Issue #020

Featuring Electric Light Orchestra, White Denim, Devendra Banhart, Erasmo Carlos & Horace Silver

1. CLASSICS: Out Of The Blue by Electric Light Orchestra (1977)

The first time I heard Out of the Blue, it felt like George Martin had managed to bring together The Beatles, Queen, and a string quartet for a recording session on a spaceship. That’s still how I would describe it today. Jeff Lynne, the voice and mastermind of the band, wrote the entire album in just three weeks, tucked away in a Swiss chalet like a mad genius. Recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany, the album was released in October 1977 as a double LP featuring 17 tracks.I can’t confirm this for certain, but I’m pretty sure the boys from Daft Punk drew a lot of inspiration from the vocoder effects and the overall cosmic vibes of this album.

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2. ROCK: Stiff by White Denim (2016)

Stiff by White Denim is quality indie-blues rock. A fresher and funkier version of The Black Keys with occasional Bob Dylan-style storytelling.

• Released: March 25, 2016

• Studios: Echo Mountain Recording (Asheville, North Carolina)

• Length: 35:46

• Label: Downtown Records

• Produced by: Ethan Johns (ZZ Top & The Meters)

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3. UNCHARTED: Mala by Devendra Banhart (2013)

Mala, in traditional Devendra Banhart style, is something along the lines of comfortable alternative indie-folk with a great sense of humour. It sounds and feels as cozy and artsy as the album cover looks. Recorded at Echo Mountain Recording (Asheville, North Carolina) it was produced by Devendra Banhart & Noah Georgeson, and released under Nonesuch/Warner Bros. on March 12, 2013.

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4. MADE IN BRAZIL: Carlos, Erasmo… by Erasmo Carlos (1971)

With names like Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, Marcos Valle & Sérgio Dias on the album's credits sheet, this classic of Brazilian music history recently reappeared as part of the soundtrack for the Oscar-nominated movie I'm Still Here. While it doesn't scream protest, the album is still heavily politically loaded, defying censorship of Brazil's military regime of the time. Released under Philips Records in 1971 and recorded at RCA Studios in São Paulo, Brazil, the album was produced by Manoel Barenbein, Erasmo Carlos & Nelson Motta.

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5. JAZZ: Silver's Blue by Horace Silver (1957)

Silver's Blue is Horace Silver's first solo album after his time with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He was clearly still influenced by the sound of the Jazz Messengers, but this album is more bluesy, groovy, and relaxed. In the three recording sessions in July 1956 at Columbia Studio D in New York City, Horace (piano) was joined by two different groups of musicians: one with Joe Gordon (trumpet), Hank Mobley (tenor saxophone), Doug Watkins (bass), and Kenny Clarke (drums); the other with Donald Byrd (trumpet) and Art Taylor (drums) replacing Gordon and Clarke. The album was released in August 1957 through Epic Records and could find a place both as a classic in your definitive jazz collection or in your casual listening rotation.

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💬 Join the conversation in the comments!

What's your take on these albums? Which albums have you been listening to lately? Feel free to comment below.

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