Great Song Shootout Reaction (Part 2) at Linn Kasa
Today I was welcomed by Laura and Brian to their Linn Kasa, in preparation for our future event called The Great Song Shootout, April 22nd at devAAudio (3:00-5:00). You are invited (seating is limited, register here).
Yesterday devAAudio hosted and played 3 songs of our 6 songs shootout for her, and today Laura finished with her three for me. For the upcoming Great Song Shootout we will be combining resources with our friendly local Linn Kasa owners Brian and Laura. You have an opportunity to attend and share a special song of yours with everyone, and listen for yourself. Sign up here. More details above and below.
Like me Laura also happened to pick three vastly different songs to share, and played them on three different systems. Here is the full video of the conversation, and list of equipment. Our event today wasn’t a “gear-fest”. In fact, since she hosted and I listened, I failed to document the various systems & equipment we heard (see the video). But the point of our exercise is a SONG shootout, not a gear war. We focused on music.
The first song she played was “Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie” by Joanna Newsom, off her 2004 album The Milk-Eyed Monster. The song seems as “easy” to sing as to say to the title five times fast. Just as unique as the song title, is the combo of singer songwriter poet harpist who plucks to her own tune. I had not heard the tune prior to our shootout, and alas I was also unfamiliar with Joanna. Her vocal “texture” is thin and fine, which I suppose can happen when you make your first recording at 17. She’s very intriguing, and I’m anxious to hear more from her library, and hear her voice mature. Her poetry and artistry is mature beyond her years. Beyond mine. Response video starting here.
The second song from a Kansan called Moondog, who’s 1969 album Sax Pax for a Sax album featured the song “Bird’s Lament”. This song is in memory of Kc’s Charlie “Bird” Parker. I had never heard the real recording or source for this tune.
But if you watched & listened to TV adds in the early 2000’s like me, you may have noticed (samples) of this song on numerous advertisements, including for Lincoln
Navigator and Cadillacs. The original version is the real deal. This song features a 9 saxophonist wind ensemble, all from the London Saxophonic. They add such tone(s), texture (s) and bounce via multiple horns, and swing to this very unique arrangement. It’s a great song to get a sense of acoustic music, and wide staging. It’s got a killer hook worthy of a welcome ear worm. See our reaction video here at the 13 minute mark. Moondog is a unique Kansan born in 1916, and you can learn a bit about him in the video.
The third song “Reminiscence” is largely piano violin duet work, with nary a word spoken or sung. It pulled me in, captivated me, and wrenched an emotional reaction. No chili pepper flake in the eye excuse here. See our YouTube reaction here. Olafur Arnalds (piano) and Alice Sara Ott (violin), picked a wise and compelling artist to inspire their work, Chopin, and named the release The Chopin Project. But this is so much more earthy and compelling than typical classical transcriptions. This song has less precision and more heart, and you can feel it.
In fact they even tampered with the piano with rags and other manipulations to “break” the perfect sound, and create a compelling sound palette that seems to make it more interesting. It somehow packs more emotional punch than lyric-less songs you might never have heard. Give it a hear.
With that spirit, if you would like to attend the Great Song Shootout Saturday April 22nd, 3-5 at devAAudio, you can sign up here, where you can submit your song(s). The event is free, and seating is limited to those who register. From the list of songs offered, Laura and I will curate a playlist for the listening event. After each song, we will seek discussions and reactions. You just might find your next new favorite song.
In Music,
Bri