David Torn: Only Sky

On May 4, 2015, “ECM” label released “Only Sky”, the 16th David Torn album. It was recorded in February 2014, at “Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center Concert Hall” in Troy, NY, and “Cell Labs” in New York City, and was produced by David Torn.

Personnel:

  • David Torn- guitars, oud, live-sampling and manipulation

Track listing:

All tracks by David Torn.

  1. At Least There Was Nothing
  2. Spoke With Folks
  3. OK, Shorty
  4. Was a Cave There…
  5. Reaching Barely, Sparely Fraught
  6. I Could Almost See the Room
  7. Only Sky
  8. So Much What
  9. A Goddamned Specific Unbalance

The New Pornographers: Together

On May 4, 2010, “Last Gang” label released “Together”, the fifth New Pornographers studio album. It was recorded in 2010, and was produced by Phil Palazzolo. Dan Bejar, Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins, Kurt Dahle, Tod Fancey and A.C.Newman.

Personnel:

  • Dan Bejar- vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, piano, organ, vibraphone, percussion
  • Kathryn Calder- vocals, keyboards, piano
  • Neko Case- vocals
  • John Collins- bass, acoustic guitar, keyboards,  kaossilator, Hagstrom 12 string
  • Kurt Dahle- drums, percussion
  • Todd Fancey- guitar, banjo
  • A. C. Newman- vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, banjo
  • Blaine Thurier– keyboards
  • Annie Clark- guitar solo
  • Zach Condon- trumpet
  • The Dap-Kings Horns
  • Cochemea Gastelum – baritone saxophone
  • Neal Sugarman – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Dave Guy – trumpet
  • Tara Szczygielski – violin
  • Ben Kalb – cello
  • Will Sheff– backing vocal

Track listing:

All tracks by Carl Newman, except where noted.

  1. Moves
  2. Crash Years
  3. Your Hands (Together)
  4. Silver Jenny Dollar – Dan Bejar
  5. Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
  6. My Shepherd
  7. If You Can’t See My Mirrors – Dan Bejar
  8. Up in the Dark
  9. Valkyrie in the Roller Disco
  10. A Bite Out of My Bed
  11. Daughters of Sorrow – Dan Bejar
  12. We End Up Together

The Cure: Pornography

On May 4, 1982, “Fiction Records” label released “Pornography”, the fourth Cure studio album. It was recorded January – April 1982, at “RAK Studios” in London, and was produced by Phil Thornalley, Robert Smith, Simn Gallup and Lol Tolhurst.

Personnel:

  • Robert Smith– vocals, guitar, keyboards, cello, engineer
  • Simon Gallup– bass guitar, keyboards
  • Lol Tolhurst– drums, keyboards
  • Mike Nocito – engineer
  • Phil Thornalley– engineer assistant
  • Ben Kelly – design
  • Michael Kostiff – sleeve photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup and Lol Tolhurst.

  1. One Hundred Years
  2. A Short Term Effect
  3. The Hanging Garden
  4. Siamese Twins
  5. The Figurehead
  6. A Strange Day
  7. Cold
  8. Pornography

Bobby Gregg

On May 3, 2014, Robert Grego aka Bobby Gregg, died aged 78. He was musician (drums) and record producer, he was member of the band The Hawks, which later become known as The Band. Gregg was best known for his work with Bob Dylan (Like a Rolling Stone), Simon & Garfunkel (The Sound of Silence), Peter, Paul & Mary and John Cale.

Steve Harley: Stranger Comes to Town

On May 3, 2010, “Absolute” label released “Stranger Comes to Town”, the fifth Steve Harley studio album. It was recorded in 2010, and was produced by Steve Harley.

Personnel:

  • Steve Harley– vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Barry Wickens– violin, viola, acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Robbie Gladwell– arpeggio guitar parts,12 string acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals
  • James Lascelles– keyboards, percussion, Hammond organ, Mini-Moog synthesizer, Hammered dulcimer, piano, melodica, synthesizer, strings synthesizer
  • Lincoln Anderson – bass, double bass
  • Stuart Elliott– drums, hand drums, percussion
  • Katie Brine – backing vocals
  • Kerr Nice – piano
  • Grace Nickalls – choir
  • Joe Dobson – choir
  • Marcus Greenwood – choir
  • Masie Colquhoun – choir
  • Maya Hodgson – choir
  • Sam Hewitson – choir
  • Nick Brine – engineer
  • Dougal Watt – studio assistant
  • Owen Morgan – studio assistant
  • Alex Edmunds – studio assistant
  • Nelson Milburn – studio assistant
  • Tom Povall – post production
  • Denis Blackham– mastering
  • Mark Scarfe at Aarlsen – design
  • Mike Callow – photography

Track listing:

  1. Faith & Virtue – Steve Harley, Barry Wickens
  2. Take the Men & the Horses Away – Lincoln Anderson, Stuart Elliot, Steve Harley, James Lascelles, Barry Wickens
  3. For Sale, Baby Shoes. Never Worn – Steve Harley
  4. Stranger Comes to Town – Steve Harley
  5. The Old Man – Steve Harley
  6. True Love Will Find You in the End – Daniel Johnston
  7. No Bleeding Hearts – Steve Harley
  8. Blinded With Tears – Jim Cregan, Steve Harley
  9. Before They Crash the Universe – Steve Harley
  10. 2,000 Years from Now – Robbie Gladwell, Steve Harley

Marc Ribot: Spiritual Unity

On May 3, 2005, “PI Recordings” label released “Spiritual Unity”, the 16th Marc Ribot album. It was recorded in October 2004, at “Orange Music Sound Studio” in West Orange, New Jersey, “Tonic” in New York City, and was produced by Marc Ribot.

Personnel:

  • Marc Ribot– guitar
  • Roy Campbell– trumpet, pocket trumpet
  • Henry Grimes– bass
  • Chad Taylor – drums
  • Francois Lardeau – engineer
  • Bill Mulvey – engineer
  • Dominik Huber – photography

 Track listing:

All tracks by Albert Ayler.

  1. Invocation
  2. Spirits
  3. Truth Is Marching In
  4. Saints
  5. Bells

 

Notwist: The Devil, You + Me

On May 2, 2008, “Big Store” and “City Slang” labels released “The Devil, You + Me”, the sixth Notwist album. It was recorded in 2008, at “Alien Research Center” and        “Teldex Studio” in Berlin, and was produced by Olaf Opal, Markus Acher, Micha Acher, Andi Haberi, Max Punktezahl and Martin Gretschmann.

Personnel:

  • Markus Acher – vocals, guitar
  • Micha Acher – bass
  • Andi Haberl – drums, melodica
  • Max Punktezahl – guitar, effects
  • Martin Gretschmann – programming
  • Kalle Zeier – guitar
  • Florian Steinleitner – MC
  • Andi Waelti – double bass
  • Carl Oesterhelt – organ, percussion
  • Saam Schlamminger – goblet drum
  • The Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra
  • Johannes Schleiermacher – baritone saxophone
  • Sophie Bernado – bassoon
  • Daniel Glatzel – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Gerhard Gschlössl – trombone
  • Aki Sebastian Ruhl, Fidelis Hentze – trumpets
  • Oliver Roth – flute
  • Marta Masini – alto flute
  • Gabriel Insuasty – oboe
  • Karl Ivar Refseth – vibraphone
  • Emmanuel Hahn, Josa Gerhard, Magdalena Brune, Matthew Lonson – violin
  • Martin Stupka – viola
  • Isabelle Klemt, Katie Lonson – cello
  • Anna Viechtl – harp
  • Daniel Glatzel – arrangements
  • Tobias Lehmann – recording engineer
  • Oliver Zülch – engineer
  • Olaf Opal – mixing
  • Mario Thaler – mixing
  • Sean Magee – mastering
  • Yokoland – cover, design

Track listing:

All lyrics by Markus Acher, all music by Markus Acher, Micha Acher, Andi Haberi, Max Punktezahl and Martin Gretschmann.

  1. Good Lies
  2. Where In This World
  3. Gloomy Planets
  4. Alphabet
  5. The Devil, You + Me
  6. Gravity
  7. Sleep
  8. On Planet Off
  9. Boneless
  10. Hands On Us
  11. Gone Gone Gone

Hideto Matsumoto

On May 2, 1998, Hideto Matsumoto, died aged 33. He was singer-songwriter, musician (guitar) and record producer. He was the lead guitarist of the rock band X Japan, founding member of the band Zilch, and had a successful solo career. X Japan rose to prominence in the late 80s and early 90s, credited as founders of the Japanese visual kei movement. Hide was seen as an icon of the Japanese youth rebelling against the country’s conformist society, and his death was labeled “the end of an era”. More than 70,000 people attended his funeral on May 7th, with security of 100 police officers, 170 security guards, police boats and helicopters. 21 people were hospitalized for injuries caused by the massive crowd at the funeral.

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