Wire Tapper 50
Included with The Wire issue #426 from August 2019.
Fantastische indeed: The Nest track “Das Fantastische Kraut” is a bit hard to describe; it’s sort of a mix between jazz and experimental. It has clean piano playing mixed with synth, turntable, sax, and other noises. And dare I say maybe a tiny bit of some Spike Jones-esque musical interjections thrown in at times? It’s all quite captivating.
Upended expectations: Minyo Crusaders is a Japanese group and their song “Akita Nikata Bushi (Radio Edit)” is from their album “Echoes Of Japan” so naturally it features, well, downtempo African music with a middle eastern vocal style? So it’s not what I anticipated, but it’s certainly a pleasure nonetheless.
Respite: The dramatic and lovely “River Without Banks” by Leo Svirsky is a bit of a palate cleanser with its clean piano sound with some echo effect, and other subtle production touches underneath. It’s one of those songs that seem far too short when it ends.
Picture this: The Best photo accompaniment in The Wire featured the below picture of Lealani, which I really liked. But as good as that is, her song “Floating” is even better with her slightly quavering vocals fronting space aliens.
Out of this World: The duo Spectral Bazaar shares a tune from their debut album which “offers an alternative audio trip round the solar system to Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets’ suite.” Here we get “Neptune” mixing electronics and acoustic instruments to arrive at an amazing place. A brilliant idea with brilliant execution.
Best Song Title: On this CD, Širom has no competition with their track “I’m the Ostrich You Keep Seeing in the Neighbouring Hollow.” And I love the sound too. It seems to be performed using all acoustic percussion instruments. It sounds both tribal and modern.
Pillows & Prayers Redux: “Horizon” from Algebra Suicide features spoken word over relatively traditional instrumentation (guitar, lo-fi beats and electronics) that would have fit on the old Cherry Red “Pillows & Prayers” compilation.
Bringing the World Together: Angelina Yershova mixes what sounds like African kalimba, Japanese stringed instruments, and electronics on “Tumbleweed,” which builds into a pretty funky song.
Child’s play: Overlapping lines of bright synth notes and almost childlike melodies give Rimarimba’s “Egg Foo Young” and almost African feel. Light and fun.
The Disc I Ignored: DISC 2 of this Wire Tapper compilation. I guess since this was the 50th Wire Tapper, and 50 is one of those numbers, a second disc was included. However, all the tracks on this second disc were previously released on earlier Wire Tapper CD’s, so I’m sure I’ll get to those eventually…hopefully…maybe.
Honorable mentions, or Four More to Explore:
- Pipeline 8’s “The Rent” is from their album “Prayer,” which is dedicated to the music of Steve Lacy, who’s song “The Wire” inspired the name of the magazine featuring this music. How’s that for a musical Mobius strip?
- Adam Bohman “Another Day, Another Concert (Edit)” is an edited sound collage anchored by some spoken word (done into a handheld cassette player). It is strangely compelling.
- Félicia Atkinson plays some free form electronics and adds some down-in-the-mix vocals to create a sensual sound on “Un Ovale Vert.”
- London black cab driver Michael Donnelly’s “Thick Skull” offers ominous electronics, layers of noise, and a good (heart)beat. That’s one cool cabbie.
Other important music information regarding the number 50:
- The Fall has a song featuring a feisty performance from Mark E. Smith called “50 Year Old Man.” The lyrics include several references to Steve Albini with lines like “you tried to destroy me.” Who knows if Smith really had anything against Albini or if he was just a stand in; Steve seemed to be a fan of The Fall from what I can tell.
- And speaking of Albini, he produced the PJ Harvey album “Rid of Me” which includes the great track “50ft Queenie.” PJ seemed to have had a good experience with, and good things to say about, Steve Albini.
- I like many songs by The Police, but one of the tracks on their debut album is “Born in the ‘50s” and I really think it’s an awful song and I just wanted to get that off my chest.
- Of course, Paul Simon informed us about the “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” Well, he elaborates less than that in the song, but I assume he has the full list somewhere.