Sometimes I even surprise myself. A few days after I pointed out that since bandwidth is cheap and noone wants CDs cluttering up their houses there is a big opportunity for companies with innovative media distribution methods, Napster Canada has announced interactive streaming audio for $9.95 a month.
Hopefully this kind of thing will catch on over here too.
Do you ever get that feeling?
You know the one I mean. It’s where you find a new album, unexpectedly, and it’s just the best thing you’ve heard in ages. Well, I’ve found it.
My last best album was a few months ago (Mew - Frengers). It’s a shockingly good debut album which I can only really describe as Danish Radiohead with lashings of Sigur Ros and a healthy dose of wry irony. Buy it - it will make your life better.
My latest best new album is: Estbjorn Svensson Trio - Strange Place For Snow. They make a lot of noise for a trio, and it’s all good. Yes, it’s jazz, but jazz is good, right?
Any group who can write a song called When God Invented The Coffeebreak and base it around a pseudo-Bach fugue with what I can only describe as acoustic drum’n'bass underneath is Okay By Me.
They are Swedish and clearly excessively talented. The piano playing is crystal clear and owes a lot to Chick Corea and Thelonius Monk.
They’re not afraid to end a jazz album with a screeching electric guitar/synth blowout.
Fantastic.