LAMB - Milan, Magazzini Generali - November 19, 2014

Really a strange couple form the LAMB.  The folksinger  Lou Rhodes and the techno composer and producer Andy Barlow. Two extreme in the music world and also two completely different appearance on the stage; Lou is ethereal in her white long traditional dress and Andy that seems just coming from a rave party.

It is like to have “Chemical Brothers” and “Loreena McKennit” together on the same stage. Difficult to image but incredible is the result.

LAMB combines these two extreme and melt together obtaining a very nice result . Techno, Trip hop, rock? Difficult to classify. Some song are similar to Portishead, some other to techno-disco (Andy help to move the stage in this direction!!).

At the end it was a good live act. Unexpected and for this more appreciate. Today I am playing “Backspace Unwind “(just released) again and again….

Lamb - Doves& Ravens 

PORTISHEAD - Sour Times (1994)

 Thinking about Trip Hop the first name I have in my mind is for sure "Massive Attack"; the second is "Bristol" and the third is "Portishead".
You can also change the order of the three words  but the result is the same: an equilater triangle with wonderful music inside.
Portishead music can be considered the essence of Trip Hop music with slow and intriguing rythms like in this sour times.
If you have not seen I suggest the Roseland live video (1998)...music not only to listen but also to  see.




here: http://www.adrive.com/public/u3qqAV/sourtimes.zip

WALL OF VOODOO - Ring of fire (1980)

Recently I played this old EP and I appreciate again the feeling that Wall of Voodoo music gave to me several years ago. The Techno-Western Rhytm of this band was (is) full of energy. Unfortunately they had a very short story (at least with the original components). Stan Ridgway had a quite good solo career with quality works.


ring of fire:
http://www.adrive.com/public/6mJPEc/rngoffre.zip

THE ASSOCIATES - The Affectionate Punch (1980)

It was 1980 when this first "Associates" LP appears and I liked from the beginning. Also now after more than 30 years I listen to this with respect and a little bit of nostalgia,

The affectionate punch: http://www.adrive.com/public/rVFgGr/ASS%20affpnch.zip

U 2 - Here again

The new U2 work "songs of innocence" is now available !!
I read a lot of comments (most of them negatives) about the presentation with Apple I- phone 6, the choice to release the album free on i-tunes, the commercial turn  of U2 for the business and bla..bla...bla...

What it's interesting for me is the music and the fact is that I'm listening "songs of innonence" since days and I like it. Yes, it is a commercial and easy listening music, nothing really new but  .....U2 are here again.  It seems yesterday  (... really about 30 years ago!!)  I saw their concert in Rome together with Pretenders and Big Audio Dynamite. Other times, other contest but the music is not so different.

NEW FAST AUTOMATIC DAFFODILS - Pigeonhole (1990)

Thanks to other bloggers I discover this band that I didn't know in the '90. Since the first listening I realized It was a wonderful band. The sound really  original  and a powerful rythm. It is a pity I missed them for so many years.

With this post I also try a new file hosting system (Adrive). It is always more difficult to have free file hosting services....

The link expire  end of August 2014.

Enjoy : pigeonhole

INCOGNITO & GREGORY PORTER - Villa Arconati July 24, 2014

Villa Arconati Music Festival is a quite famous appointment in the Milan area every year. Villa Arconati is a nice old villa with a large green park. Thursday 24 -7 -2014  to close the 2014 edition of the music festival, there was a combined event with Gregory Porter and Incognito. Really a great night music started at 9:30 until 12:30. I decided to go at the last minute (just a little bit of sun in this strange wet summer was enough to decide). 30 € well spent for a chair few meters from the stage (not so common for a music show). Gregory Porter was unknown to me and a good surprise. Good Jazz with Gospel influence really a great voice and good band (mention for saxophone). After more than one hour Gregory leave the scene to Incognito. 11 elements on the scene with a lot  Funky Power.  Really a relaxing music night just what I needed after a heavy working day. Waiting for next year edition of this festival.

MASSIVE ATTACK - Milan June 25, 2014

Massive Attack at Milan. An important appointment not to loose. And it was a great night.
The wait was long (1 hour from the planned  21:00) but the dark of the night help a lot  to create the right atmosphere  in line with the light show. I was not disappointed, all  my expectations were satisfied, Martina Topley Bird voice helped to elevate the level. Music and Rythms really powerfull.
Difficult to forget!!!!

TELEVISION - Milan June 3, 2014 Alcatraz

The feeling was that of great events. It is not common to have TELEVISION in Italy, as Tom Verlaine said  "this is the 2nd time in Italy in 40 years" (first one was in 1987). If you add the fact that they played the whole "Marquee Moon " playlist this makes really the event a great one.
I had the ticket since months and the expectation was satisfied. The sound was really clean, Tom and the band, after a soft start become more and more confident and songs longer  (Marquee Moon version   about 12 minutes).  Happy to be there !!!

A CERTAIN RATIO - Mind Made Up 2008

This is probably an easy way to approach the ACR music. This work is a mix of dance-funky-wave music. So different from the early ACR and after 10 years from previous works but anyway this  has a  great personality. What is  impressive to me is the energy and power of bass and drum sound in these tracks. A lot of power but with more than an eye to melodic themes. Well done.

Nice to listen: Mind Made Up