Ute – September 2019

A truly mind-blowing deep dive into one of the most important works within the canon of 20th Century experimental music, stretching across 3 LPs and 2 CDs, as well as containing a 124-page book, Alvin Lucier's "I Am Sitting in a Room. Archival Recordings 1969–2019" on Sound On Paper Editions gathers 10 previously unavailable renderings of this astounding composition, created by the composer between 1969 and 2019. Illumining an unprecedented level of depth, nuance, and insight from a work that can never be the same thing twice, this stunning box set is issued in a limited edition of 500 hand-numbered copies and won't sit around for long. As highly recommended as they come!

Michael Nyman & Ute Lemper - Songbook (1991) {Decca 435 227-2}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 278 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 127 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 17 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1991 Decca Records | 435 227-2
Vocal / Jazz / Cabaret / Classical / Modern / Neo-Classical

This has to be one of my favorite CD's. Michael Nyman is normally thought of an advance Phillip Glass like Movie Theme composer, "The Piano" being his most famous piece, but with this CD he joins forces with Ute Lemper a multi-language singer of Cabaret & Jazz ballads.

Ute Lemper - Punishing Kiss (2000) {Decca POCF-1025, Japan Edition}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 393 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 163 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 90 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2000 Decca Records Japan | POCF-1025
Vocal / Pop / Art Pop / Baroque Pop / Cabaret / Contemporary Pop

Ute Lemper has developed a reputation as a successor to Lotte Lenya with the looks of Greta Garbo or Marlene Dietrich, a northern European chanteuse with a taste for the decadent sound of Weimar Germany; she is arguably the definitive interpreter of Kurt Weill for her generation. Punishing Kiss, her first album devoted primarily to songs by contemporary songwriters, extends her reputation by incorporating the work of artists influenced by Weill. Many listeners not previously familiar with her will be drawn in by the presence of previously unrecorded songs by Elvis Costello (who contributed three selections), Tom Waits (two), and Nick Cave (one). But the primary collaborators on the album are the members of the British group the Divine Comedy, who provide the backing tracks on most of the songs, and three compositions by group members Neil Hannon and Joby Talbot, with Hannon singing duet vocals on three tracks.

Ensemble Laude Novella - Ce moys de may (1998) {Helikon HCD1031}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 331 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 160 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 117 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1998 Helikon Records | HCD 1031
Classical / Medieval / 14th and early 15th centuries

As Notherners, we may be surprised to hear of Mediterraneans praising the month of May as eagerly as we do ourselves. Gathering around our bonfires on the last day of April, singing Northern May songs in shivering cold as a final farewell to Winter, we rather expect May to be full summer in Rome, Avignon or Barcelona. However, already in the Middle Ages, from Occitan troubadours of the 12th century onwards, we find the month of May celebrated as the true Spring month - not least in the present selection of songs and instrumental music from the late 14th and early 15th centuries. (Guillaume Legrant seems to be alone here in mentioning April as the suitable time for gathering flowers, but even then, the purpose seems to be preparations for coming May festivities…).