About honesty and truth in songs by Leonard Cohen.

I guess that’s some kind of basic view I hold about the thing, that it doesn’t really matter what the singer is speaking of, it doesn’ really matter what the song is. There’s something I listen for in a singer’s voice and that’s some kind of truth. It may even be truth of deception, it may even be the truth of the scam, the truth of the hustle in the singer’s own presentation, but something is coming across that is true, and if that isn’t there the song dies. And the singer deserves to die too, and will, in time, die. So the thing that I listen for is that note of something big manifested that is beyond the singer’s control.

Source: Leonard Cohen: Hallelujah by Tim Footman
Image: Amazon UK

On the first weekend from October I was in Budapest. The main reason for this short escape is called Hangfoglalas/Soundquest, the yearly Music Industry Trade Show from the Hungarian capital. As I’m interested in bass heads and cabinets, this event seemed to be the right opportunity to try some new gears. Here you have some first impressions…

(Just to be mentioned: I tried each head and cabinet by using different entry-level basses, depending on what the given retailer had to offer + the environment was super-noisy, far from ideal for any serious test…)

Head: Laney Nexus Tube
Cabinet: Laney NX 810

A reliable and high quality setup. It delivers a clear, clean and rich tone.
Emotional impact: 8/10

Head: Ampeg SVT Classic
Cabinet: Ampeg 810 E

About an Ampeg SVT I’m not sure if anyone could tell anything bad… It’s a good head and with the 810 E cabinet a more than correct setup. Even so, I experienced no magic with it…
Emotional impact: 7/10

Head: Ashdown BTA 400
Cabinet: Ashdown US Series 8×10

Talking about magic… The BTA 400 Ashdown head had a huge impact on me! When you not only see the tubes behind the front grid but with every picking you feel the warmth and the rich frequencies produced by them flowing over your soul, like honey over a doughnut, you know that’s magic.

I tried it with some entry level bass, but this detail didn’t seem to matter – it made me never forget the 2nd of October. I was standing in front of it with a smile on my face, having difficulties to believe what I heard there…
Emotional impact: 10/10

I also tried some Hartke products and a Marshall MB 4410 (Unexpectedly clean and clear sound!), but this day was the Ashdown day…

From Hangfoglalas I got to the Jesus Culture concert, God knows how, as it wasn’t planned…

Thanks, Budapest!

So, do you want to start a revolution? Yes?! That’s great! Let me help by telling you about three extremely powerful songs (and videos) which will keep your spirit on fire.

1. The first is “Yesterday Is Dead And Gone“, the latest Arch Enemy single, destined to promote their new record, “Khaos Legions“. The third verse says it all:

“Under a blood red sky
Our voice will be heard
In a world
Where compassion is lost
You try to control us
This is so absurd
Freedom will be won at any cost”

Arch Enemy official site . “Yesterday Is Dead And Gone” official video

2. The second song is from the first album of Times of Grace and it’s called “Strength In Numbers“. It’s fresh and full of vitality. Here’s its first verse:

“Arise and be triumphant
No rest until all is fulfilled
Our roots must balance our branches
Be vigilant in truth and love”

…and its expressive chorus:

“There is a strength in numbers,
we must unite mankind
There is a strength in numbers,
our faith lies deep inside

We struggle, we suffer,
so we must come together
We struggle, we suffer,
but we will live forever”

Times Of Grace official site . Strength In Numbers official video

3. The new In Flames song, “Deliver Us“*, has no revolutionary lyrics – at least, not on the surface… -, but its spirituality’s deeply rooted in the big movements of the essential changes.
There’s something in it which won’t let you in a passive state, something which will wake up your conscience…

In Flames official site . Deliver Us official video
*extracted from “Sounds of a Playground Fading“, 2011

Have a pleasant revolution!

Even if we have access to more music than ever before, it doesn’t often happen to be profoundly impressed by a new release. It seems to me that the whole international pop-rock culture is a gigantic war-field and, as we all know, in war there’s not too much beauty. So when the guns stop making their obsessive noise and the perspectives of peace start arising, there’s a great magic in it. In such moments, even the most fragile ray of light brings an indescribable comfort.

For All We Know, the project of Ruud Jolie (guitarist of Within Temptation), is such a ray of light and it’s far from being a fragile one…

It is possible that For All We Know is more than just a new progressive rock album – it might be a link in a chain formed by names like Pink Floyd, Queensryche, Fates Warning, Pain Of Salvation and even Dream Theater. The best music on the Earth is the least earthly and For All We Know is a gateway to the unseen side.

If I had to describe For All We Know in one word, I would say: intimate. It carries something that, when it’s told, it is possible to cause pain to the story teller. It has to do with giving yourself, which in art is similar to giving yourself in love. Both imply a certain type of renunciation.

1. BLIND ME

The album starts with an obsessive guitar riff which, side by side with some fine piano and synthesizer lines, creates a “floating” atmosphere. As it evolves, its dramatic content has a fine progression, making the first composition an introspective journey.

2. BUSY BEING SOMEBODY ELSE

“Busy Being Someone Else” is the expression of some inner turbulences. It starts with a rhythmical formula which underlines an (almost) angry restlessness. Its coldness is ready to stir up all the senses…

3. OUT OF REACH

The chorus of this song reminds me of Jesus Christ Superstar. The main melodic line (voice) takes me between the Savior and His disciples. It asks for special attention – it’s like a gentle teaching which gives sense to the passing through the wilderness. The guitar solo brings a contrast to the chorus – it comes up with a new perspective, a harsher one.

4. WHEN ANGELS REFUSE TO FLY

The fourth track is a more “classical” progressive rock composition, in the same “no rest for the living” thematic key, already known from “Busy Being…”. Musically, some parts remind me of Dream Theater instrumental passages. Even so, it has many fine orchestral elements (acoustic guitars and synthesizers) which seem to be characteristic for For All We Know.

5. I LOST MYSELF TODAY

Outside is cold but inside, in the warm house, there’s a meditative soul, wondering how it lost itself. A good wine and a good cigar are its companions, while the guitar is weeping through time and space. “…don’t wait for me, I’m still too far away”…

6. KEEP BREATHING

“Keep Breathing” is the smaller brother of Road Salt of Pain Of Salvation. Enough said. Go, flow with it and let its beauty bury you alive!

Beside many others, special guests (vocals): Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation) and Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain Of Salvation).

7. DOWN ON MY KNEES

Another expression of restlessness and controlled panic. The first “soft” part reminds me of Promised Land of Queensryche. The most (let’s call) aggressive passages have some Dream Theater flavour, but in a For All We Know manner. “Down On My Knees” is a complex song with various emotional states.

8. SAVE US

This is an instrumental trip with psychedelic vocals, a kind of conclusion to all that was previously said. It asks for nothing but it gives a lot…

9. EMBRACE/ERASE/REPLACE/EMBRACE

There’s drama even in the most positive experience. There’s a fragility which reminds us about the transitory character of each moment, no matter if it’s good or bad. “Embrace…” is the embrace of that fragility.

10. TIRED AND ASHAMED

This song is built around sensitive melodic lines and a sensitive lyrical content. It has a simple orchestration, based (mainly) on acoustic instruments. At a certain point it turns into a consciousness-awakening musical speech and it opens new dimensions of understanding for the “tired and ashamed”.

11. OPEN YOUR EYES

This seems to be the most eclectic track from the album. It goes through many atmospheres and musical themes. Its orchestration is non-linear and unpredictable. It starts and it ends with the same beautiful vocal line, a fingerprint of intimacy.

12. NOTHING MORE…

Many bands usually include an “out of ordinary” composition on their albums as their last track. Up to a certain degree, Nothing More is such a song, but, still, it keeps the For All We Know feel. A little bit of mandolin, a little bit of violin and a colorful orchestration…

The entire album is like an emotional hallucination.
Something you desire and something you hope for.
Some kind of blessing…

I came in contact with the pumpkins’ music back in the ’90s, about 20 years ago. A guy gave me a cassette with “some” German heavy metal band and I was blown away by what I heard. It was Helloween. Their songs had a big influence on me, starting from the great melodies to the iconic voice of Michael Kiske. This experience opened the doors of a brand new world…

So, I arrived in Budapest on the 28th of November at noon and I had plenty of time to find my hostel and to take a walk in the center of this beautiful capital. As it was Sunday, the town seemed to take a nap, as it wasn’t as crowded as it usually is. One hour before gate opening, I was at Petofi Hall, waitin’ with another 100-200 guys to enter…

The opening act was performed by a Hungarian band, Wisdom. Their power metal was quite all right, but not too captivating, so I went for a sandwich and a Cola…

The next band was Stratovarius. They are great musicians, but, unfortunately, without great songs. Many bands have the same problem and I’m not convinced that there’s a way out from this kind of dead end. Inspiration can’t be replaced with anything else…

This night was Helloween’s night. After 20-30 minutes of technical scene-rearrangements, they hit the already full Petofi Hall with their brand new single, “Are you metal?“. Their sound was fresh, heavy and pretty clean for a melodic power metal band. These gentlemen have a huge amount of positive energy. They kept smiling, especially Andi Deris and Markus Grosskopf, and there was no doubt that they were enjoying what they were doing. They took us back and forth in time by playing their hits, trying not to ignore any Helloween chapter. A great surprise was “Ride the sky” from their first Lp, “Walls of Jericho“.

If I should talk about their individual performances, I would say that three of them were on the top, the latest band members: Andi Deris, Sascha Gerstner and Dani Löble. The two “old” pumpkins gave less than 100%. Markus made a few of his bass lines simpler than they are on the records – he seemed to be guided by the “less is more” policy which, in some cases, was a little bit disappointing (especially for a bass player…). In his guitar playing, Michael Weikath (the always-smoking guitarist – yes, even on the stage…) is not as clean and precise as Sasha. He did his job, but without too much enthusiasm – at least, this is how I received his performance. On “Ride the sky” he seemed to struggle a little bit with the solo which, technically, is quite demanding…

Even so, Helloween is a strong live band with great songs and a great show. They closed this evening with “Dr. Stein” and all those who came dressed as Dr. Stein were rockin’ with the band on the stage. On the 28th of November, in Petofi Hall, I was part of a great pumpkin celebration and I’m grateful for that memorable night!

Thank you, Helloween!
Love ya, guys!

The photos were made with a Canon PowerShot SX100 IS. Thanks David for your kind help!

Even if there are more than two months left from 2010, in my opinion, “Wonder” is the album of the year in the Contemporary Christian Music niche. I always saw Michael W. Smith as the “right gentleman” of his musical field, dangerously close to perfection. During the last (almost) thirty years he did what the Christian community welcomed and, let’s face it, needed. In his praise and worship songs there were no controversial elements, neither musically, nor lyrically. He gave the audience what was right to be given…

The end of this September brought a major surprise, which might shake some preconceptions. His new album, “Wonder”, is beyond any prejudice and expectation, it’s a heart-warming glimpse of Heaven. The best part is that it shows a brand new Michael W. Smith, a much more sincer artist than ever before.

It seems to me that this record is like a final letter, a final good bye. The idea of the “final departure” (you may know it as “death”…) is there in many songs, in thematically close lyrical contexts.

At an intuitive level I would say that, this time, Michael put in balance the people’s expectations and his need for artistic intimacy and, knowing that time might not be generous with him, he went for the second option. This record was composed in the “key of freedom”, with a great passion for what we would call authentic. He’s talking about the most sensitive subjects with disarming ease, as if nothing else would matter apart from letting us know what he has to say…

Definitely, he has a lot to say and the way he communicates on “Wonder” is profoundly sublime. It’s a piece of Heaven. Go taste it!

HIGHLIGHT

“One more time”, track nr. 11, with a mindblowing refrain:

“This is what you’re made for
Standing in the downpour
Knowing that the sun will shine
Forget what lies behind you
Heaven walks beside you
You got to give it one more try”

Photo: www.michaelwsmith.com

Festivalul Woodstock e un reper cultural, un punct zero, daca nu chiar o revolutie. Woodstock a insemnat trei zile de pace si muzica, trei zile de Sex and Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll. A fost un fel de inmultire a painilor si a pestilor, dar fara componenta sacrala si cu diferente majore in privinta trairilor. Woodstock s-a nascut intr-o perioada-n care perceptele conservatoare erau dominante si America isi pierdea fiii in Vietnam. Woodstock a fost o declaratie de libertate si parte a revolutiei sexuale din anii ‘60. Pentru unii a fost, este si ramane ceva sfant, o referinta absoluta pentru libertate.

Pentru mine e altceva. E iluzia unei libertati imposibile, imaginea unor idealuri confuze si o poveste fara final fericit. Probabil ca unii vor spune ca mi-ar fi placut si mie nebunia de acolo. Probabil ca asa e, si mie mi-ar fi placut si m-ar fi luat valul revolutionar… Nu sunt extraterestru… cred ca as fi rezonat cu acel sentiment de libertate colectiva…

Sunt adeptul libertatii, in primul rand al libertatilor individuale, si inteleg nevoia unor momente majore in lupta pentru libertate. Unele forme de comuniune au o forta extraordinara de a aduce schimbari, atat la nivel mental, cat si la nivel spiritual si, indiferent de continut, “multi” inseamna si o forma de legitimizare.

Nu am intentia sa critic, dar mi se pare ca nu-i nimic extraordinar in a-ti da drumul de undeva de sus si a nu te opri pana nu te lovesti de pragul de jos. Pana la urma, e mai greu sa mentii un oarecare echilibru decat sa traiesti fara limite. Poate ca, de fapt, nu sunt doua cai viabile. Poate ca doar un singur drum ne duce acolo unde putem insemna ceva pentru copiii nostri, cei care-n 2019 ne vor cere bani sa mearga la a 50-a aniversare a festivalului…

Nu cred in Woodstock.
Imi pare rau…

Foto: nytimes.com

Imi plac oamenii consecventi, mai ales daca motivatiile lor nu au ca sursa prostia. Ii admir pe cei care pot sa vada dincolo de provocarile imediate si nu renunta sa faca binele, binele in care cred. Niste oameni dedicati s-au incapatanat sa fie prezenti pe piata media cu o revista de muzica tiparita chiar si-n 2010, cand unele reviste isi iau adio de la cititori, iar altele executa miscari de PR discutabile.

Sunete e un produs de tipar placut. Cat timp te infrupti din el, iti da senzatia ca traiesti intr-o societate normala, cu nevoi culturale firesti. Daca in timp ce-l citesti iti permiti sa si sorbi dintr-un vin bun, intins pe canapea, intr-o pozitie odihnitoare, risti sa uiti in ce zona a globului traiesti…

Chiar m-am gandit ca lipsa unei “literaturi pop” de specialitate, in acest caz, de muzica, spune multe despre pozitionarea culturala a unei societati. In cazul nostru, Sunete e exceptia, gura de aer intr-un mediu toxic. Probabil ca-i intr-o situatie la fel de incomoda ca si cineva care trebuie sa mearga urgent la WC, dar fotograful ii cere sa stea disciplinat in formatie si sa zambeasca. Spun asta pentru ca au renuntat la editarea lunara si o comit doar periodic.

Sper ca fatalismul din titlul ultimului CD Parazitii, “Tot ce e bun tre sa dispara”, sa nu atinga Sunete si nici pe cei carora le place un aer cultural ceva mai curat.

Din cate am inteles, Cehov a scris/spus ca “Daca ai o pusca pe scena, va trebui s-o folosesti!”, asa ca fugiti pana la unul dintre magazinele Inmedio si cumparati ultimul numar Sunete (Nr.66/Mai MMX), disponibil in comert de doua-trei zile*. Pe coperta: Eric Clapton.

Chiar daca nu e zi de nastere si chiar daca in era digitala ar putea suna cinic (dar nu este!): La Multi Ani, Sunete!

*cel putin, in Cluj…

Logo Sunete: http://revistasunete.ro/logo/
Coperta Sunete: Revista Sunete

Dupa ce a devenit un show popular in peste 30 de tari, Got Talent ajunge si-n Romania, sub titulatura Romanii au talent. Got Talent e un format TV britanic despre care cel mai des s-a putut auzi legat de Britan’s Got Talent si America’s Got Talent.

Banuiesc ca sunt multi carora Romanii au talent li se va parea o oportunitate de zile mari. Dincolo de tam-tam-ul media, insa, sunt si cateva aspecte despre care organizatorii nu vor vorbi:

1. Multi artisti romani consacrati au probleme de subzistenta. Nu sunt concerte, iar cele existente sunt prost platite.

2. In Romania, in “n” cazuri, relatia casa de discuri – artist se limiteaza la niste obligatii contractuale unidirectionale pe care daca artistul nu le respecta… urmeaza problemele! Unele case nu numai ca nu fac nimic pentru artistii lor, dar ii si tin legati la maini.

3. Castigi concursul. Si? Si ce?!…

a. Semnezi cu o casa de discuri din .ro? Daca da, te rog, intoarce-te la punctul 2.
b. Poate nu vei semna, poate vei deveni un “artist PRO”, un fel de sluga la curtea stapanului. In acest caz ia-ti adio de la idealurile inalte, vei dansa cum ti se va canta!
c. Poate vei semna doar cu o agentie de impresariat artistic. Daca da, te rog sa recitesti punctul 1.

In concluzie:

1. Daca vrei sa fii remarcat intr-o emisiune Got Talent, daca regulamentul permite, inscrie-te la America’s Got Talent, Britain’s Got Talent sau la un alt corespondent european.

2. Daca esti mai intelept cu 2 secunde vei uita de Got Talent si vei porni pe drumul DIY. Daca esti artist, daca ai ceva de spus si daca ai un limbaj artistic individual, vei reusi. Evident, garantii nu exista, dar nici nu vei fi orbit de artificii gen Romanii au talent…

3. Romania’s Got Talent, adica Romanii au talent = Romania’s Wasting Talents – vezi primele trei puncte

Inca ceva. Got Talent nu face altceva decat sa uniformizeze. Intrebat daca ar concura la American Idol, daca ar avea din nou 14 ani, Geoff Tate (Queensryche, voce) a sintetizat superb:

“Nu, n-as face-o niciodata. Vezi, nu sunt de acord cu intreaga mentalitate a acestui concurs si nu cred ca muzica, arta este un eveniment sportiv. Nu cred ca ar trebui sa fie o competitie, pentru ca muzica si arta sunt subiective si depind de capacitatea fiecaruia de a le intelege. (…) E vorba de a te exprima, de felul in care vrei sa pictezi un tablou sau cum sa te exprimi intr-un cantec… Sunt nenumarate feluri in care poti face aceste lucruri…”

Imagine: Richard Willis’s Blog

Nebunia fotbalistica n-a ocolit nici mediul artistic. Indie Folker a scris o piesa despre Adidas Jabulani*, mingea folosita in meciurile din Campionatul Mondial de Fotbal.

“Jabulani” poate fi descarcata de pe pagina dedicata piesei, unde sunt disponibile si versurile. De asemenea, “Jabulani” poate fi trimisa prin email, inclusa pe Facebook, Twitter si alte site-uri, prin optiunile butonului “Share”.

Haideti s-o facem cunoscuta!

Daca tot am adus vorba de Indie Folker, va recomand cu muuulta caldura sa ascultati si, daca va place, sa cumparati albumul sau de debut, “Monsters In Rome”.

Inca ceva, Indie Folker e clujean.
Stiati?…

*jabulani (lb. Zulu) = a (se) bucura; a jubila

Foto: indiefolker.com