The sky has loomed large in Aaron Jay Kernis's 25-year composing career. His latest work to arrive in the UK is Newly Drawn Sky, premiered in Chicago three years ago and inspired by the changing colours of dusk over the sea. The sonorous opening, of peaceful, thickly woven viola and cello lines punctuated by moments of plucked-string throbbing, suggests depth beneath a rippling surface; a later episode, with a yearning clarinet above wistful basses, returns to this darker palette. Yet the faster, glittery stuff grows from this a little too easily. At the climax of the 15-minute score, one expects the music to rest complacently. It does not, but a taste of apple-pie Americana remains. Kernis may be looking out on a fathomless vista, but there is a heated beach hut right behind him.
Next to Classic FM stalwarts Rachmaninov and Vaughan Williams, one might have thought that Kernis would be in good, cosy company. Far from it. If everybody played Rachmaninov with the muscle and grit Stephen Hough brought here to the relatively little-heard First Piano Concerto, the composer could wave goodbye to that comfortable image. Hough has recorded all the composer's concertos with Andrew Litton, and they make an ideal team, stripping the music of cloying sentiment.Vaughan Williams's Fourth Symphony is an image-buster in itself, blasting away fluttering larks with an opening that seems to spring from the middle of something tortured by Shostakovich. Litton, a US champion of UK music, launched the orchestra fearlessly at this restless score, with only the gleaming flute solo of the second movement providing real repose. Would the final onslaught have had even more impact if he had held back more beforehand? Maybe, but Litton knows how to make a loud orchestra sound good, and the BBCSO, playing together with almost percussive accuracy, were on top form for him.
Wednesday 28 May 2008
Monday 26 May 2008
Sigur Ros
Artist: Sigur Ros
Genre(s):
Rock
Alternative
Ambient
Other
Rock: Electronic
ROck: Alternative
Indie
Experimental
Discography:
Hvarf-Heim (cd2) Hvarf
Year: 2007
Tracks: 6
Hvarf-Heim (cd1) Hvarf
Year: 2007
Tracks: 5
Saeglopur EP
Year: 2006
Tracks: 4
Takk...
Year: 2005
Tracks: 10
Recycle Bin
Year: 2004
Tracks: 9
Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do
Year: 2004
Tracks: 3
Sigur 1 - Sigur 9
Year: 2003
Tracks: 4
Sigur Ros
Year: 2002
Tracks: 8
Peel Session
Year: 2002
Tracks: 3
Odin's Raven Magic
Year: 2002
Tracks: 7
Hlemmur
Year: 2002
Tracks: 19
EP
Year: 2002
Tracks: 4
Live In Leeds 23.04.2001
Year: 2001
Tracks: 13
Agftis Byrjun
Year: 2001
Tracks: 10
Agatis Byrjun
Year: 2001
Tracks: 10
Ny Battery Ep
Year: 2000
Tracks: 4
Live In Copenhagen 27-Jan-2001
Year: 2000
Tracks: 6
La Cigale
Year: 2000
Tracks: 5
The Icelandic Opera House (Reykjavik)
Year: 1999
Tracks: 10
Svefn-G-Englar EP
Year: 1999
Tracks: 4
Svefn-G-Englar
Year: 1999
Tracks: 4
Live In Reykjavik
Year: 1999
Tracks: 10
Von
Year: 1997
Tracks: 12
Named in office after a baby of one of the bandmembers, Reykjavik, Iceland's Sigur Rós (Triumph Rose) was formed by guitar player and vocalizer Jon Thor Birgisson, bassist Georg Holm, and drummer Agust. Formed in early 1994 piece the members were teenagers, the trio's low gear recorded song earned them a grapple with Iceland's Bad Taste label. Their sprawling debut LP, Von (Hope), was released in 1997, followed the next class by a aggregation of remixes from that album, Recycle Bin. Kjartan Sveinsson joined the band on keyboards and the band recorded 1999's strings-heavy Ãgætis Byrjun (Good Start), earning themselves legion accolades in their mother country and achieving platinum position in gross revenue. Agust then deceased and was cursorily replaced by Orri Páll DýRason.
Svefn-G-Englar, their first handout to be distributed outside of their native country, was hailed as NME's Single of the Week during September of 1999, launch a press out hype steamroller in the U.K. and -- to a lesser extent -- in the U.S. The "Ný Battery" single was issued in early 2000, the band's break yr. British independent Fat Cat began distributing the band, stretching their strive beyond Icelanders and fanatical journalists. April dates in England with Godspeed You! Black Emperor were capped off by an appearance at the All Tomorrow's Parties fete, and they besides open several dates of Radiohead's European hitch ahead year's end.
Sigur Rós worn-out the first trey months of 2001 away from the road, background up their have studio and making their third base album. Meanwhile, Ãgætis Byrjun base a label in the U.S. and general press out became increasingly positive and varied; both Entertainment Weekly and The Wire ran features on the band. The mathematical group began touring once again in April, playing more shows in Europe, a fistful in the States, and several more in Japan throughout the remainder of the class. By the ending of the year, Ãgætis Byrjun had won the Shortlist Prize for Artistic Achievement in Music; it was besides stated Iceland's Best Album of the Century.
2002 saw the handout of ( ), Sigur Rós' third album. The legal age of the material was honed on the road prior to beingness recorded at Alafoss, the group's studio, placed away Reykjavik. The album featured a raw sound in comparison to its predecessors and scaley back the extreme highs and lows that were prominent on Ãgætis Byrjun. Three years afterward, they released Takk..., featuring some tighter arrangements and brighter tones.
On Golden Blonde
Artist: On Golden Blonde
Genre(s):
Pop: Pop-Rock
Discography:
Thar She Blows!
Year: 2003
Tracks: 19
Janet Jackson - Janet Jackson Confirms First Tour In Seven Years
West Wing star joins Desperate Housewives
After a lengthy search, the actor who will play Katherine Mayfair's (Dana Delany) ex-husband in 'Desperate Housewives' has been found.
TV Guide reports that former 'West Wing' star Gary Cole has signed on to play the character.
Cole's first episode will be screened on US TV on 20 April.
The actor's other credits include 'Midnight Caller' and 'Office Space'.
For more on 'Desperate Housewives', read our blog here.
TV Guide reports that former 'West Wing' star Gary Cole has signed on to play the character.
Cole's first episode will be screened on US TV on 20 April.
The actor's other credits include 'Midnight Caller' and 'Office Space'.
For more on 'Desperate Housewives', read our blog here.
Hottest tracks of the week rated
SINGLE OF THE WEEK:
JUSTICE – DVNO****
Mangled and banging dance noise from the Parisian maestros, the third single
from their all-conquering debut album takes on provincial nightclubs where
the dress code is more important than the music. CD arrives packed with
remixes by the likes of LA Riots and Petits Pilous.
THE ZUTONS – Always Right Behind You
**
As relentlessly perky and upbeat as someone who mistakenly thinks they are the
life and soul of the party. First taste of album You Can Do Anything due in
June.
ALPHABEAT – 10,000 Nights
***1/2
Following hard on the heels of chart-storming single Fascination, this
follow-up walks the same perilous line between catchy and cheesy but emerges
with an A+.
NATTY – Cold Town***1/2
Infectious, poppy reggae with an acoustic, light touch from the London singer,
mixing serious lyrics with an upbeat tune.
YOUNG KNIVES – Turn Tail
****1/2
Cowering between the shouted choruses and taut basslines is a folky melody of
real beauty. A stunner from acclaimed album Superabundance.
NELLY feat FERGIE– Party People***1/2
A house-shaking floor filler from the multi-talented Nelly and with 30 million
records sales under his belt, he knows a thing or two about partying. From
his June scheduled album Brass Knuckles.
SPIRITUALIZED – Soul On Fire****
Despite not straying far from previous territory, this is still a marvellous,
orchestrated experience from Jason Pierce.
ROYWORLD – Dust
***1/2
Lush, shiny glam-pop melodies from the hotly tipped London quartet. Second
single from their forthcoming debut album.
THE FUTUREHEADS – Radio Heart
***
Not so much the future as the recent past, the second single from forthcoming
album This Is Not The World stays true to their formula of crisply delivered
pop hooks with strident guitars and impassioned vocals.
BLACK MOUNTAIN – Stormy High
****
An enthusiastic bluesy metal stomp featuring a scuzzed-up Black Sabbath riff
from the Canadian rockers.
THAO – Swimming Pools
***
Life-affirming melodic folk which gallops along at a frisky pace, from the US
singer backed by band The Get Down Stay Down.
JUSTICE – DVNO****
Mangled and banging dance noise from the Parisian maestros, the third single
from their all-conquering debut album takes on provincial nightclubs where
the dress code is more important than the music. CD arrives packed with
remixes by the likes of LA Riots and Petits Pilous.
THE ZUTONS – Always Right Behind You
**
As relentlessly perky and upbeat as someone who mistakenly thinks they are the
life and soul of the party. First taste of album You Can Do Anything due in
June.
ALPHABEAT – 10,000 Nights
***1/2
Following hard on the heels of chart-storming single Fascination, this
follow-up walks the same perilous line between catchy and cheesy but emerges
with an A+.
NATTY – Cold Town***1/2
Infectious, poppy reggae with an acoustic, light touch from the London singer,
mixing serious lyrics with an upbeat tune.
YOUNG KNIVES – Turn Tail
****1/2
Cowering between the shouted choruses and taut basslines is a folky melody of
real beauty. A stunner from acclaimed album Superabundance.
NELLY feat FERGIE– Party People***1/2
A house-shaking floor filler from the multi-talented Nelly and with 30 million
records sales under his belt, he knows a thing or two about partying. From
his June scheduled album Brass Knuckles.
SPIRITUALIZED – Soul On Fire****
Despite not straying far from previous territory, this is still a marvellous,
orchestrated experience from Jason Pierce.
ROYWORLD – Dust
***1/2
Lush, shiny glam-pop melodies from the hotly tipped London quartet. Second
single from their forthcoming debut album.
THE FUTUREHEADS – Radio Heart
***
Not so much the future as the recent past, the second single from forthcoming
album This Is Not The World stays true to their formula of crisply delivered
pop hooks with strident guitars and impassioned vocals.
BLACK MOUNTAIN – Stormy High
****
An enthusiastic bluesy metal stomp featuring a scuzzed-up Black Sabbath riff
from the Canadian rockers.
THAO – Swimming Pools
***
Life-affirming melodic folk which gallops along at a frisky pace, from the US
singer backed by band The Get Down Stay Down.
X Factor's Dannii speaks out about feud
'X Factor' judge Dannii Minogue has spoken out about her feud with fellow judge Sharon Osbourne.
In an interview with The Sun, the Australian singer said of Osbourne: "I have had my ups and downs with her."
"While she was busy talking about why I shouldn't be there and bad-mouthing me, I just got on with the job and kept silent."
Minogue, who mentored the winning act on the last series of the show, said: "I think it was very embarrassing for her when two out of three of my artists ended up getting the Number One and Number Two slots."
"There was only one person who didn't congratulate me - and that was Ms Osbourne."
In an interview with The Sun, the Australian singer said of Osbourne: "I have had my ups and downs with her."
"While she was busy talking about why I shouldn't be there and bad-mouthing me, I just got on with the job and kept silent."
Minogue, who mentored the winning act on the last series of the show, said: "I think it was very embarrassing for her when two out of three of my artists ended up getting the Number One and Number Two slots."
"There was only one person who didn't congratulate me - and that was Ms Osbourne."
Drama
Artist: Drama
Genre(s):
Rap: Hip-Hop
Metal: Gothic
Other
Metal: Death,Black
Discography:
Gangsta Grillz (The Album)
Year: 2007
Tracks: 21
Silver Brilliance Of Nocticula (Remastered Re-Release)
Year: 2006
Tracks: 9
Winds Choir Opera
Year: 2005
Tracks: 7
Silver Brillians OF Nocticula
Year: 2003
Tracks: 6
Drama was the vocal trio of Regina Craig, Thea Norman, and Malinda Jenkins. Signed to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' A&M-distributed tag, they charted with "Picture Me," a individual written and produced by Gerald Levert, that ailing at number 76 R&B in Billboard in summer 1994. In 1999, Drama resurfaced with the album Left Right on Tight 2 Def; Causin' Drama followed a year later.
My Locomotive
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