April has not been a productive music listening month. I’ve been preoccupied with building construction on my listening room and private den. However these bands featured prominently according to the Tidal music app.
The Smiths: Formed in 1982 in Manchester, England, The Smiths are a post-punk, indie rock band fronted by Steven Morrissey (he preferred to be known simply as Morrissey) on vocals, Johnny Marr on guitar, Andy Rourke (who was fired in 1986 and replaced by Craig Gannon, but rehired almost immediatey) on bass and Mike Joyce on drums. Morrissey, an outspoken anti-Thatcherite, melancholy, sexually ambiguous figure, was also an animal rights activist and staunch vegetarian, turned vegan. He is noted for banning meat products from being sold at his concerts. Their second studio album Meat Is Murder pays homage to his stance on animals and meat.
The Smiths broke up in 1987 following tensions between band members (same old story), notable between Morrissey and Johnny Marr, the original founders . My favorite Smiths song is How Soon Is Now?
Govinda: A music project from Austin based producer and composer, Shane Madden who from the age of eight studied classical violin at the University of Texas. The electronic-based Govinda sound was born from Madden’s pursuit of his Middle-Eastern and Spanish roots. Govinda perform live shows which are a unique “experience that immerses the audience with a textured exotic atmosphere which features mesmerizing vocals, visual performance artist Jordan Remar, live projections, live ambient Romani-style and uniquely crafted violin…” A short example of the live show can be viewed here.
My favorite recording, Golden Bow is often used by audiophiles to show off their systems, and can be viewed on YouTube below.
R.E.M.: R.E.M. stands for rapid eye movement which is a stage in the sleep cycle associated with dreaming. The alternative rock band however, needs little introduction. They formed in 1980 by University of Georgia students, Michael Stipe on lead vocals, Bill Berry on drums, Peter Buck on lead guitar and Mike Mills on bass. While initially being successful as an underground band, R.E.M. achieved a mainstream hit with The One I Love in 1987. Their first commercially successful albums were Out of Time in 1991, and Automatic For The People in 1992. My favorite album Monster followed in 1994, featuring the first of my favorite songs, Strange Currencies.
R.E.M. broke up amicably in 2011 to pursue solo careers. I was quite fortunate to catch them live in concert in South Africa in 2004. My other favorite R.E.M. song is Drive, off the Automatic For The People album.
Cassandra Wilson: Cassandra is an accomplished American jazz singer from Jackson, Mississippi who has expanded her musical repertoire to include blues, country and folk music. This diversification is evident in the many cover versions of popular songs she’s done across these other genres.
Wilson’s early development included classical training in piano from age six, and thereafter, clarinet. She later developed her own style of guitar playing, while simultaneously writing her own songs. Having accumulated multiple achievement and awards, during her lifetime, the two Grammy Awards will no doubt be highlights.
I am particularly fond of her rendition of the Billie Holiday classic, Strange Fruit.
Ultravox: Originally known as Tiger Lilly and then Ultravox!, this new wave band was formed in 1974 in London. In 1979 frontman John Foxx left the band and was replaced by guitarist and lead singer, Midge Ure, who had a temporary stint with rock outfit, Thin Lizzy. After a disappointing start, the band simplified their name to just Ultravox, dropping the exclamation mark.
Ultravox’s first successful album was Vienna in 1980, with the title track becoming their biggest hit. They decided to call it a day in 1987. Midge Ure has a very successful solo career, although I haven’t heard any new music for a while. He co-wrote and produced the Band Aid hit, Do They Know It’s Christmas with Bob Geldof of The Boomtown Rats.
I’m partial to a symphonic version of the hit single,Vienna which sounds amazing on a good stereo system.
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