blessingx

julianna barwick | the magic place http://www.npr.org/2...the-magic-place "In the iconic cathedrals of New York, London and Rome reverberate the angelic voices of church choirs. These immaculate buildings were designed and constructed for worship, an architectural offering to God, and oftentimes it's the music which truly understands that offering. It makes sense, then, that Julianna Barwick grew up in church. She opens The Magic Place with "Envelop," in which her looped voice builds from a deeply resonant and reverent place, creating a cosmic hymn refracted out of a glass prism. These are the building blocks — to continue the metaphor — of Barwick's gorgeous past two releases (Sanguine and Florine), and of The Magic Place, as well. But as "Envelop" ends, the spaced-out piano hidden in the mix emerges like dawn, tentative at first, beautiful and bright within minutes. I suppose there's only so much you can do with droning a cappella (though I could listen to it all day), but adding a few instruments and muffled beats to Barwick's carefully constructed vocal loops isn't an escape. Instead, it's where Barwick finds inspiration. The two tracks that depart the most from Barwick's past modes come one right after the other. "Bob in Your Gait" sounds like a lost Mark Hollis or Rachel's demo, draped in echo with a piano sounding as if it had been recorded from the other side of the room. "Prizewinning," on the other hand, features a submerged reggae riddim under Barwick's textured vocal loops, bedding the unexpected beat until four minutes pass and a heavily hit snare beckons like a drummer boy on the battlefield. After its release, I firmly believed that Panda Bear's Person Pitch signaled a new age of sampling-as-song-structure and the move toward the disembodied voice — not a rejection of lyric, but the embrace of pure voice. Unfortunately, many musicians took that as an invitation to create Person Pitch clones, none of them particularly enlightening. The Magic Place is one of the first albums to take a lesson from Person Pitch and apply it with individual grace, more so than on past Barwick efforts. There's euphoric joy in these slow-building choral pieces that celebrates the human voice with humility. The title track, in particular, ever-so-slightly shifts her vocal loops like translucent puzzle pieces. You only realize its repetitive simplicity when Barwick takes everything away and lets silence sing more than we ever thought it could."

Politician/scientist/artist action figures on sale over at Fab today: http://j.mp/r7UR3I

For a glimpse of the sleeper, see below (playing with Carlos Bica & Frank Möbus)

Not for awhile. Enjoyed, but on Team Reverb. And I take back that I never heard the LCD2 with the B22. Forgot as it's been a while. ((( (

B22 shipping tomorrow morning. Never heard the LCD2 with B22, but I bet it's a nice combo.

Cool article on Scopitones. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbv8p1YfJbI

Some nice Rega sales out there. http://www.needledoctor.com/Online-Store/Turntables And keep in mind the on sale V-Link is a cheap option to make many more sub-$1K DACs async USB - http://t.co/v4q28SN

Fun lunchtime reading... Apple is Worth More Than

Also late to the party (know they were on Stern awhile back), but getting a kick out of... 3 Tracks by Caninus, a Brooklyn Metal Band with Vocals by Two Pit Bulls: http://t.co/9wTUR7HZ

Oh shit... Cool Dad Raising Daughter On Media That Will Put Her Entirely Out Of Touch With Her Generation http://ow.ly/1xtCGq

The Kindle library thing is in full effect... Kindle Books Now Available At Local Libraries: http://t.co/GUR0eLHD

R.E.M. In the Real World - Rolling Stone's 1987 Cover Story. Reprinted on day of their breakup: http://t.co/5yTLH0k6

I don't know most of those weird sounding bands, but I'm a House fan. Attendance still unknown.

Everyone but me probably knew this years ago, but only found out a week back Cobain listened to Automatic for the People before pulling the trigger.

Haven't listened to them in years, but was my first real concert and first band to see twice. Will be curious what Peter Buck does next.

Friday is the last day of Reference Recordings End of Summer Sale. New Releases, HRx, SACD, HDCD all 20% OFF. http://ow.ly/6zD8Z

He has previous years under 'more.' Tyll might be in this one.

Not sure I've seen a better collection. For those curious... Burning Man 2011 - Photography by Scott London http://ow.ly/1xmK0g

In case anyone needs to convert from optical to coax... Cables to Go Optical to Coaxial Digital Audio Converter (Black) 40019 – StereoStone USA Audio Shop http://ow.ly/1xmyt4

Also if there are any Jimmy Page and Death Wish II fans... Jimmy Page’s Soundtrack For ‘Death Wish II’ Getting A Limited Vinyl Reissue > The Playlist http://ow.ly/1xmhqc

Steal Your Face: Real-time face substitution http://ow.ly/1xmfhT

Good to hear on Paris Claire and as others have said glad the gear fall wasn't worse. Cables do matter! Hope the Duals insides aren't damaged. Was there a Dali-like melting after shot?

Speaking of mouth watering. Yum.

Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the bars.