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University of Richmond Radio

 

 

 

 

10

Album Reviews

Music Worth  Hearing

 

Arturo O'Farrill and The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra: Song for Chico (Zoho) - Arturo O'Farrill, son of the late Latin Big Band leader Chico O'Farrill, has been leading the Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra for over ten years.  A mainstay of New York City's Birdland nightclub for over a decade, the ensemble blends new works with Latin jazz favorites. 

Cohesive, tropical blasts of brass trumpets, trombones and saxophones top multi-dimensional rhythms of piano, bass, drums, timbales, bongo and bell.  Vibrantly arranged standards and originals, played with passion.  Highly Recommended, Grammy worthy material. 

[read more about this recording at zoho music]

Breeders: Mountain Battles (4AD) - After a six-year absence Kim and Kelley Deal, along with their Title TK rhythm section of drummer Jose Medeles and bassist Mando Lopez, return with a new, dark and moody album.  Recorded in several locales over those years, it’s definitely different but very Breeders just the same.  Playing with overdubs, stylistic influences and even foreign languages, the Deal sisters’ maturity and place in the grander picture continues developing in interesting and important ways. 

The Black Keys: Attack & Release (Nonesuch) - Detroit garage-blues duo The Black Keys originally conceived of Attack & Release as a collaboration with Ike Turner and producer Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley).  Well, the 76 year old Turner passed away from a cocaine overdose in December 2007.  And while the vocal side of things may suffer, the music doesn’t.  Brian Burton (Danger Mouse) takes the blues-rockers a flight higher, judiciously building the organics toward the sky.  Going well beyond the guitar/drums core, the Keys incorporate banjo, Moog, piano, organ, clarinet, flute, harmonica and more.  A few tracks have female harmonies.  Recommended. 

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (Anti-) - In 2007, under the guise of Grinderman, Nick Cave (Birthday Party founder) rocked out.  It’s now 2008, and he’s back with tbe Bad Seeds.  Grimy, blues guitar blasts lead the charge atop driving rhythms, while textures of piano, keys, tambourine, subtle horns, mandolin, steel drums and more add sophistication of the arrangements.  Cave calls Dig Lazarus, Dig!!! "a hemorrhaging of words and ideas," and his passionate, smoky delivery definitely brings that out of the literate, seductive, haunted and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.  Highly Recommended.

Marcia Ball: Peace, Love and BBQ (Alligator) - With her husky, soulful voice and agile boogie-woogie piano style, East Texas blues/roots artist Marcia Ball proves once again her heart is in Louisiana.  Peace, Love and BBQ is her first studio release in five years and tenth overall.  As you’d expect, she delivers with lots of upbeat party tunes, peppered with some Cajun / Zydeco flair, soulful horn blasts and a few more sober ballads.  Great American Roots music.  Recommended.  [Guests include Dr. John, Terrance Simien, Wayne Toups and Tracy Nelson]

Neva Dinova: You May Already be Dreaming (Saddle Creek) - Dreamy, slow music out of Omaha, Nebraska.  This is their third album, and they shared a split EP with label mates Bright Eyes.  Lead singer Jake Bellow's voice is weary and reflective, beautifully telling his moody tales. Brooding, melancholy and delicate songs somewhere between folk,

alt-country and emo.  Recommended.

Peter Moren: The Last Tycoon (Quarter Stick) - Peter Moren is Peter of Peter, Bjorn and John, who had that catchy whistle-y Young Folks song not that long back.  This is simple pop music with a definite acoustic folk leaning.  I find his voice a little bit nasally and slightly annoying at time, but even considering that, this is a solid effort.

Camphor: Drawn to Dust (Friendly Fire/Tin Drum) - Camphor is the project of Max Avery Lichtenstein, better known for writing music for independent cinema.  Here he works with members of Mercury Rev, Beirut and Bright Eyes to create a dramatic, layered sound. He uses a strange mix of horns, strings, harp, an organ, and more traditional guitar and drums to highlight his deep scratchy voice, and the combination is fantastic.  Recommended.

Ulaan Khol: I (Soft Abuse) - Under the guise of Ulaan Khol, Steven R. Smith (Thuja and Mirza, Hala Strana ) returns with another text of guitar based drone.  I is the first installment in his trilogy Ceremony, and it is an expansive statement of nine untitled tracks of dark instrumental psychedelia.  The layered and looped sound takes on some middle-eastern texture as subtle ritualistic bells and organ call to the faithful.  Recommended.  [RIYL: Flying Saucer Attack]

The Waybacks: Loaded (Compass) - San Francisco quartet The Waybacks blend old-time string music, rootsy Americana and summer jam band sounds into a melodic, relaxed affair.  Guitars, mandolins, fiddle, pedal steel and Hammond organ are essential ingredients for their story based, pop structured songs.  Like good festival music, genera freely blend, to form perfect entertainment for lounging on a blanket in the sun.

 

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