Non-Classical Music Listening Thread!

[71 dB]

On loan from an acquaintance:

The New Seekers - The Power of Love (compilation CD of 16 tracks)

A British pop group I have never heard about before. Apparently there was The Seekers before this group.  The music is okay (for early 70s pop), but nothing special. The CD has hardly any information on it. That's why I looked up the releases of this ground on Discogs. First interesting thing I noticed was several releases each year, but it seems they releases different selections as albums of their music for different markets I think. Their albums seem to be released only on vinyl and then there are these compilation CDs (this CD is probably from 1987, but the information is lacking). As I have seen with my exploration into 70s music, the availability of albums on CD is often miserable. Clearly this group hasn't been one of the most popular of its time. This group doesn't seem to be much to my liking (too mediocre/lame imo), but the availability of 70s music on CD in general seems to be a huge problem (for people like me wanting my music on CD).

[71 dB]

SPOTIFY:

Vangelis - Invisible Connections

"Invisible" indeed, because I didn't experience much connection with this album. Maybe this was interesting in 1985, but in 2024 it is like listening to slowed down bleeps of R2-D2 with cathedral reverberation. 

[NumberSix]

Maybe the best intro ever?

The Temptations's Papa was a Rolling Stone

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S5xAtsXb8Vs

(also, rocking to some ZZ Top's Recycler)

Got to double back again!

[71 dB]

SPOTIFY:

Vangelis - Direct (1988)

An uneven release that I feel outlasted its welcome. Glorianna and Message are the highlights.

[71 dB]

SPOTIFY:

Vangelis - The City (1990)

I feel the music of Vangelis got less interesting/distinctive with time. This album was like a generic new age synth album of the time by anyone in the new age circles rather than a Vangelis album. It is like Vangelis stopped trying to sound himself after 1985 or so...

[Todd]

[SimonNZ]

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Richard Thompson's Mirror Blue



A brilliant composer and guitarist.  By the way, once voted one of the top 20 guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine.  Just think and give him a chance....  

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Richard Thompson's Mirror Blue



A brilliant composer and guitarist.  By the way, once voted one of the top 20 guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine.  Just think and give him a chance....  

PD

@NumberSix do you like his music?  I suspect that you do.  Favorite albums?  Hand of Kindness is one of mine.

PD

[NumberSix]

@NumberSix do you like his music?  I suspect that you do.  Favorite albums?  Hand of Kindness is one of mine.

PD

Never really listened to him.

[KevinP]

Really don't like country music, nor bluegrass. But when your favourite living artist does a bluegrass album, you gotta listen. He certainly puts his stamp on it, just as he does with R&B and soul and everything else he touches.

Plus, an artist who cut his first sides in 1953 and his latest in 2024 deserves a shout-out.

[NumberSix]

Roine Stolt: The Flower King

Nerdy guitar prog is nerdy. I like this album.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Never really listened to him.

Here's a few:

This is an album that I listen to often of his:

Hmm...youtube isn't allowing it.  It's of his songs from Mirror Blue

'You are not alone' ...from listening to a late Eagles' CD.  RIP Glenn Frey.    The songs, the harmonies, the instrumentation, the recordings.  It's from the Eagles' "Long Road out of Eden".  So much to love on this album.

PD

[NumberSix]

Here's a few:

This is an album that I listen to often of his:

Hmm...youtube isn't allowing it.  It's of his songs from Mirror Blue

'You are not alone' ...from listening to a late Eagles' CD.  RIP Glenn Frey.    The songs, the harmonies, the instrumentation, the recordings.  It's from the Eagles' "Long Road out of Eden".  So much to love on this album.

PD

Thanks for the RT suggestions. I will look into it.

I listened to Hotel California earlier today for the first time in awhile. The whole album still sounds great to me.

[steve ridgway]

Tangerine Dream: Phaedra Out-Takes 1



I lost my enthusiasm for revisiting 1974 rock music in general and deleted it from my player - apart from TD which I find particularly absorbing.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Thanks for the RT suggestions. I will look into it.

I listened to Hotel California earlier today for the first time in awhile. The whole album still sounds great to me.

That's a great album!  One of the few that I've purchased *new on LP (as of this point in time).  Looking at Wiki, they were nominated for Album of the Year (this was in 1977), but alas, lost.  Good news:  it was to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours.

*I should have said "for a second time".

Man, that was a tough year in music!

PD

[71 dB]

SPOTIFY:

Vangelis - 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

This was surpringly boring and long-winded. Not even 55 minutes long, but it one felt like it was 100 minutes! The last track felt like it never ends! Jesus! 

[foxandpeng]

Well, the Strauss, Ravel and RVW are 'easier' because they're four hours long. That kind of easy. I'm not sure whether you'll find the music rewarding or not, but this is music that has meant something to me, so that's why I recommended it.

Also, not all rock music is 'easy' of course. There's plenty of challenging music within this genre that doesn't play to the dumb crowds.

Absolutely. Not so much rock, really,  but I embed more easily into black/death/melodic death metal,  so very much appreciate your awareness of 'the dumb crowds'.

Certainly worth a punt on those pieces you've enjoyed too 😀

[Le Buisson Ardent]

Absolutely. Not so much rock, really,  but I embed more easily into black/death/melodic death metal,  so very much appreciate your awareness of 'the dumb crowds'.

Certainly worth a punt on those pieces you've enjoyed too 😀

Well, metal is a difficult genre to get into, so these bands definitely don't play to the dumb crowds. I know several metalheads that are intellectual people and like a wide variety of music. I just like people who aren't stuck in one genre and that's it. I prefer to be around people who understand that it's not about the genre, but what they get out of it emotionally/intellectually.

[foxandpeng]

Well, metal is a difficult genre to get into, so these bands definitely don't play to the dumb crowds. I know several metalheads that are intellectual people and like a wide variety of music. I just like people who aren't stuck in one genre and that's it. I prefer to be around people who understand that it's not about the genre, but what they get out of it emotionally/intellectually.

I was a radio presenter some years ago, and interviewed a band called Insomnium, from Finland. 4 members - 2 PhDs, one heart surgeon, and an MSc who was mayor of his Finnish city. Intelligence and creativity all in one. Lots of bright folks out there in the metal world.

Insomnium might be worth a listen? Also recommend the latest album by Winterfylleth that I'm hearing a great deal since its release.

Not that you are necessarily looking for metal recs 🤓