Neil Young | Le Noise

It seems that Neil Young is always very aware of the journey he is on as a performing artist and human being and spontaneously draws people and experiences to himself that manifest his life and music. "Le Noise" is Young's new album, produced by Daniel Lanois, aptly titled because of the rugged, crunchy, big sound of the record, but named for "Le Noise" --Daniel Lanois. Deeply personal, probing and raw, we are witness to pieces of Young's inner life unfolding in a vivid sonic atmosphere created by Young and partner Lanois. "Black Dub" is a technique that Lanois used for this project. He takes parts of the music that he has recorded and re-inserts it into the song, like a piece of cloth cut out of a dress and then re-applied in another spot. The result is a new sound that will be interesting to track as it, and if it finds it's way into other musicians' palettes.

Listen to some of the tracks from 'Le Noise" tonight at 9 PM ET on mvyradio's Uncharted Waters and hear the entire album on mvy's Album of The Week Wednesday (10/20) at 9 PM ET.

The Tallest Man On Earth | The Wild Hunt

So much of what we experience about another person is their presence. Presence --a great word for what it is that captures us about someone. Their ability to be be present, at ease, claim the space, or not. There are a lot of ways to make a lasting impression and often there's a certain je ne sais quoi, literally a "I don't know that" quality.

I can identify much of what impresses me about singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson, a.k.a. The Tallest Man On Earth on his new CD "The Wild Hunt". His confidence, his simple, potent guitar playing, his incisive lyrics. But what is most striking to me is his ability to command the energy of the album from start to finish. The way he carries the flow feels a little like a magic trick, and after each listen, I found myself captivated again. Maybe it's just his confidence, but it seems like more than that. Je ne sais quoi...

I'll feature some tracks from "The Wild Hunt" tonight on mvyradio's Uncharted Waters at 9PM ET. www.mvyradio.com

Listen...

Rodrigo y Gabriela | A Brilliant Journey

11:11 is the new album from this Mexican born guitar duo and there is not a false note to be found, only an absolutely brillant journey to be had in the listening of this record. The CD's eleven tracks are a tribute to musicians that they have either been inspired by or deeply respect. Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Michel Camilo, Paco de Lucia are among those chosen and Rodrigo and Gabriela not only express their gratitude and reverance by the composition and recording of these pieces, but also their desire that their fans be exposed to these legendary musicians.

They are very serious about their music making, with a big emphasis on technique, practice and creativity. They built a studio in Ixtapa, Mexico so they could record at home without the added stress of being on the road during the recording process. They will be out on tour supporting this new record and their live shows are quite stunning, with just the two of them on the stage with a screen behind them showing their intricate and exciting playing. The reason that they started doing this was so that their fans who play guitar could see what they were doing so they could try it themselves. Not so easy, but maybe with some practice...


Listen to "Hanuman" Rodrigo y Gabriela's tribute to Santana