[Music] Back to the Halcyon Days, of Punk

The Jeff & Jane Hudson story goes back to halcyon days of Punk and New Wave with The Rentals, who released two singles of lo-fi DiY Art Punk in between '77 and '80. In 1981, they started performing as a duo and began releasing post-nuclear electronic pop songs under their own names. 1981 saw the release of the "World Trade" EP as well as the "No Clubs" 7", followed in '82 by "Attack Under Attack" which featured the first appearance of "Los Alamos," which would reappear on their debut LP. The duo reached their pinnacle with 1983's seminal "Flesh." Perhaps one of the United States biggest achievements in the entire "synth" movement of the era. Completely self produced by the band, the record has since been oft-cited as a groundbreaking and pivotal LP of the post-punk era, who's original copies are now heavily coveted by collectors. This is the first time since the original issue that "Flesh" is reappearing on the vinyl format as a co-release with Dark Entries record. This edition features remastering culled from the original master tapes and expanded with an extra LP of singles and EP material. It's also the first wide-scale digital and CD release these recordings have yet to see. Due out this April. www.officialjeffandjane.com

Jeff/Jane Hudon -  Los Alamos

[audio:http://www.solidgoldrags.com/music/Jeff__Jane_-_Los_Alamos.mp3|titles=Los Alamos ]

Buzz: Voxhaul Broadcast

Photography by Adarsha Benjamin Hailing from Orange County, California, Voxhaul Broadcast has been on the radar for a few years now - ever since their breakout EP, Rotten Apples, released in 2008.  Rotten Apples was recorded live in a single day;  brimful of heart shattering melodies, vocal acrobatics, and the angsty, love-lorn poetic lyricism of lead singer David Dennis, the album cemented Voxhaul as the "band to watch."  Their new album, Timing is Everything, is due out March 22. Voxhaul Broadcast is also incredible live, visit their site to pick up their new album and find upcoming tour dates. www.voxhaulbroadcast.com

Voxhaul Broadcast - Fact or Fiction

[audio:http://www.pasunautre.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/voxhaul-broadcast-fact-or-fiction-1.mp3|titles=voxhaul-broadcast-fact-or-fiction-1]

Voxhaul Broadcast - Needs a Little Time (previously unrelease - didn't make the cut)

[audio:http://www.solidgoldrags.com/music/06 Needs A Little Time.mp3|titles=voxhaul-broadcast-fact-or-fiction-1]

 

Soundtrack to Your Life: Brahms Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77

2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, strings, and solo violin.  It is not known when Brahms began work on his Violin Concerto, but we do know that he finished his first draft during the summer of 1878 at Portschach in southern Austria. He then sent the solo violin part to his long time friend, the composer, conductor, virtuoso violinist, and dedicatee of the concerto, Joseph Joachim. Brahms had for years consulted with him on various compositions, seeking his criticisms and learned opinions. In the note accompanying the violin part, Brahms sought that Joachim should “…correct it, not sparing the quality of the composition and that if you thought it not worth scoring, that you should say so. I shall be satisfied if you will mark those parts which are difficult, awkward, or impossible to play”.  Joachim found the solo to contain “…a lot of really good violin music”. He premiered the work on New Year’s Day, 1879 in Leipzig.

Johannes Brahms - Brahms Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77 - 3rd Movement - Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace

[audio:http://www.solidgoldrags.com/music/03IIIAllegro giocosomanontroppo vivace.mp3|titles=Brahms - Violin]

Soundtrack to Your Life: "That Summer Feeling"

 

That "summer feeling" will haunt you for the rest of your life. Jonathan Richman is an underrated genius and one of the many mad scientists of proto-punk - punk before punk - nevermind.   Anyways, Richman's music has a timeless aura - one that crackles with the magnificent dust of celluloid and crooners of yore, as well as the crisp post modernism of today's new digital era - and beyond too.  The song below could fit in anywhere,  it could have been left accidentally on the live reels of Ritchie Vallens or experimental solo demo of a deranged, lonesome hipster in his basement in Rhode Island.  But, alas, the below gem comes from Jonathan Ritchman's 1992 album 'I, Richmond." If you are lucky enough to be in Boston, run over to catch Jonathan Richman live at the Somerville Theater.

Text by Oliver Maxwell Kupper for Pas Un Autre

Jonathan Richmond - "That Summer Feeling"

[audio:http://www.solidgoldrags.com/music/That_Summer_Feeling.mp3|titles=That Summer Feeling by Jonathan Richmond]

I've Got a Bad Bad Love...for Alexander Ebert

Alexander Ebert photographed by Adarsha Benjamin © 2010

Alexander Ebert can't stop reinventing himself.  This time Ebert has reinvented himself....as himself. Thank god.  Ebert's new album has some incredible songs. I've always loved Ebert's songwriting and musical delivery; akin to the virtuosity of  David Byrne, with the work ethic of Arthur Russel. After a stint as the lead singer and founder of the hippie-big-band-orchestra Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, who enjoyed a seemingly flash point meteoric rise, Alexander Ebert has gotten back together with himself.  His album, titled Alexander, is more self exploratory, somewhat somber, and purely honest.

Text by Oliver Maxwell Kupper for Pas Un Autre

Alexander Ebert - Bad Bad Love

[audio:http://www.pasunautre.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/alexanderbadbadlove.mp3|titles=alexanderbadbadlove]

Alexander Ebert - Glimpses

[audio:http://www.solidgoldrags.com/music/09-Glimpses.mp3|titles=alexanderglimpses]

Soundtrack to Your Life: The Cannanes "We Drink Bitter" 1986

One of the coolest bands to emerge from the pop/shoe gaze scene in 1980s Sydney, Australia, The Cannanes have all the right angsty ingredients in their their 1986/87 album Witchetty Pole - which is more of a mish mash diary/collage of soul searching ballads and love tender absurdity.

The Cannanes - "We Drink Bitter"

[audio:http://www.pasunautre.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/19-We-Drink-Bitter.mp3|titles=19 We Drink Bitter]

Sountrack to Your Life: Alexander 'Skip' Spence "Diana"

One of the most overlooked albums of the 60's, Alexander Lee 'Skip' Spence's 1969 Album "Oar."  Skip Spence was the co-founder of the band Moby Grape. As legend goes on the day of his release from a mental hospital, where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, he drove a motorcycle, dressed in only his pajamas, directly to Nashville to record his only solo album, with no other musicians appearing on it. 

Skip Spence - Diana

[audio:http://www.pasunautre.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/03-Diana.mp3|titles=03 Diana]

Bonne Saint Valentin.....À toi, pour toujours

'Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin' Tony Frank ©

Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg - J'taime Moi Non Plus

[audio:http://www.pasunautre.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Jane-Birkin-Serge-Gainsbourg-Jtaime-moi-non-plus.mp3|titles=Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg - J'taime moi non plus]

Power, Corruption, Lies

Song from New Order's second album, "Power, Corruption, Lies," which was released in 1983. Cover design is by iconic graphic, art designer Peter Saville.

Mp3::New Order - Your Silent Face

[audio:http://www.solidgoldrags.com/music/06%20Your%20Silent%20Face.mp3|titles=Your Silent Face]

The Chris Montez Story

Hailed as a successor to Ritchie Valens, after Valens died in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper, on the day most recall as "the day the music died."  Big shoes to fill.  Born Ezekiel Montanez, Chris Montez was only a teenager when his first recorded his hit "Lets Dance." He toured the south during the Civil Rights movement with Smoky Robinson and Sam Cooke. He even went on tour in the UK, as a headliner for the Beatles; and famously brawled with John Lennon.  Severely under appreciated and slightly less known, Chris Montez  is the resurrection of  music on the day music apparently died, and still is the definition of rock n' roll.  A documentary about his life, El Viaje Musical de Ezekiel Montanez: The Chris Montez Story, is currently in production. More info here.

[audio:http://www.pasunautre.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/1962-Chris-Montez-Lets-Dance.mp3|titles=1962 - Chris Montez - Let's Dance]

Ariel Pinks Loses Mind and Exclusive Photos of the Second and Final Night of the Rock n’ Roll Circus at Lincoln Center

Ariel Pink plays an incredible set as the headliner act of the second night of the Rock n' Roll Circus at Lincoln Center.  Despite seeming aloof and on the very brink of a complete emotional collapse, Ariel Pink keeps it all together with the hybrid patina of a late life French crooner and a divorced Japanese master of ceremonies at a turtle racing bar in some one horse town in middle America.  Wearing a sequined sweater that twinkled in the spotlights, Ariel Pink played only a few songs when someone made the poor decision to rush the stage to tell him the police were outside to shut down the show. Ariel Pink proceeded to nonchalantly walk off stage and out of the building; leaving the music of one his tracks still playing, while the confusion of the audience was suffocating. Albeit, the night was one to remember, we can hope that a cultural establishment such as Lincoln Center will have more events like this one. Click to see more photos after the jump...

'

Photos and Text by Oliver Maxwell Kupper for Pas Un Autre

Happy New Year! Now Here's a Golden Oldie From Slim Whitman....

This song spent 11 whole weeks at #1 on the UK charts when it came out in 1955.  Wake up and enjoy the cool cool sunshine its a brand new year!  Sure to be weird.  Stay tuned.  Onward....

Slim Whitman - Rose-Marie

[audio:http://www.pasunautre.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Slim-Whitman-Rose-Marie.mp3|titles=Slim Whitman - Rose Marie]