On the decks
Various artists - Microtonal Music
Seven artists from the Moonside roster were asked to make a microtonal piece, the sole criterion being that the harmonic content not be confined to 12-tone equal temperament. How they approached this was up to them, whether free-form or adhering to a specific tuning system.
I am a huge fan of microtonal stuff (Indian classical, Sruthi ftw!) and these interpretations by some folks on the Moonside Tapes label hit the spot. Jonathan Deasy really nails it with his Perception Piece, but the other tracks are not to be missed. The physical release is sold out but the digital is name your price - a steal!
Gregory Darden - Forgotten Gardens
A local hero, Greg is one of the nicest folks I've met. He worked for years at a favorite record store and the conversations about music we'd get into must have infuriated the boss, but sold plenty of records to me in the end. Greg wasn't making music at the time and I'm glad to have waited patiently for his current output.
Forgotten Dreams is his most recent release and is a bit of a departure from the previous two releases. The latter consisting more of longform pieces and this one shorter, more inclusive works. I love the thought and emotion that resides within these shorter pieces, consistently leaving you craving for more, whereas the previous longform pieces would end and leave you grasping at the silence left behind. Highly recommended listening.
