The Past, Present and Future of Music

It’s Press Play 007 with our resident contributor, Greg Fenton. With another handpicked mix of tracks, albums and performances that capture the pulse of music at its most vibrant.

Greg Fenton is once agaain blending iconic classics with bold new discoveries, the selections speak to everyone – from casual listeners to devoted music heads. Linking past, present and future sounds, he delivers a perspective that’s both insightful and inspiring.

"If music be the food of love, play on."

William Shakespeare

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It’s the seventh edition of everything vital in the world of electronic music from past to present and future according to the word of Magazine Sixty. As always, life is full of excellent music to enjoy one way or another. This month we present a greater diversity of sounds, so we hope you enjoy what’s on offer. Let’s go!

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Past – Bill Evans Trio / Sunday at the Village Vanguard – Riverside Records (1961)

I only became thoroughly acquainted with this album later in life. It was recorded before I was even born, an odd possibility that brings a welcome smile to my face. However, if you’re seeking out music in its purest form, then Jazz is essential.

Jazz is a crucial starting point, and the way musicians communicate with each other without words is probably unique, primarily through the art of improvisation and how they build upon each other’s self-expression. Both as individuals and as part of an intertwined collective, the Bill Evans Trio provides a significant, introductory starting point on this album.

Past – The infamous Village Vanguard Club

The history part informs us that the music comprising the album was compiled from live afternoon and evening sessions on June 25, 1961, at the infamous Village Vanguard club, located in New York. It’s incredible how wonderfully clear and concise these recordings still sound, considering the simplicity of the recording techniques used in the early sixties. You can hear each note and syllable distinctly, with messages and emotions conveyed with absolute dexterity and sincerity.

Past – A collection of covers and originals

The trio was comprised of three superlative musicians who sculpted their craft into perfection: Bill Evans – piano, Scott LaFaro – bass and Paul Motian playing drums. Each of the pieces of music contained is made up from a collection of covers and originals, notably by the supremely gifted bassist Scott LaFaro, whose lyrical playing is genuinely outstanding. He sadly died in a crash some eleven days later.

History can record many things, though in this case, time is irrelevant. The music feels as fresh now as it did then, retaining a transcendent element. In many ways, that’s even more significant without the aid of machines or introspective technology to facilitate its construction. It’s patiently obvious that Bill Evans touches piano keys as painters light up a canvas, much like drummer Paul Motian’s light yet intense touch on the drums punctuates, detonating a cast of feelings in all the right places.

Past – Sunday at the Village Vanguard

While other albums from around the same timeframe had a more edgy, intense feel, music from the likes of Monk, Miles Davis or Charles Mingus, Sunday at the Village Vanguard sang in a particular language setting its scene, composing its lasting impressions of vigorous sensuality.

Full credit, of course, to the illustrious collection of musicians who played the music with such passion, as the producer captured and sculpted it all perfectly, transmitting the message to eternity.

Buy the Sunday at the Village Vanguard on Vinyl at Rough Trade

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”

Bob Marley

Present – Stars of the Lid – Music for Nitrous Oxide

Stars of the Lid – Music for Nitrous Oxide, now appearing on Artificial Pinearch Manufacturing, was a seminal album from 1995, especially given the benefit of hindsight we enjoy today. Freshly remastered, the music remains tantalisingly intense, feeding into an ever more chaotic world. Played live, the drone-like evolution of sounds is both light and dark in its intent, forming something quite remarkable that moulds emotions and atmosphere like a changeable, shapeshifting human experience.

Buy the Vinyl here

Present – Yard One – Neuroglow EP – Tact Records

Next is Yard One and their Neuroglow EP, released on Tact Recordings. A brilliant synthesis of classic sounds and contemporary technology, producing a calm sea of stormy release. The music dips and trips through highs and lows, employing everything from sizzling drums to emotive pads and synthesisers across four excellent tracks that touch upon techno, house, minimal, and ambience, but is always full of enticing, heart-warming excess.

Download Neuroglow EP on Bandcamp here

Present – Afterlife – Mono No Aware

Afterlife supplies yet another fabulous dive into the world of chilled-out rhythms that never fail to set the world on fire. Mono No Aware follows a Japanese tradition of awareness, as the music builds momentum with a defining double bass, accompanied by delicate percussion and sublime piano from the hand of musical maestro Steve Miller.

Download Afterlife Mono No Aware on Bandcamp

Present – João Paulo Esteves da Silva and Samuel Rohrer – Fluttering Wings

Another stunning piece of music to nourish your mind and soul is the exquisite Fluttering Wings by João Paulo Esteves da Silva and Samuel Rohrer on Arjunamusic Records. Centred on piano and sound effects, with transitions and a brush of percussion, these classically tuned sounds heighten the senses while they tear at heartstrings.

Download Fluttering Wings – João Paulo Esteves da Silva and Samuel Rohrer – Arjunamusic Records

“Music is a safe kind of high.”

Jimi Hendrix

Present – Tripmastaz – Tourtured Soul EP – Adam’s Bite

Returning to a faster tempo is this brilliant realisation of machine funk from Tripmastaz, whose Tortured Soul ep on Adam’s Bite gathers pace and intensity across four equally rigorous numbers.

Download/Stream Tortured Soul EP on Adam’s Bite on all platforms here

Present – Parallelle & Nicolas Masseyeff – Shake It Out – Crosstown Rebels

And finally, let me point you in the direction of Parallelle & Nicolas Masseyeff – Shake It Out, released on the irrepressible Crosstown Rebels. High-octane House which begins low-slung and sassy, then ultimately uplifts with voices serving the message as fiery rhythms pulse with sheer exuberance.

Parallelle & Nicolas Masseyeff – Shake It Out, released on the irrepressible Crosstown Rebels

Future – Press Play Recommendations

This month on Magazine Sixty you can catch up with all of the latest releases reviewed at Magazine Sixty and interviews featuring the new edition of Magazine Sixty Radio and Sean Holland’s in-depth interview with Katy Jay, presenter, producer, and Head of Programming for Skylab Radio

Listen to Sean Holland and Katy Jay Later

This Month on Magazine Sixty

Recommended releases this month come from DJ Counselling’s brilliant new album – Speaking in Code, and from London-based artist & NTS Radio resident Kit Grill, whose captivating Red Dances is released on Primary Colours Records.

See you there and Press Play here next month!!

When you’ve soaked it all in, be sure to visit his site, MagazineSixty, for even more deep dives and discoveries!

About MagazineSixty

At the heart of Greg Fenton’s work lies MagazineSixty, an online platform he created to showcase the best in contemporary music. The website is a treasure trove for fans of electronic and alternative sounds, offering a blend of album reviews, artist interviews, and features that delve into the creative processes behind some of the most compelling music being produced today. The site’s mission is to explore the intersection of artistry and innovation, highlighting the transformative power of music in a constantly evolving cultural landscape.

What sets MagazineSixty apart is its focus on quality over quantity. Fenton takes a discerning approach to curation, ensuring that every piece of content aligns with the site’s ethos of authenticity and depth. His reviews are not only detailed but also reflective, often connecting the music to broader cultural and historical contexts. This level of thoughtfulness has earned the website a loyal following, with readers appreciating its commitment to celebrating creativity without succumbing to the pressures of mainstream trends.

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Noticed the black bar at the bottom of the screen? Listen now to OpenLab who are broadcasting worldwide via www.openlab.fm and on 106.4 FM in Ibiza and Formentera, OpenLab champions the worlds most exciting producers, artists, DJ’s and visual artists, offering their community a glimpse of ‘Tomorrows World.. Today’.

Want More Music? Click through to re-OpenLab

At Pen vs Sword, we are Partners in Sound with Openlab.fm in our re-OpenLab section, we re-introduce you to previously broadcast Openlab.fm shows delivering captivating audio experiences immerse yourself into – re-OpenLab is more than just a collection of past shows; it’s a curated journey through the eclectic and inspiring world of Openlab.fm’s programming.

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