21st Century: A Man, A Woman And A City highlights some of John Foxx's best songs from 2000 onwards. These include his work with Louis Gordon, John Foxx And The Maths and Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) as well as collaborations with Gazelle Twin, The Belbury Circle (Ghost Box), Matthew Dear, Jori Hulkkonen and The Soft Moon. There are also two brand new John Foxx And The Maths tracks A Many Splendoured Thing and A Man And A Woman . And two previously unreleased remixes by OMD and ADULT. The album closer brings together John Foxx And The Maths with Gary Numan for the first time on Talk (Are You Listening To Me?). The album's stunning cover image was created by John Foxx for the project.
Japan's Ghost has always been a truly enigmatic kind of rock band. From the beginning, they've only recorded when they felt it was necessary, and only when they had something utterly new to say. In other words, there isn't a set Ghost sound. They turn themselves inside out on each recording, and no two sound the same. In Stormy Nights is no exception. It is as different from 2004's Hypnotic Underworld as it was from 1999's Snuffbox Immanence and its completely separate companion album released on the same day. Ghost can play everything from strange mystical folk music – notice the gorgeous Celtic-Asian flavor of "Motherly Bluster" that opens this set – to flipped out, spaced out psychedelic rock; give a listen to the cover of "Caledonia" by freak noise rockers Cromagnon, and get your head ripped open.
Lambchop seem like one the most domesticated bands around. Maybe it’s because their sound, despite the fullness that comes from so many members, retains its subtlety and subdued complexity with the loose feel of a pick-up band among friends. Or maybe it’s because in songs such as “Nashville Parent” and “The New Cobweb Summer,” singer / lyricist Kurt Wagner always seems to be wandering his house, thinking deep thoughts about dogs and sponges, and doling wryly homespun wisdom like some brilliantly addled Lewis Grizzard. He finds inspiration in such housebound activities as walking the dog, verbally sparring with the missus, and drinking in the backyard. In a sense, this is the flipside of the typical country concerns of cheating spouses and barstool life, playing up not the heartache that haunts most songs, but the mundanity of the day-to-day grind that everyone faces—as well as the small particulars that make it worthwhile.
Extensive 3cd set exploring the uk’s avant-garde and experimental scene in the wake of punk rock and post-punk. Ambient improvisation, spoken word, solo and group performances, percussion pieces, noise, tape manipulation, modern classical, musique concrete, found sound, serial composition…