Ralph Towner - Blue Sun (1983)

 

Related:

Oregon - Music of Another Present Era (1972)

Ralph Towner - Diary (1973)

Ralph Towner - Solstice (1974)

Still can't prioritize this blog at the moment, but I wanted to quickly drop some Sunday listening on you. Like Towner's Diary, Blue Sun is a completely solo endeavor, which means that he wrote and performed every piece of it -- guitars, piano, cornet, synthesizers, some light percussion. Very easy on the ears kinda stuff.

Track listing:

1. Blue Sun

2. The Prince and the Sage

3. C.T. Kangaroo

4. Mevlana Etude

5. Wedding of the Streams

6. Shadow Fountain

7. Rumours of Rain

Over and gone

Also listen to:

Terje Rypdal - After the Rain (1976)

Bill Frisell - In Line (1983)

Steve Tibbetts - Exploded View (1986)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:

Steve Tibbetts - Steve Tibbetts (1977) + Yr (1980)

Steve Tibbetts - The Fall of Us All (1994)

Steve Tibbetts & Knut Hamre - Å (1999)

If you've noticed that I've been even less active than usual on here, it's because I'm putting the finishing touches on my degree, and have been buried alive in a digital grave of spreadsheets, financial reports, essays, and zoom meetings. And as I mentioned on last month's post about new shit I've been listening to, I listen pretty much exclusively to Steve Tibbetts while doing school work -- for real, I have a playlist titled "SCHOOL" that's just Tibbetts' discography in chronological order.

However, what's truly extraordinary about this man's music is that not only does it hold up extremely well to both casual and close listening, but I never seem to tire of it, regardless of the countless hours I've spent with it. So here's one of my favorites of his. It's second only to The Fall of Us All in his discography in terms of sheer volume levels and intensity of performance, which means you're in for propulsive tribal percussion, dramatic vocals, and Tibbett's inimitable guitar stylings/feedback manipulation.

(Pro-tip: For even more, check the comments section on the The Fall of Us All post.)

Track listing:

1. Name Everything

2. Another Year

3. A Clear Day and No Memories

4. Your Cat

5. Forget

6. Drawing Down the Moon

7. The X Festival

8. Metal Summer

9. Assembly Field

Mind dust

Somewhat similar listening:

Michael Shrieve & Steve Roach - The Leaving Time (1988)

David Torn - What Means Solid, Traveler? (1996)

Arild Andersen - Sagn (1990)

Norwegian bassist/composer Arild Andersen's folk-jazz opus. Buoyed by an excellent band that includes the beautiful, dynamic vocals of Kirsten Bråten Berg and rock-leaning guitars of Frode Alnæs, Sagn succeeds where many others have failed: getting me to enjoy a fusion of jazz and Scandinavian folk.

Track listing:

1. Sagn

2. Gardsjenta

3. Eisemo

4. Toll

5. Draum

6. Laurdagskveld

7. Tjovane

8. Sorgmild

9. Svarm

10. Gamlestev

11. Reven

12. Nystev

13. Lussi

14. Rysen

15. Belare

16. Sagn

I want to see your face in every kind of light

In fields of gold and forests of the night

You might also like:

Bill Connors - Of Mist and Melting (1978)

Bill Frisell - In Line (1983)

Bill Frisell - In Line (1983)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:

Michel Herr, Bill Frisell, Vinton Johnson, Kermit Driscoll - Good Buddies (1978)

Bill Frisell - Rambler (1984)

By request, here's Bill Frisell's first solo album. Lovely ambient jazz consisting entirely of Frisell's ethereal, gracefully layered guitars and, intermittently, standup bass from ECM mainstay Arild Andersen. Soothing, wistful pieces that suggest both solace and loneliness.

Track listing:

1. Start

2. Throughout

3. Two Arms

4. Shorts

5. Smile on You

6. The Beach

7. In Line

8. Three

9. Godson Song

Alien prints

Similar listening:

Terje Rypdal - After the Rain (1976)

Bill Connors - Swimming with a Hole in My Body (1979)

Nik Bärtsch's Ronin - Holon (2008)

Haunting, meditative jazz with strong overtones of minimalism. Sounds like fish flitting through dark waters by moonlight. Absolutely stunning.

Track listing:

1. Modul 42

2. Modul 41-17

3. Module 39-8

4. Module 46

5. Module 45

6. Module 44

Midnight marker

You might also enjoy:

Ben Monder - Oceana (2005)

Tigersmilk - Android Love Cry (2007)

Marcin Wasilewski Trio - January (2008)

As promised, here's some more ECM jazz, this time from Polish pianist Marcin Wasilewski's trio. As you might expect from an ECM record called January and led by a pianist, this is a reflective, downbeat record, ideal for cold weather and the types of emotional states that coldness tends to bring with it. Oh, and yes, that's a Prince cover.

Track listing:

1. The First Touch

2. Vignette

3. Cinema Paradiso

4. Diamonds and Pearls

5. Balladyna

6. King Korn

7. The Cat

8. January

9. The Young and Cinema

10. New York 2007

The inner story

Similar vibes:

John Taylor, Norma Winston, & Kenny Wheeler - Azimuth (1977)

Manfred Schoof / Rainer Brüninghaus - Shadows & Smiles (1989)

Bill Connors - Of Mist and Melting (1978)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:

Bill Connors - Swimming with a Hole in My Body (1979)

Icy ECM jazz led by guitarist Bill Connors, and featuring Gary Peacock on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums (who else?), and Jan Garbarek on sax. Been on a major ECM kick the past couple of days, expect more soon.

Track listing:

1. Melting

2. Not Forgetting

3. Face in the Water

4. Aubade

5. Cafe Vue

6. Unending

Learning forgetfulness

If you like this, listen to:

Terje Rypdal - After the Rain (1976)

Steve Tibbetts - Northern Song (1982)

Lumen Drones - Lumen Drones (2014)

Droning, atmospheric sounds from a trio of Norwegian musicians -- guitar, violin, and drums. Slow-burning and often melancholic, with a sound that touches on jazz, post-rock, and psych. Fans of Dirty Three will find a lot to love here.

Track listing:

1. Dark Sea

2. Ira Furore

3. Anemone

4. Echo Plexus

5. Lux

6. Husky

7. Keelwater

8. Svartaskjaer

I remember a time when once you used to love me

You should also hear:

Pelt - Ayahuasca (2001)

Clear Horizon - Clear Horizon (2003)

Terje Rypdal - Lux Aeterna (2002)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Terje Rypdal - Bleak House (1968)
Jan Garbarek with Terje Rypdal - Esoteric Circle (1969)
Terje Rypdal - Terje Rypdal (1971)
Terje Rypdal - After the Rain (1976)
Terje Rypdal, Miroslav Vitous & Jack DeJohnette - S/T (1979)
Terje Rypdal - Descendre (1980)
Terje Rypdal, Miroslav Vitous & Jack DeJohnette - To Be Continued (1981)
Ketil Bjørnstad, David Darling, Terje Rypdal & Jon Christensen - The Sea (1995) + The Sea II (1998)

A breathtaking work of jazz-informed contemporary classical that's unlike anything else I've posted by Mr. Rypdal. Some of the most haunting, sublime sounds he's ever made.

Track listing:
1. 1st Movement - Luminous Galaxy
2. 2nd Movement - Fjelldåpen
3. 3rd Movement - Escalator
4. 4th Movement - Toccata
5. 5th Movement - Lux Aeterna

No, they couldn't believe it was you
But I knew

Also listen to:

Steve Tibbetts -
Northern Song (1982)

Zbigniew Preisner - Diaries of Hope (2013)

Kenny Wheeler - Deer Wan (1978)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
John Taylor, Norma Winston, & Kenny Wheeler - Azimuth (1977)

Laid-back but sprawling, stream-of-consciousness pieces, helmed by Canadian trumpeter/flugelhorn-player Kenny Wheeler, and featuring a band of ECM heavyweights -- check the tags.

Track listing:
1. Peace for Five
2. 3/4 in the Afternoon
3. Sumother Song
4. Deer Wan

Follow down

You'd also enjoy:

Barre Phillips -
Mountainscapes (1976)

Paul Motian Trio -
Le Voyage (1979)

Steve Tibbetts - Northern Song (1982)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Steve Tibbetts - Steve Tibbetts (1977) + Yr (1980)
Steve Tibbetts - The Fall of Us All (1994)
Steve Tibbetts & Knut Hamre - Å (1999)

Beautiful, elemental third album from one of my all-time favorite artists. Airy, delicate, fragmented acoustic guitars resonate into infinity, cushioned by kalimba, atmospheric tape loops, and percussion courtesy of Tibbetts' ever-present right-hand man, Marc Anderson. Often considered his masterpiece, Northern Song is the most clear early antecedent to Tibbetts' later, more minimal work -- including his achingly gorgeous new album, Life Of, which I've been listening to on repeat for the past week.

[Note: Some of my Zippyshare links are giving people warnings about the site trying to steal your info. I've seen this before and the problem has fixed itself -- I've always assumed that it's related to malware from one of their advertisers -- so if a link's not working, try to wait it out. If you can't and you need that shit right now, leave a comment on the post in question and I'll try to get a new link up.]

Track listing:
1. The Big Wind
2. Form
3. Walking
4. Aerial View
5. Nine Doors/Breathing Space

A clear day and no memories

You should also hear:

Terje Rypdal -
After the Rain (1976)

Bill Connors -
Swimming with a Hole in My Body (1979)

Terje Rypdal - Terje Typdal (1971)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Terje Rypdal - Bleak House (1968)
Terje Rypdal - After the Rain (1976)
Terje Rypdal, Miroslav Vitous & Jack DeJohnette - S/T (1979)
Terje Rypdal - Descendre (1980)
Terje Rypdal, Miroslav Vitous & Jack DeJohnette - To Be Continued (1981)
Ketil Bjørnstad, David Darling, Terje Rypdal, & Jon Christensen - The Sea (1995) + The Sea II (1998)

Excellent second solo album from Norwegian guitarist Terje Rypdal. Abstract, dissonant, ambient jazz with overtones of dark, queasy psychedelia. "Electric Fantasy" is one of my all-time favorite tracks -- it just has this mysterious, haunting feel that's kinda beautiful, kinda dark, kinda trippy -- and I'd be perfectly happy listening to a two-hour-long version.

Track listing:
1. Keep It Like That - Tight
2. Rainbow
3. Electric Fantasy
4. Lontano II
5. Tough Enough

Silver bird is heading for the sun

Also listen to:

George Russell - Electric Sonata
for Souls Loved by Nature (1969)

John Taylor, Norma Winston,
& Kenny Wheeler - Azimuth (1977)

Barre Phillips - Mountainscapes (1976)

Hi, I'm back, I'm fucking exhausted, and this is what I'm listening to. An excellent LP of avant-garde jazz fusion, with a cosmic synth-fueled second act. Like any great ECM record, Mountainscapes deftly walks the line between tranquility and anxiety, and occasionally falls all the way into one or the other.

8 tracks, titled "Mountainscape I" through "Mountainscape VIII"

Three day moon

If you like this, you should also hear:

Ralph Towner -
Solstice (1974)

Eberhard Weber -
Fluid Rustle (1979)

John Taylor, Norma Winston, & Kenny Wheeler - Azimuth (1977)

Glorious ambient jazz from keyboardist John Taylor, trumpeter/flugelhorn-player Kenny Wheeler, and vocalist Norma Winstone. Lush, enveloping, transportive sounds. One of my top 10 favorite ECM records, for sure.

Track listing:
1. Sirens' Song
2. O
3. Azimuth
4. The Tunnel
5. Greek Triangle
6. Jacob

Traveling forever in the dark
Darkness into blackness
Then back
It's always black

More along these lines:

Eberhard Weber -
Fluid Rustle (1979)

Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays -
As Falls Wichita, So Falls
Wichita Falls (1982)

Steve Kuhn - Trance (1975)

Super-chill, slow-burning jazz led by American pianist Steve Kuhn. Perfect zone-out tunes for yours truly's lazy-as-fuck day -- I goddamn earned it, trust me.

Track listing:
1. Trance
2. A Change of Face
3. Squirt
4. The Sandhouse
5. Something Everywhere
6. Silver
7. The Young Blade
8. Life's Backward Glance

We could be flying

You should also listen to:

Gato Barbieri -
Bolivia (1973)

Henry Threadgill & Make a Move -
Where's Your Cup? (1997)

Paul Motian Trio - Dance (1978)

Related:
Paul Motian Trio - Le Voyage (1979)
Paul Motian Band - Psalm (1981)

Holy crap, it's been forever since I posted some ECM greatness, right? And this blog is built on ECM -- here's the very first post on here.

Track listing:
1. Waltz Song
2. Dance
3. Kalypso
4. Asia
5. Prelude
6. Lullaby

Looking at her

Bennie Maupin - The Jewel in the Lotus (1974)

Beautiful, highly abstract jazz fusion led by multi-instrumentalist Bennie Maupin. Much of the album has a fragmented, nervous energy that nonetheless maintains some semblance of tranquility, perfectly matching my presently unsuccessful attempts to decompress.

Track listing:
1. Ensenada
2. Mappo
3. Excursion
4. Past + Present = Future
5. The Jewel in the Lotus
6. Winds of Change
7. Song for Tracie Dixon Summers
8. Past Is Past

Weird door

The Gary Burton Quintet with Eberhard Weber - Ring (1974)

Dynamic ECM excellence. The glimmering sound of Burton's vibraharp is usually front and center, with expertly subtle backing from Pat Metheny, Mick Goodrick, Eberhard Weber, and others.

Track listing:
1. Mevlevia
2. Unfinished Sympathy
3. Tunnel of Love
4. Intrude
5. Silent Spring
6. The Colours of Chloe

Visible thoughts

For more from Burton and Weber, check out:

Eberhard Weber - Fluid Rustle (1979)

David Torn - Cloud About Mercury (1987)

Related:
Mark Isham - Castalia (1988)
Michael Shrieve - Stiletto (1989)

One of my top-ten ECM records, easy. Pulsing synths, exotic instrumentation, soaring guitars, tribal percussion, and other things that the old me would have hated, but present-day me goes apeshit for. Speaking of me, I'm going camping, so bye.

Track listing:
1. Suyafhu Skin... Snapping the Hollow Reed
2. The Mercury Grid
3. Three Minutes of Pure Entertainment
4. Previous Man
5. Network of Sparks, a) The Delicate Code
6. Network of Sparks, b) Egg Learns to Walk... Suyafhu Seal

Warrior horsemen of the spirit thundering over hills of doubt to a place of hope

Edward Vesala - Nan Madol (1974)

Avant-garde jazz led by Finnish composer/drummer Edward Vesala. Don't be fooled by the album art and the serene title track that opens the record -- things get pretty bonkers, pretty fast.

Track listing:
1. Nan Madol
2. Love for Living
3. Call from the Sea
4. The Way of...
5. Areous Vlor Ta
6. The Wind

Star flight