wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Michael Jeter from New Orleans, LA December 09, 2008 - 07:42PM

  I returned to my hometown of New Orleans in 2006 after almost 15 years in the New York/New Jersey area.

  I am listening to your program for the first time tonight.

  Thanks for the adventure.

  Michael Jeter

  
  
• [2] Danny Kapilian from My office along the Gowanus Canal December 09, 2008 - 08:34PM

  On the subject of fresh and remarkable takes on Bach, I highly suggest checking out (or playing a bit of, if you have it there) the recent album "Laibachkunstderfuge". It's the latest release by the legendarily controversial mock-fascist Slovenian art-rock band Laibach.

  Around for almost 30 years, and best known for their realistic impersonations of fascist military men on stage, their music has generally (goose) stepped toward a sort of "Animals"-period Pink Floyd meets "Trans Music Express"-period Kraftwerk. Their music and stage act has generally been designed around their collective outspoken repudiation of the Nazis and Communists who dominated their nation for so much of the last century (and their similarly far leftist disdain for Western Democracy and Capitalism).

  However, in 2007 they released "Volk", a violently radical and often beautiful (and always provoking) record comprised of hugely imaginative remakes of the national anthems of fourteen nations. On 2008's "Laibachkunstderfuge", Laibach moved almost completely into Walter/Wendy Carlos territory - entirely re-imagining Bach's "Art of the Fugue". It is an amazing tour de force, and has been performed in Europe.

  I had heard of them for many years, but had the pleasure of presenting them live this year in a remarkable showcase of musicians of various genres, all of whom were from Slovenia. It was this past May at Town Hall - a production for National Geographic. In addition to Laibach Performing excerpts from "Volk"), the concert featured several Slovenian folk ensembles and a number of brilliant jazz and contemporary classical musicians joined by American guest musicians Greg Cohen, Marc Ribot, and Guy Klucesvic. Marc Ribot and one of the Slovenian artists were interviewed before the concert by Marco Werman for PRI's The World.

  Please say hello to Limor for me. Keep up the good work. Thanks.

  Best,

  Danny Kapilian

  
  
• [3] Danny Kapilian from My office along the Gowanus Canal December 09, 2008 - 08:50PM

  Sorry for not being brief :-)