Bill Bruford has updated his blog. In it he talks about how he is increasingly attracted to recording with people “for whom rock is a foreign language.” Mentioned in dispatches is composer, Colin Riley, whose compositions can be heard on, Skin And Wire by the ensemble pianocircus and feature Bill Bruford on drums and percussion - the last album Bill recorded before his retirement.
We’ve got a couple of copies of Skin And Wire to give away to a couple of lucky people who can tell me the name of the company where you can buy albums and mp3s from as mentioned on Colin’s newspage. If you’re unfamiliar with the contents of Colin’s newspage then take a peek here for the tiniest of hints.
Once you’ve done that send an email to competitions@dgmlive.com with your entry marked SKIN & WIRE (otherwise you’ll be lost in a world of spam), along with your postal address. The winner will be announced on Saturday 26th September.
In the meantime, you can listen to a selection of tracks from the album over at the dedicated Skin And Wire myspace site, and take a look at what All About Jazz had to say about the album. There’s also an illuminating interview with Colin Riley conducted by Henry Potts where Colin talks about the making of the album. You can also read my take on it over on the blog.
Colin musical interests and influences are diverse (take a listen to some of Colin's other music over on his myspace site) but he does confess to a liking for the odd spot of King Crimson now and then. Here then, in no particular order, is Colin Riley's top ten KC tracks.
1. Vrooom – This provides everything that excites me about rock music; aggression, dirt, riffs, heavy basslines. KC do this with the added interest of unexpected twists.
2. B-Boom (live version on album of same name) – I’m very attracted to music which draws you in to the small things and to quality of the sound itself. Simple music where there is space. Ambient music if you like. Bill’s grooves on this are great.
3. Frame By Frame – I first heard this when I was at York University when the album came out. The catchy blend of Steve Reich-esque minimalism, heavy riffs and that 7/4 lolloping groove make this so original. And that ending!
4. Indiscipline – The way dramatic tension is created here is again a one-off in rock music. The absurdist lyrics really appeal.
5. Dig Me / No Warning – This breaks out of groove-based music. It also has a much more freely chromatic harmonic language. The blend of improvisation and treated voice overlays is exciting.
6. Cat Food – my favourite ‘early’ song. Has all the anarchy that excites me about English rock music.
7. People – Tony Levin has produced such a great bassline here. His playing is so distinctive.
8. Matte Kudasai – Great to see the hard edge of Crimson warn away and something unusually lyrical allowed out. Adrian Belew charms the listener with his snake-charming, Hawailian-style, seagull-calling guitar lines.
9. Elephant Talk – I think Adrian Belew is wonderful on this. Packed full of energy and ideas.
10. Larks Tongues In Aspic Part II – I am easily seduced by music in a series of sections and by ever-changing metres. This has both.
We’ve got a couple of copies of Skin And Wire to give away to a couple of lucky people who can tell me the name of the company where you can buy albums and mp3s from as mentioned on Colin’s newspage. If you’re unfamiliar with the contents of Colin’s newspage then take a peek here for the tiniest of hints.
Once you’ve done that send an email to competitions@dgmlive.com with your entry marked SKIN & WIRE (otherwise you’ll be lost in a world of spam), along with your postal address. The winner will be announced on Saturday 26th September.
In the meantime, you can listen to a selection of tracks from the album over at the dedicated Skin And Wire myspace site, and take a look at what All About Jazz had to say about the album. There’s also an illuminating interview with Colin Riley conducted by Henry Potts where Colin talks about the making of the album. You can also read my take on it over on the blog.
Colin musical interests and influences are diverse (take a listen to some of Colin's other music over on his myspace site) but he does confess to a liking for the odd spot of King Crimson now and then. Here then, in no particular order, is Colin Riley's top ten KC tracks.
1. Vrooom – This provides everything that excites me about rock music; aggression, dirt, riffs, heavy basslines. KC do this with the added interest of unexpected twists.
2. B-Boom (live version on album of same name) – I’m very attracted to music which draws you in to the small things and to quality of the sound itself. Simple music where there is space. Ambient music if you like. Bill’s grooves on this are great.
3. Frame By Frame – I first heard this when I was at York University when the album came out. The catchy blend of Steve Reich-esque minimalism, heavy riffs and that 7/4 lolloping groove make this so original. And that ending!
4. Indiscipline – The way dramatic tension is created here is again a one-off in rock music. The absurdist lyrics really appeal.
5. Dig Me / No Warning – This breaks out of groove-based music. It also has a much more freely chromatic harmonic language. The blend of improvisation and treated voice overlays is exciting.
6. Cat Food – my favourite ‘early’ song. Has all the anarchy that excites me about English rock music.
7. People – Tony Levin has produced such a great bassline here. His playing is so distinctive.
8. Matte Kudasai – Great to see the hard edge of Crimson warn away and something unusually lyrical allowed out. Adrian Belew charms the listener with his snake-charming, Hawailian-style, seagull-calling guitar lines.
9. Elephant Talk – I think Adrian Belew is wonderful on this. Packed full of energy and ideas.
10. Larks Tongues In Aspic Part II – I am easily seduced by music in a series of sections and by ever-changing metres. This has both.
