Friday, March 30, 2012

Deserted Island 23

I have a tradition of making some kind of deserted album list every birthday I have, so this is my list for this year:

1-Music For 18 Musicians (Steve Reich - 1976)
 Genre: Modern Classical (Minimalist)
Preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjhEV3665lo&feature=related (this is part of a documentary about Steve Reich - fast forward to 3:10 to hear some of/hear about this piece)


2-Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 2001): 
Genre: Post Rock


3-Kid A (Radiohead - 2000):
Genre: Alternative/Electronic


4-A Love Supreme (John Coltrane - 1965): 
Genre: Jazz


5-Mothertounge (Nico Muhly - 2008):
Genre: Modern Classical


6-& Yet & Yet (Do Make Say Think 2002)
Genre Post-Rock 


7-Bitch's Brew (Miles Davis - 1970): 
Genre: Jazz/Fussion


8-Remain in Light (Talking Heads - 1980): 
Genre: Post-Punk/New-Wave


9-The Next Step (Kurt Rosenwinkel - 2001): 
Genre: Jazz


10-In C (Terry Riley - 1968): 
Genre: Modern Classical (Minimalist) 


11-LP5 (Autechre - 1998):
Genre: Electronic/IDM


12-Einstein on the Beach (Phillip Glass - 1976):
Genre: Modern Classical (Minimalist)


13-Mirrored (Battles - 2007): 
Genre: Math Rock


14-Different Trains/Electric Counterpoint (Steve Reich/Kronos Quartet/Pat Metheny - 1989): 
Genre: Modern Classical/Minimalist


15-Bringing It All Back Home - mostly for side 2 (Bob Dylan - 1965): 
Genre: Folk/Classic Rock


16-Low End Theory (A Tribe Called Quest - 1991):
Genre: Hip Hop


17-Symphony #4 (Charles Ives): 
Genre: Classical


18-Extended Play: Live at Birdland (Dave Holland Quintet - 2003): 
Genre: Jazz


19-Daydream Nation (Sonic Youth - 1988): 
Genre: Alternative/Post-Punk

20-Ambient 3 - Day of Radiance (Brian Eno & Lairjii - 1980):
Genre: Ambient/Modern Classical


21-The Lemon of Pink (the Books - 2001): 
Genre: Folktronica


22-Deep Listening (Pauline Oliveros - 1989):
Genre: Modern Classical


23-You Forgot it in People (Broken Social Scene - 2002): 
Genre: Indie Rock
Preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2aCHMf_Ybw



Or if I could only bring a mix tape on the deserted island it would look something like this: http://8tracks.com/mikesimonellimt/deserted-island-mix

   1.     Intro / A Cosmic Drama           Flying Lotus
   2.     Fahrenheit Fair Enough            Telefon Tel Aviv
   3.     Gigantes                                  Tortoise
   4.     Blue Line                                  Kurt Rosenwinkel
   5.     My Sound                                 Squarepusher
   6.     The Root                                  D'Angelo
   7.     free press and curl                   Shabazz Palaces
   8.     Mystic Brew                              Vijay Iyer Trio
   9.     Check The Rhyme                     A Tribe Called Quest
   10.  I'm So Fickin' Cool                   The Claudia Quintet
   11.  Accordion                                Madvillain
   12.  take time                                 The Books
   13.  Mr. Tambourine Man                Bob Dylan
   14.  Chinatown                                Do Make Say Think
   15.  Antennas to Heaven                  Godspeed You! Black Emperor
   16.  Electric Counterpoint (Fast)       Steve Reich
   17.  Modul 47                                  Nik Bärtsch's Ronin
   18.  Tomorrow Never Knows            The Beatles

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Neighbourhood 29

Earlier this month I released this 14 minutes of music that I made for a photography exhibit created by youth living in Kosovo, called "This is Neighbourhood 29". 


About the Music: Field recordings were taken by Matt Fahey of the youth from Neighbourhood 29 speaking and singing and were later accompanied/orchestrated by Mike Simonelli in Boston, MA.

The music is availibe here for free download and streaming: http://neighbourhood29.bandcamp.com/

(Photograph by Jashar- Age 9)

About the Photography: This is Neighbourhood 29 was a photographic project created by young people aged 7 to 17 living in the Fushe Kosove area of Pristina. The children were Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian, the poorest community in the poorest country in Europe. It was supported by the volunteers of Kosovan NGO The Ideas Partnership as a part of their Summer Programme July-Aug 2011.

The overall aim of the photography project was simple: each participant was given a camera, some basic training on how to use it and then the freedom to explore, experiment and express their creativity by taking photos to represent their neighbourhood. The project provided a exciting and memorable experience for the young people as most of them had never used a camera before. It also gave them a chance to showcase the community from their unique perspective, to the rest of the world.

They have already had their opening exhibit and are planning more exhibits internationally in the near future.


(Photograph by Fidan- Age 9)

Photos: http://www.neighbourhood29.com/

Here's a video I put together of the music synched with the photographs taken by the youth: 




Thank you everyone for listening, for giving feedback, for donating to The Ideas Partnership in supporting these youth, and for help spreading the word through posting about - you are all amazing - much love to you all.  

(Photograph by Besim- Age 12)