CURRENT ROTATION QUICK TAKES
APRIL 2024
INTRO:
Who has the time? It has been said a thousand times before, but the convenience of infinite accessibility that music subscription services provide is often countered with an overwhelming sense of ‘where to begin?’ syndrome. Beyond a few trusted online sources, I am lucky to have some close buddies with great ears who keep me posted on new music - especially that which might not be on my regular radar.
In a humble effort to pay-it-forward (and keep it simple), I will monthly post CURRENT ROTATION QUICK TAKES - a handful of albums that I have recently checked out - complete with brief thoughts and an ultimate Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down. Explore further as you care to. Cheers!
12 Ensemble / Methamorphosis - Britain’s un-conducted string group has made a mark tackling a range of traditional and modern classical music with a youthful zeal that is displayed equally in their selections and musical bite. Following the approaches that have made the group popular, this collection delivers on many fronts. Like the particular mechanics of jazz, I am no classical music aficionado, but I know what catches my ear and this album pulled me in - deeply - each and every time I gave it a listen. The closing 26-minute piece by Strauss, "Metamorphosen for 23 strings" swells and churns - demanding the listener to be carried along, while Claude Vivier’s "Zipangu" offers a more challenging sound that is reminiscent of the powerful soundtrack work Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood has created. Standout Track: “Metamorphosen for 23 strings” - Thumbs Up.
Kim Gordon / The Collective - Despite all I know about Kim Gordon (not the least of which includes her excellent memoir, Girl In A Band) and her commitment to artistic aesthetic, I totally wasn’t expecting this album. It’s a hard left from the groundbreaking noise rock of her former band Sonic Youth, but no less engaging. Dissonant guitars are replaced with drum machine beats and minimal electronic accompaniment - all horror-show pulses, like a soundtrack for a David Lynch film you haven’t seen yet. Everything backs Gordon’s spoken poetry, creating an experience that is more performance art than music. It might not suit every mood, but if you have a particular itch, this just might be the scratch needed. Standout Track: “BYE BYE” - Thumbs Up.
Gary Clark Jr / JPEG RAW - The problem with the talented Texan guitar hero's new album is that the hybrid of styles found within ends up creating a bit of a fragmented impression. The biggest disappointment is that I absolutely know Clark can bring serious fireworks. Unfortunately, though there are many tracks that do work quite well, the majority of this collection fails to ever get out of second gear. Standout Tracks: “JPEG RAW” & “This Is Who We Are” - Thumbs Down.
Ride / Interplay - Who says you can’t go home again? You know, other than Thomas Wolfe. There is obviously a fine-line between uninspired water treading and finding intriguing ways to recycle a successful sound. One their first album in five years, Ride certainly echoes the formula that punctuated their early shoegazing ‘90s heyday, but they manage to fold-in plenty that offers a modern & fresh sheen to the collection. It’s a winning combination and I have greatly enjoyed their return. Standout Tracks: “Peace Sign” & “Monaco” - Thumbs Up.
Phosphorescent / Revelator - You feel that lazy river effect that takes over about midway through the third track? Don’t worry - surrender to it. In fact, it is what Matthew Houck (playing under the name Phosphorescent) does best. On his eighth studio album (& first for the Verve label), the vibe is nothing but warmly hypnotic. Phosphorescent’s sound mixes nicely with like-minded modern artists The National, M Ward & Bon Iver, but delivers a layered mellow folk & country-twinged hybrid that returns a soothing musical journey each and every time. Standout Tracks: “Revelator” & “Impossible House” - Thumbs Up.
