Sunday, January 31, 2010

Shoes - "Too Late" (1979)

Such a period piece, and a very nice composition made great by the unusual vocal harmonies in the chorus.

"Too Late" on Amazon.

Friday, January 22, 2010

R. Stevie Moore - "Melbourne" (1976)

After the intro, a pleasant enough melange of sounds. First diversion is cut off after two bars and ends up functioning as a closing for the first (post-intro) section. When it comes back at 1:40 after the repeat, these same materials blossom into some kind of bold transcendence.

"Melbourne" on Lala.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Forever Amber - "Silly Sunshine" (1968)

True British Invasion-style compositional richness, but from 1968. Very moving to hear that essence, already lost at the time, preserved and delivered so beautifully.

From the album The Love Cycle.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Bobak, Jons, and Malone - "On a Meadow-Lea" (1970)

The yin softness of a contained space. Graceful, even noble, movement ("Riding on a meadow-lea") within that space. Joy not just in light but in shadow.

"On a Meadow-Lea" on Lala.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Os Mutantes - "Desculpe, Babe" (1970)

Whatever genres this song may be said to evoke, it is an instance of bull's-eye compositional archetypicality: the great triumph of musicians managing in precisely that archetypicality to perhaps, in a small but profound way, say something for a whole culture, a whole people.

"Desculpe, Babe" on Lala.