Snakes and ladders - Live

Late 2010 Sophia Domancich released the album "Snakes and ladders" on Cristal Records.
It looks like the whole album was performed live recently, by these fine musicians:
Sophia Domancich (keyb), John Greaves (voc), Himiko Paganotti (voc) and Jef Morin (g).

On the album you will find the track "Wilderness", a song by Domanchich, Robert Wyatt and Alfreda Benge.

Lean Left - Live at Schl8hof Wels

Unfortunately I missed Lean Left´s concert in Bergen, so I was very happy to find this 50 minutes long video from Austria (22 September 2011).
Follow Ken Vandermark on Facebook for good info! He does not seem too happy with the Bergen concert by the way!
The musicians are: Ken Vandermark (reeds), Andy Ex (guitar), Terrie Ex (guitar) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums).

My father

There will be a short break, or fewer postings for a while, in this blog.
My dear father Sigurd Sivertssen died 21 September, 82 years old.

He was checking my blogs almost every day (but admitted that he did not watch all the videos!), so I think he would have appreciated a post here.
Thanks!

John Cale: "Extra Playful"

John Cale´s new 5-track EP "Extra Playful" is out on Domino!
So far on 12" vinyl and as mp3 files, but a CD version will be released October 10th.

And you may watch the video for "Whaddya Mean By That?" too, right here.

PUNKT 2011 reviewed

Check out John Kelman's report from PUNKT 2011 at All About Jazz.

Some sounds over at David Sylvian's site.

And we have had some posts in this blog too.

Useful Cat

Useful Cat from Isabel Garrett on Vimeo.

Isabel Garrett made this video for "Useful Cat", from Ivor Cutler's "Velvet Donkey" (Virgin 1975).
Phyllis April King is reading her own poem.

Please, do not try this at home!

Silencers

The musicians in Silencers have played together for five years, and finally their debut album "Balance des Blancs" (SOFA 2011) is here.
I heard them in Bergen in 2010, playing a great concert, using Rhododendron branches from the nearest park. It may sound like they have been fetching some materials from the botanical kingdom on "Balance des Blanc" too, at least i think I hear some leaves in the wind here. And yes, the music is kind of "natural", as at flows onward and the acoustic guitar, xylophone, trumpet and more or less prepared pianos are weaved together. This must be some kind of ecological improvisation.

The music is mostly slow and quiet (to be expected by a band called Silencers I guess), but it is exciting still, and just as fit for concentration indoors by your stereo, as for listening outdoors on your iPod with the sounds of the environment blending in.
Fine stuff indeed!

The band is:
Benoit Delbecq - Piano, prepared piano
Kim Myhr - guitar, resonant objects
Nils Ostendorf - trumpet
Toma Gouband - percussion

Cover: Clare Cooper.