Dusty Chalk

Cure, Paris/Show I haven't listened to the others as much, but these are some of my favourite live albums from Robert Smith & co. Robert Smith at his most vulnerable/heartbreaking -- the song, "Apart", from Paris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS6ZyAsUA-w

RIP Brent Hinds of Mastodon Died in a motorcycle crash

Those of you familiar with Leprous know that Einar has a killer high voice, that can probably match the A-ha guy's.

I see it.

Oh, hilarious, that's the third version. The second is the first thing I heard by her -- opening track on her 2023 studio album. Apparently, there's a first version from a collective she worked with:

Lots of Monika Roscher Bigband (esp. the live videos on YouTube). This is delightfully genre-defiant -- it's prog, but unlike much other prog I've ever heard.

True story: Kenji Kawai wanted to use Bulgarian folk singers for that, but couldn't find any (in Japan), so he had the Japanese folk singers (that he worked with before) learn how to sing like that. (Paraphrasing the rest from memory, so it may not be accurate.) By the time he was done, he had created a new genre, with Bulgarian harmonies, but distinctly Japanese notes and melodies.

Just so pure and classic. Makes me think of my vocal teacher from back when. That vibrato is so gentle and subtle and perfect.

Yesterday was an Isao Tomita kind of day: Today is a Vangelis kind of day:

I love and own a Yamaha FS1R. (Haven't sold it yet.) I bought it when it came out. It's a niche product, with its formant filtering engine designed to help emulate the human voice (it is the technology that led to Vocaloid software), but at the time it just sounded vaguely voice-like. My designs were to use it differently -- feed different voices into different dirt boxes, because dirt boxes respond differently depending on the shape of the input. Never followed through, to my lifelong regret. And yeah, Into Deep was my biggest entry point into the world of music of Oliver Lieb. Such a great album. EDIT: Jiminy, my TX81Z isn't worth much, but the FS1R can go for a pretty penny. I should see if it still works before I sell it.

Oops! Happy belated birthday, Todd! (party favour noise)

Happy birthday/Feliz Cumpleaños, my friend! (ruido de favores de fiesta)

This vocal performance is amazing. Her control of dynamics, her vibrato (on the "ng"! Do you know how hard that is?!?), her range (those lows!), just...(chef's kiss)

I'll be in my bunk.

Aisles, most recent EP, Obras de Los Jaivas (immediately listened to it a second time, it's great, especially 2nd and 4th tracks), now listening to 2023 album, Beyond Drama and it's great, too. Energetic, modern prog rock with lovely, lovely clean vocals

Listened to Vol 4 and Sabotage earlier, on to my favourite album of (early) Ozzy era: ...which has 5 of my favourite tracks by them (Back Street Kids, You Won't Change Me, Gypsy, All Moving Parts (Stand Still), and Dirty Women).

I am listening to the new Gaupa EP, Fyr ... again. Really great. Two singles in the middle, bookended by two other songs, this being the epic opener:

That's easily my favourite song off that album. It is epic.