Various Artists - Musique Du Jouet

Label : Novel Cell Poem - NCP-010

Country : Japan

Year : 2001

Format : CD

I am still alive and I have seen the comments. Somehow I missed some Google security update wrt Google Drive download links, even had a deadline. Hopefully I can fix this without much trouble, but perhaps this early Christmas present can tide you over. Before yuletide sets in, that is.

This is one CD I've had my eyes on for awhile, never really finding the right Discogs seller or Japanese auction to snipe. Until now, that is. I've laid clear my huge interest in Toypop scene in the past, both through posts on this very blog and lists on another. This CD is a good showcase of the variety of sounds produced in this cross-continent yet seemingly tiny movement, and it makes for a good collected companion to the sort of "thrown-against-the-wall" nature of my playlist. 

As for now, "musique du jouet" still languishes in a sort of obscurity that I hope changes in the future. If only a little bit of exposure, it's a beautiful and rich assortment of sounds for anyone willing to lend an ear. At this point I oughtta write a book on it.

Click the CD

Scavenger Quartet - Whistling For Leftovers

Label : Phonetic Records - PR 0901 SQ / Snowdonia

Year : 2001

Country : US / EU

Format : CD

 

Some soundtracks for imaginary films. This rotating cast of a quartet is headed by the great Frank Pahl who uses his typical exploits (toys and whistling, mostly) to create wild if not incongruent compositions, though the latter could be attributed to this being something of a collection of commissions than a proper album.

An instrumental Only A Mother in some ways, their following album is much more focused. Maybe it will hit these almost dead hallways sometime soon? Breathe a little life into it.

(click the CD)

Dirk (,) Rodney - La Noque Que Durissima

Label : Frog Peak Music

Year : 2001

Country : US

Format : CDr

I've had this for awhile and I either A. forgot to post it or B. thought it didn't fit the mold of the blog. Well, here it is. The mysterious (pre) minimalist Liverpuldian composer put to disc for the first time. 

Purported image of the legendary sound arranger.

It would cool if this were truly the case. However, noted Rodney fan Larry Polansky is the real brains and brawn of this little charade. Don't find out the truth about your heroes, kids. Of course, fake composers are not totally foreign to this blog, see Frank Weghardt (which I need to reupload, great little EP). The amount of effort put into this little song and dance is pretty admirable. Someone (Larry, I presume) went through the trouble of creating whole compositions and even a website in his "honor". There's also a webzine article dedicated to this, if that isn't making it, I don't know what is.

Brought to me and then to you, the listener, by the good people at Frog Peak. They also released "Happily Ever After" by Randy Hostetler, an album near and dear to my hearts and minds, and distributed the Dennis Báthory-Kitsz cassettes I need to reup. Anyway, here it is.

Enjoie

Noggin - Listen Not To Vain Words Of Empty Tongue

Label : Unread Records & Tapes - #40

Country : US

Year : 2001

Format : C60

Michael Griffen - Violin

Eric Ostrowski - Guitar

Recorded live in Seattle and Sacramento June, 2001