Guest Reviews: Tyondai Braxton
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As the son of out-jazz composer Anthony Braxton, a member of acclaimed post-rock super-group Battles, and a renowned solo artist, Tyondai Braxton is certainly one of the biggest names in the avant-pop music world. His second solo album, Central Market (Warp), is somewhat of a departure, for after years of strictly solo efforts, the new record sees him collaborating with NYC's Wordless Music Orchestra. For Braxton, it was an amazing experience "to try out some difficult pieces quickly," and discover that his loopbased work paired nicely with a Stravinsky influence. Here, the NYC-based composer talks about some of the music he enjoyed the most in 2009. myspace.com/tyondaibraxton Dirty Projectors Bitte Orca
Amarcord Nino Rota
Domino/US/CD
Great movie, great soundtrack. Nino Rota
I've seen Dirty Projectors through many
is one of my favorite composers. I cooked a
different incarnations over the decade, all
huge Italian dinner to this the other night.
of them awe-inspiring. Bitte Orca pools all
I had an apron on and was tasting spaghetti
of what Dave Longstreth has been exploring
sauce from a large wooden spoon and this
over the years into a powerful, succinct
huge pot fell to the floor. I started laughing
statement. With the unbelievable talent that
so fucking hard. My girlfriend walked in on
makes up the band, it’s no wonder this record
me and I had tears in my eyes from laughing
came out the way it did. Truly masterful.
so hard. The music made it so much more
Hannibal/US/CD
funny.
itsnotyouitsme Walled Gardens
10/13/09
11:48 PM
Page 1
New Amsterdam/US/CD
Sunn 0))) Monoliths and Dimensions
Caleb Burhans and Greg McMurray come out
Southern Lord/US/CD
of the gate with a pastoral, all-encompassing
This is my favorite of the records I’ve heard
sound. Mostly ambient, the sounds
from Sunn 0))). Epic and patient. When the
continuously subvert a dominant texture
women's choir on “Big Church” comes in,
with strings, guitar, voice, and electronics
you understand the scope of what they're
falling over each other. Beautiful.
working with here. One of my faves this year.
turning the mind
new album october 20 “Kaleidoscopic, vivid, sensual and spangled up to the eyeballs.” -WORD “Turning The Mind is plain joyous….both the thinking-man’s pop album of the year and the perfect soundtrack to the witching hour. Bordering on genius” -CLASH “a delirious, mind-melting musical journey.” -THE MIRROR
www.mapsmusic.com www.myspace.com/mapsmusic www.mute.com