The very original queen of disco funk and a pioneer in the use of repetitive sound loops in dance music and sexually iconic singer Donna Summer has died aged 63.
Das Fluff did a series of gigs in Japan – here is their video of the experience
Jordon Reyne’s website reflects the sheer complexity of achievement as a solo artist. It is ecstatic and aware. But her life performance is a rare chance to capture something so elegantly and precisely this singer can use her voice, it is an experience in rhythm and the authentic.
Bugbear has a detailed review.
Catch Jordan Reyne at her regular Second Life performance – see details on her website.
A video with recorded sound for this song can be found here
With extraordinary production she presents her exclusive ability to be wonderfully weird and somehow in another place. Disconcerting and odd certainly but will it mature like wine or be consumed and disregarded remains to be bolted down. One certainly hopes so, she brings a patently unique stamp to her genre, which itself may indeed be its very own little subcategory I think that Rickie Lee Jones once occupied but maybe not as cutting as Julie Cruise.
[update] since first impressions and ignoring the media hype her management has achieved granting her a stamp of indy sufferin’ credibility and stories of her millionaire father behind the scenes inferring her talent was thus suspect – but listening to her myspace page is reassuring that this is media games. Her music holds up in produced circumstances, her recent performances I think were directed as part of her image. One she does not really need but it is an entertaining one. She styles herself as through she was a brand of expensive cigarettes invented in a David Lynch movie. Her music is a strange mix of Jim Morrison, Bjork and Johnny Cash. She has a pleasing voice with a fake fairy whisper and edges to it.
Originality rating: ****
If you have not listened to this wonderfully bizarre crossover act, from one of the worlds acknowledged best film makers, David Lynch make a CD, and hearing something almost expected however unearthing, our expectations for as a musician are dashed by an adroit flexing of rhythm and wonderful distantly lurid lyrics – “we all ran around the back yard – this crazy clown time – it was real fun” each stanza stamped in three times. It is dangerous and freaky but rather excellent to listen to. ****+
One that improves with listening. Contemporary, surprising and often sounding like it should, in particular the title track.
Have a listen to him during his creative ascendancy with the Diamond Dogs Sweet Thing Candidate performance (no visual, good sound) – worth a listen.
Classic and very original New Zealand blues band The Windy City Strugglers have been playing on and off for nearly 30 years. Led by Wellington Bluesman Bill Lake and Auckland Blues legend Rick Bryant, they have found popularity in Europe and New Zealand.
The Windy City Strugglers
Bluer Than You’ll Ever Be
written by Rick Bryant
Marina Celeste at the Bowery
26th November 2011
Bogdan Terry Pachod Guitar
Frédéric Vast percussion
Song: Samba Saravah, (Vinicius de Moraes/ Baden Powel)
(best watched in HD)