morocco, where he arrogantly boasts that he is “the new kingdom’s Suetonius” .

AN INITIATORY NARRATIVE

Potocki’s literature work lies under the sign of travel. His real wandering is followed by an imaginary travel. His novel Manuscrit trouve a Saragosse (The Saragossa Manuscript, 1804-1814) is presented as the last fruit of his numerus tours. It is about an initiatory narrative which chronicles the adventures of young officer Alfonse Van Worden. Written in french and translated in polish in the 19th century, this collection of bizarre episodes, some times imaginary, some times philosophical and some times pointing to picaresque, is a frame narrative which’s structure reminds of the arab tales. In the haunted mountains of Sierra Morena, the characters that narrate their stories are often and involuntary drifted in space and time due to mysterious forces, incarnated in two Tunisian beauties, messengers of the night.

The fate reserved for The Saragossa Manuscript stood anything else but common. This large book, divided into 66 days, was brokenly and without the writer’s name published in Saint Petesburg in 1804, and by the first moment was accepted with enthusiasm, and with Alexander Pushkin’s admiration. Then the novel went all around Europe in manuscripts and also anonynous copies. Plagiarists – and among them some not at all inconsiderable writers such as Charles Nodier and Washinton Irving – appropriate some of the episodes and publish them under their name, achieving great commercial success. In this way, the eccentric passions, very close to mysticism, if not even to satanism, that hounted Potocki’s soul, keep fascinating next century’s wide public, eager for “black” novels.

The sphere has at last the desirable dimensions and fits with no difficulty into the barrel of the gun aiming the head.
Count Jan Potocki suicided in November 20, 1815.

"Annick Benoit-Dusausoy & Guy Fontaine: Europeean Literature". Translated by Begemot

THE FILM

Potocki’s novel (to be exact a version of it), was adapted for the big screen by the Polish director Wojciech Has in 1965. It’s about a three hours ( the original version was 182 minutes long) black-and-white film which indends to depict Potocki’s vision. Has keeps the main plot of the story (it would be impossible anyway to attribute the entire book, with it’s endless minor stories embeding into the major ones, and one into the other), the main characters (Alfonse, Velasquez, the Cabalist, Avadoro, Rebecca e.t.c.), and is also faithfull to the novel’s main charasteristics ( it’s frame narrative, the mysticism that colours Potocki’s world, the erotic elements, the humor, the piqaresqe and often grotesque elements). Along with the above, very good actors and Penderecki’s music score contribute to an excellent result. You can easily find and download the film ( the restoration of which was done by Jerry Garcia, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola) with English and Spanish subtitles, through torrents. Begemot has also made an adaptation of the subtitles in Greek, which can be downloaded below.

Το χειρόγραφο της Σαραγόσα_Υπότιτλοι

GARETH WILLIAMS "Flaming Tunes" (UK, 1985)

2009-05-13T19:04:00.014+03:00

Nearly 25 years after original release, great cassette album FLAMING TUNES is meeting finally its first (authorised) CD edition by LIFE AND LIVING Records who have announced reissue (carefully remastered and come out with 16-page booklet) for this month.
Bootlegged and misleadingly appeared as "This Heat's last demo", this obscured gem, product of collaboration among This Heat keyboardist/bassist GARETH WILLIAMS (1953 - 2001), his longtime friend MARY CURRIE and several guest musicians, was written after This Heat disbandment and , released on cassette in 1985.
Williams uses elements from This Heat aeshtetics but he goes beyond...exposing himself to wider, worldsound visions and deeper calls.
Grown like under the touch of a generous moon, FLAMING TUNES is a work original, eclectic, influenced by Williams trips to India, but above all, haunted by the revelation of a rare-quality songsmithness that unfortunately left no further output.

Restless Mind

MICHAEL RIESSLER

2009-05-11T20:54:00.016+03:00

Compilation-introduction to german composer and clarinettist MICHAEL RIESSLER (born in Ulm 1957) whose works are trully occupying a unique, boundary-free and full of imaginative crossings space among jazz, experimental, classical, medieval, european folk, improvisation...

Selections are taken from albums:

"Tentations d'Abelard" [Riessler: clarinets - V. Clastrier: hurdy gurdy - Michel Godard: tuba - M. Ambrosini: nyckelharp/bagpipe - Brigitte Sylvestre: harp - Gaston Sylvestre: cymbalon - J.L. Matinier: accordion - Renaud Garcia Fons: double bass - Gerard Siracusa: drums/percussion - Carlo Rizzo: tambourine/bendir - Robie Ameen: drums], 1995, WERGO

"Orange" [Riessler: clarinet/bassclarinet/sopranino sax - J.L. Matineir: accordion - Elise Caron: vocals - Pierre Charial: barrel organ], 1999, ACT

"Ahi Vita" [Riessler: clarinets - Vincent Courtois: cello - Claudia Reinhard, Klaus Wenk, Markus Zapp, Andeas Hirtreiter, Guido Heidloff, Marcus Schmidl: voices], 2003, ACT

"Palude"[collaboration of Riessler: clarinets/sax - Valentin Clastrier: hurdy gurdy - Carlo Rizzo: tambourine], 1995, WERGO

"Bach In 1 Hour" [Riessler and Trio Di Clarone ensemble], 2000, EMI

Riessler in 1 hour
(14 tracks)

compiled by LFDJ

Leonardo da Vinci: Images from an Exhibition

2009-05-10T19:08:00.006+03:00

(Click on the pictures for full size image)

HANNS EISLER / DAGMAR KRAUSE

2009-05-09T19:11:00.021+03:00

HANNS EISLER [Leipzig 1898 - Berlin 1962]

"Open the window. Remember that the street noise is not mere noise, but it is made by man" H. EISLER

DAGMAR KRAUSE : Eisler's songs were written with sharpness and precision, bound by tenderness and strenth. They are an encounter with some of our more worthwhile feelings. He set the pace for the fight against stupidity in music.

Mutterns Hande, music: HANNS EISLER, poem: KURT TUCHOLSKY
(taken from DAGMAR KRAUSE's "Panzerschlact: Die Lieder Von Hanns Eisler" )

Mother's Hands (english version, translation by Malcolm Green)

MUTTERNS HANDE

Hast uns Stulln jeschnitten
un Kaffe jekocht
un de Töppe rübajeschohm -
un jewischt un jenäht
un jemacht un jedreht...
alles mit deine Hände.

Hast de Milch zujedeckt,
uns bonbongs zujesteckt
un Zeitungen ausjetragen -
hast die Hemden jezählt
und Kartoffeln jeschält...
alles mit deine Hände.

Hast uns manches Mal
bei jroßem Schkandal
auch'n Katzenkopp jejeben.
Hast uns hochjebracht.
Wir wahn Sticker acht,
sechse sind noch am Leben...
Alles mit deine Hände.

Heiß warn se un kalt.
Nu sind se alt.
Nu bist du bald am Ende.
Da stehn wir nu hier,
und denn komm wir bei dir
und streicheln deine Hände.

Kurt Tucholsky, 1890-1935

FERDINAND RICHARD " En Forme!! " (FRA, 1980)

2009-05-07T19:23:00.009+03:00

Spirited by the same uncompromised/anarchic style found, more or less, in all Etron Fou music, "En Forme !!", first of the two solo FERDINAND's albums, combines (through skillful performing and surrealistic imagination) the unpredictable/rawer sounds of band's earlier days with proto-flavour of the 80's/post-prog experimentations that were to appear in Etron Fou's and Richard's future works.

"EN FORME !!" played by: FERDINAND RICHARD (bass, guitar, vocals, composition), JO THIRION (piano), MARGOT MATHIEU (saxophone), HELMUT HARD (drums)... and released from french label CELLULOID.

From the many others FERDINAND RICHARD's bands, projects, etc.... we strongly recommend GESTALT ET JIVE , Richard's collaboration with ALFRED HARTH, STEVE BERESFORD, ANTON FIER...

EN FORME !!
(13 tracks, approx 39 min)

posted here for our good friend... who have asked it

Penelope Houston

2009-05-07T00:24:00.009+03:00

In 1988 the punk-folk-pop star Penelope Houston recorded her first acoustic indie pop LP "Birdboys". From this great album i have chosen the track "Bed of Lies", an odd lovesong whose painful lyrics, is contrasted with its luminous tune.

Expressing the grevious loss of love in an almost cheerful way, Houston's fragile voice enhances the beauty!

Bed of Lies

V/A KNITTING FACTORY WORKS

2009-05-04T23:27:00.024+03:00

HISTORY (early years)

written by Knittting Factory founder MICHAEL DORF

MUSIC (sampler vol. 1)
(18 tracks approx 75 min)
compiled by LFDJ

KNITTING FACTORY WORKS vol.1

THE JAZZ PASSENGERS - if i were a bell ("Plain Old Joe", 1993)
THINK OF ONE - fabula roza ("Juggernaut", 1998)
WILLIAM HOOKER - because (of you)-dimension 2 ("Distance Between Us", 1998)
FRIGG - die welt gefallt mir nicht mehr ("Brecht", 1999)
MARK DRESSER - fakir ("The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari", 1994)
REBECCA MOORE - lamp shop ("Admiral Charcoal's Song", 1996)
KISS MY JAZZ - you don't talk ("In Coffee We Trust", 1997)
HASIDIC NEW WAVE - tzur mishelo ("Jews & Abstract Truth", 1997)
ROY NATHANSON - bus ("Camp Stories" o.s.t., 1996)
''CAMP STORIES'' BAND - hine ma tov ("Camp Stories" o.s.t.)
CUONG VU - pure ("Pure", 2000)
BAILEY/METHENY/BENDIAN - the rule of three ("The Sign Of 4", 1997)
PARADOX TRIO - rufus seven ("Flying At A Slant", 1997)
DON BYRON - allure of entanglement ("No-Vibe Zone: Live at KF, 1996)
HASIDIC NEW WAVE - eliyahu hanovi ("Jews & Abstract Truth", 1997)
KISS MY JAZZ - last house at the edge of the park ("Doc's Place Friday Evening", 1996)
W. HORVITZ & ZONY MASH - climacum after hours ("Brand Spankin' New", 1998)
MARK DRESSER - the circle is closing in ("The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari", 1994)

PIERRE BASTIEN & MECANIUM "Musiques Machinales" (FRA, 1993)

2009-05-02T22:26:00.011+03:00

Bastien's meccano-constructed robotic orchestra

energized by spinning of old turntables...

Same way hasn't it all begun?

People In Sorrow

MUSIQUES MACHINALES
(11 tracks, approx 47min)

SERGEI KURIOKHIN & HENRY KAISER "Popular Science" (US, 1989)

2009-05-01T23:04:00.013+03:00

album sample: Foreign Accents (9:14)

Collaboration of experimental guitarist/free improviser HENRY KAISER with top russian avant-garde pianist/composer SERGEI KURIOKHIN (1954 - 1996). Recorded 1988 - 89 in Oakland, California.

HENRY KAISER - synclavier keyboard, electric guitar, production
SERGEI KURIOKHIN - synclavier keyboard

PETER JEFFERIES " A Chorus Of Interludes " (NZ, 1996)

2009-04-29T23:44:00.009+03:00

AJAX Records release including compilation tracks, singles, collaborations and rarities from 'La Folie' favourite kiwi artist, Peter Jefferies.

PETER JEFFERIES (with ROBBIE MUIR) - Swerve

FETUS PRODUCTIONS "Luminous Trails" (NZ, 1985)

2009-04-29T00:07:00.012+03:00

JED TOWN's uncomfortable, nightmarish, but subliminally attractive structures of industrial mess and pop ugliness.

For JED TOWN and FETUS PRODUCTIONS see also my previous note on FETALMANIA

LUMINOUS TRAILS
(10 tracks, approx 38 min)

BILL DIREEN: Buildings on a velvet land

2009-04-27T09:48:00.026+03:00

Poet, author, playwright, and perhaps the greatest less discovered songwriter of NZ's diy culture, BILL DIREEN is responsible for some of the most important episodes of early lo-fi days. His '80 - '84 works - under various monikers (Builders, Bilders, Die Bilder, Bilderine, Soluble Fish, Urbs...) - spirited by haunted velvet psych visions and kiwish post punk rawness, place him at equal height to JEFFERIES bros, ALASTAIR GALBRAITH, CHRIS KNOX, SANDRA BELL...

The introductory compilation, we prepared here, includes selections from:
"Six Impossible Things", 7'', 1981
BILDERS - "Soloman's Ball", 7'', 1981
DIE BILDER - "Schwimmen In Der See", 7'', 1981
BUILDERS - "Beati/en Hearts", LP, 1983
BILDERINE - "Split Seconds", LP, 1984

Musicians : Bill Direen (voc, lyrics, composition, piano, guitars, percussion etc), Malcolm Grant (drums), Campbell Mclay (bass), Peter Stapleton (drums), Allen Meek (keyboards)... and also Steven Cogle, Maryrose Crook, Liz Silver, Lisa Siegel, Hamish Kilgour, Tony O'Blaney, Alec Bathgate, Chris Knox and others...

*Some of the material derives from 90's Flying Nun reissues.
For a complete discography see here.

Bill Direen

(22 tracks, approx 70 min)