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Astoria, Oregon is often a place I enjoy jaunting off to for a quick vacation. There’s something about the wide expanse of sky where the river meets the ocean that encourages quiet introspection. This time around, I was overwhelmed by the greyness of everything…
Here’s an audio postcard from my last trip. It [...]

While I’m on an Arthur Russell kick, I ought to mention this New Yorker article by Sasha Frere-Jones about him:
Let’s Go Swimming: The Gentle Revolutions of Arthur Russell
It’s full of interesting biographical bits as well as fascinating bits about his production process:
Russell’s recording sessions were a departure from the average hit-making process: they were closer [...]

I wouldn’t be a good outsider cellist if I didn’t mention the new Arthur Russell Documentary “Wild Combination“. Arthur Russell was an amazing performer and prolific recording artist, who left hundreds of reel to reel recordings before his unfortunate death (of AIDS) at 40.
“World of Echo” is one of my favorite albums of [...]

Neat review about Matt Haimovitz, another offbeat cellist in the NYTimes (registration required).
They didn’t like the performance of the Beethoven’s Cello Sonata in D, but had the following interesting things to say about the more contemporary pieces:
After the Beethoven, DJ Olive, a turntable improviser, initiated a chiming drone that segued into Nicole Lizée’s “Cryptograms.” Layering [...]

For the past 6 months or so, I’ve been devouring books on music. All kinds - from books on practicing (”The Art of Practicing“, “The Inner Game of Music“), Music History (”The Rest is Noise”), Music Appreciation and Enjoyment (Bernstein’s “The Joy of Music“), Composition (Messiaen’s “The Technique of My Musical Language“), but I [...]

To be hopeful and happy.
At least for a moment.
I give you permission.

Aidan Baker (of Nadja fame) is a very prolific musician, and his doom-laden drones can be absolutely emotionally devastating. Imagine my surprise and pleasure when it was announced that the fruits of his collaboration with shoegazer Tim Hecker were going to be released on Alien 8 recordings.
Fantasma Parastasie is an epic journey of 8 [...]