scissorkick

I'm really happy to be the first blog (I hope) to post a new track from SK favorites The Cinematic Orchestra. As if Radiohead's "Exit Music (For A Film)" wasn't cinematic enough, J. Swinscoe and company give the fantastically epic track their inimitable jazz touch. A new record is slated for 2006 and hopefully this track can tide eager fans over for a while. Not much has been released regarding the new record but if this track reveals anything about the Orchestra in 2006, it will be more of their trademark jazz mood psychedelia. This track is the closing number on a soon to be released BBE project called Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads, a compilation of Radiohead tracks brilliantly interpreted by a mixed bag of unlikely artists including Rjd2, Mark Ronson (with Alex Greenwald of Phantom Planet), Matthew Herbert, Sa-Ra, Bilal, Bad Plus and more. Wasn't sure what to expect, but was surpsringly impressed with my first listen.

The Cinematic Orchestra :: "Exit Music (For a Film)" -- Radiohead Cover

Posted by Steve at 2/22/2006 06:14:00 PM | Permalink | Comments   

Been MIA for a little while but back with a bang this week. Other blogs might post everyday but sometimes four out of five of those posts are simply to fill the weekly schedule. But here at SK we like to savor the flavor, let things slow roast a bit until real nuggets arrive from the postman. And do I have a triple play coming up for you all. Today's post is from what some might deem a "supergroup." Me, I'm not too keen on the term, unless it would mean DJ Shadow and BoC teaming up to produce a record with Robert Trujilo on bass, Neil Peart on drums and John Hopper on harp (this last part is a joke but your boy Hugo from "Lost" would make a great Hopper look-a-like). No, the post is from Voom:Voom, the Austrian power trio of Fauna Flash (Christian Prommer and Roland Appel) and legendary mellow man ace Peter Kruder. The old bass-heavy Voom:Voom releases are rare classics and this new set of four 12" singles is sure to stir the same fervor, although on first listen I am not so sure about all the cuts. Some hit, others miss, but there are all dancefloor friendly. Just depends where your dancefloor is and who's steering it. A little bit Prins Thomas and little bit Compost, these records will work for a large majority of you out there. Just don't expect deep and dubby. Think more along the lines of Deep Dish. For some -- including myself -- I feel a cringe coming on... But with a track like "Roger," sounding like Dr. Rubberfunk eating oysters on a nice secluded European beach, I can hold off for a brief moment during this weird, unpredictable winter. Resources

Posted by Steve at 2/17/2006 05:52:00 PM | Permalink | Comments   

The term "Folktronica" has been recently attatched to everyone from Four Tet to Minotaur Shock, but honestly it has become, to ill affect, generally misused. An acoustic guitar and some bubbly electronics do not Folktronica make; instead I think the essence of the label, when used correctly, describes not the music but the musician. A group like Mum best represents the way I visualize electronic folk music -- with an earthy experimentalism and dreamlike quality that captures the idealism and focus of early folk musicians. Recording in lighthouses and playing homemade instruments. Now that's some folky shit. Of course, how you categorize music is certainly up to you but I think just about anyone who listens to Tunng will agree that they, unlike some others, truly update folk music for the digital age. Their brilliant 2005 release, Mother's Daughters & Other Songs is thankfully getting an American release, courtesy of the smart people at Ace Fu. The record -- today's post "Tale From the Black" is a great example -- is a definitve example of how guitars and electronics can mesh flawlessly to create a complete sound wherein contrasting elements are not compartmentalized. Moody, fantastical and well-executed, this is truly the music of 2006 -- one step back, two steps forward -- both historically pious and forward-thinking in a shared instant. Enjoy the track and trust me, if you like it, you will love the full-length. RIYL: Beta Band, Mum, Parsely Sound, Notwist, Neal Halstead, Badly Drawn Boy Resources

Posted by Steve at 2/02/2006 09:41:00 AM | Permalink | Comments