Recent and Recommended - past picks

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Kama Sutra A Tale of Love --Produced and arranged by Mychael Danna There seems to be several kinds of movie music. One kind that is becoming more and more common is soundtrack loaded with recycled pop music, intended to invoke perhaps a nostalgic feeling for a particular time but probably also related to multi-prong marketing by media conglomerates. Another, more traditional, kind of movie music is largely written for the movie, and has such attachment to the fabric and mood of the film so as to be an integral part. Composers like Bernard Hermann and James Horner come to mind. Add Mychael Danna to the list of the great ones. Incorporating traditional Indian stylings, with Western classical and jazz elements, he paints a mesmerizing tapestry. Great ambient moodiness. The film, from which this music comes, is a masterpiece of storytelling by director Mira Nair. A story of sexual politics and palace intrigue, it strongly indicts the cruelties of birthright and the oppression of women.

Colma Buckethead Buckethead for the masses? Well, it's pretty hard to find anyone who doesn't like this record. I guess, though, some hardcore fans might prefer the heavy industrial grunge of The Day of the Robot... This disk is much more of a real guitar record. Ambience, but with an insistent, infectious edge. But who is this guy? The mysterious mask-and-KFC-bucket-hat image...hmmmm If indeed he is any one person. He could be a mixmaster's concoction. Or he could be a well-known guitarist hiding from recording contract expectations. Or maybe a number of different guitarists taking turns. He sounds to me an awful lot like jazz fusion great John Abercrombie at times. Maybe he is just an unknown kid who digs the secret identity game. Regardless, this is top-notch. Get this CD. If you don't like it, I guarantee you know someone who will love it.

Earlier Picks, Listed alphabetically by title:

Anohka -- Talvin Singh Presents, Soundz of the Asian Underground Given Talvin Singh's reputation as a "junglist" you might expect a lot drum-'n'-bass, and while there's a good deal of that here, the scope of this 72-minute CD is more expansive. It opens with the trancy "Jaan" sung by sweet-voiced Amar and backed by Talvin's own group the Future Soundz of India. At the center, A.R Rahman's lushly cinematic "Mumbai Theme Tune" is riveting with only the barest of percussion (a finger cymbal?). Next up Leone (AKA Bjork) sings the torchy "Distant God" backed by Talvin's own group. Excellent throughout, my favorite tune on this CD might well be the almost zany mix mash "Spiritual Masterkey" by Osmani Soundz.

Apartment Life -- Ivy No quite as good as their brilliant debut album, Realistic, this is nevertheless a most welcome followup. I think "Get Out of the City" will be my theme song this summer. "I Got a feeling" has a pop hook that reminds of everything aI ever liked about the Beach Boys. The only criticism is the bland horn charts which remind me of everything that I never liked about the band Chicago.

Bach Works for the Violin -- Lara St. John Bach may well be the greatest musician/composer who ever lived on Earth, and he sounds fresher than ever coming off Lara St. Johns's strings. She plays with great presence, and almost reckless abandon. A great ride. Play it loud from your open car window. Or play it softly in the middle of the night.