Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Trio
Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Trio
UK & European April 2010 Tour Coincides with the digitally remastered edition release of Reed’s 1975 seminal album ‘Metal Machine Music’ - released in 5.1 Surround Sound on double vinyl, Blu Ray & DVD Audio
Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Trio: MM3 will be performing what is being described as “A Night of Deep Noise” that features Lou Reed on processed and unprocessed guitars, Ulrich Krieger on tenor sax and live-electronics, and Sarth Calhoun on continuum and live processing - a collaborative affair that will see all three musicians improvise music and make soundscapes. The Metal Machine Trio originally debuted at the REDCAT Theatre in Los Angeles in October 2008.
Each concert will feature no songs and no vocals. The trio will utilise guitars, saxophones, continuum, plus an array of electronic treatments that will venture into deep acoustic space. The collaboration will draw on new music, free jazz, avant-rock, noise and ambient in a set of intense conceptual pieces and intuitive improvisations.
The Metal Machine Trio concerts will be influenced and inspired by Lou’s Reed’s seminal 1975 album Metal Machine Music. The concerts won’t duplicate the original album but will instead opt for entirely new unique music, noise and soundscapes.
Lou Reed and Ulrich Krieger originally met each other in 2002 for the premiere of Krieger’s transcription and arrangement of Metal Machine Music - Reed’s seminal guitar feedback epic, performed by the Berlin-based chamber orchestra Zeitkratzer. Reed was so impressed with Ulrich’s transcription, that he flew to Berlin to perform guitar with Zeitkratzer’s live interpretation of the album.
To coincide with the UK and European tour dates, Lou Reed will release a newly re-mastered edition of the original 1975 Metal Machine Music album on 180 gram double gatefold vinyl, Audio DVD and Blu-ray. Each format features a stereo reproduction of the original quadraphonic master, playable on home theatre systems.
The re-mastered edition of the album will be released domestically in the UK first week in April 2010, and will coincide with the UK and European tour dates. Further info about the re-mastered edition of the 1975 album can be found here - www.loureed.com/metalmachinemusic.
Lou Reed on the re-mastered edition of Metal Machine Music:
“The original. The one that started it all. Noise Rock. Industrial Road. Underground for years, it survived on the power of the idea. No key. No Vocals. No set rhythm. Feedback forever. Supervised by Lou Reed and faithfully re-mastered to the last squeal. The out of print “Quad” has been replicated for all formats including a perfect vinyl version playable on your stereo turntable with the original rear sections moved to the centre of the front left speakers. It’s worth getting a turntable to hear this. I myself bought a Linn to celebrate the great sound and am playing it through Wilson Watts and Puppies. Here it as we did on Scott Hull’s Duntechs. Straight from the original Bob Ludwig tapes. An act of love for an act of sound.”
‘Lou Reed’s Metal Machine’ Line-up:
Lou Reed - Electric & Processed Guitars & Mini Continuum
Ulrich Krieger - Saxophone & Electronics
Sarth Calhoun - Live Processing & Continuum Fingerboard
Please visit Lou Reed’s website for further information about MM3’s recent live album Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Trio: The Creation of the Universe, released on MP3, Lossless FLAC and 2-disc CD - www.loureed.com/metalmachinetrio
All Live Photos © Amy-Beth McNeely
2010: Music Highs & Lows
It’s interesting going through the massive number of ‘best albums of year’ lists, if only to see the diversity of music unleashed on the market in 2010. It’s been another wonderful quality release year although, for me, not quite as good as 2009.
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Girlyman EVERYTHING’S EASY
Girlyman formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, where the three friends shared an apartment; their first rehearsal was scheduled for Tuesday, September 11. It was postponed, but the events of that day helped the trio clarify its vision: “We decided to just have fun,” explains Nate, “and not take ourselves too seriously. We started by naming our new band Girlyman.” Others, however, took the group quite seriously. The first few years brought critical acclaim, awards, and long opening runs with the Indigo Girls and Dar Williams. The group quickly became a strong headliner in its own right, and now plays in every corner of the country to intensely loyal ‘girlyfans’ who often travel hundreds of miles to see sell-out shows.
On stage they often finish one another’s sentences or burst into improvised three-part ditties so tight they seem rehearsed. Now based in Atlanta, Doris Muramatsu and Tylan Greenstein became friends in second grade. The two then met Nate Borofsky in college at a talent show, and since then they’ve been creating their own unique language of three-part harmony. Influenced by 60s vocal groups like Simon & Garfunkel and The Mamas and the Papas, and infused with years of classical and jazz training, Girlyman’s songs blend acoustic with pop and Americana. EVERYTHING’S EASY is the band’s fourth studio album.
‘Tell Me There’s A Reason’ opens the album and sums up all the above. Maramatsu has the most natural and easy voice, there’s a powerful melody, simple instrumental arrangement and lyrics. ‘Easy Bake Ovens’ is even stronger and illustrates just how well all vocals work so well together. The harmonies are some of the best I’ve heard from a pop act and there’s another powerful melody with a simple and very effective acoustic backdrop. Youth and its trials and tribulations scream out from the grooves of this CD with ‘Could Have Guessed’ an excellent example. ‘Wherever You Keep’ is another laid-back beauty which reminds me of the Beatles gentler moments.
There’s fifteen tracks here and the’re all good. Stylistically, the band has a distinctive sound that, with few exceptions, washes over you like the gentlest, warmest rain, with melodies capable of sticking in one’s head. In times like these, Girlyman offers welcome respite - put it on, press play, close your eyes and drift away.
EVERYTHING’S EASY is on the Girlyman Inc. label and is released on 15 March, 2010.
4/5
Lynn Miles BLACK FLOWERS Vol. 1-2
Label: True North. Release Date: 8 March 2010
Lynn Miles is one of Canada’s most accomplished singer/songwriters with five albums released, including the award-winning UNRAVEL and LOVE SWEET LOVE. BLACK FLOWERS Volume 1-2 is a double album of both old and new songs recorded in a stripped-down acoustic style (accompanied ony by a guitar or piano).
For me, 20 songs of folk is very slightly overkill, but for fans it’s a veritable treasure trove. CD1 opens with the softly flowing, super-melodic and quite beautiful ‘A Thousand Lovers.’ Having not heard Miles before I have to say this song and the way it is performed won me over big-time. ‘I Give Up’ goes marginally upbeat with a more expressive and adventurous vocal performance from Miles. ‘Map Of My Heart’ is a love song (still using her guitar) where she ventures into pop territory with a delicate and sincere performance of heartbreaking lyrics, driven by another powerful melody. ‘Night Drive’ is another standout track here that offers everything that a fan could be possibly want: a soaring vocal, massive melody, moving lyrics. Miles reverts to the piano for ‘You’re Not Coming Back’, a contemplative song performed at almost talking pace with chorus vocal passages that hit the highest notes with absolute perfection. Superb! It’s then back to her guitar with the country tinged ‘I’m The Moon’, the glacially paced ‘Surrender Dorothy’, and bittersweet ‘Over You’ that includes her most expressive vocal on the album.
CD2 doesn’t quite match the quality of the first CD but only because her opening salvo is so very strong. This album represents an ideal introduction to this wonderful singer/songwriter. Miles is naturally talented with a voice that travels the scale with ease and authority. She is visiting the UK in the Spring, and after listening to this song collection I am looking forward to covering one of those live shows. Highly recommended.
4/5
Download Festival: Back In Black
DOWNLOAD 2010
Organisers have confirmed that the world’s greatest rock band AC/DC will be one of the headliners for this year’s festival, with Rage Against The Machine and Aerosmith, at Donington Park 11-13 June.
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The Swell Season Live: 2010
Swell Season: Live @ The Lowry: 17:01:10 As an editor, photographer, critic, it’s vital for me to remain objective; to perform without fear or favour; and to dig deeply as I reveal my truth, and not another version of it. It’s the reason why I discount hype and sales volumes when listening
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