Leonid Fedorov - Lilac Day

One of the best songwriters and composers of Russia, as referenced in my earlier post about his band Auktyon. Here's his solo record from 2003, the aptly titled 'Lilac Day'.

Are you drunk on substance or intoxicated with memory? sometimes it's hard to tell, isn't it?

muzh

The Human League - Dare

The Human League were a new wave act, very influential and very good, for all the right reasons. Their magnum opus 'Dare' will make you jive, make no mistake.

don't you want me? 

Tuxedomoon - Desire

Tuxedomoon are a San Francisco based experimental act formed in 1977. They are still quite a prolific and active band, still releasing records and touring today. However, their late 70's/early 80's records form part of Ralph Records' amazing roster of weird bands - and are a complete pleasure to listen to. This is my favourite of theirs, Desire.

Non-stop erotic cabaret, new wave in spirit and kind of velvet in mood, Tuxedomoon deliver the perfect soundtrack to living vicariously through the eyes of someone just like you, but cooler, more seductive and possibly far more perverse. Live a thousand lives via pictures.

it's a jinx

Depeche Mode - 101

Legendary synthpop band at the peak of their powers with one of the coolest live albums of the era.

you're behind the wheel, tonight. 

Townes Van Zandt - Live at the Old Quarter, Houston

Townes Van Zandt. Where do I start with this guy? As far as the traditional singer-songwriters go, there is no other American songwriter on his level. He's my Bob Dylan. Poet and troubadour extraordinaire, he was ravaged by alcoholism and manic depression that lent his songs a very rare quality - you feel like this is a guy who has lived each and every song he has written. He passed away due to heart failure on new year's day, 1997.  This is his famous live album from 1977, which has the benefit of having a more intimate sound with just Townes and his guitar (as opposed to his albums, which are all great but have the effect of extensive overdub work which drowns out Townes' from time to time).

A top tier sampler of Townes' work:

now i'm out of prison
i got me a friend at last
and he don't cheat or steal or drink or lie 
his name's codeine
and he's the nicest thing i've seen 
together we're gonna wait 'round and die

waitin' around to die

Jorge Ben - Africa Brasil

Jorge Ben is a famous popular musician - quite prolific and one of the big players of the vibrant MPB, Samba scene of the late 60's onward. His characteristic style infuses samba, funk and popular music traditions of South America to fantastic effect. This is my favourite record of his, the lovely Africa Brasil.

I just feel like a badass wearing shades and hanging around in 70's Brazil when I listen to this samba rock masterpiece.

Africa Brasil

A.R. Rahman - Dil Se

One of the 'greatest' producers of our time, single-handedly responsible for reviving bollywood and putting their music on the world map. Though he was recognised for the lameness that was 'Slumdog Millionaire', this, imo, is his best work by a longshot, a soundtrack to a mostly forgotten movie that is more or less an utter classic. This combines many forms of popular music tradition in India (north Indian folk music, south indian pop) and merges it with disparate foreign influences to create something really colourful, melodramatic (in a good way) and just lots of fun. Every track is a stunner. Hope you dig it.

satrangi re