I'm going to talk about people, groups, or other arts ventures I think are interesting and recommend them for perusal every so often. I'll concentrate on lesser-known artists, but I don't have the expertise or desire to talk about, say, bands that will be huge in 5 years that are still playing five chords as they gestate in someone's garage. (Unless I have some sort of insider connection to their work, such as that demo of Sheree Plett's I heard via Rebekah, in which case, I'll absolutely do that sort of thing. I think Sheree/husband Jeremy know more than 5 chords, though.) These are groups or people you might have heard about in passing but are not part of the canon of north american pop-culture. If they've attracted your interest, you may know a lot more about them than I do (if so, please enlighten me)!
This particular group barely qualifies as "less well known," since this is a band with a large international/celebrity following and 4 critically acclaimed albums.
Sigur Ros!
Mention must be made of my source: Ryan's sister Erin and her good taste in music. Thanks Erin! It was as Ryan was shopping for Erin's Christmas gift that I got a taste of their work.
Firstly, their sound is remarkable. It is by turns ethereal, heavy, subtle, dramatic, heartfelt. Those adjectives don't actually seem sufficient now that I write them. The band utilizes a classical songwriting arc that expands an introductory theme rather than a verse/chorus structure. Music students, correct my terminology: many of their songs seem built around a simple unfinished cadence sequence that repeats to a point of tension before resolution. It's beautiful.
Secondly, there are some amazing music videos they've done that fully exploit the dramatic potential of the music. Again, put to paper, the sales pitch seems quite bald. Beautiful Icelandic children are led on a journey by a pied piper; they jump off a cliff and float away borne by the air. It sounds very cliche. But! Behold:
This could win an award for 'most beautiful floating children video ever'. It's a simple idea, but it's done with utmost tenderness. The pacing and narrative and composition of each frame are strikingly beautiful.
Old people fight in a graveyard! The symbolism may be a bit more heavy-handed, but it refrains from silliness by virtue of the production quality. Again, it's a simple idea well executed.
I was intrigued to discover that Sigur Ros collaborated with Radiohead for a modern dance piece called "split sides," where the bands performed live.
Very bootleg video is here (I hope it doesn't disappear overnight):
A track from their official website is here
Official website:
http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/
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You know who's also amazing? (though hugely publicized) Radiohead. yes. I love them, I also love Sigur Ros, Also wonderful. And... oh, I have a band for you, you probably already know them but if you don't: A Silver Mt. Zion.
(they may have changed their name to something like: A silver Mt. Zion ... something... Tralala band but if you look up the first name I gave you on my space, you'll still find their music... or look anywhere. they're lovely.)
oh p.s. we are so having girly fun in like...a MONTH.
yeah, I love Radiohead!! My brother found these amazing videos of them performing live on letterman (I think it was letterman) a couple of years ago. I should post them. Have you heard the Eraser? that would have been fun to review when it came out. It's always interesting how I have all these expectations and how their new stuff differs from them, and it takes me a while to stop analyzing, get over it and just enjoy.
I hadn't heard of A Silver Mt. Zion, but I will look them up! Thanks!
and we ARE so having a girly fun evening or several. It'll be great!
I was thinking of trying to have another movie night (I really want to see Terence Malick's 'Badlands;' yeah, these movie selections are SO cheerful!) with the ol' silver screen, but we'll see if that's possible as the next while will be a bit crazy. Anyway, if I do you're invited.
oh yeah, I meant to say I do know "eraser" was a thom yorke, not radiohead, project, though it sounds like i don't know that in what I just wrote. oops.
just saw them - very cool
but the bootlegging videographer seemed to be having some issues knowing how to film/not focus on the WALL.
haha, come on, bootleggers! get it together! I demand QUALITY even while you are trying to hide the glowing screen of your camcorder/phone/whatever from the ushers' prying eyes.
seriously, I wish I'd bootlegged some of the concert I went to last night, but I don't even know how it would have been possible in the pitch-dark theater where any light would have been very noticeable and very distracting. I have a whole new respect for bootleggers.
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