Interactive Poll #88: It Goes On and On

Mermen “Burn” Love the cover artwork, before even listening.  Begins with some clangy (but not loud) guitar sounds and percussion, gradually builds with some picking and keyboards.  Nice flourishes on guitar.  And here come the surf bits after about 3 minutes, echo-y guitar and continued washes of sound underneath.  Gets a bit spacier about halfway in, with guitar wingdings and coily, drainy sounds.  They are definitely getting lost in space about 8 minutes in.  Music seems to end, but there are blops yet to be heard, if you listen carefully.  Then another sound completely begins, with tambourine sounds, more wobbly guitars, perhaps this is where they find themselves once to trip out there has concluded, a pretty and light place, which fades slowly away.

Dissòi Logòi “Amptruabat Redamptruabat”  This begins with some high flute, solo, treated with mild echo. Joining in at about a minute, it’s underscored by sustained notes on a keyboard, or are they a vocal?  Hand drums and some bells join in with some quiet guitar and meltingly beautiful violin (or is it something like a mizmar?) in a Middle Eastern sort of style.  More flute or ocarina-type instrument, still accompanied by the guitar and some twangy strings as well.  Male vocal and some sustained (backwards?) guitar-type notes.  There are some zils (hand cymbals) way back in the mix. This is fantastic, gotta say.  Gorgeous gypsy-style guitar lead and then some double-picking, with flourishes.  The possibly backwards guitar or violin through effects re-emerges.  Did I say this was fantastic? The flute and guitar double on the same melody and the violin/mizmar thing comes back in an exotic, along with the flute/pipe fluttering about.  Yep, fantastic.

Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble and Alarm Will Sound “Anthem”  Begins with sounding like being in a studio setting (and so it is, when I leave my document and look at the video).  Woodwinds start, then abruptly end, where piano comes in.  I like that it takes it’s time, with the various musicians quietly entering.  There are also vibes first played with a bow, then in the more traditional way.  Some  quiet vocalization begins (and is joined from time to time by others) and flute accompanies here, then reeds, then violins and cellos.  This is very sophisticated, hypnotic and lovely music, with a feeling of the divine. 

Hon Mention:  Krystian Zimerman The Cleveland Orchestra  Pierre Boulez “Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major, M. 83 - 2. Adagio assai”  Just beautiful.  I don’t know if I’ve heard this particular version or not, but am a big fan of Ravel’s works.  Solo piano is joined after a time with flute, with the orchestra very quiet in the background, then back to piano, with is more up in the mix than previously.  The piano continues and the orchestra swells underneath.  Flute returns for a bit.  This just goes by so quickly for me, doesn’t feel at all like over 9 minutes.  So subtle and gorgeous. 

Hon Mention: Karl Seglem “Springar fra fjord” Begins with violins (or maybe nyckelharpa?)  and a drum sound, kind of like a tabor.  Then the sounds get more full, is there guitar or the like underlying?  Flutes or whistles kick in, this is quite enjoyable to my ear.  Much more of a world music feel than I was expecting from your intro.  Saxophone comes in, soloing.  The first note or two, almost echoes the sound of a bagpipe, as it moves from the more world sound into jazz realm with drums and organ or piano underlay.  Becomes more experimental in feel as it gets deeper into the piece.  There is a bit of a duet with I’m not sure what instrument, but then kicks back in with violin or nyckelharpa and back we go to the world music.  Lovely!

Hon Mention:Light Field Reverie “All Roads Lead Home”  Wiggly keys to begin, then synths with percussive sounds, in a minor key.  Ethereal female vocals, very beautiful!  This is very haunting, I think my favourite of anything you’ve ever posted.  Love the mix as well.  There is a male, spoken part, about 2/3rds in, but it suits the piece well.