Slow Hands, No Cry

Tanisha's Pick: This guy performed at the Royal wedding this past week and I was wondering where I had heard the name before and finally remembered he and his equally talented siblings were on Britain's Got Talent a few years ago. Loved this cover - a flawless execution.

No Woman, No Cry : Sheku Kanneh-Mason

Sudhir's Pick: Since we are going with British music for this week, I am sharing this song I heard a few days ago by a former One Directioner. I like the jazzy feel and if you listen to it you can tell exactly why I would be drawn to it. I love how different our music tastes are. The cello piece was exceptional. Enjoy!

Slow Hands : Niall Horan

Jazz and More

It's been a while since we've had a guest sharing music on the blog. From family holidays to the mountains, dressing up, hot chocolate experiments, and teaming up with water guns against our brothers, our memories go a long way back. 

This week, Geetanjali is bringing two favourites from her playlist. 


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Hey everyone! This is Geetanjali, Tanisha’s flatmate, and friend since that awkward age when mud used to be a tasty delight.

My journey with music is a little difficult to describe. However, the closest I can get to articulating the value of music to me is in saying that it has served as a portal to many imaginary worlds – similar to the pools in the Land Between the Worlds introduced in C.S. Lewis’, ‘The Magician’s Nephew.’ My current interest usually depends on the kind of world I’m most keen on visiting at the moment. That being said, there are some places I like visiting very very often!

Take Five by the Dave Brubeck Band is best accompanied with a good cup of tea and is perfect to listen to on rainy days and windy nights :)

Take Five : The Dave Brubeck Quartet

This next song was originally done by The Doors. However, I prefer Nigel Kennedy and Jaz Coleman’s concerto version of it. Listening to The End conjures up imagery of a bittersweet trek through the Himalayas away from an oppressive Tibet. 

The End : Jaz Coleman & Nigel Kennedy

Much Needed Break

Hey hey!

This has been my trip for this week. You will know why. It does all the things I like in music. He will be huge soon, I think. It's my prediction. Take a listen. :)

See you in a few weeks.

-Sudhir

Lou Lou : Albin Lee Meldau

I've been telling you about my short weekend trip to the mountains, but I am stressing it more with my song choice today. The city tires me out- the noise and pollution is often claustrophobic. Spent two days with fresh air and beautiful mountain-scapes. Came home to find this song in my email. I don't remember signing up to this composers updates, but I guess I did. Instrumental music often connects me to nature. This track especially with it's raw acoustic recording with the creaking of the piano bench and the pedals. 

Glad you had a bit of a break this weekend too.

P.S. Great song choice. Listening on repeat. And yes, see you soonly. :D 

Seven : Richard P John

Musical Interlude: February

I'm Mario, a filmmaker, actor and musician among other things. Coming from a family that loves music, I grew up listening to everything from the Beatles and WHAM to Illayaraja and SP Balasubramanyam. I'll be ever grateful for this, which has moulded my artistic sensibilities and made me appreciate art and music from around the globe.

Lingus : Snarky Puppy

This is a band I discovered just a couple of years ago. It's tough to categorize their music with influences varying from Jazz, to Funk to R&B and what impressed me the most is the level of composition and just how each one playing is a master at his or her chosen instrument. Absolute delight to watch. Don't miss the solo by Cory Henry! And yes, listen to the whole damn album. Its a treat, I guarantee it. 

Horse with No Name : America

This is a throwback to when not every second song was about your boo/bae walking out on you. When bands wrote songs about desert scenes and journeys. The simple melodies and no-nonsense songwriting in this song paints a perfect picture when you listen to the lyrics which is quite apt when you find out the song was inspired by a Dali painting in the band's studio. 

Firsts

Editorial Note:

It was Sudhir's birthday this past week, the end of the first month of 2016 and the start of the Royal Mumble, another project that Sudhir is working on. It is also almost our anniversary of the blog. We are proud that for almost a year we have been able to continuously bring you new music that has hopefully entertained and inspired you. This has been our first year and we have no plans of stopping anytime soon. You are welcome, world.


Sudhir's Pick
T, 

It was so great reconnecting and hanging out with most of the old gang this week. It reminded me of the old days. And I looked for a (new) song but sounded like music that was around then. Super glad I found one. Even though the band chosen is a decade old, this is off their new album and it is glorious. Please to also be getting lost in the rest of their songs. I feel I might win this week.... might. 

Tanisha's Pick

So, here's something a bit different for this week. It's not your usual music genre, but give it a listen. 

Ludovico Einaudi is my most favourite contemporary classical composer. In his last 3 albums he's been including mixes of other genres and styles, more so with electronic and synth additions. I hadn't really paid much attention to these albums. I was sort of under the impression that they wouldn't be as good as classical pieces. Last week I listened to his newest album, Elements. Was quite awed by his ability to make his music tell stories (with and without the electronica) The simplicity of the melodies, the complexities of the layers in each piece; he never fails to impress.

This is his description of his album, Elements - "I saw new frontiers - on the edge between what I knew and what I didn't know - that I had long wanted to explore: creation myths, the periodic table, Euclid's geometry, Kandinsky's writings, the matter of sound, and of colour, the stems of wild grass in a meadow, the shapes of the landscape. For months I wandered in a seemingly chaotic mix of images, thoughts and feelings. Then gradually, everything came together in a dance, as if all the elements were parts of the same world, and myself within it."

The Christmas Edition

It's the best time of the year- everything about December. Two years ago, I spent a year in Sri Lanka with my cousins and that Christmas was one of my most memorable.

Living with these two other musical people meant that we filled up the month with things like symphony orchestra concerts, church choir musicals and many many hours singing along to Christmas music at home. Between us, our favourites cover quite a variety of genres from classical, opera, indie and alternative.

For some extra love this season, they're sharing four selections for you all this week. Merry Christmas! :)

From Andre - 

Since it is Christmas, I'm choosing two Christmassy songs. They are not quite traditional because I am tired of hearing the same tunes over and over again. 

O Come, O Come Emmanuel : Citizen Shade

This song is my favourite Christmas song now. I love the minimalism of the piano playing, the way he varied the tune to make it a counter point to the lyrics. I also love the earthy quality of his voice and the amazing range he displays. 

Mvmt 1 Rejoice Rejoice : The Oh Hellos

I love this song by The Oh Hellos because it is so unconventional. I like how they have arranged it with a focus on harmony, and acoustics. It invokes a slightly colder and darker feeling than the original songs but that just places more emphasis on the lyrics and the vocals.

From Cheryl- 

Carol of the Bells : The Bird and the Bee
I love covers of songs, especially when it has a twist to it, and this version has twists everywhere! Slightly creepy and yet still magical, this quirky cover is one of my favourite versions of this old familiar Christmas carol. 

O Magnum Mysterium : Nordic Chamber Choir

This piece of music has long been one of my favourites but I only found out this year that its Latin text is about the birth of Jesus! Though I don't care much for the translation, I love the music because of its light peaceful comforting feeling. I've listened to this at times when I've needed comfort or when I've needed to be led back to God. My favourite part of the music is at 4:38 which is the point where there are 8 different parts spanning 3 1/2 octaves from D2 to G5. 

Musical Interlude: July Edition

Wesley Newton never ceases to amaze me. Since our school days, his passion, talent and faith have defined his actions and these virtues continue to guide him. Coupled with loads of hard work, they have made Wesley well-known in the Bangalore music circuit as a musician (most recently of Blushing Satellite), and now entrepreneur and educator as the Director of the NAD School of Music. I have known Wes for close to twenty years now and I am overjoyed that he agreed to share his gift with us this week. You don't want to miss this.

Tower of Power : Diggin' on James Brown

This was the first song I heard that changed me from being a predominantly rock drummer to being a soul/r&b/funk drummer. "Tower Of Power" has been my favourite funk band for at least 5 years now, and is one of my biggest influences musically. This song of theirs was written as a tribute to the godfather of soul, James Brown, and has an infectiously happy vibe that is sure to get your body grooving. 





Joshua Redman : Jazz Crimes

This brilliant song by jazz tenor saxophonist, Joshua Redman, has my favourite drummer, Brian Blade, playing on it. He changed my life. No kidding! Watching him play made me realize as to what kind of drummer I really want to be like, 'cause I had never seen a drummer play in such union with the kit before, and that is exactly how I want to be. He is so responsive to the music, and his feel, flow, control, time and musicality are god-like. Okay, coming back to the song now - Jazz Crimes has a brilliant mix of funk and swing, and the syncopation on it is extremely catchy! It has a great melody, and some really well constructed improvisation too, so all in all, it makes for a must listen.

Musical Interlude: May Edition II

Another familiar face of the musical theatre scene in the city is Nisha Idicula. She jumps into any tune from symphonic metal to acapella. Acoustic tracks have a special soft spot. She has sung and collaborated with musical acts in Bombay and Bangalore and apart from music she sells news for a living. Listen to the two tracks she is sharing with you this week.

Snarky Puppy - What About Me? (We Like It Here) 

As a happy person, I love music that gets me moving. Instrumental music is usually associated with go to sleep kind of tracks which have the piano in the background to add that calming effect. Then came along Snarky Puppy.

Snarky Puppy is a Brooklyn, New York-based instrumental fusion band. The album ‘We Like it Here’ was recorded and filmed live with a studio audience over four nights in the Netherlands and is out of this world. The band is led by Michael League, a Grammy Award-winning bassist, guitarist, composer, arranger, producer, label owner, and bandleader based out of Brooklyn, New York.

One listen to this album and this song and I can promise you that your jaw will drop with the insane amount of talent you hear and that you will be as hooked as I am. 

MisterWives- Reflections

Pop music is usually associated with the Taylor Swift’s of the world but MisterVives has a fresh take on Indie-Pop that makes you want to be happy. Their sound is infectious and catchy, the kind that sticks in your head in the good way.