Comments on: Looking back at 2008. Part The First, being recordings released this year

By: A Personal Miscellany » Blog Archive » 2009

A Personal Miscellany » Blog Archive » 2009 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:32:41 +0000

[...] 2008 [...]

By: 11V

11V — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:27:13 +0000

Hello Peter,
Does something need to hit you over the head right away? :-) I was immediately unsure about their referencing such popular sources, but when I actually heard the music I was impressed by the scope of their ambition. The repetition of the Bolero is in some ways an obvious choice for dance music, but its thorough reconfiguring and the strength of their composition is for me really striking. Different strokes of course, but I can’t think of another project in dance music that is as ambitious in size or structure.

By: peter

peter — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:11:10 +0000

@me
I’m not doubting or critiquing the technical ability of either Craig of Von Oswald (I am a huge Basic Channel/Rhythm&Sound fan), nor am I doubting the project itself (and quite frankly, it’s nice to see DJs/Producers raid a music source other than jazz record vaults), but I don’t know, my initial impressions of the album as a whole was that it was good, but it didn’t hit me over the head right away. I’m not saying it won’t ever, either. I just need to give it time…

By: me

me — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:21:57 +0000

Hello Chris, that sounds an okay price. I emailed RN and they are re-releasing UTP this year, they’re getting new distribution which was apparently the problem. What do you think of it muscially? I’m a huge fan of their previous three releases and am intrigued by the involvement of Ensemble Modern.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:45:33 +0000

Utp was very expensive, true, but I picked it up anyway for about US$79 including shipping, as it’s not on any agenda to be released elsewhere. If you don’t have a multi-region DVD player, forget about it too, as it’s Japan-region NTSC format.

By: me

me — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:48:59 +0000

Hello Peter, what other techno/dance projects display this level of ambition and this sense of a coherent whole? Offhand, I can’t think of any.

By: peter

peter — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:20:54 +0000

Finally picked up a copy of ReComposed, and first few listens, while good, aren’t leaving me totally blown away. Maybe I need to give it some more time. Like I said, good, but right now, not great. More later…

By: 11V

11V — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:13:14 +0000

Heh, I get to mostly play my library at work though I suspect I’m cursed by my colleagues behind my back! Poor things.

I’d not thought of Box in terms of prog (must watch that Beeb documentary) – good to hear of a fellow Bjorkenheim fan as Pete’s decidedly not…

Why did they bother reissuing No Pussyfooting? My original vinyl copy’s still perfectly playable!

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:40:38 +0000

Nice list C
My bloody Last.fm listings are always skewed because of the sh*te I have to listen to at work (and I always forget to turn offf my scrobbler) – otherwise I think I’d be closer in taste! (apart from all the prog, i really do like that stuff ;-))
Of course the Plant and Krauss is ace (http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/rwcz/) though I’d question its 2008ness ;-)
Likewise the Fennesz, Johannsen and the Isungset (http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/ppf9/)
Best of all was the Box album – bonkers Hammond crunch with a distinct whiff of (dare I say it?) ELP.
Apart from these the other two which floated my boat were the Roedelius and Story album, Inlandish (http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/mndp/) and the Eno and Byrne album which, while ostensibly mainstream and not at all like My Life… still makes me grin like a loon when it pops up (http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/m53n/).
Oh and reisssue of the year? Fripp and Eno’s No Pussyfooting!

By: Simon

Simon — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:42:34 +0000

Interesting list, Colin; i think it’s fair to say i broadly agree with the cut of your jib. i also agreed with both Ikeda & The Bug being disappointing; why on earth The Wire named the latter their disc of the year is beyond me :(

You might find my lists of interest too:
http://5-against-4.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-eps-of-2008.html
http://5-against-4.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-albums-of-2008.html

Incidentally, i have a superb new post for Hard Format – i’ll email you soon about it!

Happy New Year! – & best wishes
Simon