Interactive Poll 2021 0010: Duos of Contrast

Shadowyzard:  Chiara “What If We”  Lovely, obviously trained voice, as you said, with a positive message, backed with soft orchestra.  A crowd-pleasing sort of adult contemporary song, if there is such a category anymore.  Flawless performance.  Netta “Toy”  Very modern sort of rap/hip-hop-ish song (if that’s what you call this style that pretty much everyone does these days) with a Latin rhythm.  Definitely fits the opposite yin/yang theme, even though neither are “my” kind of music, I prefer the first to this one, as lyrically it’s pretty much one note.  I’d be a bit scared of her, lol. 

Lorenzo:  I LOVED the Dream Syndicate!  But haven’t heard these, so very intrigued before I even get started.  Steve Wynn “Carolyn”  Americana-styled band sound, a bit upbeat with Steve Wynn’s very pointed vocals and poppy/catchy chorus. String section break in the middle. Surprised this wasn’t a bigger hit at the time.  Second by Steve Wynn “Strange New World”  Much rockier in feel (more like the Dream Syndicate), this time, as you said a more punk-ish attitude.  Still a well-crafted song, he’s got a real feel for that.  These definitely are two sides to Steve Wynn’s coin.  Well done!

I prophesy disaster: Kula Shaker “Grateful When You’re Dead / Jerry Was There”  More rocky than I was expecting from the photo.  Straight ahead with a driving beat, solid band and convincing vocals.  Lots of interesting breaks with the return to the basic song, provided by choral accents and driving lead guitar.  It drifts off into a pseudo-psychedelic ramble, which is also well done, even if the lyrics seem a bit sarcastic, love the guitar work here.  Red Hot Chili Peppers “Sir Psycho Sexy,”  This one I know, but when we are voting on the two here.  This is truly very different than the other choice, that sort of funky rock rap thang that RHCP pretty much invented.  

The Anders:  Kashmir “The Cynic”  Has a definite pop appeal from the get-go, with shimmery vocals, a catchy chorus and washes of guitar underpinning it all.  Definitely a cold feel to the music, it is somewhat detached, emotionally.  Second from Kashmir “The Push”  This one begins with an organ (or concertina), a simple voice and guitar strumming, certainly very warm, I prefer it much to the first offering, even in it’s simplicity. 

Lewian:  Langham Research Center  “Algebra of the Sky”  Some spacy sounds here, with what sounds like astronaut/computer voice recordings and blippity blips.  Really interesting to watch the guys at work.  Some screechy sounds from time to time and wavy swirls.  A creaky door opening sound and scurches.  Ends with an arcing sound.  Eliane Radigue “Adnos I-III”  The feeling at the beginning is very ominous to me, we’ll see what happens as it progresses.  The feeling shifts as the waaaaa waaaa waaaa sound ends and it turns shimmery with occasional deep bell sounds way way way underneath.  There is not much shift from this for the duration, but it is an excellent meditative piece and certainly polar opposite of the first one.