music – Page 8 – I am Ashley Elsdon

Enjoying Spotify’s new Discover Weekly playlist

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 23, 2015August 19, 2015in Listening, MusicLeave a comment

It’s been a few weeks now since Spotify introduced their new ‘Discover Weekly’ playlist feature. I approached this with some skepticism. I didn’t like the idea of a playlist generated by some algorithm based on my listening habit. I assumed it would pick up all the wrong things and offer me some dreadful concoction of tracks that would be ultimately unlistenable.

However, I was for the most part wrong. It appears that Spotify have done a very good job of pulling this together and making it something that is in fact quite enjoyable to listen to, and that has, somewhat rapidly, become a looked forward to part of my week.

As a result of the discover weekly playlist I’ve already found a few artists who’s work I didn’t know and have looked into further. It’s been very good. I really hope it continues to provide interesting discovery and open up new musical possibilities.

I just hope that they don’t get rid of it like they did with Spotify apps.

David Sylvian’s book … Hypergraphia

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 19, 2015August 15, 2015in Books and AudiobooksLeave a comment

David Sylvian's Hypergraphia — David Sylvian’s Hypergraphia

So Mr Sylvian has a new book coming out in November. There’s a micro site dedicated to it already and it looks interesting. As a fan I’ve already ordered my copy although I didn’t get a chance to get one of the signed copies. Never mind.

As you’d expect it looks pretty beautiful inside too.

David Sylvian's Hypergraphia, inside — David Sylvian’s Hypergraphia, inside

Personally I’d prefer it if he released some new music too, but I’ll settle for this. I’m sure it’ll be an enlightening read.

Listening to old songs …

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 18, 2015August 15, 2015in MusicLeave a comment

I’ve been listening to a lot of my ‘old’ songs. Stuff I recorded on old analogue gear, like my Fostex X-15. Those old recordings were made my bouncing loads of tracks from one side of the tape to another. So the quality wasn’t brilliant. With some tracks it was pretty bad in fact, but, even then, some of those tracks were great songs.

I been really enjoying listening to these songs, and they remind me about what’s important in music. It’s about making songs that mean something, that are good and that stand the test of time. I think that once in a while it’s important to be reminded about that kind of thing.

I like to think that I can make some more songs that I can feel that good about again. That’s my plan.

Moog Soundlab residency: Dave Colohan

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 17, 2015August 15, 2015in Events, Music, SoundsLeave a comment

This was a lovely little event, and when I say little I really do mean it. The audience was tiny in a tiny little basement bar at the Ace hotel in Shoreditch. It’s a nice venue though. The performance lasted a hour and was very interesting and used a lot but not all the equipment.

I find it interesting to watch a modular performance like this to see how the music is actually generated and sustained. It isn’t like normal performances at all of course. Quite different indeed.

Modular beauties at Moog Soundlab residency

The arrangements were lovely, with people’s names on their booked seats.

And on each seat was a thing called a “dream machine”, which was a strange light contraption sitting on a turntable. It made an interesting effect though.

Dream machine at Moog SoundLab residency

So it was an enjoyable evening, good fun, interesting to watch and different environment too.

So there is something new coming from Mr Sylvian

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 13, 2015August 11, 2015in Music, PeopleLeave a comment

Playing the Schoolhouse by David Sylvian

Well this is great news from Confrontrecordings …

“Scheduled for a mid-September release on Confront Recordings; Playing The Schoolhouse, a new CD EP length composition by David Sylvian recorded in March of this year in Norway. Based on an improvisation by Jan Bang and Sylvian it also features contributions from Otomo Yoshihide and Toshimaru Nakamura. More news to follow soon. www.confrontrecordings.com“

I was really pleased to hear this. His last work with Jan Bang was amazing, although it required some very close and concentrated listening. However, it was immensely worthwhile. I’m hopeful that this will be the same.

When will David Sylvian do something new?

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 10, 2015August 8, 2015in MusicLeave a comment

It has been a long time now, since he produced anything new. I wonder if anything new is going to come along from him, or if his work really is going to vanish away. That would be a real shame of course. I’d like to see a new album. Maybe not as difficult as Manafon, but something a little closer to what he did with Nine Horses, or indeed Rain Tree Crow.

To be honest I’d be happy with anything really. I’d just like to think that he hadn’t run out of ideas, or wasn’t going to produce anything new again. That would be the real shame in my opinion.

Seeing Melle Mel at the Jazz Cafe

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 9, 2015August 8, 2015in Events, Friends, Listening, MusicLeave a comment

I love going to the Jazz Cafe, it’s a great venue and very convenient too, except when there’s a tube strike and I have to walk there from Borough Market, which took a lot longer than normal simply due to the crowds in London. Anyway, that’s my rant over with for now anyway.

Melle Mel and the Furious Five at the Jazz Cafe

I went to this gig with a couple of mates who were, to be fair, more interested in it than I was. However, I do tend to go along because it’s always good to see friends, and you never know if you’ll see something amazing or not. Luckily for me, this was the later.

It was a great gig. Lots of tracks I remember in the set, and a huge amount of energy in the performance. The audience loved it and it was a great evening. So I’m really glad I went.

WOMAD memories 3: The Portico Quartet

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 6, 2015August 2, 2015in Events, Festivals, MusicLeave a comment

The first time I saw The Portico Quartet was at WOMAD a few years ago. They were amazing and made a really big impression. Of course, now they’re no longer the Portico Quartet, and they’re just Portico, which is fine. Their music is quite different now, but I still like it. However, for me I think it lacks the impact of the first time I saw them live at WOMAD. That was amazing.

Aswad at the Jazz Cafe

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 4, 2015August 2, 2015in Events, Friends, MusicLeave a comment

Asward at the Jazz Cafe, 1st August 2015

Whilst I wasn’t a massive fan of theirs in their day I still liked a few of their tracks, so when the opportunity to see Aswad came up I thought, why not? I’m sure it might be a pleasant evening out. Well, it was much more than that in the end. In fact, it was an excellent evening out all in all.

The sound in the Jazz Cafe in Camden was excellent and Aswad were on brilliant form. They put on a great show and kept the crowd moving throughout the performance. I’m so glad I went now. I had a fantastic time, and I think I’d see them again given the chance.

WOMAD memories 2: Nouvelle Vague

Posted by ashleyelsdonon July 31, 2015July 28, 2015in Events, Festivals, Listening, MusicLeave a comment

Another great memory from WOMAD days was of Nouvelle Vague. I went to see them in the Big Red Tent and thought they were amazingly good fun. I subsequently bought quite a lot of their tracks. I say their tracks, of course for the most part they are covers, but what excellent covers they are. Truly inspired.

I’d like to see them again, I think they had a good stage presence, but I need seem to see them on anywhere. I think I’d go if I had the chance.