Is there a particular style of music you love to start the day with, and why?
I tend to keep my home-listening very mellow. The days start (and usually end) with something from the classical, jazz, ambient, new age, or english folk departments…
Which album has been on heaviest rotation this week, and why?
I’ve been playing the a-side of Alvin Curran’s Fiori Chiari, Fiori Oscuri quite a bit this week. I’ve wanted this record for a while and finally found a copy— it’s one of those perfect records that’s just as interesting to have on in the background as it is to have a focused listening session with.
Read More: A Musical Life – Songbyrd Music
What’s been your best new musical discovery (old or new) of the past week?
I was at Redlight Records in Amsterdam last week. James turned me on to many killers, the highlight being ‘El Orden del Azar’ by Orquesta de las Nubes. This is exactly what I want to hear nowadays.
What was the last great gig or musical event or exhibition you went to, and what made it so special?
The last thing I saw which totally knocked me out was Joanna Newsom on the Divers tour. I was hanging with a very heavy record collector friend of mine a few months back and he predicted that Joanna might be one of the only artists from right now that people will remember many years into the future when this current time period is studied. The more i think about that, the more I think he’s 100% correct.
Read More: A Musical Life – CAS Amsterdam’s Phil Horneman
What are your Top Five Albums?
Talk Talk – Spirit of Eden
Brian Eno – Another Green World
Alice Coltrane – World Galaxy
Vashti Bunyan – Just Another Diamond Day
David Crosby – If I Could Only Remember My Name
Why do you think these albums have so much staying power?
They are honest and original.
Which radio shows, podcasts or live streams have caught your attention over the past week and why?
I really don’t listen to much stuff on the internet. The last thing I heard which I thought was truly extraordinary was Mark ‘Frosty’ Mcneil’s RBMA show about Alice Coltrane’s ashram albums.
What are the best aspects of living in your city? Has it helped shape your musical tastes?
I love living in Los Angeles, I doubt I’d live anywhere else. The city has definitely shaped my musical taste because it’s full of people who are constantly turning each other onto great records. I can name many more sources but the amount of records I’ve learnt about from my Dublab friends alone is enough to last a lifetime!
If you had to pick a classic album to sum up the kind of week you’ve had, what would it be and why?
Brian Eno’s Ambient 1: Music for Airports, because I’ve been in about ten airports over the past two weeks!
Read More: A Musical Life – Stephen Mejias of AudioQuest
