But I'm back! I'm thinking I'll have more brain space for listening to music when I've released my album and finished my release shows, but who knows. This 200 album challenge is proving... challenging.
I've never thought much about Enya's music. I know her general vibe but I couldn't name a single song of hers... This is a good one to get back into listening though because it's relatively chill and easy listening. Lots of vocal and strings for texture, which I love. SUPER dramatic at times. The soft organ sounds and long reverb tails feel like she's singing into an empty church.
I could listen to this album on repeat to continue learning about percussion and building texture while also leaving space. Honestly, the drama in "Orinoco Flow" reminds me of Kristen Martell's most recent album, or anything produced by Gabrielle Papillon. While I'm not sure if she's the one who suggested this album, I'm sure she has listened to some Enya in her life!
Man the 80s were weird.
Breaths as snare hits are so very 80s. Gab did this on Kristen's last record! (Can you tell I've been listening to a lot of Kristen Martell lately?)
I REALLY want to know who sent me this album... I should have written down everyone's name on my list when I compiled it. If it was you, send me a message!!
"Legs" is so weird. I'm trying to figure out if their recorded a pig snorting to get the sound of the bass/kick... SERIOUSLY who sent me this album?
I spent 10 minutes searching... it was Lee Rosevere - an AMAZING remixer from Charlottetown (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)
And it all makes sense now.
Favourite on this album: "Backbeat"
“Living For The City” – the panning bass synth is AMAZING.
“Higher Ground” is such a classic. It actually blows my mind how simple the drum beat is in this one for how groovy it is. In podcasts I’ve listened to about music production, I’ve often heard “if you take every track and play it solo, you’ll notice that the musicians weren’t amazing on their own”. This song makes me think of that, not because it’s not an amazing song, actually the opposite… but as I listen to each individual component, no one was playing anything all that complicated. It all has to do with arrangement.
This whole album is an amazing reminder of how impactful simple melodies can be. People crave predictability and leaning into those repetitive melody lines will make a song stick more with listeners.
Takeaway (nothing new…) Stevie Wonder is an absolute legend.
For some reason I thought this album was WAY older than 2007.
"Undun": The saxophone solo is *chefs kiss*.
Also, feeling some Ian Sherwood vibes on this tune. We saw him at The Carleton a few weeks ago and he played the piano and the saxophone at the same time.. Unreal.
This record makes me think I should start taking piano lessons again to learn to play Jazz. I only learned classical from my teacher (who was amazing and I still love seeing her handwriting in my books all these years later).. but I feel like I am missing out by not playing jazz. Anyone know a good teacher in Halifax?
So many great bass lines in this album as well.. I love the tone of stand-up bass (which Alex will be playing at my full band shows!!)
I have the same notes about melody on this record - simplicity is queen!