EYELESS IN GAZA "All under the leaves, the leaves of life" (UK,1996)

Worshiping the autumn...

All under the leaves, the leaves of life (112mb)

YASUAKI SHIMIZU & SAXOPHONETTES "Latin" (JAP,1991)

Few may remember...

...a 24 miniature-themes (composed for tv commercials) album, that great Made to Measure series included in its volumes in 1987.

Others may know him from...

...saxophone versions of BACH`s cello suites (1996 and 1999)

From his long catalogue of works, collaborations, contributions etc, i would also mention....

...fake,parody (1983)

...multicultural crossings (1987)

...film music (1990)...

... and i would be mad curious to listen to...how much more peculiar his "experimental begginings" could have been...

...solo (1979) ...

...(IQ-179, 1981)...

... (kakushi,1982)...

... or with rock band MARIAH...

The album we are giving you, here, to listen to...

LATIN

...is composed in 1983 and inspired by his father crazy vocal version on "Besame Mucho". "LATIN" goes, though, further than being a simple latin-hit parody. YASUAKI SHIMIZU (Saxophonettes simply...is only him) developes an avant electronic-jazz-dance-ethno-minimal-fusion, a music language that steals things from several sources and combines them in a very charm way, emphasizing both in rhythm modernity and romantism of mellow tunes. This discreetly advanced work released finally in 1991, 8 years delayed. YASUAKI, himself, says that "aging gives it a richer flavour". Certainly, it still hides easily its age.

LATIN (88mb)

For diving deeper into indescribable, diverse, endless YASUAKI SHIMIZU world visit his site:

http://www.yasuaki-shimizu.com/

Γεια σου Άκη.

MOONDOG JR "every day i wear a greasy black feather on my hat" (BEL, 1995)

The art, blues, jazz, noir side of dEUS early days bloomed for good in 1995 with this singular album, Stef kamil Carlens (dEUS) and musicians from bands Flowers for breakfast & Kiss my Jazz (just before go a ZITA SWOON indie career), released under moniker MOONDOG Jr. America`s modern music mythology as defined after Dylan-Beefheart-Waits actions is at the centre of their vision. They approach it with an imaginative playing and an alternative spirit, rich in creative but dark/sad mooded also ideas. Moondog Jr`s bitter viewing narrations draws urban noir sceneries where things have a double face and beside after hours sharpened words...old sorrows, like dogs, are roving all night around.

MOONDOG Jr were: Stef K.Carlens(guit/piano/percussion/voc) - Aarich Jespers(drums/pipes) - Tom Pintens(guit/harmonium/piano/clarinette/voc) - Benjamin Boutreur(sax) - Thomas De Smet(upright bass).

EVERYDAY I WEAR A GREASY BLACK FEATHER ON MY HAT

(106mb)

TUXEDOMOON: Live, summer 2008

Sometimes La Folie du Jour is getting bored of staying home, in frond the computer screen, and decides to go out... just to check out what is happening around...
This is one of these times.
A small video from a Tuxedomoon's recent (summer 2008) live performance, most pleasant for LFDJ, and for many others, too.
The video's quality sucks, but we hope you forgive us for this):

ADRIAN SHAW "Headcleaner" (UK, 1999)

NICK & ADRIAN same-old-game pioneers

Remaining in the shade of a back stage existance as a session musician for such legends as HAWKIND, CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN, DEVIANTS, THE BEVIS FROND & others... ADRIAN SHAW (born 1947), cult figure involved with psych situation since 60`s, found shelter by the side of Nick Saloman(THE BEVIS FROND) and his Woronzow records where he finally unfolded his own autonomous path, releasing some genuine 70`s influenced, semi-obscured psych gems.

HEADCLEANER is his third LP for Woronzow (1999), a work of old fashion qualities, space -prog atmospheres, hard electric cliches, art-rock tastes,... and irresistible vocals that Hammill never did... All offered with the experience and the great generosity of a veteran soul that still does the journey...

NICK SALOMAN-lead guitar/organ, BARRI WATTS-lead guitar, AARON SHAW-lead guitar/organ, SIMON HOUSE-violin, RIC GUNTHER-drums, and ADRIAN-guitars/bass/instruments/voice.

HEADCLEANER - 256 Kbps - (102mb)

ZEENA PARKINS "Something out there" (US, 1987)

Zeena Parkins is an avant garde and improvisation multi-intstrumentalist known from works of NEWS FROM BABEL, SKELETON CREW, NO SAFETY, FRED FRITH, JOHN ZORN, DAVID SHEA, a.o...though she`s got some more publicity working with BJORK in 2001. Acoustic and electric harps, her main instruments, loose commom use in Zeena`s hands, creating a wide spectre of unsual or unheard before sounds. "Something out there", released in 1987 from No Man`s Land german label, is her debut solo LP. Great musicians are by her side: Ikue Mori (drums, electronic drums), Tom Cora (drums, samples), Wayne Horvitz (synth), Jim Menesses (drums), Sam Bennett (drums), Christian Marclay (turntables). As the line up reveals, the album is build on improvised percussion and weird harp sounds. One or two times Zeena approaches "proper" structured compositions but generally album`s concept is closer to a free-form meeting of several, often contrasted sounds.

SOMETHING OUT THERE (56mb)

EPIC SOUNDTRACKS "Rise Above" (UK,1992)

Epic Soundtracks (birthname Kevin Paul Godfrey),brother of Nikki Sudden (1956 - 2006) was the drummer of Sudden`s band SWELL MAPS. During the 80`s he played on JACOBITES works. At that time he joined CRIME & THE CITY SOLUTION and later he formed (along with Rowland Howard) THESE IMMORTAL SOULS. Two albums released under that moniker... and early nineties, Epic, who has already been one of the most well respected session musicians of indie circuit, started working on the idea of a first solo work. Finally "RISE ABOVE" came to reality before the end of 1992, featuring contributions of J Macsis(Dinosaur Jr), Martyn Casey(Bad Seeds), Anthony Thistlethwaite(Waterboys), Will Pepper(Thee Hypnotics), Lee Ranaldo(Sonic Youth) and Rowland Howard. Songs, built mostly on piano-voice with addition of horns and strings, have a classic pop art ballad character, and certainly are quite influenced by BEATLES.

RISE ABOVE followed by two more albums: "SLEEPING STAR" & "CHANGE MY LIFE" and a collection of out-takes called "DEBRIS". A fourth, unreleased, album "GOOD THINGS" saw publicity only in 2005... nearly eight years after Epic had passed away, suddenly, in his sleep.

RISE ABOVE (60mb)

CREEDLE "When The Wind Blows" (US, 1996)

San Diego`s hardcore chaotic extremists adopted, on their third album, an incredible gamut of styles & references (jazz-latin-klezmer-acoustic-alternative rock) sounding actually matured, more focused and yet crazier(!) than before. John Zorn is a major influence, but even Barrett-like fragile ballads ("Wisdom tooth", "Golden gate") have a position in their weird puzzle. Tracks last from few seconds up to ten minutes. An excessive, unrespectful and totally convincing band in a work of unconventional, provocative eclectisism.

CREEDLE: Devon Goldberg (guitar/voc), Tim Blankenship(bass/voc), Dion Thurman(drums), Cochemea Gastelum (sax), Robert Walter (keyboards)

When  The  Wind Blows (95mb) 

BENJAMIN LEW "Nebka" (BEL, 1988)

Benjamin Lew, Belgian electronic-ambient, new age composer, known for collaborations with Tuxedomoon`s Steven Brown, released this gem in 1988 with Marc Hollander on percussion / clarinette, Blaine Reininger on violin, Claudine Steenackers on cello, (Steven Brown on clarinette in starting track) and Gilles Martin engineer & co producer. Nebka, is a work of high clarity, that marks the boundaries deletion among genres, ... and one of the best and most characteristic releases of Made to Measure series. Third world rhythms, exotic colours, jazz phrases, minimalism... invade playfully the romantic moods of european heart. An avant soundtrack for shores beyond vision & artlands... that any dreamy listener would gracefully depart to.

NEBKA (55mb)

PETER JEFFERIES "The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World" (NZ,xpressway,1990)

THIS KIND OF PUNISHMENT paused activities in late 80`s... but Jefferies brothers didn`t stop heading avant garde/alternative/exp-lofi world releasing other new amazing works. THE LAST GREAT CHALLENGE IN A DULL WORLD (following the collaboration with Jono Lonie: "At Swim Two Birds", 1987) is the first of Peter`s highly challenging solo LPs. And rather the best, ...considered that this man`s artistic power is more influential when focused on piano-voice songform core.

The "last great challenge..." posted here after a request.

Last Great Challenge in a Dull World (67 mb)

FOYER DES ARTS ...An introduction (GER, 80`s)

von bullerbu nach Babylon , 1982

Die unfaehigkeit zu fruehstuecken , 1986

Ein kuss in der irrtumstaverne , 1988

Avant pop, experimental, NDW, genre expanding, Berlin duo (Max Goldt, Gerd Pasemann), activated at several times in 80`s, introduced here through a selection of tracks compiled from their 3 first studio LPs.

1982: Von Bullerbu nach Babylon, LP ( From Bullerby to Babylon)

1986: Die Unfaehigkeit zu fruehstuecken, LP (The inability to eat breakfast) 

1988: Ein kuss in der irrtumstaverne, LP ( A kiss in the illusion tavern)

Για τους εμβαθύνοντες στην πέρα απο τα προφανή, ιδιαίτερη γερμανική new wave-pop-electro-experimental κουλτούρα των 80`s, μια γνωριμία με τους Foyer Des Arts (ντουέτο εκ Βερολίνου) φαντάζει κίνηση σχεδόν υποχρεωτική. Aν και τα αλμπουμ τους είναι μερικές φορές άνισα, οι Foyer Des Artes ξεχωρίζουν από το Νeue Deutsche Welle σωρό, χάρη στις διευρυντικές, πειραματικές, και έντεχνες διαθέσεις τους, την ειρωνική, χιουμοριστική τους προσέγγιση, την τάση να μένουν ενήμεροι των εξελίξεων χωρίς αναγκαστικά και να τις υιοθετούν. Συνδυάζουν ποικίλα στοιχεία με θεατρικότητα και φαντασία, ενώ ο εκλεκτισμός και η ευρύτητα κλοπών & επιρροών εξισορροπoύν κάποιες πιο αδύναμες στιγμές. Η σχετικά ρηξικέλευθη άποψη τους καταγράφεται κυρίως στα 3 πρώτα LPs (και διάφορα singles), την συνανθολόγηση των οποίων σε μια πλήρους audio cd διάρκειας συλλογή θεωρήσαμε ως την ιδανικότερη λύση για μια πρώτη επαφή. Οι λάτρεις της γερμανικής art minimal synth ιδιοσυγκρασίας, θα βρουν εδώ μια απο τις ευρηματικέs εκδοχές της να αποδίδει τον ποπ χαρακτήρα της εποχής... πολυπρισματικά.

FOYER DES ARTS ...a LFDJ compilation

1.steps into the ministry

2.komm in der garten

3.toulouse lautrec

4.eine konigin mit radern untendran

5.olympia

6.trends

7.familie und beatmusik

8.hubschraubereinsatz

9.ein elvis imitator auf dem wege zu sich selbst

10.schimmliges brot

11.familie und gewaltanwendung

12.unter meinen fingernageln

13.die toten augen von deutschland

14.wir verstaatlichen simone

15.ein haus aus den knochen von cary grant

16.konnten bienen fliegen

17.eingecremter arbeiter

18.das leben ist uninteressant

19.dans la ville blanche

20.senf drauf

21.frauen in frieden und freiheit

FOYER DES ARTES (83mb)

ARTURO STALTERI " Flowers" (ITA, Materiali Sonori, 1995/1998)

"L`interminabile tempo mi adopera come un fruscio" -G.UNGARETTI

ARTURO STALTERI, a classical educated musician, was the man behind keyboards, percussions and vocals of italian prog legends PIERROT LUNAIRE. After two albums, the band paused activities and Arturo followed a solo way, released "Andre sulla luna" (1979), and "E il pavone parlo alla luna"(1987), both highly recommended electronic-prog-minimal-art-ambient LPs. "Flowers" originated from 1995; MATERIALI SONORI though, replaced first edition with a 1998, one-track-richer (sheltering sky theme) re-issue. A solo piano album where Arturo defines, in a way, the personal, favourite music universe that lies behind, around and inside his art. Names of Debussy, Glass, Sakamoto and also Chic Corea, Darryl Way gives an idea for the wide range of this impressionistic, minimal, modern, cinematic, endoscopic trip. Arturo adds to them compositions some fine pieces of his own, unifying a more complicated concept which suggests a multileveled,delightful and critical "reading" of the album.

Alone, facing piano`s black & white monochrome, as a witness of night & skylights ("un tasto bianco, un tasto nero..."), Arturo grows into his (and ours) nocturnal imagination, flowers with petals made of a moonlit touch.

FLOWERS. (80mb)

 "The interminable time treats me like a rustle"