Welcome to the start of your weekend. Here is what’s New In Music This Week: May 26th.
My top choice doesn’t easily fit into any genre, but it’s an oldie that you’ll either love or hate:
TUBULAR BELLS – Mike Oldfield (Universal Music Group)
It’s hard to believe that Tubular Bells came out 50 years ago. But here we are. This is a special 50th Anniversary Edition on vinyl of the music that many people associate with its use in the film The Exorcist (which is also 50 years old this year.) It’s hard to get that haunting melody out of your head.
In addition to the two suites found not he original album, a second record contains a demo for Tubular Bells 4, the music as used in the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, a remix, the original single and more.
Here are the rest of this week’s picks of New In Music This Week: May 26th:
CLASSICAL: INFINITE BACH – Maya Beiser (Islandia Music Records)
Cellist Maya Beiser not only explores Johann Sebastian Bach’s Solo Cello Suites, she explores the sound that can be created in both the recording process and the listening process. Infinite Bach will be released in different ways: on Apple Music you can get it digitally in Dolby Atmos spatial audio. Other platforms will have the album in what’s described as an “immersive binaural mix.” Having heard Infinite Bach it’s not a traditional recording of these cherished works, but it is certainly a fascinating one. Audiophiles will want to take Beiser’s journey into Infinite Bach.
CLASSICAL: CHILDHOOD TALES – Isata Kanneh-Mason (Decca Classics)
There are 46 tracks on this album from pianist Kanneh-Mason. They range in length from 24 seconds to 4 minutes and 21 seconds. They are predominantly miniature works. Childhood Tales begins with Mozart’s Ah! Vous diary-je, mama performed as a theme and 12 variations. You might not recognize the name, but you’ll know the melody instantaneously as we refer to it as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
In addition to Mozart, Kanneh-Mason performs works by Claude Debussy (Children’s Corner) and Robert Schumann (Kinderszenen, Op. 15). Don’t be fooled…there’s nothing childish about her performances of these pieces. They might be short, but don’t think they come without challenges.
CLASSICAL: FROM AFAR: REWORKS – Various Artists and Vikingur Ólafsson – Deutsche Grammophon
If you read our recent interview with pianist Ólafsson, you’ll have seen that he talked about this album of remixes of his recordings from his 2022 album From Afar as “basically reversing the creative process.” Six different contemporary composers have written new material to accompany some or all Ólafsson’s original recordings. Those composers are Christian Badzura, Álfheiður Guðmundsdóttir, Snorri Hallgrímsson, Helgi Jonsson, Michael A. Muller, and Herdís Stefánsdóttir. Don’t expect to be dancing across your living room listening to these works. Do expect to get into a very peaceful and contemplative state instead.
JAZZ: SHE SEES – Erik Friedlander (Skipstone Records)
Cellist Friedlander is not going to let anything get in the way of making joyous music. Friedlander was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2016. Last summer he had Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery. This album, filled with titles like Baskets, Biscuits, Rain; Soak! Soak! and Wit & Whimsy showcase an enthusiasm for living life.
Joining Friedlander on this record are Diego Espinosa on percussion, Ava Mendoza on guitar and Stomu Takeishi on bass. Espinosa and Mendoza played in Friedlander’s 2020 album Sentinel.
JAZZ: AFTER|LIFE – Brian McCarthy (Truth Evolution Recording Collective)
Saxophonist/composer McCarthy is definitely ambitious. His most 2017 album The Better Angels of Our Nature used music old and new to explore the Civil War. On this follow-up album he’s going boldly to where no man has gone before: to the stars. There are eight tracks on this record with the three-movement suite After Life anchoring the recording. It closes with a song entitled Lucy, but she’s not in the sky with diamonds.
His nine piece band, featured on Better Angels, is almost entirely reunited for this record. They are: bassist Matt Aronoff, saxophonist Andrew Gutauskas, pianist Justin Kauflin, saxophonist Stantawn Kendrick, trombonist Cameron McManus, trumpeter Bill Mobley, drummer Jared Shooing and saxophonist Daniel Ian Smith. This is a cool record!
Those are my selections of the best of what’s New In Music This Week: May 26th. What are you listening to? Drop us a line in the comments. Enjoy the music and enjoy your weekend!
Main Photo: Part of the album art for Tubular Bells