Interactive Poll: Whatever Floats Your Boat |
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jamesbaldwin
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 25 2015 Location: Milano Status: Offline Points: 5988 |
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Mini reviews: Patrick Watson - Here Comes the River. very evocative, pretty, well sung ballad: Will it be enough for the podium? Händel - Water Music. I have known this music well since I was 20. The baroque, of which I love in the order Bach, Vivaldi and Handel, I like to listen to it only in certain moments, not always, but when I do it gives me a lot of satisfaction. However, I usually don't rate pieces of cultured music, considering them to be of a higher category than rock, but since this is one I am fond of, I rate it. I give him the bronze medal. Susan McKeown - Lowlands of Holland is a folk song, and as you may have guessed I love folk and traditional instruments. I like the sound, I actually miss the percussions, but surely contender Fluturi Pe Asfalt - Munti Sub Mari. Very pumped up and powerful song, power rock, I would say, which I usually like but don't get excited about Jackson Browne - Rock Me On the Water the song is beautiful but it is not one of my favorites of Browne, which I loved very much Men at Work - Down By the Sea. I must confess that Men at Work in my memory remain an unpretentious eighties pop group. I didn't remember this song, and it's better than I expected, so a good choice, but I don't think it will be enough to get it to the podium. Saigon Kick - Water sounds very 90's-like. This song is quite strange when you consider the combination of singing with commercial sounding percussion and distorted guitar. Let's say that if it had been a real gospel I would have liked it more but the sound of the percussion prevents me from liking this song Blind Faith Sea of Joy - I know this album very well, which I love very much. Rich Grech still had to stay with the Family! Great choice, great song, contender Portsmouths symphony - basically a desecration of Johan Strauss's Viennese waltzes by creating background noises and dissonance, a successful operation, Dadaist, I would say, but not enough for the podium Radiopuhelimet - jamerii - is not my cup of coffee Pj Harvey - bewitching sound and song, she is a charmer, there is little to do, perhaps a languid praying mantis that seduces you and then kills you. Contender Gustavo S- Iguazù I appreciated this sophysticated instrumental music, good atmosphere- ---- to be continued
Edited by jamesbaldwin - May 07 2021 at 17:16 |
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Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion.
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The Anders
Forum Senior Member Joined: January 02 2019 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 3529 |
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Well they didn't create background noises. It's just that none of them could actually play their instruments.
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Snicolette
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 02 2018 Location: OR Status: Offline Points: 6039 |
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"Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp
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jamesbaldwin
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 25 2015 Location: Milano Status: Offline Points: 5988 |
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In what sense? I confess that I did not understand. Anyway, I am listening to some Portsmouth symphony songs on youtube and they are very funny and intelligent, in some pieces they are brilliant. I guess Frank Zappia is one of their inspirers. I guess their songs would be suitable as the soundtracks of some surreal film. The first song of this album is wonderfully funny https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsFFvthfEZg Edited by jamesbaldwin - May 07 2021 at 17:54 |
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Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion.
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The Anders
Forum Senior Member Joined: January 02 2019 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 3529 |
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The orchestra was deliberatly formed with people who were unfamiliar with the instruments they played. They were mostly university students and things like that. Professional musicians joined from time to time, but they would choose a different instrument than their own. Here's an interesting documentary: http://youtube.com/watch?v=6bqyaaRknNM
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jamesbaldwin
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 25 2015 Location: Milano Status: Offline Points: 5988 |
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Oh!! However, the result is so good as to leave the doubt that the will to desecrate, to out-tune certain passages is deliberate.
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Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion.
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nick_h_nz
Collaborator Prog Metal / Heavy Prog Team Joined: March 01 2013 Location: Suffolk, UK Status: Offline Points: 6737 |
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I had never heard of the Portsmouth Sinfonia before this poll, but I really enjoyed the number. And not even as a novelty, but for how good it sounded in its novel interpretation. I had to look them up to find out their story, and I was very surprised to read what I did. They don’t sound at all, to me, like musicians who don’t know how to play, or to play well; but rather like able musicians who know just how much dissonance and atonality they can get away with. My favourite part of the Wiki article I read was this line:
“As the years passed, the musicians eventually became accustomed to, and more skilled at playing their instruments, which diminished the novelty of the group.” |
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nick_h_nz
Collaborator Prog Metal / Heavy Prog Team Joined: March 01 2013 Location: Suffolk, UK Status: Offline Points: 6737 |
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I’m so happy the Ariana and Al track resonated with you. I am over the moon that you chose it, and if this is the only vote it gets in the poll, I will be no less happy. I knew it was going to be an outlier, because it is very different, and also because there is no YT video, which means people have to make more of an effort to listen to it, I love the various sounds of taonga pūoro. They can sound like birdsong, or water, and it’s fascinating seeing them performed. The range of sounds that the traditional Māori instruments can make is actually quite astounding, and incredibly realistic. The birdsong in another of my favourite albums from last year sounds so real, but it is from taonga pūoro! |
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suitkees
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 19 2020 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 9050 |
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I vote for that people should put more bad music up in these polls... It's becoming too difficult to single out three favourites... My shortlist so far: - Patrick Watson; very moving - Susan McKeown; enchanting - I'm sure to explore her album - Men at Work; I'm 14 again, seeing the first walkmans appear in the school corridors and discovering that I have butterflies in my stomach - how's that possible? - Blind Faith; just plain great musicianship - PJ Harvey; I propose she teams up with Tindersticks and make Whiskey & A River... - Mice Parade; intriguingly Lewianesque - Hot Tuna; (see Blind Faith) Already an Honourable Mention: Ariana Tikao & Al Fraser. I listened to the album and there are some great tracks on it. I would have picked another one to put up here as a poll contender (the one you chose is a bit too "barebone" for me), but still the competition is to stiff here to get it to the podium. Very nice album, a bit too subdued sometimes, but an interesting discovery! And a Special Mention for the Posrtsmouth Sinfonia: I had to look up what is behind this initiative (and wikipedia is our friend, as Nick showed above), and this just shows the importance of music in our Societies! Great suggestion! Now, it's too early to take a Whiskey, so I will take some water and give another listen to my shortlist. Later...!
Edited by suitkees - May 08 2021 at 02:47 |
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The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
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nick_h_nz
Collaborator Prog Metal / Heavy Prog Team Joined: March 01 2013 Location: Suffolk, UK Status: Offline Points: 6737 |
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Here’s a belated water song. I didn’t realise it was online, or I would have shared it earlier. It seems that the album has been put up as Name Your Price on Bandcamp. I love this album, and I love this song. (Although this is the title track, it’s not at all indicative of the overall sound of the album, but it’s bloody lovely anyway.)
It was only after Kees mentioned whisky that I thought of uisce. A quick google, and I found it. Of course, whiskey comes from a mispronunciation of uisce, which means water, and should be pronounced ish-ka. |
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Logan
Forum & Site Admin Group Site Admin Joined: April 05 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Status: Offline Points: 35886 |
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I really like that too and unfortunately, I ended up relying on the youtube playlist which I had saved and forgot about yours, though I had listened to it before (been very distracted of late). It quite reminds me of some of Geinoh Yamashirogumi's music from Japan (which is included in PA). Listening to the full album now and loving it. |
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Snicolette
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 02 2018 Location: OR Status: Offline Points: 6039 |
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"Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp
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suitkees
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 19 2020 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 9050 |
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OK, this kept me awake all night, of course... My final verdict. About one, I didn't have any doubt: it should be in my top 3, because of a dose of nostalgia, but also because it is just a very good track, and I love the 80s (Nena...! Oh...). Have to dive into their first albums again...: Men At Work, with Down By the Sea. Second: PJ Harvey's The River; I only have her Let England Shake album - know now that I have to change that... Third (I flipped all my coins I had): Hot Tuna's Water Song, for the sheer pleasure it procures. In the mean time I have listened to Susan McKeown's album (very nice, indeed) and Mice Parade (and discovered that Jim O'Rourke worked with them, so linking them to Gastr del Sol was not that strange...), another band to explore... Thanks to all for the great pleasure of listening to all of the playlist and some new discoveries (again!).
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The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
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Raff
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 29 2005 Location: None Status: Offline Points: 24429 |
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I still need to finish listening to the songs. Sorry about that! One thing I can say, though: the "Avant" version of the Blue Danube waltz is hilarious, if not quite what I'd listen to on a regular basis.
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Snicolette
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 02 2018 Location: OR Status: Offline Points: 6039 |
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"Into every rain, a little life must fall." ~Tom Rapp
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TCat
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: February 07 2010 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 11612 |
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Indeed it is a very difficult round. Great stuff was posted, about half of it I was familiar with.
1. Mice Parade - Waterslide - Excellent and intriguing track that makes me want to look into this project a lot further. 2. Fluturi Pe Asfalt - Munti Sub Mari - This track and the Mice Parade track are excellent examples of why I love this thread, discovering excellent music that I otherwise would have never heard of. 3. PJ Harvey - The River - This is an artist I have only just recently started to explore and have been very pleasantly surprised, including this great track. Everything else here was honorable mentions, but like I said, many I am already familiar with.
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Tancos
Forum Senior Member Joined: January 03 2021 Location: Emerald City Status: Offline Points: 463 |
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1. Ariana Tikao & Al Fraser - Te Reo o te Wai 2. Gustava Santoalalla - Iguazú 3. Eton College Musical Society - Eton Boating Song
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Lewian
Prog Reviewer Joined: August 09 2015 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 14742 |
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Before contributing to the new poll, I vote on this one. As usually, there are four that stand out. For some mysterious reason I don't have anything by PJ Harvey and I don't know that much, despite usually liking a lot what she does when I hear it. I should probably repair her lack of representation in my collection then, wonderful song! Gustavo Santaolalla just deliver the perfect translation of the water theme in music, and Fluturi Pe Asfalt just play the kind of post rock that will always get me. And then there's Susan McKeown: You know I have a weak spot for this kind of folky stuff.
Very nice nod to Chinese music there. I think I'll ultimately decide against PJ Harvey because I may actually have heard this one before; it sounds somewhat familiar. Maybe this is just because she manages to make me feel at home even at first listen, but tough luck for her then. She will be comforted by my resolution to buy at least one of her albums. So Santaolalla - Fluturi Pe Asfalt - McKeown it is. Honorable mentions: Ariana Tikao & Al Fraser: Very good match for the theme and nice to hear, the melody doesn't grab me that much. Competition was very strong, this one and the next ones could have grabbed a vote in several other polls. The Gang: I like the sound of this a lot, lots of emotion in this one and very well played with some nice surprises in the arrangement; just the voice and singing sound too "standard Italian singer/songwriter" to me. Tindersticks: Another very good song played very well with great dynamics, once more the voice stops it from being a top three contender. Hot Tuna: This is really a joy to listen to - I tend to have a preference for the darker side of things so will not vote for this but it's a very nice discovery; I hardly have anything I could compare this to. And then there's Haendel and Men at Work, the two I'm sure I have known before, not bad at all either.
Edited by Lewian - May 10 2021 at 04:27 |
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Lewian
Prog Reviewer Joined: August 09 2015 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 14742 |
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Oh by the way raff: Just today I am asked to present a song by Lucio Dalla in my Italian class! I know what to do...
Edited by Lewian - May 10 2021 at 04:32 |
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nick_h_nz
Collaborator Prog Metal / Heavy Prog Team Joined: March 01 2013 Location: Suffolk, UK Status: Offline Points: 6737 |
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Two votes! More than I could ever have hoped for! Yay! 🤗 |
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