For a rather otherworldly musical experience, I would recommend checking out one of the discs that document Tod Dockstader's experiments with electronics and tape loops, all of which were composed in the early to mid-'60's. When you consider the sounds and sonic explorations that this man created with what would now be considered the most rudimentary recording & editing technology, it really is fairly befuddling. On some levels, it puts much modern electronic music to shame and it is much more compelling than some similar minded music that was being created at the time, which became a little dry and academic. There's at least 2 CD's out and I'd recommed the one called "Apocalypse" with his classic 'Luna Park' composition.
For modern examples of similar strange-ness, try anything by Biota; a group of folks from Colorado who create some seriously unusual sonic-soup using mostly processed acoustic instruments. Their recordings are accompanied by artwork created by the band as visual interpretations for the music therein. Not for everyone, but a unique experience nonetheless.
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Hi David: Here is one of the better compilations that I mentioned earlier. "Passengers: Original Sounstracks #1 issued by Island records. Music by: Brian Eno, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., etc. Also if you are not familar with Eno, Robert Fripp & Iggy (I guess) you may want to check them out. I don't know if the "Angry Beavers" cartoon show has a soundtrack album out yet, but you may want to keep your eyes peeled for that one as well. |
MC 900 Ft. Jesus, One Step Ahead of the Spider, cut #3: If I Only Had A Brain. But be careful; the bass hits on this cut will definitely test your system's limits. Plus, there is all sorts of wierd stuff on here. |
David, a buddy gave me a CD he bought in India which is really well recorded with sound effects and Indian music, tablas, etc., with vocals. I think it is the soundtrack from a movie, but I'm not sure. Sort of *Star Wars comes to Bombay*. All of the instruments and vocals must have been miked separately and they seem to separate well, as though the performers are in a semi-circle in front of the listener. I actually use this as a reference CD (it is so well recorded) - must have listened to it a hundred times.
If you have an interest, let me know and I'll see if I can send you a copy. |
You really want to freak out.Then get something,anything by SUNRA...Thats freaky and out to lunch. |
david: the wimme number is on cd only (tho you might be able to buy vinyl in sweden--get me one if you're there, please). BTW, i agree with nordost that the jerry/david "so what" is a great cd. i don't find it "weird," tho. maybe that's just me? |
David, you might try "So What" a newer release from Acoustic Sounds with Jerry Garcia and David Grisman. This is a compilation of Miles Davis tunes, Bags groove, etc. Sonics are awesome not to mention the beutiful interplay of Garcia's guitar and David's mandolin. Highly recommended and also received an excellent review in TAS |
Roger Water's "Amused to Death" Corey Greenburg used to mention this one fairly regularly when he wrote for Stereophile. I decided to take a chance and get it on Dutch-pressed vinyl, but the CD is pretty good too. |
Richard Thompson's "Rumor & Sigh" has some great aural as well as creative lyrics. Any of the Latin Playboys stuff might be of interest. If you like Los Lobos "Kiko & The Lavender Moon", the Latin Playboys stuff explores some things a little more experimental. The above post about Dafos looks good to me. Airto is great. |
I like all four of Enigma's CDs, and they are pretty strange in a new agey sort of way. My favorite is "Cross of Changes". They're all driven by percussion. Cheers. Craig. |
Thanks guys,lots to choose from.Kelly,is your recommendation on vinyl? |
Max Lasser(Max Lasser Vander Ark) has some awesome music. |
Should pick up Dafos. It was performed by Mickey Hart, Airto, and Purim and was recorded by Keith Johnson. It was released in many variations, the last of which was a remastered gold CD. There is also a vinyl 45 pressing floating around but I have been unable to find a copy even though I have been casually looking for years. This can be a speaker killer so be forewarned... it has an extreme amount of loud dynamics and tremendous bass on some passages. |
David: I do not know what the access to used CD's is in your area but when I want "new" tunes I pick up "music sampler" CD's for around a buck in my area. Windham Hill, Razor & Tie, ASCAP, etc. I just picked up a really odd one of Brazilian R&R (it sucks IMO but it's different:-). Most are pretty good though. |
Siouxsie and the Banshees: Peepshow; Sugar Cubes: Life's Too Good; Serge Prokofiev: Scythian Suite (Mercury); Anything by F. Zappa or Cptn. Beefhart... |
Hi David99, Check out: Liquid Soul "Make Some Noise" or Gongzilla "Suffer". |
There's some weird, beautiful stuff on Rickie Lee Jones's Ghostyhead. Trippy electronica, strange lyrics, haunting fragments of melody, not to mention thought. |
You could add A Love Supreme by John Coltrane if we're talking jazz.
The ultimate party emptier was always Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefhart.
Contemporary speaking check out 13 by Blur-has some straight forward stuff but gets pretty weird(takes a while to get into-me about 2 years!)-it's very well-recorded and a good tester for your system David.
More recently the space-age country pop of Grandaddy's The Sophtware Slump-nicely weird in a melodic way-again well recorded-enjoy and let us know how you get on with any of the recommendations you try out. |
oops! the cd title is spelled "gierran." |
try "gierren" by wimme sarri (northside 6023). wimme combines an ancient scandanavian vocal technique caled "yolk" with electronic sound effects. quite strange but well-recorded (as near as i can tell). |
Miles Davis "Bitches Brew". I have a lot of CDs, and this one usually freaks people out more than anything else I have ever been around. Definitely weird, and exciting to many(too weird to some). |
The BeeGees live at Provincetown should fit the bill.
Also, Peter Gabriel's Passion and Portishead's Live at NYC. |
