New Sounds Archive
June 2005
June 2005 New Releases
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Oh bliss! We love it when new mail it comes into the New Sounds office. We really do love the stacks and stacks of submissions that threaten to snow us under. Know what is even better than stacks of mail? Sharing the contents of the best packages that have come our way over the past month. That’s what happens on tonight’s New Sounds. Listen to the best of the new releases we’ve received this June. Probable finalists include the indescribable melodic yet distorted thumb pianos on Konomo No. 1’s Congotronics, the punk cabaret of Barbez, and trans-oceanic "old-school" choros played by Regional Barnabé. Plus, new material from Carl Weingarten, Michael Galasso and more…
North, South, East, West
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
New Sounds faces the music in all directions, North, South, East, and West on this program. Hear music by German guitarist Andreas Willers with Canadian pianist Paul Bley, from the release, "In the North," an improv tribute to reed player Jimmy Giuffre. Also, selections from "Which Way Is East," the double CD collection of spontaneous duets by saxophonist Charles Lloyd and the late percussionist Billy Higgins. Higgins plays drumkit, but also sings blues, sambas and African music with his guitar, and together the two of them make a kind of free-improvised world-music. Plus, directional works from Ennio Morricone (the West) and Dino Saluzzi's quartet (The South).
An Hour of Björk
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Hear an hour of music by the elfin Icelandic singer and songwriter Björk on this edition of New Sounds. Listen to selections from albums like “Medulla,” “Vespertine,” and more. Plus, unusual arrangements of Björk songs by the Brodsky Quartet, Geoff Keezer, Rachel Z, and the Decemberists, among others.
Sufi Traveler
Monday, June 27, 2005
West Meets Near East on this New Sounds program. Hear music, both old and new, based on Sufi music traditions, featuring works by Turkish-born Mercan Dede, who lives and works between Istanbul and Montreal. Dede fuses the profound, spiritual dimension of Sufi music, drawn from his study of the ney flute and of the 13th century philosopher and poet Rumi, with electronic beats and atmospheric effects on his new CD, “Sufi Traveler.” Listen to selections from it along with works by Ensemble Al Kindi and Daniel Schnyder.
The New Surf Guitar
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Wipeout! The unique sound of "surf" guitar was based on the combination of big band beat and Middle Eastern melodies, played at a manic gallop and drenched with lashings of reverb. Guessing that you'll hear Dick Dale, or the Ventures? Not likely. Instead, on tonight’s New Sounds, we’ll sample the new “surf” guitar. Hear works by the California Guitar Trio (pictured), the Kronos Quartet, and the Newman/Oltman Guitar Duo. Plus, from a CD called “Endless Bummer,” listen to mellow "surf" ballads by Arthur Jarvinen, and many other works built on or inspired by the classic “surf” guitar of the early 1960’s.
Unusual Songs
Saturday, June 25, 2005
There’s an hour of unusual songs on this episode of New Sounds, including works from the Czech vocalist/violinist Iva Bittova. Her strange and wonderful melodic cries are backed by the dark textures of her violin on songs like "Strange Young Lady." Also, listen to the effervescent rise and fall of the Icelandic quartet Sigur Ros, singing one of their tunes in the imaginary language they call "Hopelandish." Plus, hear music from Bjork’s recent album Vespertine, on which she worked with harpist Zeena Parkins, who's been part of New York's improv scene for years. Rinde Eckert and his lyrical falsetto round out the show.
New Music from Australia
Friday, June 24, 2005
On this edition of New Sounds, prepare for music from the land of Oz – Australia, that is. Listen to the “wire music” of Alan Lamb, which explores telegraph wires “singing in the wind,” or more accurately, the sounds generated by the action of wind on long wires. There’s also cross-cultural music from the Sita Band, which includes both western and eastern instruments, and is heavily influenced by Indonesian gamelan music. Plus, hear music performed by the Australian band Topology, who combine violin viola and piano with electric bass guitar, sampler, saxophone and sound engineering. Rounding out the show is music from Michael Askill, the former principal percussionist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Balkan Gypsy Influence
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Listen to music under the Balkan & Gypsy influence on this New Sounds Program, featuring music by the gypsy/klezmer/folk/jazz band Les Yeux Noir. The Paris-based octet combines violins, cello, accordion, electric guitar, cimbalom and electronic samples. Something like klezmer for the 21st century, there’s even a take on Aram Khachaturian’s fiery "Sabre Dance" from these French-Jewish gypsy violinists. Also on the show, hear music by the tuneful high-energy Balogh Kalman & the Gipsy Cimbalon Band and the slinky Middle-Eastern groove of Nikola Kodjabashia. Plus, Wisconsin’s own Balkan Lounge Funk, The Reptile Palace Orchestra, and more.
Egghead Van Halen
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
“You can excite an audience, you can anger an audience, you can even scare an audience, just don't bore an audience." This is the operating philosophy of guitarist, composer, and presenter Dominic Frasca. Equally as concerned with the visual aspects of performance as with the audible, Frasca’s concerts often contain multi-media works, incorporating video, power tools, erotic dancers and even lawn care equipment. He's also been dubbed the "Eddie Van Halen for Eggheads" by Entertainment Weekly magazine. On this edition of New Sounds, Frasca visits the WNYC studio to talk about his latest Olympic weightlifting exploits, the technical set-up of the surround sound at the Monkey - the performance space he operates, and oh yes – play some pretty amazing guitar, both 6 and 10 string.
If It's Broke, Don't Fix It
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Hear music for ruined pianos and beat-up guitars on this New Sounds program, subtitled, "If It's Broke, Don't Fix It." Listen to Victoria Jordanova's Requiem for Bosnia, where the piano is strummed, beaten, and otherwise serves as a entire battery of percussion instruments. Also on tap is a piece by Ross Bolletter, "Nallan Void," for a piano left to the Australian elements. Plus, works by T. Sukegawa, Annie Gosfield, and Ed Gerhard.
Beyond Words
Monday, June 20, 2005
On this edition of New Sounds, listen to vocal music without texts, from the sort of angelic minimalism of Mary Jane Leach to the jazzical vocals of Bobby McFerrin. Also, "whole world" music from the Indian-influenced Shelia Chandra, and works from composer, singer, director, filmmaker, and choreographer Meredith Monk.
Hot Tin Hat
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Listen to the San Francisco-based Tin Hat Trio, and their blend of tango, bluegrass, contemporary classical, and Eastern European folk traditions on this installment of New Sounds. Also, Tin Hat violinist Carla Kihlstedt has a solo project, Two Foot Yard, whose recent CD called is full of quite singable yet twisted little creations featuring the violin, her own voice, cello, percussion and guest musicians. Hear Kihlstedt’s snippet songs and music from the trio's brilliant keyboardist, Rob Burger, in a few exotic cuts from his recent solo CD Lost Photograph.
New Orchestral Music
Saturday, June 18, 2005
On this edition of New Sounds, listen to some new music involving orchestra, including works by the jazz/new music ensemble Oregon and rock singer Jon Lord (Deep Purple). Also from a recent collaboration, hear English classical violinist Nigel Kennedy together with the Polish group Kroke blending layers of violin, electric violin and klezmer-rooted music of Eastern Europe. Plus, a selection from Anglo-Egyptian singer Natacha Atlas, featuring orchestral strings written by Jocelyn Pook, rounds out the show.
World Music
Friday, June 17, 2005
The singer, percussionist, dancer and actress Alessandra Belloni joins John Schaefer in the studio to perform a particularly irresistible tarantella with a blend of Brazilian accordion and percussion coupled with Italian traditional singing and chitarra. Also on this New Sounds, music by David Darling fusing the vocal polyphony of the Wulu Bunum people of Taiwan with cello anchors and lush soundscapes. Plus, songs from Mali’s Issa Bagayogo, DJ Cheb I Sabbah, and more.
Under the Traditional Influence
Thursday, June 16, 2005
On this New Sounds program, hear western music based on and infused with Middle Eastern influences. Sample the latest from Brooklyn-based Raquy Danziger and the Cavemen, a Turkish-rooted rock outfit. Listen to Axiom of Choice, an ensemble with roots in traditional Persian repertoire, but who blend Middle Eastern and African percussion together with Western instruments to create exotic and sensuous music. There’s also music by Reza Derekshani, a Persian instrumentalist whose latest release was arranged by Doors’ drummer John Densmore and combines devotional styles with jazz and rock. Plus, selections by Basya Schechter, from her latest release, “Queen’s Dominion,” a hypnotic instrumental album of oud, santur, percussion, and violin music.
Downtown "Chamber" Music
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
New Sounds presents an hour of unusual ensemble music for this program, with music by Tarantula, Slow Six, the Clogs and the Tin Hat Trio. Deceptively simple and breathtakingly delicate music is Tarantula's specialty, who are set up like something of a chamber ensemble with violin and cello, but also with guitars, bass, and drums. The Clogs offer up thoughtful and romantic chamber-y post-rock with bassoon, violin/viola, guitar and percussion. Also in the thoughtful vein is the playful and twisted music of the Tin Hat Trio. Plus, rounding out the show is music from Slow Six, an eight-piece electro-acoustic outfit with video projections (video not included on New Sounds.)
Early New Sounds Live
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
For more than 20 years, New Sounds has been presenting new and unusual music from inside and outside the WNYC studios. On this edition of the program, we’ll revisit some of the early years of the New Sounds Live concert series with music by David Borden, from a 1988 concert, played by the world’s first synthesizer ensemble, Mother Mallard’s Portable Masterpiece Company. There’s also music by the wide-ranging piano duo Double Edge - Edmund Niemann and Nurit Tilles – from a concert in 1989. Niemann is a long-time member of Steve Reich & Musicians, while Tilles has performed with the Mother Mallard band. Plus, Kronos Quartet performs Michael Daugherty’s Beat Boxer for string quartet and tape, and one of their African pieces from a live concert recorded in 1992.
Banana/ Dump Truck
Monday, June 13, 2005
Composer, Princeton University professor, and unrepentant electric guitarist Steven Mackey visits the WNYC studios for this edition of New Sounds. Mackey’s performance background is that of an accomplished Baroque lutenist who was also a “psychedelic” guitar player in Northern California rock bands during the late 1960’s and 70’s. As a composer, Mackey freely incorporates the influences of Led Zeppelin, Stravinsky, Monteverdi, Muddy Waters, Mahler, Monk, and others into his pieces. Listen to music from his new CD, Banana/Dump Truck, featuring the title piece, a concerto for cello, and two duos for guitar and cello intended to be performed with his friend, cellist Fred Sherry. And much more.
A Private Reel
Sunday, June 12, 2005
This installment of New Sounds is the latest in the ongoing series called “A Private Reel,” where we dig into some of the live recordings made here in our WNYC studios. Tonight’s program features performances by songwriters Lucy Kaplansky, and John Hiatt; Ken Field’s Alto Sax Project; pianist Vijay Iyer and poet/vocalist Michael Ladd; composer/accordionist Pauline Oliveros; and pianist Jason Moran.
David Sylvian's Blemish
Saturday, June 11, 2005
David Sylvian’s CD, “Blemish” was recorded at his home studio and is a raw minimal work of shimmering bleakness. With brooding, quivering guitar sounds, and his rich baritone voice, Sylvian drives home themes of anguish. Also on the CD are three collaborations with improv guitarist Derek Bailey, which might present a challenge for listeners used to finding comfort in Sylvian’s music. On this New Sounds program, Sylvian visits the studio to introduce “Blemish”, and reflects upon nearly 20 years of solo works.
New Music From Poland
Friday, June 10, 2005
Hear New Music from Poland on this edition of New Sounds, with the achingly beautiful work of Henryk Gorecki. Also, sample the hard-rocking folk of the Warsaw Village Band who use the occasional hurdy-gurdy, some dulcimer and rely on punk-ass driving rhythms. Plus, experience the crazed monk mysticism of Mieczyslaw Litwinski as well as the uncategorizable electro-acoustic blend of the Orchestra of the 8th Day.
World Trance Music
Thursday, June 09, 2005
It’s an hour of world dance music and ecstatic trance on this edition of New Sounds. Hear folktronic sacred DJ music from the Algerian native Cheb I Sabbah, off of his most recent release, “La Kahena.” This master mixer brings together Indian, Arabian and African musical traditions in an intoxicating frenzy of irrestible beats with contributions on the CD from Bill Laswell, Karsh Kale, and many Moroccan musicians. There’s also music by Mercan Dede, who combines modern settings with Sufi-inspired material to set up an hypnotic otherworldly space. From his latest, “Su,” listen to a piece called “Ab-I Verd” (which means rose water), and is dedicated to the famous Turkish singer Kani Karaca. Also, there’s music from Bachir Attar, the leader of the Master Musicians of Jajouka, an ancient family originating from the Moroccan village of Jajouka, whose ritual trance-inducing melodies can help achieve transcendence in music. Plus, hear exerpts from the ecstatic project by Shahram Shiva, “Lovedrunk,” - it's the poetry of Rumi, set to music for whirling.
What's Up with Gavin Bryars
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
English composer Gavin Bryars first made his musical reputation as an improvisational jazz bassist in the mid-sixties, but he abandoned improv to work for a time in the United States with John Cage. He last stopped by the WNYC studio to present excerpts from his 2001 collaboration with Merce Cunningham, “Biped.” Besides his works for theatre and dance, Bryars has written prolifically for the concert hall and has written three full-length operas to date. Among Bryars’ fans and collaborators are the songwriter Tom Waits, guitarist Bill Frisell, and early music specialists The Hilliard Ensemble. On this edition of New Sounds, English composer Gavin Bryars joins John Schaefer in the studio to unveil new works not yet heard in the States.
Music from the Bay Area
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
California composer Terry Riley’s seminal “In C,” launched the concept form of interlocking repetitive patterns otherwise known as “minimalism.” There are unavoidable comparisons to Riley when talking of music by other Californians working in the San Francisco Bay area, another of whom we’ll hear on this edition of New Sounds. John Adams has recently released “Road Movies,” music settled in a pulse groove and traversing different textural landcapes. Hear his piece for two pianos “Hallelujah Junction,” named for a small truck stop on Highway 49 in the High Sierras on the California-Nevada border. Also, listen to the sampled prepared piano and electronic percussion in Paul Dresher’s “Cage Machine.” Plus, spliced and sampled pieces from Jay Cloidt, another Bay area composer, and more.
Daniel Lanois and Belladonna
Monday, June 06, 2005
Daniel Lanois, the guitarist, singer, songwriter and award-winning uber-producer (Peter Gabriel, U2, Bob Dylan, Dashboard Confessional)visits the studio for this edition of New Sounds. He’ll be presenting music from his forthcoming release, “Belladonna,” an instrumental album with a low-key atmospheric feel, akin to the ambient soundscapes he recorded with fellow studio guru Brian Eno in the 1980s. Anchored by Lanois’ pedal-steel guitar playing, “Belladonna” also features guest musicians, including pianist Brad Mehldau and drummer Brian Blade (Dylan, Joni Mitchell.)
New Choral Music
Sunday, June 05, 2005
On this edition of New Sounds, host John Schaefer focuses on unusual choral works by a wide-ranging assortment of international composers. Hear Ivan Moody's "Akathistos", whose title means Greek for "not seated," and which blends traditional Byzantine melodies, ornaments in Greek refrains, and Russian choral textures with original melodies. Also, listen to music by Emilio Galante, his "Larjines," featuring nature texts (seasons and about flowers) sung in ladino, a language spoken in some alp valleys, and directly originated from Latin. Plus, there's a chorus (or two) from John Adams's opera The Death of Klinghoffer.
Chamber Rock
Saturday, June 04, 2005
The term "chamber rock" may seem like an oxymoron, but in fact it represents an entire strain of the contemporary music scene. On this edition of New Sounds, listen for music that combines the instruments and performing styles of classical music and rock by Krakatoa, Rachel's, the Penguin Café Orchestra, Elliott Sharp, and more.
Ashes and Snow
Friday, June 03, 2005
Ashes and Snow, the photography/film exhibition by Gregory Colbert closes on June 6 at the Nomadic Museum. This edition of New Sounds is filled with music from the show, including works by cellist David Darling and Robert Een. Also, there’s music by composer Lisa Gerrard, (one half of the duo Dead Can Dance), who has written the scores to several different films like “Whale Rider” and “Gladiator,” to name a few. Plus, electro-acoustic Middle Eastern and Indian hybrid works by Canadian producer, engineer and virtuoso guitarist Michael Brook, along with music by the Armenian duduk master Djivan Gasparyan, and others.
Youssou N'Dour's "Egypt"
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Mbalax is a Senegalese blend of African, Caribbean and pop rhythms; take a base of griot percussion, praise-music, and story-telling, and add western guitars and keyboards. In large part, Youssou N’Dour and his relentless touring made mbalax known outside of Africa. Since the 1980’s, the Senegalese singer and composer has mixed African sounds with wide-ranging other influences. On his latest effort “Egypt,” traditional musicians from Senegal's capital of Dakar and musicians from Cairo come together for a sound quite unlike his previous “pop” records. Something of a modern griot himself, N’Dour feels that now is a particularly important time for greater tolerance of the Islamic religion, and the new album (actually titled in Arabic, “Allah,”) is a celebration of the Sufi mystical tradition of Islam. On this edition of New Sounds, Youssou N’Dour introduces selections from the pan-African and pan-Islamic CD.
Radiance
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Keith Jarrett once said that “the best improvisations I know of are always made when you have no ideas. The solo concert is like another world that has its own rules that I didn’t make up.” Now comes “Radiance,” a double-disc set of solo piano improvisations from Jarrett - the first in nearly 10 years due to illness - recorded live in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan. On this edition of New Sounds, hear portions of "Radiance" and listen for the interplay of all the music that Jarrett has been through over the years. Also on the show is “Dance,” from “Day of Radiance" by Laraaji. Listen to his electronically enhanced zither, multi-tracked with layers of reverb and delay by uber-producer Brian Eno.
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