I was introduced to Afro Celt Sound System by my friend Jeff (at least that’s how I remember it; some of those mid 90s parties are a bit hazy :). They’re a UK-based crossover outfit that marries Irish traditional music … [read more]
Always experimental and always an outsider musician as far as a general sort of listenership would be concerned, Bill Laswell’s contribution to popular music has nevertheless been a fantastic journey of the offbeat and powerful. I’m familiar with Laswell’s work … [read more]
My sister introduced me to this a few years ago. She lived in New Zealand then, as do Fat Freddys Drop, a live dub band. This is basically dubby roots reggae played by a (very good) live band. It loses … [read more]
For anyone still standing at the end of the long, strange journey through the tunnel of electronic music, particularly all the different forms of house over the years, this is lovely, emotional, introverted and perhaps a little nerdy. It’s also … [read more]
I came late to this work (in life, as I’d like to discuss here… and yes, I know it’s about a month after Christmas now). I remember my mom loving it and playing it to mark the season when I … [read more]
I have a love/hate relationship with Radiohead. I think I was originally introduced to them somewhat against my will (and comparatively late) when, in the mid-90s, I went to someone’s BBQ and ‘OK Computer’ was on the stereo, which had … [read more]
Maybe I’m in one of those moods, or maybe it’s because Christmas is rolling around and gruff voices and abrasive songs are a welcome antidote to ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,’ but I’ve been enjoying three classic Tom Waits albums again … [read more]
A few weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, I woke up to CBC Radio 1. That’s what my clock radio is set to play every morning at 6. Even though the hosts’ accents are a bit pompous and there’s a … [read more]