From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V5 #91 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Friday, March 12 1999 Volume 05 : Number 091 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: *finger on the trigger* [Chris Sampson ] Re: Margot Smith [Michael Bowman ] Re: *finger on the trigger* ["Joseph S. Zitt" ] Ecto on Usenet ["Joseph S. Zitt" ] Pansy Division ["Drew Harrington" ] Rachael Sage in March... [SpiritWe@aol.com] Re: Ecto on Usenet [Andrew Fries ] Re: Margot Smith [Andrew Fries ] Lisa Cerbone--new cd yet? [basil@naxs.com] Re: *finger on the trigger* [Silme@ix.netcom.com] Re: Greetings from an Ecto-virgin ["Anna Elaine Pryde" ] Sighting [Paul Blair ] Eszter Balint? [Thief Catcher ] Wheeeeee [Richard ] Re: Margot Smith ["Tim Finney" ] Re: LORD ["Tim Finney" ] Re: My Non-Ecto Genre Shame (was: Re: Celtic Music) ["Tim Finney" ] Cicero: Out of Nowhere (feat. Sarah Slean & Emm Gryner) [Steve I Subject: Re: *finger on the trigger* It wasn't the word... but the (perceived), Idunno... anger? pique? bitchiness? The image of somebody shoving 500 CDs up his or her ass was a bit... well, just kinda unnecessary... (Note: I commented on the vulgarity, not the profanity). All's I did was suggest you use decaf... If you can hold forth, perhaps you should be able to accept it (again, my rebuff was mild, too). Are you always this hot-headed/sensitive? Chris ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 14:30:15 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Bowman Subject: Re: Margot Smith On Thu, 11 Mar 1999, Marcel Rijs wrote: > Anyhow, I also discovered that Margot Smith had released a new CD, > which I subsequently ordered on Chaos Music Market in Australia, along > with a CDsingle apparently released off the album. > > Having done that, I started wondering if the CD was actually any > good!? Thoughts, anyone? > My favourite track from "Sleeping with the lion" (which I have thanks > to one of you reading this....) is "Bellyman", but I liked every track > in fact... Did her music change a lot? From what I read on the Guide, > this new CD was more "aggressive" (that's what came across most > anyway...) My favorite track off Sleeping with the Lion is Bellyman as well. I initially did not care for the new album when I first picked it up, but I listened to it again a month or two ago and was quite impressed. None of the songs on it grabbed me like Bellyman did, however. It's well worth picking up though, that's for sure (in fact, didn't Neile pick it as one of her favorite disc of the year?). Michael Bowman nr. AppleScript for the Internet np. the sounds of work :( ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 16:55:47 -0600 (CST) From: "Joseph S. Zitt" Subject: Re: *finger on the trigger* On Thu, 11 Mar 1999, Chris Sampson wrote: > It wasn't the word... but the (perceived), Idunno... anger? pique? > bitchiness? The image of somebody shoving 500 CDs up his or her ass was > a bit... well, just kinda unnecessary... (Note: I commented on the > vulgarity, not the profanity). OTOH, we may have found something for which Minidisks are better designed :-) - - ---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------- |||/ Joseph Zitt ===== jzitt@humansystems.com ===== Human Systems \||| ||/ Maryland? = <*> SILENCE: The John Cage Mailing List <*> = ecto \|| |/ http://www.realtime.net/~jzitt ====== Comma: Voices of New Music \| ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 17:04:28 -0600 (CST) From: "Joseph S. Zitt" Subject: Ecto on Usenet I just noticed on DejaNews that posts to the Ecto list are showing up on Usenet, apparently gatewayed to a newsgroup fa.music.ecto . Is this a good thing or a bad thing? - - ---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------- |||/ Joseph Zitt ===== jzitt@humansystems.com ===== Human Systems \||| ||/ Maryland? = <*> SILENCE: The John Cage Mailing List <*> = ecto \|| |/ http://www.realtime.net/~jzitt ====== Comma: Voices of New Music \| ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 15:26:23 -0800 From: "Drew Harrington" Subject: Pansy Division > n.p. Pansy Division - Absurd Pop Song Romance This inspires me to tell a little Pansy Division related story. Pansy Division opened for The ScAvangers at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco the other night. I'd seen them once before and enjoyed them, but was really there to see The ScAvengers who are a reformation of The Avengers. Penelope Houston (who's 'folky' stuff I love) with the original Avengers guitarist Kevin Army. The band was filled out by Joel Reader on bass (Mr. T Experience) and Danny Sulivan on drums. They did a full set of the old originals which was great fun, but to be honest I really thought that Pansy Division was the high point of the evening. The High-Fives were wedged in between, but I've never really dug them the half dozen or so times I've seen them open for anyone... Back to our story.... I happened to be at the SF Virgin Megastore the other night and Andy Partridge was there signing the new XTC album. I had known he was going to be there, but had made other plans and only happend to be there on a fluke. The line was *HUGE* so I decided to skip it, although I did buy the CD. So I'm standing there thinking, I'm at the record store - what were all those CDs I was planning on buying if I could find a store that stocked them? Then I noticed Chris Freeman, Pansy Division's bassist (he's the crazy one) standing in the signing line and thought, oh yeah, I've got to find the Pansy Division album with "The Dick Of Death" on it. 8-) That song is so funny. Thumbing through the P's I found "Wish I'd Taken Pictures" from 1996. SNAG. Carry it to the checkout stand and buy it. Then I think..... I ought to get it signed, so I walk up to Chris, who is waiting in line to get Andy to sign his copy of "Apple Venus Volume #1" and ask him to sign my CD. He says, "But... Uh... I was just standing here to get my...." I said yeah, I know the irony was just too much for me to pass by. Lot's of big grins.... BTW, the Album is LOTS of fun. Drew ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 19:16:24 EST From: SpiritWe@aol.com Subject: Rachael Sage in March... Hey there fellow ectophiles - Lisa Cohen from MPress Records here...Just joined the list a little while ago & hadn't introduced myself yet, though I've been trying to resolve my own "too many CD's, not enough space" issues from recent postings on this crucial matter! Thanx for all the great ideas/options...Anyway, just wanted to check in and mention that I work with NY-based singer-songwriter/pianist Rachael Sage and also manage a pretty un- ecto rock outfit called Flavor Sargeant. We've met a bunch of incredibly supportive ecto-folks at recent gigs (hi Meredith!). I myself love many ecto- artists, including Happy (just discovered from my buddy Christine), Ani, Sarah, Paula, Rufus, Veda (!!), and on and on... I've listed a few bits of news about Rachael Sage and her upcoming NYC March appearances, in case any of you are already familiar w/ her music or happen to dig piano-folk-pop w/ really poetic lyrics - hope to seeya there! * * * * * J&R MUSIC WORLD: Tuesday March 16, 12:00pm (23 Park Row, NYC). Songwriters Hall of Fame Showcase at LIFE: Thursday March 18, 8:30pm (158 Bleecker near Thompson, NYC). MERCURY LOUNGE: Sunday March 21, 7:30pm (217 Houston St. at Essex St.) * * * * * Also: check out the feature on Rachael & 3 other "up & coming" NYC artists in this week's "HX for Her" Magazine (w/ Cyndi Lauper on the cover)...Everything's true 'cept the part about her being "classically trained"--she plays by ear and can't read a note! (though she LOVES classical music). Hmmm... That's all for now...For more information please contact me at: 212.533.3443 or email: spiritwe@aol.com * * * * * www.recordbaby.com www.humbucker.com/rachael ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 12:29:12 +1100 From: Andrew Fries Subject: Re: Ecto on Usenet In a message "Ecto on Usenet" on 11/Mar/1999 17:04:28 Joseph S. Zitt says: > I just noticed on DejaNews that posts to the Ecto list are showing up > on Usenet, apparently gatewayed to a newsgroup fa.music.ecto . Is this a > good thing or a bad thing? I think that is a bad, unnecessary and unexpected thing. I would like to know just how it happens? Can our list administrator shed some light on this? - ------------------------------------------------------ The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers. (William Shakespeare) - ------ http://www.zip.com.au/~afries/hall.html ------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 12:53:35 +1100 From: Andrew Fries Subject: Re: Margot Smith In a message "Margot Smith" on 11/Mar/1999 13:58:52 Marcel Rijs says: > Having done that, I started wondering if the CD was actually any good!? > Thoughts, anyone? It's good. Oh yes, it is. I got into Margot Smith too late to be able to get hold of her first CD (now a collectors item) so unfortunately I can't compare "Taste" with "Sleeping with the lion". But by all accounts it represents an evolution rather than any radical departure from her style, so I think you'll be happy with it too. For what it's worth I thought "Taste" was one of the better records of last year. - ------------------------------------------------------ The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers. (William Shakespeare) - ------ http://www.zip.com.au/~afries/hall.html ------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 18:02:40 -0800 From: basil@naxs.com Subject: Lisa Cerbone--new cd yet? when Lisa Cerbone was in our neck of the woods, she talked about a new cd and played a few songs from it. Has this surfaced yet? Any news? hope you're all well! brad np Philip Glass _Solo Piano_ (I'm trying to write a workshop I have to give next week and this is the right music for workshop planning somehow) nr _Writing Poetry_ fourth edition by Robert Wallace and Michelle Boisseau (looking for a text for a poetry class I have to teach) Do I sound defensive or what? - ----- Sent using MailStart.com ( http://MailStart.Com/welcome.html ) The FREE way to access your mailbox via any web browser, anywhere! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 19:43:05 +0000 From: Silme@ix.netcom.com Subject: Re: *finger on the trigger* I personally *liked* the too many cd posts. I read a lot of helpful ideas to assist me in containing my own cd collection. Please, please, feel free to discuss Ani and Beth. I don't have either new cd yet. I'm heading to England next week, and I'm saving money to buy UK-only (or won't be released in the US for a while) releases. (That goes for books also. The second Harry Potter book by J.K. Rowling is in paperbook there and won't be released in *hardback* in the US until autumn.) I'll see what money is leftover when I return. All of that said, I must say that I haven't seen so much offensive language on this list in years. To change the subject, I might mention some concerts I've seen recently. If you live in an area that is lucky enough to broadcast E-town, just wait for the Cheryl Wheeler/Corey Harris show. That taping was a couple of Sundays ago, and it was excellent. Cheryl was in rare form, and my friends and I were betting which of her jokes would make it to air. (The taping lasts at least two hours, and the show is only one hour.) I saw Maire Brennan last Saturday, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the show. She and her band performed some older, more traditional-sounding Clannad tunes that were very nice. I'm looking forward to Susan McKeown next Tuesday in Ft. Collins. I would like to attend her Denver show on Wed. as well, but since I fly the next day, I didn't think it would be wise. Upcoming in Denver next month: The Wrigley Sisters. I've heard great things about them, traditional music fans, but I haven't seen them live previously. And sadly, when I return from England, Susan Tedeschi is performing two sold-out nights in Boulder... I was out of it with the crud when the tix went on sale, but I still might manage to get in on one night. Ellen ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 17:43:04 -0500 From: "Anna Elaine Pryde" Subject: Re: Greetings from an Ecto-virgin Billi, Thanks a ton for your info on Jack Sutton. THat is exactly the kind of clue I was fishing for. I'll get right on it and let you know if I have any success. To all: Hearing you all talk about how and where to store your thousands of CDs is depressing. Oh, the arts and crafts facet is fascinating- I only wish I had *near* that amount of CDs! I held out for a long time, stubbornly maintaining that CDs were a fad, but I finally broke down and bought a player a few years ago, and am vainly trying to make up for lost time! Party on, folks! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 20:34:17 -0700 From: Peter Clark Subject: Re: Greetings from an Ecto-virgin Anna Elaine Pryde wrote: > > Billi, > Thanks a ton for your info on Jack Sutton. THat is exactly the kind of > clue I was fishing for. I'll get right on it and let you know if I have any > success. > To all: Hearing you all talk about how and where to store your thousands > of CDs is depressing. Oh, the arts and crafts facet is fascinating- I only > wish I had *near* that amount of CDs! I held out for a long time, > stubbornly maintaining that CDs were a fad, but I finally broke down and > bought a player a few years ago, and am vainly trying to make up for lost > time! > Party on, folks! Don't feel cast down. You may not even be on the right path. I believed "perfect sound forever" in 1990 and sold all my vinyl... I came to my senses about this error a few years ago and am still struggling to replace some items long gone. I still only buy cds 'cause many artists only release on that medium. Given the choice, I'll buy cd + vinyl, which creates its own problems. Basically, if you keep at it, you'll have the same problems as the rest of us. Be of good cheer. Regards, Peter Clark ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 22:42:07 -0500 From: Paul Blair Subject: Sighting Six or seven years ago, when I lived in the Bay Area, I was in the Stanford Shopping Center with some friends when one of them suddenly ducked behind me and whispered excitedly, "It's Joe Montana! It's Joe Montana!" Sure enough, there was Joe coming out of a restaurant with an adorable two- or three-year-old girl, acting as if he didn't notice the people like my friends who were trying to pretend not to notice him even as they jumped up and down with excitement. I let myself feel superior back then--*I* certainly wasn't going to let myself get worked up over some Joe Montana. I am here to report that I have succumbed. Tonight I was out for dinner with a friend. Right after we were seated, I looked up and saw, just off to my right and down two tables, directly in my line of sight... omigod it's Happy Rhodes! (Probably thinking, if she recognized me at all, "I can't even go out to dinner anymore without somebody posting it to ecto!") Go ahead, feel superior. I've had my brush with divinity. - --Paul ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 23:06:49 -0500 (EST) From: Thief Catcher Subject: Eszter Balint? Hey all -- I'm taking a brief break from studying for my midterm to ask a question of all you musically-knowledgable ectofolk, and maybe take some attention off this CD-alphabetizing thing. ^_^ Anyone out there ever heard Eszter Balint's music? The name might sound familiar because of her star turn as Eva, the Hungarian cousin, in _Stranger than Paradise_, and apparently has turned her attentions to making music. I have no idea what it sounds like, though it seems like she plays the Knitting Factory an awful lot, and the pictures I've seen remind me of Rebecca Moore (not that THAT says anything, but...). So, my question to you-all: has anyone heard her stuff? If any of you cosmopolitan NYC ectophiles end up seeing her live, please tape it for me, or pick up a record, or at least let me know the proper channels for doing so, as StP is one of my favourite movies and I would LOVE to hear what Eva is doing now. - --Chelsea (who owes everyone, including the esteemed Rachael Sage, an email) - --- Chelsea the mod pixie tugboat@channel1.com http://i.am/modpixie "And all advice is ways of saying 'let it go' Some form of 'smile, the world has found a way around the issue'..." -- Scott Miller/Loud Family, "Just Gone" ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 00:12:19 -0500 From: Richard Subject: Wheeeeee I LOVE Netscape--- It's *so* easy to zap all the sociopathic bile here and zero in on the good stuff like: 1) Re: the Too Many CDs thread--- Has anyone else here wondered how Jill :D handles this problem? Maybe an annex building out back? Or maybe she bought one of those library Winnebagos?? Or maybe she rents space from the Library of Congress??? :) 2) Kevin's rave review of Imogen Heap: YES!. I saw her last December in a pathetically under-promoted last-minute appearance here in Portland and was one of TWO paying customers... (not kidding) She was SO gracious, came out before the set and made the rounds of the tables (both of 'em) to introduce herself and then wowed us both with her musicianship on stage. Everything KB said is true and then some.. She ran the gamut from breathy Tori-like phrasing to outlandish shrieks and everything worked so well- I was impressed. I chatted with her after the show and was not surprised to learn that Portland is not in her future plans but was again very impressed with her genuine sweetness and amazed by her physical stature- I'm six feet tall and my chin was up the whole time.... ;-) Anyways, a major talent: Go see her if you have the chance. 3) My wife picked up the new Beth Orton (whom we both adore) CD and we are unfortunately underwhelmed so far.... Only listened once but it struck me as yet another example of a unique talent subverted by glossy over-production. I hope I'm wrong, I really do- Must listen again. To quote a friend of mine here-- okaybye. ;-) - -- At those times when you are having a really bad day and it feels like the population of the world is going out of its way to irritate you, just remember, it takes 42 muscles to frown and only 4 to extend your finger and flip them off. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 16:41:55 +1100 From: "Tim Finney" Subject: Re: Margot Smith - ---------- >From: Andrew Fries >To: ecto@smoe.org >Subject: Re: Margot Smith >Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 12:53 PM > >It's good. Oh yes, it is. I got into Margot Smith too late to be able to get >hold of her first CD (now a collectors item) so unfortunately I can't compare >"Taste" with "Sleeping with the lion". But by all accounts it represents an >evolution rather than any radical departure from her style, so I think you'll >be happy with it too. For what it's worth I thought "Taste" was one of the >better records of last year. In an amazing feat of luck I picked up Sleeping With The Lion for $15 two weeks ago, and am of course loving it. Typically I had left it sitting in the shop for a while until I realised that Steve Kilbey cowrote some tracks (unsurprisingly, they are among my favourites). However, and strangely, I haven't seen Taste anywhere. Guess I'll just have to keep looking. Tim ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 16:41:38 +1100 From: "Tim Finney" Subject: Re: LORD - ---------- >From: Neile Graham >To: ecto@smoe.org >Subject: Re: LORD >Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 5:36 AM > >re: the new Ani--I have mixed feelings about it. I like it musically, but >find the frequently lyrics simplistic and didactic--something I thought Ani >had gotten past. Hmm, I actually really really like some of the lyrics on Upx6. Jukebox is perhaps the best example of her "hey look I can extend a metaphor longer than anybody!" style, Tiptoe only comes second because it uses two instead of one (but the negative aspects of sunsets is an inspired song choice) and Everest has is so beautiful and forlorn that I can picture the entire scenario. Also her writing seems more focused and intense than on her last album, where she at times seemed a bit too impressed with her own wordsmithery. Perhaps it's just that on the new album she doesn't put much into it vocally (with the obvious exception of Everest), and so it sounds half-hearted. In concert, songs which sounded that way, like Know Now Then, bowled me over with the devotion Ani seemed to invest in the lyrics. Tim ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 16:40:44 +1100 From: "Tim Finney" Subject: Re: My Non-Ecto Genre Shame (was: Re: Celtic Music) - ---------- >From: james cunnane >To: ecto@smoe.org >Subject: My Non-Ecto Genre Shame (was: Re: Celtic Music) >Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 9:44 AM > >Many "Boys' Bands" produced interesting or good stuff in earlier years - >the first case that comes to my mind is Simple Minds' gestaltmusik >period (Sons And Fascination / Sister Feelings Call / New Gold Dream / >Sparkle In The Rain ). I've got 'em all... but wouldn't buy any of >their recent stuff at any price. Oh Eighties, let me count the ways that I adore thee.... I find it interesting that you mention these albums and not the two which preceded them, "Reel To Real Cacophony" and "Empires And Dance". The first in particular is very intriguing, sort of Joy Division meets The Dreaming. Some of the songs freak me out (the psycho happy amphetamine circus synths of "Citizen (Shelter In A Suitcase)", the monkey sounds in "Veldt"...), but its a fantastic album. However I do also hold a special place for "New Gold Dream", which is a shining diamond of a synth-pop record. Incicentally Australian band Underground Lovers have just released an album "Cold Feeling" which sounds like this meets New Order, and of course is pretty fantastic, not least of all because Merida Sussex, singer for The Paradise Motel, does guest vocals for a few songs. Tim ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 16:41:48 +1100 From: "Tim Finney" Subject: Re: Rhodesquer and Rhodesqueless - ---------- >From: "Anna Elaine Pryde" >To: "Tim Finney" >Subject: Rhodesquer and Rhodesqueless >Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 10:07 AM > >I'm puzzling over this, and I fear I don't see the connection. Maybe it >will become more clear when I get Ecto, which I'm in the process of >ordering from Harmony Music. I thought Rearmament was more like Rhodes I/II >than any of her other cds, although Equipoise is close. But I didn't think >MWABT sounded like Rhodes I/II at all! What do you think are the >similarities? Basically I see Happy's albums in terms of warmth/coolness, fluidity/rigidity etc. I think you'll agree that there's something very "cold" about the synthesiser based songs on the first two albums, and at times the guitar-songs as well. This is neither a good thing nor a bad thing. Just a thing :). Rearmament was quite a large step forward in terms of freeing up her sound, and many of the tracks sound more fluid and kinetic than earlier songs (obvious examples being Perfect Irony, 'Till The Dawn, Be Careful What You Say). A lot of this can be traced to the Happy's maturing production skills, incorporating more subtle synthesiser noises (just don't mention Box H.A.P), drums and percussion, and even electric guitar. Ecto, to me at least, seems to be a partial step backwards, and while Rearmament was more overtly emotional, Ecto shares much of the first two albums' distant, mournful qualities. While superficially the maturing production is still there in some drum tracks, improved keyboards and overall sound, the arrangements are usually rigid and repetitive (again not necessarily a bad thing), i.e. closer to Case Of Glass than Baby Don't Go. Also there are more guitar songs again, and "Would That I Could" in particular seems to be attempting to reclaim the stylised stiffness of those early guitar songs. Naming the first track "I'm Going Back" didn't really hinder my assessment either. Warpaint, then, is the major step forward arrangement-wise, taking its cues from the bonus tracks of Rearmament and Ecto (Be Careful What You Say, Look For The Child, When The Rain Came Down) more than from anything from Ecto itself, by more overtly involving the drums until they are the grounding for the song, not just window-dressing, and by using varying keyboards and synthesisers to form a more lush, complex arrangement. Equipoise is certainly not a backwards step in terms of arrangements, but here Happy brings back her high voice which she had somewhat abandoned for Warpaint, and the songs have more of the haunting, cool sound of the early albums. The occasional use of slow keyboard washes and subtle percussion makes some of the songs sound like rerecorded versions of early songs (perhaps Rearmament era? I can imagine Dreams Are... and Friend You'll Be getting Equipoise makeovers), as they are less cluttered and more ethereal than those on Warpaint. Beuilding The Collosus is again a more rythmic album, and seems to pick up the thread from Warpaint's more kinetic songs, although the lessons of Equipoise have been thoroughly learnt. Actually if anything this album seems to be an extrapolation of Be Careful What You Say more than anything else. Certainly not a bad thing, as that song is one of my favourites, but it's about the furthest Happy has ever gotten from her original style. Finally MWABT, while again showing the signs of Building The Collosus (Roy, Proof), seems to bear more affinity for Equipoise (100 Years, The Chariot, Ra Is A Busy God, Tragic, Winter, Looking Over Cliffs), which means its sort of a reflection of a reflection of the early work, with one honest-to-goodness Rhodesesque track in If Wishes Were Horses. So while MWABT isn't really like Rhodes I/II, it strikes me as being much closer than BTC. The techno production does not really factor into my opinion of the album, perhaps because I have so many albums with a similar sound that it simply seems like a logical progression. So while Rearmament is more like Rhodes I/II than anything post-Ecto, I think I'm correct in saying that every second album still shows more affinity to those albums than the one immediately previous. Feel free to disagree! Tim ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 00:47:51 -0500 From: Steve I Subject: Cicero: Out of Nowhere (feat. Sarah Slean & Emm Gryner) Hiya 'philes... I posted to tons of mailing lists about a CD by a new Toronto artist named Cicero (aka Dylan White). It features Sarah Slean and Emm Gryner, so it might be of interest to ectophiles. Following is an Ectophile's Digest version of my longer post, containing just the parts about Sarah and Emm. =========== Hi all, I got home yesterday and had a very nice surprise waiting for me there. There on my front doorstep was a padded envelope (I love padded envelopes!) and inside was Cicero's (Dylan White's) brand new CD, _Out of Nowhere_. I listened to it many times last night and I've been listening to little else all day today. Folks, this is a *great* CD. Fans of Emm Gryner and Sarah Slean will want to pay special attention. "The Wind and The Rain", a favourite at shows over the last couple of years, is an exchange between lovers, featuring Emm Gryner. It starts with the two alternating lines, as in a lover's quarrel, and progresses so Emm and Dylan are singing complementary parts, and near the end they converge, singing the same part in harmony. Great song, and Emm does a great job on it. He ends the CD somewhat unconventionally by having a friend, Sarah Slean, do all the vocals on the last track, "Yellowbelly". It's a quiet, delicate song with Sarah's lush, gorgeous vocals taking centre stage. Dylan, fingerpicking an electric guitar, weaves a delicate aural spiderweb behind Sarah's low, haunting voice. The song evoked Hope Sandoval and Mazzy Star, but without the twang... but the comparison is not entirely satisfying, I know it's reminding me of something else but it escapes me right now. In any case it's absolutely spellbinding and if you're anything like me you'll be hitting repeat endlessly. This song alone is worth the price of the CD, especially if you are a Slean fan. Anyway if you are anywhere near Toronto you must come to the CD release party and pick up this gem of a debut album. The CD release party itself is shaping up to be a great show as well, as Noah Mintz (hHead, Noah's Arkweld) will be coming out of semi-retirement to open the show. Longtime fans of Emm Gryner and Sarah Slean will recall the magical shows at the Free Times Cafe featuring Emm, Sarah and Noah. To see that much raw talent overflowing such a small, intimate room... it was unbelievable. So it'll be a real treat to see him play again after almost 2 years of silence. As well, there may be some very special guests... if it's kosher I'll try to keep you guys updated. Cicero, w/ Noah Mintz & special guests Ted's Wrecking Yard March 17th Also, I'm discussing the possibility of mail ordering Cicero's CD with Dylan, and hopefully before too long I'll be able to put an order form online so all you non-Toronto music fans can order a copy of this great CD straight from Dylan. Steve ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V5 #91 *************************