Listening Spot Check

[howard male]

J back in August wrote -

Orchestre National De Barbès smashing new platter

I belatedly second that, J. They pull off that tricky thing of doing dub and reggae without it sounding cod. Nice and rough round the edges too.

[Ted]

A pair of Bose L1 Model 2s.



To give you some sense of scale they're just over 2m high...

[Chris P]

. . .
Haitian disc on Earthworks label (anyone know who this band is ?) . . .

Most likely Mini All Stars with Fanatiques Compas from 1997 or Coupé Cloué with Maximum Compas From Haiti from 1992

thanks Jon - I'll find out which next time I see Paul the lime-plasterer/klezmer musician

[Jonathan E.]

Nuru Kane's Number One Bus — track and album — not by coincidence. It just came along, dispatched by Rob.

[Chris P]

Zev Feldman & Andy Statman - Jewish Klezmer Music

Not only one of the most wonderful albums ever made, but a top-notch cover too:

[NormanD]

Not only one of the most wonderful albums ever made...

Agreed!

[Ted]

"Escalator Over The Hill" Carla Bley and a cast of thousands. Many of them under the influence of drugs that I'm sure they considered mind expanding at the time. It's mostly an ordeal to listen to. But every five years or so I like to check to see if it or I have changed.

[AndyM]

"Escalator Over The Hill" Carla Bley and a cast of thousands..... But every five years or so I like to check to see if it or I have changed.

Any verdict yet ?

[Rob Hall]

"Escalator Over The Hill" Carla Bley and a cast of thousands. Many of them under the influence of drugs that I'm sure they considered mind expanding at the time. It's mostly an ordeal to listen to. But every five years or so I like to check to see if it or I have changed.

I tried it once (attracted, as my young self was inclined to be at the time, by the presence of Jack Bruce); once was enough for me.

[Ted]

I got as far as the end of the first CD. Which is the furthest I've ever got in one sitting. I really, really wanted to like it. But now I'm listening to some cleansing Oscar McLollie and His Honey Jumpers and I feel much better. I'm such a lightweight.

[Adam Blake]

Had similar experiences with Tony Williams Lifetime's "Emergency" and Centipede's "Septober Energy" - both psychedelic jazz/ rock fusion THINGS that I really wanted to like but just couldn't manage it...

Now I'm listening to a rehearsal tape of The Recidivists and rather enjoying it actually...

[Rob Hall]

Tony Williams Lifetime's "Emergency"

Never got around to "Emergency", but I retain a soft spot for "Turn It Over", which I still play fairly regularly.

[Chris P]

Centipede's "Septober Energy" ...I really wanted to like but just couldn't manage it...

Keith Tippetts' earlier 'Dedicated to You But You Weren't Listening' is a lot easier going !

[Adam Blake]

Keith Tippetts' earlier 'Dedicated to You But You Weren't Listening' is a lot easier going !

I thought that was a Soft Machine song!

[NormanD]

I paid through the nose for the Carla Bley "Escalator.." box set in 1972. I constantly played it through, and enjoyed most of it (apart from the libretto, which I thought was quaintly odd, but basically gibberish). I listened straight, no chaser, and even sang along. Honestly. I've always thought that Carla Bley could do no wrong (apart from having Paul Jones on one track, but nobody's perfect).

If you should ask me, then the answer's no. I haven't listened to it recently.