Ta Habibi Ta’aia
Lynn Adib & Zeid Hamdan
The voice of Lyn Adib, a musician and singer based in Paris, France, is as pure as it is seductive, and she uses it to bring a new flavor to the traditional and classical music of Syria. She grew up in Damascus where she was initiated into Byzantine chant. «Later on and during her flute studies at the National Conservatory of Damascus, she discovered jazz and was seduced by the freedom and complexity of it. Thus begins for Lynn a musical adventure where she seeks to meet the traditional Arabic music (Maqâm), the religious songs of ancient Syria, and jazz. In 2009, Lynn moved to Paris where she enrolled at the American School of Modern Music, before pursuing studies in vocal jazz at the conservatory of Paris (CRR de Paris).» (http://lynnadib.com/) Lyn Adib stands in the tradition of singers like Oum Khalsoum or Nusrath Fateh Ali Khan; she is an exceptional talent. (sgs)
Mediterranean Project | June 2019
The Bewlay Brothers
David Bowie
This ballad was written in 1971 and was intended for Bowie’s first album Hunky Dory, released in 1972. In this remastered version, the young Bowie already shows the charisma, talent and expressiveness that would make him a big star. His sometimes touching, sometimes emphatic voice and inscrutable lyrics paved the way for a whole generation of musicians in just one song. Bowie rarely performed it because, as he said, «There are more words in it than in Tolstoy’s War and Peace.» When asked what the cryptic song lyrics meant, he offered as an explanation that people should imagine that there were various ghosts hidden in the song. The Bewlay Brothers consist of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and David Thurston. In honor of this collaboration, the singer also named his publishing company Bewlay Bros. and often used the name as a pseudonym. (sgs)
BBC2 | London 2020
Café Exil: New adventures in European music 1972-1980
Various Artists
When David Bowie and Iggy Pop escaped LA to go Interrailing in the mid-70s, they heard a new European music that was largely devoid of Anglo-American rock influence: the German motorik sound, flashes of jazz, experimentation and electronica. In West Berlin, one of their favourite haunts was Kreuzberg’s Cafe Exil, a smoky hang-out for beats and intellectuals. This is its imaginary soundtrack. There is a balance that leans quite naturally towards German artists and the inclusion of a track by Eno that acknowledges both his role as a sonic alchemist and his ability to act as a conduit and conductor for all music that is dictated by mood but not constrained by boundaries. Pretty sensational, actually, with contributions by Rubba, Amon Düül II, Annette Peacock, Brian Eno, Soft Machine, Popol Vuh and others.
Ace Records | December 2020
Time Outtakes. Previously Unreleased Takes from the Original 1959 Session
Dave Brubeck
«While researching books written to celebrate jazz legend Dave Brubeck’s Centennial, a fascinating discovery was made; there were brilliant alternate takes for most of the tunes released on Time Out, the first jazz LP to sell over a million copies. These newly discovered recordings feature wonderful performances that are every bit as compelling as their famous counterparts!» (Chris Brubeck) Includes previously unreleased takes of: ‘Blue Rondo a la Turk,’ ‘Strange Meadowlark,’ ‘Take Five,’ ‘Three To Get Ready,’ ‘Cathy’s Waltz,’ ‘I’m In A Dancing Mood,’ ‘Watusi Jam’ and ‘Band Banter.’ «Listening to the alternate takes and behind-the-scenes recordings of any classic album will unravel some of its timelessness. But there’s something especially startling about hearing what went into the making of Time Out,» the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s masterpiece, and maybe the ultimate example of a live art form being carved down and mapped out into an impeccably finished product.» (New York Times)
Brubeck Editions | December 2020
The Lost Chord
Gorillaz ft. Leee John (Episode Nine)
Gorillaz have recently completed their Song Machine Season One: Strange Timez series of videos with ‘The Lost Chord’, inspired by old technicolor monster movies. The colorful animation starts with band members being washed up on an alien shore, where their guest star morphs into a scaly sea monster in chains with as sweet a voice as any. The band tweeted upon its release: «2020 – one of the most challenging years in human history… But somehow, against all odds, with the help of you and the extended Gorillaz family, we still managed to make our own little piece of history. Thanks for your patience, and for believing in Gorillaz.» Gorillaz sound urgent, in a melodious, symphonic and sometimes vaguely threatening way. Fortunately, their furiously unreal sense of humor saves the day, and the ethereal voice of Leee John transports us from chaos to a raptured new dawn. (sgs)
Plastic Beach | December 2020