OCRB: Library Tapes

Apparently, I buy too many records

My wife Helen, like every other woman i've ever lived with, believes that I buy too many records.

Which, as every record-buying man knows, is a ridiculous belief.

I will concede, however, that I do indeed buy a lot of records and that I don't afford them the same amount of listens and attention that I did 20 or 30 years ago.

To this end, I have decided to blog about the records that I buy, in order to help my appreciation of them - and perhaps to show Helen that I don't buy that many records after all.

Because i'm crap with deadlines the blog posts will be sporadic and probably be about a month or 2 behind but that's just the way i am! The posts will not necessarily be actual reviews (most likely comments, at best) and will generally be pretty damn short due to the reasons outlined above. As a writer in a previous existence i have decided not to worry about writing as art in the pieces but, instead, to attempt to convey feeling over semantic (and often grammatic) perfection.

And 'OCRB'? It stands for 'Obsessive Compulsive Record Buying' - a little known mental health affliction that is potentially damaging to the bank account but ultimately life-affirming. It is sad.......but a nice form of sad.

Monday, 28 March 2011

Various: Keys (A Comprehensive Collection Of Contemporary Piano Compositions)(American Typewriter)

Another of those 'look at the roll call and it wont disappoint' jobs. Peter Broderick,Nils Frahn, Library Tapes, Macinefabriek etc tinkle away on solo piano in a softly softly manner to enchant you in a beautifully ambient manner. Nothing here troubles you or wakes you from your soporific manner and, frankly, you wouldn't want it any other way. Only Mr Polymath Broderick complicates matters by adding violin and vocals, and this breaks the flow somewhat, but it's not as if it metaphorically kicks you in the balls - more like a gentle tweak on the left nipple. Which is nice.

Monday, 7 March 2011

Various genius musicians: Erik Satie et les Nouveaux Jeunes (Arbouse CD)

This double CD is an absolutely no brainer when it comes to guessing how fucking fantastic it sounds before you even hear it. We have Satie's wonderful minimalist music covered and re-imagined by godstars like library tapes, Eluvium, Rachel Grimes, Max Richter, Sylvain Chaveau, Goldmund, Pan American, Hauschka, Nils Frahm etc etc etc. To listen to it is only to reiterate what you already knew - that it is amazing music by amazing artists. I cannot recommend this highly enough and could only be improved by a vinyl edition,