seen from China
seen from Türkiye
seen from Germany
seen from Russia
seen from United Kingdom
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Singapore
seen from China
seen from Bulgaria
seen from Italy
seen from China
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seen from Spain
seen from China
seen from Germany
seen from Netherlands
seen from South Korea
Album Listening Update (6/4)
(haven’t done one of these in a while)
got another hot LISTENING UPDATE for y’all (3/31/17)
Various Favs Since Last Time
I quit the job I was at, which was where I was listening to somewhere in the ballpark of 6 hours of music everyday. While I haven't been making the time to discover nearly as much music, I do have a few picks of things that have a big presence in my listening time. "Live for the Highest Bidder" by Jacob Mann and co. is very synthetic, but very much a love (and maybe hate) letter to jazz. I've listened to it a few times, and while I think there are a few standout hits, it's gotten me to dig a lot deeper into Jacob Mann's music. I feel like I should have been listening to him for years now, since one of his other albums was the definitive sound of 2023 for me, but regardless I'm a fan now.
The "Outside World" project has also really been forcing itself into my head and commute as well. I think the second album has been my favorite so far. The songs "Really Slow Fox" and "Passage" are such opposite ends of a spectrum, and crafting a project where they can coexist as peacefully as they do is really something to take note of.
In the process of writing this blog, I've also noticed that "Utopianisti II" has been blocked in my region, which is absurd. I hate region locking, and I will find a way to listen to the song "Bisphenol A" regardless of whether or not it falls within the capricious whims of a corporate hegemony.
Also, working with mathematics heavily again, I like to listen to the song "Tensor in Green" by Squarepusher whenever tensors become relevant. Which is often. I'm not planning on attempting a day-by-day listening diary again like I was at that prior job, but I'd certainly like to be more active blog-wise.
in the spirit of doing these on fridays now, here’s my AOTY and EPOTY update, with a new #1 album, which is pretty cool (3/17/17)
GOT A HOT NEW LISTENING UPDATE FOR Y’ALL (3/13/17)
[probably gonna start making these on fridays after today]
Bhomega by Utopianisti
From the album Brutopianisti
Mechanoid makeout music by Utopianisti - prog-skronk from Finland
Utopianisti meets Black Motor & Jon Ballantyne (tracks 9-12 + 13): Sami Sippola - tenor saxophone Ville Rauhala - upright bass Simo Laihonen - drums Jon Ballantyne - electric & grand piano Markus Pajakkala - baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, percussion Recorded live at JJ Studio, Tampere August 2nd, 2012
Utopianisti – II, 2013
Rating: Excellent
Genre: Prog / Rock
Favorite Track: “The Forest of the Bald Witch”
The compositions are fantastic. It's an awesome blend of tone colors and genres that blew my mind at least once per track. The transitions and overall moods are sporadic and jolting, but this is justified by consistent inconsistency; you have no idea what's in store on the next track. Structures are jazzy and progressive, but the only element less predictable than the songwriting is the instrument and subgenre. All sorts of guitars and strings, woodwinds, percussion, brass, synthesizers, multiple vocal styles- the variety is all there. The album opens with a bright brass sound on “Mekonium Fist” that initially had me anticipating a Ska record, only to be followed by a crazy marriage of heavy metal and opera on “The Vultures Were Hungry”. Later on we hear digital chaos and what sounds like samples from old Nintendo systems in “Bisphenol A”, still decorated with explosive brass horns and acoustic drums. Despite exploring so many instruments, the overarching progressive composition is consistent throughout. Not to mention, the charming cover art is just as great. Go buy it!
