For a long time I felt like every album by an artist had to be better than the previous one, a concept nurtured by the Beatles and solidified by progressive rock. As I've gotten older, I've changed my mind. Continuous improvement is not only impossible after a certain plateau is reached, but it does a disservice to the music and to the musicians. Obviously a lot more could be said on this topic, but all of this is by way of saying that initial impressions of "more of the same" don't necessarily have to be derogatory. In the case of the High Llamas, "more of the same" is downright delightful. It'll take a few listens for me to fully absorb this, but since it's (on the surface anyway) similar to the last few albums by them, I know it will continue to yield its riches over time and never disappoint. Let the ear worms begin!
Playlist 2016-02-15:
*Anthony Braxton: The Complete Arista Recordings of Anthony Braxton (discs 3, 4)
*Anthony Braxton: Piano Music (1968-2000)/Performed by Genevieve Foccroulle (disc 9)
*Anthony Braxton: 23 Standards (Quartet) 2003 (disc 3)
*John Coltrane: The Classic Quartet: The Complete Impulse! Recordings (discs 1, 2)
*John Coltrane Quartet: 1962-11-22 Copenhagen (CDR) (disc 1)
*Mahavishnu Orchestra: Between Nothingness & Eternity
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2016-02-05 “Up and Atom” RVA Noise Showcase, WRIR Party, Richmond VA (wav)
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2016-02-08 “Optose” (wav)
*Sun Ra: iTunes remaster bonus cuts (selections)
*Various artists: Anthology of Noise and Electronic Music #7: Seventh and Last a-Chronology 1930-2012 (disc 2)
*Beach Boys: Landlocked (soniclovenoize reconstruction) (boot CDR)
*Beach Boys: Adult/Child (soniclovenoize reconstruction) (boot CDR)
*Beatles: 1+
*Olga Bell: Krai
*Elvis Costello: Trust
*D’Angelo and the Vanguard: Black Messiah
*Dark Carpet: 2016-02-10 Parkside Lounge, NYC (aif)
*Bob Dylan: The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Volume 12 (discs 1, 2)
*Mike Elder/Harry Forrest/Greg Jordan/Sam Byrd: 2016-01-29 (wav)
*Flying Lotus: Until the Quiet Comes
*Funkadelic: First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate (disc 3)
*Jimi Hendrix & the Cry of Love: First Rays of the New Rising Sun (soniclovenoize reconstruction)
*High Llamas: Here Come the Rattling Trees
*Mars Volta: Frances the Mute
*National Health: 1979-11-05 Boston (CDR)
*Soft Machine: Turns on Paradiso (March 29, 1969)
*Brian Wilson: No Pier Pressure (side 3)
Interesting point. I'm not familiar with the High Llamas, but I am familiar with that dynamic. Why mess too much with something that works? That said, the possibilities of music (even within a limited framework) are infinite.
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