V.A. Mandarinen Träume: Electronic Escapes from the Deutsche Demokraktische Republik 1981-1989

ARTIST`````Various

ALBUM`````Mandarinen Träume: Electronic Escapes from the Deutsche Demokraktische Republik 1981-1989

GENRE`````Cosmic, Disco, Leftfield, Kraut

YEAR````````2010

What?

I only have this 8 track long compilation but if you have the links for the original 15 track long one please post a link.

Review from RA

The task of reviewing an anthology of music so virulently steeped in socio-political context raises two problematic questions. First: should a fair appraisal of artistic merit ever draw upon historical reference in order to justify present relevance? Second: if it must, can one ever hope to do so accurately without first-hand experience of the juncture to which it is so inextricably linked? A conclusive answer to either is elusive. Fortunate, then, that Mandarinen Träume should present enough of an aurally visceral experience in itself to avoid getting bogged down by such post-structuralist digressions.

Read the whole review.

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Sevilla Circa 1560 - La Trulla de Bozes (2002)

ARTIST`````Various

ALBUM`````Sevilla Circa 1560 - La Trulla de Bozes

GENRE`````Classical, Renaissance, Andalusian

YEAR````````2002

Secular oolyphony of the Andalusian school

Founded just a few years ago, La Trulla de Bozes has made a specialty of repertoire from Spain's Golden Age, and this CD is a result of the group's first-prize win at Antwerp's International Young Artist's Presentation Early Music in 2000. The recording is a testament to the players' technical skills and considerable interpretive gifts--and, equally importantly, it gives exposure to some gorgeous repertoire that isn't as widely known as it should be.

The best-known composer in this collection of secular music certainly is the illustrious Francisco Guerrero, who served as maestro de capilla at the Seville cathedral. Although he lived until 1599, it is his early work--compositions written before the year 1550 or so--that creates the program's basic structure. From the moving madrigal En tanto que de rosa y açuçena to the painterly portraiture of the springtime tune "Dezidme, fuenta clara", Guerrero's mastery even as a young man is already clear. But it is the works of contemporaries such as Rodgrigo Cevallos, Juan Navarro, Alonso Mudarra, Juan Vásquez, Francisco Fernandez Palero, and Ginés de Morata that are particularly illuminating in forming our deeper understanding of the era. And the Trulla singers bring this music to life: their rhythmic vivacity and brightly colored tone really make these compositions gleam. With Passacaille's vibrant (but not overly resonant) sound, recorded in a church in Navara, Spain, this disc is a real pleasure.

Credits:

- Raquel Andueza, soprano

- Carlos Sandúa, alto

- Karim Farhan, tenor

- Juan Díaz de Corcuera, tenor

- Xavier Pagès, barítono

- Raúl del Toro, órgano

- Manuel Vilas, arpa

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Moritz Von Oswald Trio - Vertical Ascent (2009)

ARTIST`````Moritz Von Oswald Trio

ALBUM`````Vertical Ascent

GENRE`````Electronic, Experimental, Techno, Live

YEAR````````2009

Album review from RA

Round these parts Moritz Von Oswald is the proverbial no-intro needer. Not only did his '90s output have an almost inestimable influence on a generation of dub techno heads, but his continued public presence as an electronic music impresario keeps this from being forgotten. How many times have you read a dub techno review that references Basic Channel? Here in jazz-band leader form the man heads up own trio together with Max Loderbauer of NSI and Sun Electric, and Sasu Ripatti, AKA Luomo, AKA Vladislav Delay.

The culmination of several years of live shows, Vertical Ascent is an utterly compelling and complex release, seamlessly fusing organic free-flow improvisation with the pristine electronic palette you expect from von Oswald. The four "Patterns" here follow a generally dub-like structure, where a relentless patter of midtempo percussion provides the propulsive counterpoint to heady, diaphonous atmospherics. The languid churn makes for workday ambiance, the mesmerizing fluid textures make for a repeat-listening delight.Since the focus is on exploring a restrained set of sonic possibilities, it's perhaps best to view the four tracks here as a group of variants rather than discrete compositions.

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Dennis Duck - Dennis Duck Goes Disco (1977) Reissued in 2009

ARTIST`````Dennis Duck

ALBUM`````Dennis Duck Goes Disco

GENRE`````Experimental, Obscuro, Assemblage

YEAR````````1977 / 2009

Album info

Deluxe double vinyl gatefold reissue of a major obscure early Los Angeles Free Music Society cassette, originally available in a run of only 20 copies in 1977. Duck is perhaps best loved for his tenure with Smegma and The Doo-Dooettes but he is also known as a drummer for The Dream Syndicate as well as working w/Human Hands, Paul Is Dead and The Square Haircuts. However, Dennis Duck Goes Disco may well prove to be his most historically potent release. Recorded using nothing but turntables and vinyl, Duck uses his skills as a free drummer to manipulate stuck grooves, needle blats, analogue static and scratched discs into melodic/percussive assemblages that cross that daffy early-LAFMS style with very psychedelic miniatures, Industrial tone-poems, computerised number stations threat and funny vocal skits. Aspects of both Christian Marclay and Emil Beaulieau are flashed on here and there but overall this feels very much like a record made by a drummer using records. Anyone intent on chasing down the various manifestations of the legendary LAFMS movement will wanna spend extended time in here. Artwork and packaging by Tom Recchion. “DDGD is probably the LAFMS release I listened to the most” – Ace Farren Ford.

http://www.poobah.com/dennisduckgoesdisco

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Voice Of The Seven Thunders - Voice Of The Seven Thunders (2010)

ARTIST`````Voice Of The Seven Thunders

ALBUM`````Voice Of The Seven Thunders

GENRE`````Psychedelic Rock, Indie, Folk, Instrumental

YEAR````````2010

Album review

His debut album is a sprawling, largely instrumental affair with many threads: Eastern-tinged psychedelia, hazy, pastoral folk and dusty desert blues. And they are expertly combined, with cantering acoustic guitars and propulsive grooves preventing the sound from ever lapsing into proggy torpor. - Observer Music Monthly back in 2007 when Rick Tomlinson and co. unveiled their first full length as Voice of the Seven Woods.

Fast forward two and a half years (a few cdr’s, a ten inch, a seven inch or two and a rather apt alteration of name) and you wouldn’t even countenance the idea of a “proggy torpor” whilst listening to these ten songs. They take those aforementioned elements, retaining the focus on instrumentals, and they hardboil them like misguided spiritual alchemists. The resulting explosions of alloy and lore are compelling to say the least. Groovy too. No torpor, they don’t leave any time for that kind of malarkey.

Read the whole review here

And, after the initial shock, there’s plenty of beauty to be found beneath the muscular dynamics. Tomlinson’s playing is an absolute joy to hear, whether you’re nodding slowly or thrashing your head around wildly, and the band he’s got billowing up a storm behind him aren’t half bad either. Whether it’s Seven Woods or Seven Thunders, this particular guitarist is brewing up something extraordinary amidst the hills of Lancashire.

Read the whole review here

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