Alloy: Episode 83

Dissonance Coincidence (Playlist #83)

"dissonance coincidence"

All music roads this week led to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the work of the late composer Edgard Varèse. My route to Varèse was not a straight line. Virtual rabbit holes rarely are linear (right now I can hear the line from the classic David Byrne/Talking Heads line, "How did I get here?"). At any rate, even with my thimble-full of Varèse knowledge, one episode simply is not enough to cover Varèse—way too vast a topic. At the very least, and with the time I available this week, I tried to illustrate and illuminate my "Varèse path" by shining a light on just a few of the many artists influenced and informed by the composer that Henry Miller described as nothing less than "The stratospheric Colossus of Sound". To that end, works by Frank Zappa, Alarm Will Sound, Chicago (yes, that Chicago!), Joe Zawinul were shared. There is even a "Varèse connection" to John Diliberto (here and here too)! If you like your music with a bit of dissonance and sound as collage, this week's playlist will not dissappoint. Also, check out the excellent non-Varèse tracks. Excellent new music was highlighted—work by Bent Knee, Matt Wilson's Big Happy Family, and The Claudia Quintet. Fantastic music all around!

Don't forget that you can listen to all of the music from the last episode, “Going Long (Part 2)” from the comfort of your browser (click here). This week's artwork, "dissonance coincidence" was inspired by Varèse and created by yours truly.

Thanks for listening!

Composition	Album	Artist
Go Team Go!—Endless Love	Beginning of a Memory	Matt Wilson's Big Happy Family
Sketch 8	Moons	Myriad3
Rose Colored Rhythm	Super Petite	The Claudia Quintet
Eve	Say So	Bent Knee
Transition	Say So	Bent Knee
Poème électronique (Arr. E. Hause)	Modernists	Alarm Will Sound & Alan Pierson
Ionisation	Boulez Conducts Varése: Amériques, Arcana, Déserts & Ionisation	Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Pierre Boulez
Déserts	Varèse: Arcana/Integrales/Deserts	Edgard Varèse
Déserts: First Electronic Interpolation, Beginning	Varèse: Arcana/Integrales/Deserts	Edgard Varèse
Déserts: First Electronic Interpolation, Conclusion	Varèse: Arcana/Integrales/Deserts	Edgard Varèse
Lumpy Gravy, Part One	Lumpy Gravy	Frank Zappa
Stories of the Danube: VI. Unknown Soldier	Zawinul: Stories of the Danube	Joe Zawinul: Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, Burhan Öcal, Casper Richter, Zawinul
A Hit By Varese	Chicago V	Chicago

Dissonance Coincidence

"dissonance coincidence"

All music roads this week led to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the work of the late composer Edgard Varèse. My route to Varèse was not a straight line. Virtual rabbit holes rarely are linear (right now I can hear the line from the classic David Byrne/Talking Heads line, "How did I get here?"). At any rate, even with my thimble-full of Varèse knowledge, one episode simply is not enough to cover Varèse—way too vast a topic. At the very least, and with the time I have this week, I aim to illustrate and illuminate my "Varèse path" by shining a light on just a few of the many artists influenced and informed by the composer that Henry Miller described as nothing less than "The stratospheric Colossus of Sound". We will listen to works by Frank Zappa, Alarm Will Sound, Chicago (yes, that Chicago!), Joe Zawinul and there is even a connection to John Diliberto (here and here too)! If you can stand a bit of musical dissonance and can appreciate sound as collage, you are well equipped for this week's show.

Lend an open ear and listen live on Tuesday via the web stream or on your mobile device via TuneIn by clicking here at 9AM. Also, don't forget that you can listen to all of the music from the last episode, “Going Long (Part 2)” from the comfort of your browser (click here). This week's artwork, "dissonance coincidence" was inspired by Varèse and created by yours truly.

Thanks for listening!

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