Mr. Richter

This guy…

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 05:08:11 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve thought about Mr. Jim Woodring, but seeing this trailer on BoingBoing just moments ago makes me again realize just how big a fan I am. This flick will be at SIFF this year. Gotta get there.

I think I’ll grab the last of my Jim Woodring stationary, and write my nanna a little note.

Below is the music from the Jim Woodring/Bill Frisell collaboration, a dainty little hardcover comic called, Trosper.

Cancel Your Walk Of Shame

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:14:50 +0000

Here now, is Episode 29.

Loving you,

Mr. Richter.

Blake Mills – Cheers
Charlie Hunter – High And Dry
Freedy Johnston -Rain On The City
Johnny Cash – Aloha Oe
Jack Rose – Blues For Percy Danforth
Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté – Fantasy
Radian – Subcolors
Four Tet – Angel Echoes
Mose Allison – Everybody Thinks You’re An Angel
Joanna Newsom – Jackrabbits

Direct Link

Maxing It Out

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:27:24 +0000

Last year, I caught a show by Brooklyn band, Slavic Soul Party! at The Tractor Tavern that had me entirely jaw dropped from start to finish. Since then, I’ve kept casual tabs on them and recently was excited to learn that they’d released a new album, called “Taketron”. Shortly after a first lesson, I’ve found myself again being totally blown away by their music, but also with a yearning to re-examine some of the music that has over the years held me captive by it’s intricacy. Most of this music connotes very specific and nostalgic phases for me, not only in getting to know this music and that artists that make it, but also in getting to know more about the way my own mind tends to favor music that’s rich in complexity, specifically rhythmic complexity, to relay it’s message. I’m a sucker for it, plain and simple. The whole, subtlety vs complexity deal is one that I often consider as I feel myself often on one end of the spectrum, but it’s music like this that often makes me question the worthiness of reigning things in, ever.

In this episode, there’s music from past and present, and all the tunes inhabit some very special, well organized, color coded, OCD-ish parts of my musical brain. You’re sure to have heard a few of the tunes before, but I hope they all take hold and make you consider the meticulous planning, editing, and vision that went into making these tunes come to be.

And now, the tunes for Episode 28:

Esquivel – Mucha Muchacha
Kings Of Convenience – I’d Rather Dance With You (Cornelius Remix)
Señor Coconut Y Su Conjunto – Neon Lights
Ben Frost – Kill Shot
Squarepusher – My Red Hot Car
Slavic Soul Party! – Taketron
Telefon Tel Aviv – 8 Track Project Cut
Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant – Caffeine Patrol
Frank Zappa & the Mothers – Village Of The Sun
Toy – Decorama

Direct Link

The Third Trimester

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:45:35 +0000

Finely crafted subtlety, and endless tact.

What else would a modern lady require to heed this magnificent call?

I know where my next approach will be taking it’s cues.

Direct Link

Staying The Course

admin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:58:51 +0000

There’s nothing to see here…

Please keep moving along, in an orderly fashion.

Oh, but I can say that Jesca Hoop and Blake Mills are both very worthy of your time, and inevitable worship. Get to listening.

(Blake Mills in at 5:15)

Anyhooooooooo, here are the tunes of Episode 27 for you to feast upon. Enjoy.

Tuva Semmingsen – Lascia Ch’io Pianga
Daniel Lanois – JJ Leaves LA
Douglas McCombs And David Daniell – The Deshabille
Jesca Hoop – Murder Of Birds
Joe Henry – Love Is Enough
Bob Dylan – Girl From The North Country
Kiln – Arq
Rob Burger – Charlotte’s Theme Part 1
Hauschka – Flingern
The Books – Twelve Fold Chain

Direct Link

This Is Just Part Of What 30 Looks Like

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:32:49 +0000

Swedish Pancakes, Fluorescent Scarves, Good Friends, Ballard… Rock Solid.

Alan Braxe

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:47:01 +0000

Alan Braxe has good taste. In the eyes and ears.

It’s about 30

admin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:50:30 +0000

I’m so bad at keeping this current…

While that re-occurring admission never really seems to inspire the consistency I hope for, what remains comforting is knowing that the practice of taking time to become truly familiar with music, to listen intently, to consider motivation and process, to recognize idleness as an essential activity holds no less value now than when I was a young child, then unknowingly starting a life in which music would serve as my greatest touchstone.

Stopping to smell the roses… The appreciation of appreciating… been doin’ me well since 1979.

Much has happened since my last entry that’s worthy of elaboration, though as I’m under time constraints, I’ll spare you the details and share some of my favorite images from along the way.

As always I hope all of you are well and happy.

Episode 26: It goes a little somethin like this.

Chihei Hatakeyama – Light Drizzle
Dave Alvin – King Of California
The Aluminum Group – Colored Town
Nellie McKay – The Black Hills Of Dakota
Inara George – Dirty White
Tortoise – De Chelly
Toy – Swingswung
Bibio – Fire Ant (Keaver & Brause Remix)
Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Ry Cooder – Rally ‘Round The Flag

Direct Link

A Braver Newer World

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:24:13 +0000

After returning home from one of my more fantastical trips to Los Angeles, it seems that I’m again meant to confront the ever present (and often waxed upon) pull between myself, my native southern California, and the prospect of one day returning to it’s arid environs in a residential capacity. The arrival of these notions is to be expected: I’m on the heels of some very quality time spent away, and congruently I have full knowledge that Seattle’s famously un-shakeable seasonal gloom is quickly on the approach, (which freaks me out). More importantly, these notions were reinforced by a certain few people’s (un-solicitously) imparted sagely wisdom. I was told on three separate occasions that my living in Seattle was an arrangement inherently addled with flaw, and would always prove a constant impedance to the realization of my earthly destinies, and more specifically my growth as a musician… (I know, I know, dreamcatchers much?)… and to make matters more robust, a particularly perspicuous horoscope (featured below) from some months ago recently re-emerged and has me reconsidering it’s value. (If one is to put value in such things.) We’ll see how the 8 ball reads in a month or two.

The Horoscope read as follows:

Right now you’re like a sidewalk tree. You have a cube of soil to occupy, but it’s boxed in by concrete, sewer pipes, and subway tunnels. With nowhere else for your roots to grow, your life and potential are necessarily limited. Forget about breaking through the barriers constraining you; there’s nothing useful on the other side of them. What’s required here is a complete transplant. While traumatic in and of itself, it’ll still be totally worth it, since you’ll be going from a place you can survive to one where you can thrive. If you haven’t already packed up your roots and hitched a ride to sunnier pastures, think about setting things in motion to do just that. It’s overdue.

So, what’s kicking my ass right now? Well, after being knocked out by Loudon Wainwright III’s Here Come The Choppers, Strange Weirdos, and Recovery albums, I’m being knocked out by his latest release, High Wide & Handsome -The Charlie Poole Project in which Wainwright pays tribute to legendary singer Charlie Poole with reworkings of old material, and a few finely crafted originals. Great recording, great material, amazing list of contributors. (Be sure to watch the “making of” documentary material in the video section of the site.) Definitely not one to pass up.

Jimmie Dale Gilmore’s 1996 album, Braver Newer World is COMPLETELY RULING ME at present. Produced by T-Bone Burnett with Jon Brion and Greg Leisz serving as Gilmore’s two main collaborators, this album has a very special quality to it and comes as strongly recommended. (Some of you may know Jimmie Dale as the lovable and timid character, Smokey in the famous “Walter freaks out” bowling alley scene in The Big Lebowski.)

Jim O’Rourke’s latest offering, The Visitor, is gorgeous beyond measure, all 38:03 of it. I really can’t explain how long I’ve been craving something new like this from him, so I’ll refrain from ranting. Just trust me when I say that you need to own it, that I want you to buy it immediately, and that it deserves your undivided attention, and your finest pair pf headphones. Get there!

Neri Oxman… someone out there, if you’re reading and have the means, please introduce me. I’ll take it from there.

Lastly, a photo of me and the legendary Fred Walecki of Westwood Music. I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with Fred while in Los Angeles, and have in many ways been reeling from the experience ever since. I’ll be writing a short piece about our interaction that will surface very soon. Truly an encounter that I’ll remember forever.

Alright already… let’s get to the music.

Here’s Episode 25. I hope you enjoy it.

Loudon Wainwright III – High Wide & Handsome
The Aluminum Group – Kid
The Books – Take Time
Christina Courtin – One Man Down
Wayne Krantz, Keith Carlock, Tim Lefebvre – The Earth From Above
School Of Language – Poor Boy
Jimmie Dale Gilmore – Braver Newer World
Alan Braxe And Friends – In Love With You
Lusine – Gravity
John Zorn – Kakawahie
Loudon Wainwright III – Took My Gal Out Walkin’

Direct Link

Still Making Me Feel Bad About Myself.

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:43:17 +0000