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(LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty Images)Ry Observations
Ry Cooder is best known for his work on the platinum-selling Buena Vista Social Club. On today's show, the virtuoso guitarist talks about his latest album, the third part of a trilogy about California, accompanied by a 95-page novella. Also: How classical and world music are changing the sound of video games.
Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder is best-known for his eclectic guitar-driven albums and his collaboration with Cuban musicians in the Buena Vista Social Club project. His latest release, a CD-and-novella combo called I, Flathead, completes his "California Trilogy" of albums. It follows the fictional musician Kash Buk, his alien friend Shakey, and their obsession with racing cars fashioned from military surplus parts and flathead engines. He joins us to explain what it's about.
A Symphony for Space Invaders
The sounds of classical and world music are infiltrating the world of video games. “Battlefield: Bad Company” features brazen orchestral tracks and lush string quintets played by a roster of top New York new-music players. Another recent game features the choir Mysteries of the Bulgarian Voices. We talk about the trend with Olivier Deriviere , composer of the score to the game “Alone in the Dark” and Mikael Karlsson, composer of the score to the game “Battlefield: Bad Company”
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Go behind the scenes!
Find out what John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff have to say about recent segments on the show. Plus, watch videos from in-studio performances.
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Introducing our Video Contest
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John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.
In Studio: Angel Deradoorian
Soundcheck
The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.
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Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico
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Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.
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In Studio: Stephanie McKay
Soundcheck
The local singer-songwriter performs "Jackson Avenue," a nostalgic toast to her childhood in the South Bronx.
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In Studio: The Decemberists
The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.
Sound Off
Soundcheck
Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.
