Now Playing, April 2009

Hey everyone… time for another NP-list, stuff I am currently listening to. I added amazon-links to each entry, just click the cover of each album or the link at the end of the respective description to go to the Amazon-page for that album to listen to samples and/or purchase it (some of them, like the Sfogli-one, are available as MP3-downloads as well!)

“There’s Hope” – Marco Sfogli
I just rediscovered that album, I listened to it a lot about this time last year, too. Marco’s an amazing guitar-player from Italy, and you might have heard his very tasteful playing on the most recent solo-album by Dream Theater’s James LaBrie (I hear Marco will play on the next one too).
This is an all instrumental album with some amazing playing, combining taste, great melodies and amazing chops. Which makes sense, as Marco claims Kee Marcello (formerly the guitarist for Europe, check out the “Out Of This World” album) as a big influence, and Kee too was able to combine those factors as well.
I love Kee as well, so I know exactly what Marco likes about him.
Check out “Still Hurts” and “Sunset Lights”, those are my current two favorites on this album, just beautiful… insanely melodic! Amazon-link

“United States” – Paul Gilbert & Freddie Nelson
There’s no Amazon-link for this one yet, as its not available on Amazon-yet… it was only released in Japan so far, but should be out in other countries soon. Thanks, Marcus, for letting me hear it!

Freddie Nelson is a singer/songwriter/guitarist from Paul’s hometown, so now, they collaborated on an album, with Freddie singing and Paul focussing on the guitar-work, which absolutely rocks (as usual). Great stuff, a lot of fun to listen to!

“Soundscapes, Vol.2: A Blessing Of Tears”- Robert Fripp

This is part 2 in a series that Robert Fripp did a few years ago. As the name suggests, this is a very “soundscapey” album, very dreamy. It has a certain soundtrack-quality to it, like perfect music for a trip through space or something. Very atmospheric, lush, relaxed, mysterious-sounding. The perfect soundtrack to sit outside and look at the stars at night. Amazon link

Kind Of Blue – Miles Davis

Its been 50 years now since this album was released, and of course, its a total classic, probably the most successful jazz-album ever. For good reason too, because the playing on here is amazing, and the use of modes was quite trail-blazing for its time, kinda creating a new trend. I recently read a very good book about the making of the album, and reading that made me listen to it again. Even if you ignore the “theory” side of it, its a wonderful, relaxing album to listen to… I love to do so, closing my eyes, and can almost imagine watching the recordings in NYC back in the late 50s. Amazon-link

Mysterious Mountain – Alan Hovhaness, performed by the Seattle Symphony

I wasnt familiar with this composer before, but heard a bit of the “Mysterious Mountain” on classical radio. It was quite amazing, because the work sounds so mysterious and strange (in a very good way), a bit like a soundtrack, and you can easily imagine a huge, mysterious mountain with all its beauty and danger while listening to this. Amazon link
Well, that’s it for now, I hope you’ll like some of those choices!