Ioиα - S/T (1990)

An excellent, unique and rather unconventional debut by progressive Celt rockers Ioиα, and probably my favorite record by the band overall. Neo-proggier in some ways than what would come later, the Clannad influences are more heavily tempered and reigned in by complicated and at times breathtaking instrumental interplay, particularly on numbers like 'A'Machair' and the 8-minute 'Trilogy'. Although not quite everyone's drink of choice (as is the case with many musical hybridists), I guess when you have someone as amazing as Joanne Hogg at the mic they could be doing half-assed polka-punk folk and still sound like a million bucks.

Oh, and it's got that "fresh out of the late 80's" production I love so much too, which makes the deal even sweeter from an atmosphere enthusiasts's point of view.

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Dεαd Cαи Dαиcε - Wiτнiи Tнε Rεαlm Of A Dyiиg Suи (1987/2008)

Ripped from the Japanese remastered SACD.

More often than not, I find that words fail me when it comes to a group like Dεαd Cαи Dαиcε. Their two-decade long discography explored, from perfect record to perfect record, the recesses of atmospheric post-punk, world music, New Age and an unbelievably cinematic grasp on the whole neoclassicism spectrum of musical indulgences. Before veterans like Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon jumped on the African pygmy-chant bandwagon and unleashed the savage jungle into contemporary Top-40 territory, this illustrious duo were cutting 3rd World masterpieces with a feudal edge that took even scenesters by surprise.

But, I digress. If one had to pluck but a single record from DCD's divinely inspired catalogue to get a newbie's ears wet in the ethereal woodwork, then 1987's Wiτнin Tнε Rεαlm Of A Dying Sun is the place to start. Not only are these songs some of the best crafted in a career long-canon, but with Side A being dominated by the grave croon of Brendan Perry and Side B an ideal slice of the heavenly pipes of Lisa Gerrard, the listener gets to experience both sides of Dεαd Cαи Dαиcε's musical cerebrum and...hell, maybe even reach enlightenment through doing so.

Like a narcotic you just can't quite get out of your system, this record casts a long, haunted shadow over your mind...and I'm more than happy to let it envelop me when I least expect it.

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Alεxαndεr O'Nεαl - My Gifτ To You (1988)

New Jack Swing-80's-pop-Christmas-stuff. Thankfully, the original compositions here outnumber the covers, and the whole thing reeks wonderfully of Alexander's sensibility when it comes to production lushness as well.

With that said, I wish a Merry Christmas to each and every one of you. Enjoy! :)

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Coмus - Fiяst Uttεrancε (1971) [Complete/Remastered]

More damning than a demon's curse indeed, and a cult classic in multiple senses. It's also the only one of its kind in all of folk music canon: evil and propulsive and utterly uncanny in its grasp of both beauty and ugliness.

I'd be pretty surprised all in all if you guys haven't at least heard of this, but assuming the former I hope you enjoy this record. Includes three bonus tracks from the original recording sessions along with remastered audio for everything.

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Tatsuro Yamashita - Melodies (1983)

Even if you don't speak Japanese, this here is quite the gem: Tatsuro Yamashita is a singer-songwriter-guitarist (one of the top selling in the country's history overall in fact) who specializes in an intriguing blend of traditional 80's J-Pop, funk, Beach Boys-esque power pop and mouthwatering jazzy westcoast. This particular release, 1983's Melodies, is basically the Land Of The Rising Sun's equivalent to Michael Jackson's Thriller in terms of the impact it had on popular music in Japan at the time and subsequent album sales. It's sunny, funky and wonderfully reminiscent of ages and suns gone by.

Feeling down? Need some rays? Turn this on and burn some rubber. Tatsuro-san's voice may take some getting used to, but like the best things in life, its an acquired taste.

Listen Here - "Merry-Go-Round"


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Robert Johnson - King Of The Delta Blues Singers (1998)

Yeah, Satan lent this guy a hand somewhere down the line. It's too good to be otherwise.

Listen Here - "Hell Hound On My Trail"



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Sacred System - Nagual Site (1998)

My favorite side project of bassist/producer prodigy Bill Laswell, Sacred System is an experiment in dub, Miles Davisonian jazz fusion and a fair amount of le tribal electronique to give this delicious muffin that extra frosted kick, with results that aren't anything less than stellar when you give the seven tracks here the time they deserve.

In summation, this is ideal zoning/meditative tuneage that may even stimulate your mind, and you could do a helluva lot worse than getting lost in something as snazzy as this. 

Listen Here - "Derive"



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Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares - S/T (1987)

There's something soothing about the voices of people crying out together in harmonious enlightenment, alone in the vastness of an aged hall or the open sky. This particular beauty, the debut album of from a famous Balkan World Music ensemble, captures for me an elusive timeless spark, an oh-so-brief peek into the transcendentalist of music that goes back centuries beyond 2010 trends and conceptual ideas.

As the tide of this record washes past me, to mind arrives a poem by a writer I've come admire as of late, the macabre and talented Clark Ashton Smith, in which he describes a sunrise-

The moon declines in lonely gold

Among the stars of ashen-grey—
Veiling the pallors of decay
With clouds and glories, fold on fold.

Now, in a crystal interlude,
Stillness and twilight briefly rest,
Ere sudden gules illume the crest
Of peaks where solemn purples brood;

And from the low Favonian bourn
A sweet wind blows so lightly by
It seems the futile silver sigh
Breathed by the lingering moon forlorn.

This won't be everybody's cup of tea, but it certainly soothes like a motherfucker when you hit a certain state of mind. Ambient muzak for Eastern European horse farmers, lulz.  

Listen Here - "Polegnala e Todora"

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