Well here's the thing, I recently came into some money and I would like some recomendations. Not about a stereo, or speakers, or a soundcard, or anything like that...I would like recommendations on some completely unknown yet should be essential recordings. I have had to tone down my music purchasing for the last 2 years because college is..well, expensive. So now I am rewarding myself, my intention is to blow about 1200 dollars on new CD's, vinyl, etc. I have a pretty diverse collection but I seem to have hit a blockage in that I find very few new artists anymore-maybe lack of time, effort, whatever. Anything goes but I don't particularly care for country, if you feel it deserves recognition go ahead and post it though. Thanks very much for any leads and discussion this may bring to light.
Viral
I vote for anything Jump, Little Children, probably choosing "Vertigo" over the other CDs. Beautiful vocals, blending of instruments, and a completely unique style. =D
Not totally unkown, but less known: "Esthero - Breath From Another" (Amazon link (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000062H5/102-7249216-7155336)). One of my favorite albums of all time.
I'm not sure how well-known they are, but Primus is a good band. Website is @ http://www.primussucks.com/ (http://www.primussucks.com/)
As far as music style, I don't know how to describe them. They are the only band with their own ID3 music genre. If I had to say, though, I would go with thrash-funk.
Their best work artistically might be 'Sailing the Seas of Cheese'. 'Frizzle Fry' is also good.
Edward Artemiev's "Solaris - The Mirror - Stalker" soundscapes for Tarkoskyv's films. You can find it, but it'll cost you as an import.
It's quite atmospheric instrumentals which simply are a treat for the ears. They are wonderful.
http://www.electroshock.ru/eng/edward/revi...aris/index.html (http://www.electroshock.ru/eng/edward/review/solaris/index.html)
http://www.electroshock.ru/eng/edward/ (http://www.electroshock.ru/eng/edward/)
Well, nearly all my CDs are unknown ! But they are also the kind of music that is better listened to with attention. I mean that many people won't like it, and that it defenitely will draw away consumer from a shop, for example, if used as background music. Therefore I can't advise you without knowing your tastes better.
Examples of CDs that can sound beautiful to ones' ears and unbearable to others, in various genres :
XVIIe Vie - LLewella
Spaceship of the Imagination
Frolic - To Dream, Perchance to Sleep
Idir - A Vava Inouva
...
But trying to stick with your request, I think that I've got one CD whitch got a very high success/rarity ratio among my relatives :
Cosmic Baby - Stellar Supreme
Quite impossible to find outside Germany, nearly everyone who heard it wanted a copy of it (on tape, it was in the mid 90's). Nothing magic or exeptional in it, but easily enjoyable by anyone.
I don't understand german but it's listed in http://www.amazon.de (http://www.amazon.de)
These aren't "totally unknown" either, but they certainly deserve more recognition than they are normally given. Just taking a guess though, that they're not already in your collection... and if you want some essentials, they should be. I'd give a strong endorsement to any of the following (Amazon links provided below):
Running Jumping Standing Still (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001BA1/ref=m_art_bow_2/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by "Spider" John Koerner and Willie Murphy
Spirit (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002AEA/ref=m_art_li_2/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by Spirit
Present Tense (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003H1D/ref=m_art_li_1/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by Sagittarius
The Carnegie Hall Concert (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000005H1G/ref=m_art_li_3/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by Lenny Bruce
Vintage: The Very Best of... (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000028TS/ref=m_art_li_4/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by Moby Grape
Both Matthew & Son (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001F6Z/ref=m_art_li_14/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) and New Masters (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000007448/ref=m_art_li_24/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by Cat Stevens
6- and 12-String Guitar (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003Z91/ref=m_art_li_1/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by Leo Kottke
Teenage Shutdown: Jump, Jive and Harmonize (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000DBZ9/qid%3D1062100704/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-6364083-2676822) (Various Artists)
Blows Against the Empire (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002X2B/ref=m_art_li_1/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship
If I Could Only Remember My Name.... (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002I6T/ref=m_art_li_1/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by David Crosby
Ogden's Nut Gone Flake (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008J2LE/ref=m_art_li_1/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by the Small Faces
Black Monk Time (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000729S/ref=m_art_li_1/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by the Monks
We Are Paintermen (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000023ZTZ/qid=1062135536/sr=1-42/ref=sr_1_42/002-6364083-2676822?v=glance&s=music) by the Creation
- M.
Edit: Fixed a non-functional link.
Edit 2: Added a couple of titles.
Edit 3: Added a few more albums.
Hmmm,
my most unknown that I like is probably Nipponjin by Far East Family Band.
What I like more - and is not quite so unknown is complete Van der Graaf Generator.
Funny thing @pseudoacoustic: never before heard of Primus until two weeks ago my sister gave me a CD full of Primus, encoded in sceners' delight full stereo, but at least with LAME 3.92 @ 192 kBit
I have A LOT of virtually unknown music.
[span style='font-size:11pt;line-height:100%']Buck 65 (http://www.buck65.com/) Is the best hip-hop out there, IMO. "Square" is his best CD.[/span]
(http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00007H02O.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg)
[span style='font-size:11pt;line-height:100%']Download (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/102-8424299-4765766) Is a little known electronic group. There best work is, unquestionably "The Eyes of Stanley Pain"[/span]
(http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000005DC3.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg)
[span style='font-size:11pt;line-height:100%']And ANYTHING from Warp Records (http://www.warprecords.com/) is amazing. Especially Aphex Twin (Richard D. James), Squarepusher (Tom Jenkinson), Autechre, Boards of Canada, and Anti-Pop Consortium.[/span]
The Donnas - Spend The Night: Kinda like KISS + AC/DC, but all girls. Rocks!
Golden Boy with Miss Kittin - Or: Great electronica with an 80s vibe. A little electroclash-ish, but actually good.
Rob
This group is not "unknown"in a general sense, but unknown to younger people.
Rockbilly Boogie by The Johnny Burnette Trio from Bear Family Records contains
what is auguably the finest example of rockabilly ever recorded. Most of the material was recorded in 1955-1956, even before Carl Perkins made an impact
at Sun Records. Without this group, retro groups like the Stray cats would not have existed. If you want a taste of some blazing rockabilly/rock n'roll that influenced many groups that followed, this is a great CD to get. BTW, Bear Family
Records has done a superb job of perserving essential rock and roll history in their catalogue. Well worth checking out their website http://www.bear-family.de/ (http://www.bear-family.de/)
Don't know "who knows what", but these are at least the "lesser knowns" that I like (in no particular order)...
Synergy ~ Audion
Radiohead ~ OK Computer
The B-52's ~ Whammy!
Hole ~ My Body, The Hand Grenade
Lexx: The Series (Original TV Soundtrack)
The Chemical Brothers ~ Surrender
Milla ~ The Divine Comedy
Ozric Tentacles ~ Jurassic Shift
Primus ~ Pork Soda
Sass Jordan ~ Rats
Joey Stuckey (http://216.73.101.101/default.htm) ~ Take a Walk In The Shadows
--------------------------
Edit: Ugh...Migraine medication makes me ramble. OK, rambling's normal for me, but it makes ramble more than usual. Hence, I shortened the list after "coming down".
Joey Stuckey is linked because he's released under his own label and won't be found anywhere else. He handed me one of the first copies of his debut CD in 1994 before there was a "production company". The rest can be found via the usual searches.
Well, in my collection resides currently 358 albums (including box sets, etc.)...not what I would consider a large collection (especially around here). But here are (currently) my very favorites out of that collection. They range from somewhat unknown to quite well known, but then again I don't know who's heard of what, so here goes (in no particular order):
Joey Stuckey (http://216.73.101.101/default.htm) ~ Take a Walk In The Shadows
The Police ~ Outlandos d'Amour
The Police ~ Ghost In The Machine
Synergy ~ Audion
Radiohead ~ OK Computer
The B-52's ~ Whammy!
The B-52's ~ Time Capsule
Hole ~ Live Through This
Hole ~ My Body, The Hand Grenade
Pink Floyd ~ Animals
Pink Floyd ~ Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd ~ Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd (or better yet, just buy their whole studio collection!)
Lexx: The Series (Original TV Soundtrack)
Alanis Morissette ~ Jagged Little Pill
Beastie Boys ~ Beastie Boys Anthology: The Sounds of Science
Rush ~ Moving Pictures
Rush ~ A Farewell To Kings
The Chemical Brothers ~ Surrender
Fatboy Slim ~ You've Come a Long Way, Baby (...worth it if only for tearing up codecs with Kalifornia )
Milla ~ The Divine Comedy
Ozric Tentacles ~ Jurassic Shift
Primus ~ Pork Soda
The Clash ~ The Essential Clash
Sass Jordan ~ Rats
Scorpions ~ Deadly Sting: The Mercury Years
Johann Sebastian Bach ~ The Brandenburg Concertos (Il Giardino Armonico)
Smashing Pumpkins ~ Siamese Dream
Talking Heads ~ Popular Favorites 1976-1992: Sand in the Vaseline
The Cars ~ Candy-O
The Beatles ~ Rubber Soul
Tool ~ Ænima
U2 ~ The Joshua Tree
The Prodigy ~ Fat Of The Land
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (Original Soundtrack)
And only if you're a big '70s fan...
Have A Nice Decade: The '70s Pop Culture Box
These are just my *very* favorites, anyway. Not many unknowns IMO, but as I said, I don't know who's heard of who. For example, most people know Milla Jovovich from movies (The Fifth Element, Resident Evil, The Messenger), but how many know of her music?
Good tastes in music, I'm especially impressed with the Lexx Sountrack, I wish I had it ; but wasn't this thread supposed to UNKNOWN artists? I think the Lexx selection is the only one that really fits here . . . .
Good tastes in music, I'm especially impressed with the Lexx Sountrack, I wish I had it ; but wasn't this thread supposed to UNKNOWN artists? I think the Lexx selection is the only one that really fits here . . . .
I thought it was "unknown
CDs"...but if I misread the initial post it wouldn't have been the first time it's happened.
I'm guessing (for many people) Marty Simon (Lexx), Milla, Joey Stuckey, Sass Jordan, Ozric Tentacles and Synergy would probably be the least known
artists in the list.
For many others, the
CDs are not so common IMO, though the artists are. Such as for Outlandos d'Amour; Whammy!; My Body, The Hand Grenade; Surrender; A Farewell To Kings.
The rest are simply "deserving of recognition", as part of what was mentioned in the original post. Just my $0.02 for building/expanding someone's collection with music they might not otherwise pick up. Plus the fact that there's no way to tell what's "unknown" to a certain person.
Hole was completely unknown to me until two years ago...I got so hooked that I've since bought their entire collection.
just a few of my favourite "probably-unknown-to-some" albums:
keren ann - biographie de luka philipsen
ivy - long distance
way out west - intensify
lunik - ahead
terra ferma - the adventures of...
rank 1 - symsonic
OIO - Anima (but you will probably won't be able to find it)
Roger Glover: The butterfly ball and the grasshopers feast
http://home.swipnet.se/rogerglover/text/re...ds/butterfl.htm (http://home.swipnet.se/rogerglover/text/records/butterfl.htm)
One of my favourite albums of all times. There is a small cult following, and most people know it through seeing the "love is all" song and cartoon during the childhood. The whole album is of the same calibre.
(http://home.swipnet.se/rogerglover/bball/balllogo.jpg)
good call on Way out West. Also check out their self-titled debut if you can find it...a nice fusion of powerful progressive house, breaks, chillout, downtempo & ambient. Intensify takes it a bit further with a few more poppy elements.
For my own addition, an album by a good friend of mine: Kilowatts - Perfected Everything. Experimental compositions sitting somewhere inbetween IDM and downtempo with elements of jazz and countless other genres thrown in for good measure.
All "Sunya Beat" Records
Main Artist is "Axel Manrico Heilhecker"
"Fishmoon" is an intresting Solo Album.
Genre and Style is somewhere between "Prog-Rock" Pink Floyd, "Ethnic-Influenced" like Santana or Dead Can Dance, and all releases contains "spacy Guitars" and "delayed Guitar Strings" played as Instrument and "magic sound carpets", by the "Man at the Mixer".
Regards Lego
The Apartments - DriftOld Official Website. (http://www.tt.net/hot/apartments.html)
From Australia with grace... Peter Milton-Walsh's songwriting is beautifully natural, lighter than dreams, deeper than pain... as haunted as any solitude could be.
(http://www.tt.net/hot/apartments/drift.jpg)
Encyclopedia entry for 'The Apartments' (http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=36)
Drift was issued in Europe on the New Rose label, and garnered generous reviews in France. It was so well received in France, in fact, that while Drift sold less than 200 copies in Australia, it reputedly sold 20 000 there.
I don't believe a word of that. I've never never met anyone who knows that band. If anyone here does, I'll be happy to know.
The Pale Fountains - Pacific StreetA.K.A Shack, The Strands.
A great band from Liverpool that time has forgotten.
Shack Official Website (http://www.shackgroup.com/)
Great Fan Website (http://www.shacknet.co.uk/)
(http://www.shacknet.co.uk/pacificcoverthumb.jpg)
Other records (maybe less unknown):Swell (http://www.4hourworld.com/swell1.html) - Too Many Days Without Thinking
Red House Painters (http://www.evo.org/html/group/redhousepainters.html) - Down Colorful Hill
American Music Club (http://www.americanmusicclub.com/) - Mercury
Palace Brothers (http://www.dragcity.com/) - There Is No-One That Will Take Care Of You
Felt (http://www.ready-steady-go.org.uk/felt.html) - The Strange Idol Pattern And Other Short Stories
Richard Hawley (http://www.richardhawley.co.uk/) - Lowedges
15-60-75 (The Numbers Band) (http://www.numbersband.com/) - Jimmy Bell's Still In Town (http://www.numbersband.com/jimbell.html)
15-60-75 performs an inspiried blend of blues, R&B, and rock. This live recording from 1974 catches their red-hot performance, opening up for Bob Marley to an indifferent crowd. The band blazes with both rhythm and passion. Using guitars, saxophones, harmonica & congas, they prove that even the best music can get passed over by the music industry. (I may post some short clips if I get a chance.)
This album is highly recommended!
You can order it from the band's website, Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=music-artist&field-artist=The%20Numbers%20Band/104-6401744-4446343), or via Pere Ubu's Hearthan (http://www.projex.demon.co.uk/hearpen/jbell.html) record label.
Nurse With Wound - Thunder Perfect Mind, Soliloquy For Lilith
Coil - Love's Secret Domain, Musick To Play In The Dark Vol. 1 and 2, Time Machines, Moon's Milk
Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats
Michael Stearns - Planetary Unfolding (100% Serge synthesizer)
Current 93 - Swastikas For Noddy
Vince Clarke & Martyn Ware - Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle (designed for headphones)
Death In June - But, What Ends When The Symbols Shatter?
Francis Cabrel - Samedi Soir sur la Terre
Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats
YEAH Throbbing Gristle!! The first industrial band ever. I really want to find their first CD: Throbbing Gristle's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (gotta love the sense of humour, eh?).
Anything by the Pixies, music today would be totally different without their influence to bands in the early 1990s.
AFI is an amazing group. Have gotten some airplay on MTV and the radio, but they are still an underground band at heart. Same goes with The Ataris, awsome pop-punk.
Guster is simply amazing. Pick up "Lost and Gone Forever' and 'Keep it Together"
Here's a good one. This band is certainly unknown to most, as they were practically earased from history by an 80s hair band of the same name.
Skid Row (http://www.alexgitlin.com/skid.html)
The databases of the major music distributors are *very* confused over this.
The band features a 17 year-old Gary Moore absolutely ripping blues/rock guitar riffs. Not that that alone should impress anyone, as Gary's catalog ever since has been pretty limp.
Highly recommended.
mobius
I don't think Atari Teenage Riot are unknown, but most people I know have never heard of them.
I'd listen to an album before you buy one, they are the type of band that you will either love or hate. And don't buy Live at Brixton Academy 1999 unless you prefer noise to music.
My favourite ATR CD is The Future of War. If you like that then buy Alec Empire's solo stuff on Digital Hardcore Records. I like some of his albums on Geist Records, but that is more ambient.
Sui Generis - Vida
Fito Paez - Giros
.. It's in spanish though... Great muzak.
I would help if you mentioned a few bands that you like, but anyway...here are some greek recommendations:
1) Diafana Krina (http://www.geocities.com/diafana_krina_gr) (Transparent Lillies) - Any Album: One of the best greek rock bands with some darkwave elements in the style of Joy Division. Here are a few comments from some foreign e-zines (http://www.geocities.com/diafana_krina_gr/cdreviews/foreign-reviews.htm) that reviewed the album their latest album "Silence Gives the Odour of Wild Cherries"..."Diafana Krina's vocalist is superior to any of these singers (Stewart Staples of Tindersticks and Leonard Cohen, Lee Hazelwood), both in expressiveness and in vocal timbre"..."Diafana Krina's sound is thoroughly modern, with a basic rock beat but also some jazz touches, and with great interplay between the guitars, which utilize lots of effects, including occasional heavy fuzz and just a bit of dissonance at times"..."They play guitar lines that Radiohead's Johnny Greenwood would be proud to call his own"..."Don't let the language barrier be an impediment - this one's a winner regardless".
2) Raining Pleasure (http://rainingpleasure.dot.gr/eng_index.htm) - "Nostalgia" (or) "Flood": I can't praise this band enough. They took their name after a song of Triffids, and you could say that share a lot in style with them, along with James, dEUS and such bands. Just listen to songs like "Rainsong 55", "Nostalgia", "Song Of The Wolf" and "Fake" to make up your own mind about this band's artistic value.
3) Stavros Lantsias (http://www.studio52.gr/info/os1309.htm) - "Epistrofi": One of the most skilled modern greek (more exact, cypriot) pianists in his first solo album. Filled with touching and sensitive instrumental compositions that luckily have nothing to do with the kind of mellowness that "artists" like Yanni for instance represent. Emotional and strong melodies...
4) Takis Farazis - "Spells Of Musing" (http://www2.neweb.ne.jp/wd/tazi-k/cdrack/artists/t/TakisFarazis.html): Yet another instrumental album, filled with pianistic melodies. Similar to artists like Ozymandias and in the same vein with Erik Satie's Gymnopedies, Farazis managed to combine minimalism with romanticism, in a result that left many speechless.
5) Manos Hadjidakis (http://www.hadjidakis.gr/) - "Reflections" or "Magnus Eroticus" or "Gioconda's Smile": Probably the best greek composer of the last century (along with Theodorakis) and a true musical genius...I copy from a biographical note:
"Modern Greek society developed and was nurtured by the personality of Manos Hadjidakis. Never for a moment did he hesitate to propound his visions to the utmost, thus revealing the deepest meaning of art.
An irreconcilable pioneer, an enemy of pomposity and solidified views, a lover of ?youth,? nonconformist to the core, and armed with Greek and world culture, he was able to combine classical with folk music, thus creating a ?new? sound, a ?new? type of song, with roots both in the East and the West."
There's nothing from this man that I can't suggest with all my heart, but I tried hard to limit down the choices to three...
"Reflections" is an album that you'll like for sure since it uses english lyrics. "Magnus Eroticus" is probably his best album ever (and among the best of the greek repertoire in general)...it's a cycle of songs based on the poetry of Odysseas Elytis, Nikos Gatsos, C.P. Cavafy, Dionysios Solomos, Sappho and King Solomon among others. "Gioconda's Smile" is the absolute instrumental album and the one that every other tries to compare to...
I think noone should be without the album "Electrasy - In Here We Fall". Solid rock with electronic influences and a tad of hip/hop here and there.
For nice electronica vinyls check out these artists (some more popular than others):
Max Graham
Planisphere
Starecase
Praha
Chab
Steve Gibbs
Sonourus
Adam Dived
edit: Oh, for some otherwise interesting music, check out "Dusted". Their song "Allways Remember To Respect And Honour Your Mother (Part 1)" is mesmerizing. Generally, their music is relaxing and very "rich". Hard to describe.
Francis Cabrel - Samedi Soir sur la Terre
Oh well, it a relief to know that this CD is unknown in foreign countries The RTL2 national radio station plays "Hors Saison" about 6 times a day. It's a good artist, but we've got too much of him here
My father says about him "that's what you get when a peasant takes LSD !".
Nurse With Wound - Thunder Perfect Mind
AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH !!!!!
This album is UN-LIS-TEN-ABLE !!! (http://perso.numericable.fr/laguill2/smileys/briques.gif)
I used to to make bets with it in high school : "I bet you can't listen to this CD from the beginning to the end !".
If you like progressive rock try:
Einstein www.jonathanmover.com
Tribe of Judah www.tojonline.com
Larry Raspberry and the Highsteppers. Link here. (http://home.earthlink.net/~lraspberry/)
Herman Brood. Link here. (http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/6623/) (watch out for pop-ups)
Gary Moore. Link here. (http://www.gary-moore.com/) Check out Parisienne Walkways - (live), whew!
I am from Mexico (as some of you already know).
The best mexican band is, without a doubt:
Cafe Tacvba (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/111671/ref=m_art_dp/002-7543653-4316847)
You can't go wrong with any of their albums.
Indescriptable music, you just have to listen to it
thanks for all the replies, for those who wonder i like it all, everything from Funkromicon by Buchethead and Bootsy Collins to the Goldberg Variations by Gould. I like Pole,Lamb,Autechre,RDJ,Berd Steidl,Morgan Phillips,Etc..
All by Buckethead,Bonobo,Anime soundtracks, road to perdition, PI, etc.. just guess what i like... if you're wrong it hurtw noone but my checkbook.
anything but coutry will be seriously considered,garth brooks need not apply.
sorry for the misspelling, add blue man group while you are forgiving me for my past sins.
I'm surprised I didn't hear more Bernd Steidl, and other assorted crazyness including Manuel Gottsching and Chris Vrenna's OST to Alice.
I don't think Atari Teenage Riot are unknown, but most people I know have never heard of them.
ATR rock!
Probably not as well known as The Future Sound of London, but not less recommendable are Biosphere. Patashnik is my personal favourite album, followed by Microgravity.
Generic CD stores would put them into the same slot as Autechre...
Depending on where you live, Radiowaves by the superb Norwegian band called Seigmen is totally unknown. Not sure if it's still in print, but ususally available at www.shadowland.no (http://www.shadowland.no).
I am from Mexico (as some of you already know).
The best mexican band is, without a doubt:
Cafe Tacvba (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/111671/ref=m_art_dp/002-7543653-4316847)
No way!! It's MANA!!!!!!
"Rayando el soooooolll....."
Check out Mia Doi Todd - Golden Age (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006FI9K/qid=1062269761/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-2564332-2357427?v=glance&s=music).
Introspective female vocal, minimal accompaniment.
I am from Mexico (as some of you already know).
The best mexican band is, without a doubt:
Cafe Tacvba (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/111671/ref=m_art_dp/002-7543653-4316847)
No way!! It's MANA!!!!!!
"Rayando el soooooolll....."
I prefer Los de Abajo (http://www.discoweb.com/es/Music/scripts/Albums.asp?Interprete=LOS+DE+ABAJO) without a doubt. B)
best CD I own that is totally unknown: The Acappellas - The Acappellas (acapella gospel )
I like [...] All by Buckethead
Ah! Buckethead? Primus and Buckethead have good ties.
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/primus/110956.html (http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/primus/110956.html)
Hybrid - Wide Angle
BT - Movement In Still Life
All available on Amazon with sample previews, truely ground breaking electronica/dance albums in their time!
Ruairi
Au Pairs - BBC Sessions 79 - 81 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002K7J/qid=1062287960/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/002-4993579-9164030?v=glance&s=music)
is probably not too well-known.
I saw this band in their heyday and thought they were great!
pol
Nurse With Wound - Thunder Perfect Mind
AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH !!!!!
This album is UN-LIS-TEN-ABLE !!!
and whilst we are at it, i forgot to mention all the krautrock in my last post! so here goes:
Neu! - Neu!, and Neu! 75
Faust - Faust
Cluster - Sowiesoso
Harmonia - Musik Von Harmonia
i urge you to try again and listen without prejudice
Yes, the second track is actually OK, it's the first track that I can't bear. I can't listen to this again since I sold the CD to a radio station. I made a big mistake, by the way, because I thought that I got rid of these CDs forever, but the radio actually played them, so I had to hear them even more than before . Especially the awful "Hirsche Nicht Aufs Sofa - Musik Fur Flugeshafte" (but there are other good albums by HNAS).
But I prefer by far the "sister album" of Nurse With Wound's, that is "Current93 - Thunder Perfect Mind".
By the way, in the "unknown and worth recognition" category, let me add
Current 93 & Höh - Island.
(Featuring Björk's voice in track 1, for fans, though the style has nothing to do with her later solo works).
yes Pio2001, there is a whole rich vein of wonderful undiscovered music waiting for people to enjoy. a lot of these bands (coil, nww, c93, chris and cosey etc) can be accessed from the World Serpent site:
http://www.worldserpent.com/ (http://www.worldserpent.com/)
people might also like to try:
http://www.middlepillar.com/ (http://www.middlepillar.com/)
http://www.soleilmoon.com/ (http://www.soleilmoon.com/)
http://www.tesco-distro.com/ (http://www.tesco-distro.com/)
Well, your post has a different meaning than your subject-line, but ok:
Think "international". In the quest for something "new", I've discovered the whole JPOP/KPOP/Anime thing. This genre has managed to put the silly "fun" back into music.
Start here (http://www.boaweb.co.uk/audio.htm). This is a free download by the British group Boa. Great song. Not to be confused with the S. Korean singer BoA: equally good in a different way.
Then start checking out, Utada Hikaru, Maaya Sakamoto, Morning Musume, Megumi Hayashibara, etc., etc., the list goes on forever.
Cutesy pop stuff, but you gotta admit, its different.
Dex
I don't know about totally unknown, but the most underappreciated popular music album of the century is definitely Love - Forever Changes (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000058983/qid=1062368169/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/102-7440193-4547359?v=glance&s=music&n=507846).
probably 'No Sun Today' from Grey Daze
I don't know about totally unknown, but the most underappreciated popular music album of the century is definitely Love - Forever Changes (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000058983/qid=1062368169/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/102-7440193-4547359?v=glance&s=music&n=507846).
Yes, you're so right! It's a real masterpiece and Arthur Lee is such an unknown real genius, just like Nick Drake and some other artists.
It might be just me, but never thought of Forever Changes as an underappreciated popular album. Artists like Belle & Sebastian or Kings Of Convenience for instance have been greatly influenced by it and never hid it. But anyway...it's really a masterpiece and should be in everyone's collection for sure.
Well, your post has a different meaning than your subject-line, but ok:
Think "international". In the quest for something "new", I've discovered the whole JPOP/KPOP/Anime thing. This genre has managed to put the silly "fun" back into music.
Start here (http://www.boaweb.co.uk/audio.htm). This is a free download by the British group Boa. Great song. Not to be confused with the S. Korean singer BoA: equally good in a different way.
Then start checking out, Utada Hikaru, Maaya Sakamoto, Morning Musume, Megumi Hayashibara, etc., etc., the list goes on forever.
Cutesy pop stuff, but you gotta admit, its different.
Dex
Well.. actually I'd fail to see as to how Boa would be considered international, since its a English band best known for their track Duvet off SE Lain...
But I'd agree, international music is where its at..
Although most of the Jap artistes you proceed to list below would be considered highly mainstream ( and 100% pop ), so they're not THAT unknown outside of Asian circles.
I recently ran into some MP3s from a group called "Camera Obscura" out of Glasgow. There is apparently a similarly named band out of California... both seem to be pretty low on the radar. The one I'm referring to (UK) is sort of UK-country (not at all like US-country, thank god) with very peaceful vocals. I've been quite impressed. If you find a good outlet for their disc(s), let me know. I'd love to pick up whatever they have available.
May I recommend Kagermann - Delicious Fruit (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000AGCF/qid=1062454733/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-6017984-2704844?v=glance&s=music), John Zorn - The Gift (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000059RTZ/qid%3D1062454841/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr_11_1/002-6017984-2704844), Jan Garbarek - I took up the runes (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000025YKZ/qid=1062454909/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-6017984-2704844?v=glance&s=music), Narada - Discover Narada and David Arkenstone - In the wake of the wind.
I am from Mexico (as some of you already know).
The best mexican band is, without a doubt:
Cafe Tacvba (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/111671/ref=m_art_dp/002-7543653-4316847)
No way!! It's MANA!!!!!!
"Rayando el soooooolll....."
You are hopeless
Well, in my country we say "en gustos se rompen generos"*
But, just for the record: Mana is hardly considered a real "rock band" among critics in my country. I happen to agree. But there is not denying that they are really popular specially in South America, and yes, they have a couple of songs that are catchy enough to me kinda likable.
*Rough translation: There are no defined genres when individual taste is considered.
ECHOBRAIN - EchoBrain
SUMITRA - The Secret Of Our Souls
PHISH - Round Room
DEAD CAN DANCE - Aion; Spleen & Ideal
FATES WARNING - Perfect Symmetry; Parallels; Inside Out; Pleasant Shades Of Grey; Disconnected
WATCHTOWER - Control & Resistance
HIROMI UEHARA - Another Mind
NOVEMBER - En ny tid ar har; 2:a November; 6:e November
ARMORED SAINT - Symbol Of Salvation
CAROL KIDD - Nice Work
PSYCHOTIC WALTZ - anything
There are surely tons of other music I just can't remember for the time being; anyway these should be "unknown" enough...
Not totally unkown, but less known: "Esthero - Breath From Another" (Amazon link (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000062H5/102-7249216-7155336)). One of my favorite albums of all time.
Ditto. Great album. I think the "Heaven Sent" video was played a few times on MTV in '98, so she's got some exposure.
An there's some Nelly Furtado background vocals in the album (before she made it big), but I'm not really into her stuff.
Ditto. Great album. I think the "Heaven Sent" video was played a few times on MTV in '98, so she's got some exposure.
I think i've seen the video, but as an AVI. BTW, she also did the chorus on the Black Eyed Peas song "Weekends", and was in the video too.
By Dead Can Dance, I rather recommend "The Serpent's Egg" than "Aion".
By Dead Can Dance, I rather recommend "The Serpent's Egg" than "Aion".
By Dead Can Dance I like 'Within The Realm of a Dying Sun' the best, but all their stuff is great.
Chet Baker in Milan. Listening to it right now. It is jazz.
@Pio2001 & @ music_man_mpc:
I definitely prefer "Aion" from Dead Can Dance, but it's individual choice...
Music isn't football or ice-hockey where you can say Team A is better than Team B by x goals... B)
If you've never heard her, get anything by Cesaria Evora. And, sorry Pio, but I agree with Roberto that Francis Cabrel is undervalued (and almost unknown) everyplace but France. Try, e.g., the album "Quequ'un de l'interieur".
Kobong - "Kobong" (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000087D2/qid=1062625438/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/102-9866419-8464921?v=glance&s=music&n=507846)
One of my all time favourites...
One of two best things that have ever happened to alternative metal... The second was "The Cloud Is Gone" (original title: "Chmury nie było") - Kobong's CD no. 2.
I don't think anyone of you have ever heard anything like this. And yes, I'm being serious. A totally unknown band and two of the greatest pieces of music I have encountered in my whole life.
Maybe if one combined Primus with King Crimson and some kind of a really heavy band, he could be able to create something resembling Kobong. Resembling a bit...
If Amazon is still able to get it (or if they have it somewhere), go and buy it. You won't regret the decision.
"The Robocop Kraus", they´re fantastic like shit but none cares.
That´s the usual fate of german undergroundbands, ´cause germans
only watch out what´s the next big thing overseas. Dumb but true...
They sound like the Cure having sex with an english punk rock band, which decided to
increase their soundquality and songstructures! Sounds weird? It is!
I love their music ^^!
I dont know any webpage but I found that (http://www.musicmagnet.de/magazin/specials33.html)! Sorry its german but you can use the google translationtools...
I don't know about totally unknown, but the most underappreciated popular music album of the century is definitely Love - Forever Changes (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000058983/qid=1062368169/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/102-7440193-4547359?v=glance&s=music&n=507846).
Yes, you're so right! It's a real masterpiece and Arthur Lee is such an unknown real genius, just like Nick Drake and some other artists.
This thread has some nice fruit. I did a little searching, and this album is indeed very good. I don't know how it escaped my ears for so long.
Also,
Roger Glover: The butterfly ball and the grasshopers feast
I can't seem to find much of this one. Is it in the same vein as Glover's other work (Deep Purple)?
I hope some of you have followed the Skid Row link I posted earlier. Definitely good stuff.
mobius
John Linnell - State Songs
This isn't all that obscure, but it's really good and I don't own too many obscure albums. :-)
Solace - Further (2000)
sounds a lot like good ol' Black Sabbath days (1970-74)
It's old, but I've always loved the UK Subs "Another Kind of Blues " (1979).
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the tracks C.I.D. and I Live In A Car. Also, TV Blues has the best monotone guitar solo ever! Of course, if you don't wanna hear late 70's british punk music, then you won't want this link at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000009NQ5/qid=1062886317/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-3942664-9148646?v=glance&s=music)
In the same vein I'd recommend Venus In Furs eponymously titled first album (feat."pretty in pink") , but I'm fairly sure it's out of print in all formats
Well.. actually I'd fail to see as to how Boa would be considered international, since its a English band best known for their track Duvet off SE Lain...
Although most of the Jap artistes you proceed to list below would be considered highly mainstream ( and 100% pop ), so they're not THAT unknown outside of Asian circles.
I guess I have a tendency to think of my own country as a reference point, (America), and thus, an English band would be "international".
I can't really agree that any of the Asian artists I listed as being "highly mainstream". I've never met anybody, (other than online), who's ever heard of any of them. Although, that may change as cable brings Pokeman, DBZ, and other anime to American TV sets.
Dex
Hello y'all.
I think "totally unknown" should at least be a band that very few people know of, groups like Dead Can Dance (IMO, the first album is still the best), Radiohead (IMO, the second album is still the best ), Gary Moore (ok, a person, no group ) etc. don't fit even near the "unknown" category.
Just like when I asked a ex-punk if he has heard about the group Dead Kennedys, he replied with "Of course, but that's mainstream!" .
Anyone else heard the Bullshit detector punk tapes? Grin.
My most unknown CD I own, is "Njatr - 1996 + 1998 e.p.'s" http://www.njatr.de/ (http://www.njatr.de/) .
Not to mention my Gary Moore CD ;-) .
Cheers,
Mijo.
Some of these are probably well known to some, but they deserve even more recognition
Add N to (X): Avant Hard
Covenant: Sequencer (or 'Dreams of a Cryotank' or 'Europa', I can never make up my mind which is my favourite)
Cobalt 60: Twelve
The Hangovers: Slow Dirty Tears
Swans: White Light from the Mouth of Infinity
I don't think Atari Teenage Riot are unknown, but most people I know have never heard of them.
They are a fantastic band!
My favourite ATR CD is The Future of War.
I really liked 60 Second Wipeout, and the first three tracks are relatively accessible, with their running-into-each-other "live" feel - before the album descends into the bizarre noise they love so much.
hardcore/punk you will not find on MTV
Supertouch - the earth is flat
Crash Box - nel cuore
Beyond - no longer at ease
Endpoint - after taste
Statue - filter the infection
Deadguy - screaming with the deadguy quintet
Falling Forward - hand me down
Unbroken - life.love.regret.
Sunspring - poppy
Tearwater - distain/colossus
Imputor - Six Records Breaks Your Heart Again (compilation)
Struktur - Red Zero Seven (compilation)
Dunno about unknown, but not too commonly listened to:
Robert Johnson - ...I Went Down To The Crossroads
'They're Red Hot' is a real classic.
Weakling - Dead As Dreams
absolutely brilliant raw, nasty, dirty black metal that not even alot of hardcore black metal fans know about.
Do Make Say Think (saw them live last night, brilliant)
Berg Sans Nipple (supporting DMST last night!)
Calexico
Skip James
Mountain Goats
Liars
Interpol
anything by the above named artists will do nicely for starters
'They're Red Hot' is a real classic.
My son loved that one the moment he heard it. He danced until he puked. Good song for a 2YO.
He also likes Blind Lemon or Leadbelly doing "black snake moan."
I do own the "Sheila EP" from the band "Cassiopeia". It isn't even a pressed CD: i bought it by email-order and got a non-automatically written email from one of the band members. about a week later, i had a manually burned and laballed sheila EP in my collection
Their style is probably best described when comparing them to "Fields Of The Nephilim" - Cassiopeia do sound quite similiar, yet still a bit more chilling and atmospheric than the nephilims.
www.cassiopeianet.de
- Lyx
Sarah K. - Water Falls
Allan Taylor - Colour To The Moon
Isildurs Bane - Mind Vol. 1 + 2
Great thread! There's much stuff to explore here. (Though I have heard of much of the stuff mentioned - either I know a LOT about music or the stuff listed is not "totally unknown". )
My absolute favourite "unknown" artist is baterz (http://users.chariot.net.au/~baterz/), who sadly passed away last year. I highly recommend people here check out his single "Goth", which managed to get some airplay on the national "youth" radio station here in Australia. It can be downloaded from his website. (http://users.chariot.net.au/~baterz/index2.htm)
.dd.
While not totally unknown, these five acts are virtually unknown to all but a select few.. They so deserve a much bigger audience!
Genocide Organ - Remember (ok, it's a vinyl set.. but my God there are some powerful moments in here! strong industrial stuff at its peak)
Anenzephalia - s/t (magical live performance from Sweden by this obscure act.. amazing dark ambient industrial.. must-have)
Janitor - Receiving A Flower On Mother's Day (superb dark ambient from one of Sweden's finest!)
In Slaughter Natives - s/t (seminal debut album, available on Staalplat or CMI. Apocalyptic, symphonic industrial at its peak!! This is a real must-have)
Puissance - Total Cleansing (this is simply wonderful. buy it now!)
Check out www.tesco-distro.com for more info on first three bands, www.coldmeat.se or staalplat.com for ISN, http://www.puissance.org/ (http://www.puissance.org/) for Puissance...
Enjoy!
Good CD - "Ben Kweller - Sha Sha" (Don't know if he is considered "unknown" or not, I've never heard him on the radio - found out about him from a friend....) - I'm very impressed with the album in general. Some tracks are to "pop" for my tastes, but tracks like "In Other Words" and "Lizzy" just blow me away....
Best CD - "David Bromberg - Wanted Dead Or Alive" - Just good, and different.
Fallen To (http://www.fallento.com)'s Demo CD. Don't know how unknown this is at the US, but at least no one has heard of them here in Finland It's even impossible to find their full albums on stores here, and I'm not a big fan of buying stuff online from other countries :/
All CDs by SubUrban Tribe (http://www.suburbantribe.com) (a great finnish band, don't know if anyone else than all the finns around know them)
I would recommend:
I Mother Earth - "The Quicksilver Meat Dream", "Blue Green Orange", or "Scenery and Fish"
The Mars Volta - "De-Loused in the Comatorium"
Sparta - "Wiretap Scars"
Probably Either:
Lawnmower Deth - Oooh Crikey.... it's Lawnmower Deth (excellent British deth metal with a killer sense of humor)
cover: http://www.shipley.ac.uk/north/deth/LDOoohbig.htm (http://www.shipley.ac.uk/north/deth/LDOoohbig.htm)
comprehensive Lawnmower Deth site: http://www.shipley.ac.uk/north/deth/ (http://www.shipley.ac.uk/north/deth/)
or
Lara and Reyes - Riverwalk (excellent latin guitar)
http://www.guitar9.com/riverwalk.html (http://www.guitar9.com/riverwalk.html)
I'm going to try to include a variety of genres here, focusing on recent releases by relatively unknown artists. I encourage you all to listen to these, and welcome your feedback.
Coil - Musick to Play in the Dark Volume 1
This album is probably the most well-known on my list, and I hesitated about including it, but it's just brilliant. I don't have enough words for it, and I'm not even going to try to describe it. A note - If you buy/download it and you're not totally blown away, try actually listening to it in the dark. It's better that way, I promise.
Detritus - Endogenous
This is a debut album, I'm almost certain. Fantastic post-industrial noisy breaks layered on top of orchestral strings and pads. Sounds vaguely like Gridlock/Dryft, but a lot more deliberate and moody. And, it's solid the whole way through.
Manibus - Escape
Another debut album, by a young twenty-something guy from Serbia. It's techno/psytrance, and not terribly innovative, but if you're a fan of the genre it might be the best album you hear all year. None of that silly over the top crunching organic madness (GMS?), just solid melodies, good structure, and a nice dark feel to it.
Hellfish and Producer - Bastard Sonz Of Rave
Hardcore techno, but not that cheesy rotterdam 'Army of Hardcore' stuff. This is intelligent, well-produced electronic madness at 180BPM. Fantastic use of samples, melodies, breakbeats, tempo changes, without falling into incoherent noise. Much more listenable than Neophyte/Alec Empire/ATR.
Imminent Starvation - Nord
Thick noise-based techno/industrial. This album is, for me, the defining powernoise album. I'm always impressed when an artist manages to coax music out of unconvential sounds, and Nord is one of the finest examples of a musician working in this field. Complex, harsh, driving, brilliant.
This Morn' Omina - Le Serpent Blanc ~ Le Serpent Rouge
A double-cd from a band that describe themselves as 'ritual trance music'. Very tribal and industrial-ish, once CD is heavier dancefloor-friendly material, while the other is ambient/atmospheric. One of the best albums I've heard this year, and probably one of the most accessible on this list.
I could go on and post another dozen albums easily, but these are the ones off the top of my head. If anyone finds this list remotely helpful, let me know and I'll gladly write up some others.
Augie March are a top band you probably havnt heard of if you don't live in Australia (I think they are touring UK, Europe and maybe US sometime soon though)
Their first album, 'Sunset Studies' is tops, and 'Strange Bird' (their latest release, which is I think available in US/UK) is absolutely stunning. I beg you to try to get hold of some of their stuff for some fine, higly acclaimed and very original melodic folk/rock with fantastic lyrics.
Also, any of the CD's that Jerry Garcia (from the Greatful Dead) and Dave Grisman did together are really worth a listen.
EDIT:
Just found some tour dates for Augie March (no they dont pay me to do this) GO SEE THEM IF YOU CAN!
NOV 1 DUBLIN, VICAR STREET, SUPPORTING THE 4 OF US
NOV 3 LONDON,THE GARAGE HEADLINE SHOWCASE
NOV 7 NYC USA, THE MERCURY, SHOWCASE SUPPORTING THE BLUETONES
NOV 10 SAN FRANCISCO TBC
NOV 11 LA, THE TROUBADOUR, SUPPORTING COSMIC ROUGH RIDERS
Fennesz - Feild Recordings
I-F - Fucking Consumer
ciao..
well. let me throw some norvegian albums out there..
i guess most of them are "unknown" to most of you.
motorpsycho = demon box http://motorpsycho.fix.no/ (http://motorpsycho.fix.no/)
turboneger = Apocalypse Dudes (http://www.turbonegro.com)
gåte = EP (http://www.gaate.no/ny/main.asp?l=eng)
my last "suprise buy" was: (eng. produced in 92.)
sheep on drugs.. different sound..image. consept..
but still.. you can place the in the same category as
chumbawamba. as for class concerned.
Superskunk - Planeta Azul Some spanish stuff, but they would also qualify as a very rare and unknown band inside Spain Mixture of metal, funk, hip hop and more styles thrown in, and it sounds great.
One Minute Silence - Available in All Colours and Buy Now, Saved Later British nu-metal band with lots of political declarations on their lyrics.
Sôber - Synthesis More spanish stuff, their music is similar to Tool, voice is different though.
Buckcherry - Buckcherry I don't know how much unknown they are, but I think they are worth a mention.
I guess most audiophiles aren't into electronic music, eh?
If you're into Buckethead you no doubt have heard of ZILLATRON and PRAXIS. An amazing klezmer CD from John Zorn is Masada, and anything featuring JOEY BARON on drums will blow your mind.
Some artists I really like that I downloaded from EMusic before the 40track/mo. cap:
MIKE JACKSON AND THE SOUL PROVIDERS
MONSEIUR LEROCK
MONEY MARK
RL Burnside
Daktaris
Pharohs
The Brooklyn Funk Essentials
Happy Shopping!
ck-don't know much about the brooklyn funk essentials, except that "I got cash" may be the most entertaining thing i've listened to in a long time, great call.
I don’t think totally unknown.
But not known in general.
1976 - Pavlov's dog - Pampered menial
If you become used to the high male voice you will love this progressive rock album.
2000 - Boards of Canada - In a beautiful place out in the country (EP)
Electronical music with strange samples, a little bit creepy, very interesting to listen to.
The last album Geogaddi was to creepy for me, removed it from my HD.
2003 - The afro-celt sound system - Seed
Traditional music from Africa and Ireland mixed.
1995 - Fila Brazillia - Mess
1996 - Fila Brazillia - Black market gardening
1997 - Fila Brazillia - Luck be a weirdo tonight
1998 - Fila Brazillia - Power clown
1999 - Fila Brazillia - A touch of cloth
Nice dance music with acoustic sounding samples, or is it real acoustic?
The last album Jump leads from Fila Brazilia I didn’t like.
Almost all albums form:
Gus gus
Nightmares on wax
Christ - Pylonesque (benbecula) (http://www.benbecula.com/)
Venetian Snares - 2370894 (http://www.planet-mu.com/ziq057.html)
Amon Tobin - Supermodified Ninja Tune (http://www.ninjatune.net/ninja/release.php?id=153)
Sparks - Kimono My House
(http://www.kafejo.com/muziko/sparks/img/kimono.jpg)
It's always hard to tell if the unknown in your part of the world is a buster in other regions...so my recommendations are the following:
- Nathaniel Merrieweather - Lovage-Music to Make Love To Your Old Lady By (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005RTSV/qid=1073440136//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl15/103-4463285-5579016?v=glance&s=music&n=507846): It's the band leader from the "Gorillaz" but the music is quite different; VEEERY sexy!
- Kaizers Orchestra - Ompa Til Du Dør (2003) (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AZRP0/qid=1073440333/sr=2-1/ref=sr_aps_prod_1_1/302-6265111-8018447) : They're pretty well known (a hitmachine) in Norway but here in Germany they're totally unknown. They do Norwegen lyrics in a rock/pop style. I listend to them on a festival and now...phuuu.Just great drums!
- Xaver Fischer Trio - Xavier Fischer Trio (1999) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JNQD/qid%3D1073440398/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-4463285-5579016): Austrian or German Trip Hop, very chilly
- BangBang - Je T'Aime Je T'Aime (1999) (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001ZTLS/qid=1073440606/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_10_1/302-6265111-8018447): Nice'n'Smooth, a bit like AIR and a great cover! [maybe not that unknown]
That has to be enough for now because I need some sleep!
Good night out there!
JD
I guess most audiophiles aren't into electronic music, eh?
I AM!! I mean...it depends on how you interpret electronic music...I'm not to much into house and techno (at least not at home - leave it on the dance floor) but I do like electronic music. Wanna try more good drum'n'bass but hard to find!
And many of the posts are unfortunately quite ...
imprecise in describing the genre or the style. Hard to tell if it's woth to try, then!
JD
What kind of electronic music do you like? I go for the more experimental side, with some IDM thrown in sparingly.
Speaking of music, there should be a sticky thread where yopu can post your playlist for reference..
...no, wait, that's a horrible idea, never mind.
Well, dunno what might be the meaning of IDM (Industrially Damaged Music?)...
but I think you mean music like "Autechre" or "Mouse on Mars", right?
Actually, I'm more into chillin' electronic music like "Air", "GusGus", "Moloko" and
Royksopp but right now I try to find some nice mindblowing drum'n'bass.
Do you know "T.Raumschmiere"? It's hard electronic and kinda strange but funny!
...and of course I'm a fan of Chemical Broth. and Co.
JD
Halford-"Resurrection"
Well, dunno what might be the meaning of IDM (Industrially Damaged Music?)...
but I think you mean music like "Autechre" or "Mouse on Mars", right?
Actually, I'm more into chillin' electronic music like "Air", "GusGus", "Moloko" and
Royksopp but right now I try to find some nice mindblowing drum'n'bass.
Do you know "T.Raumschmiere"? It's hard electronic and kinda strange but funny!
...and of course I'm a fan of Chemical Broth. and Co.
JD
Mindblowing Drum N Bass =
Luke Vibert/Amen Andrews/Plug
Venetians Snares - most every album by him
Squarepusher
Amon Tobin - All four albums are great
Also DrukQs by Aphex Twin, and the Hangable Auto Bulb eps (youll have to get those off p2p)
I would recommend:
I Mother Earth - "The Quicksilver Meat Dream", "Blue Green Orange", or "Scenery and Fish"
mmm, i love scenery and fish
the lead singer from IME left the band after it though
i love his new stuff (Another Spin Around The Sun, Edwin & The Pressure) but i dont think anyones outside of canada has heard of the second one
Mindblowing Drum N Bass =
Luke Vibert/Amen Andrews/Plug
Venetians Snares - most every album by him
Squarepusher
Amon Tobin - All four albums are great
Thanx for these nice recommendations!
Will try it and tell you what I think about it!
JD
Heh, IDM = Intelligent Dance Music. Not an ideal descriptor, I must admit
and the Hangable Auto Bulb eps (youll have to get those off p2p)
Or maybe Lev might be selling his vinyl's soon
Kudos to Penvzila for his taste.... My contribution is
Yasume - Where We're From the Birds Sing a Pretty Song. Its like early minimalist Autechre. Absolutely awesome.
I have both HABs on vinyl, but they arent for sale at this point.
I was just recommending Yasume, I dont really like them all that much. I like hasher sounds like Venetian Snares, Fennesz, Pita, ect..
Nearly all the music i listen is rather unknown but i go for:
Thorns , s/t : black metal with some harsh electronics
Merzbow/Genesis P-Orridge, A Perfect Pain : the last song "all beauty is our enemy" is a masterpiece!
Skepticism, Farmakon : really slow doom metal
Most of the following is regular old rock:
Biff Rose - Biff Rose (1970)
Divine Comedy - Casanova (1996) [someone mentioned "Milla"? earlier, but I've never heard of an album by that name]
Jude - No One Is Really Beautiful (1998)
Stephen Malkmus - Stephen Malkmus (2001)
Patti Rothberg - Between The 1 And The 9 (1996)
Sloan - All albums; One Chord To Another (1997) and Between The Bridges (1999) are fine starting points. Outstanding rock 'n' roll band; huge in Canada.
Jill Sobule - Jill Sobule (1995)
Superdrag - Head Trip In Every Key (1998)
I think only the Biff Rose album would be difficult to find. I've got it on vinyl (which I transferred to CD a while ago), but there are probably some expensive imports out there. Sloan is second only to the Beatles in my "favorite groups list".
Mo' Horizons esp. "Soho Vibes" and "Good Evening Friends." [I wonder what Roberto thinks of them -- it's loungy Brazil via Berlin.]
hi! Here is my contribution:
SOUNDTRACKS:
Spawn - The album: "collaborations" between metal & electro/techno acts. Atari Teenage Riot / Slayer "No Remorse" is a killer!!
La Planète Sauvage (Wild Planet): soundtrack for a long-footage French cartoon released in 1973; I am convinced AIR got a load of this when they composed Virgin Suicides...
The Wicker Man: soundtrack to "the best British horror movie ever made". Brilliant traditional Brit folk with a mystic twist. Mesmerising!
BANDS:
Arab Strap: band from Falkirk, Scotland. Their second opus "Philophobia" has become a landmark in Sottish indie. Unique style, for some truly beautiful, sad music. For others, pure depressive crap. You love 'em or you hate 'em!
Terranova: Berlin-based DJ/Producers trio. Very versatile music that ranges from old school hip-hop to electro-acid. Their "DJ Kicks" mix is highly recommended!!
SOLO ACTS:
Terry callier: Poet and prophet of Jazz/Soul/Folk in the 60s. Fell into oblivion in the 70s, but made an stunning comeback in 1999 with "Timepeace" and released 3 more excellent albums including a live. Velvet voice, meaningful lyrics, truly indispensable!
Lucky Pierre: Arab Strap singer. Sophisticated, intricate hybrid music mixing classical and electro. Oddly enough, never sings on his own records. Some might say it's just as well...
Malcolm Middleton: Arab Strap's (again?!) odd job man. Released only one album so far: "5:14 Fluoxytine Seagull Alcohol John" (pheww!); brilliant debut, smart songwriting and beautiful melodies. You will hear an acoustic on all but one track. And the Scottish accent on all of them.
Food for ears, folks. Thanks for reading (and listening)!!
Ruins (http://www.ipecac.com/bio.php?id=16) - Tzomborgha (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000787GX/qid=1078727287//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl15/103-2841301-7642205?v=glance&s=music&n=507846)
Only the best in bizarre, ultra-technical Japanese . . . something-rock. Unbelievably cool stuff. Their lyrics are in a made up "language." They use only a bass guitar and a drumset. The variety of their music, considering that setup, is astonishing.
The Wicker Man: soundtrack to "the best British horror movie ever made". Brilliant traditional Brit folk with a mystic twist.
Thanks for sparking my interest in that one.
Mesmerising!
<AOL>Me too</AOL>
Actually, I'm more into chillin' electronic music like "Air", "GusGus", "Moloko" and
Royksopp but right now I try to find some nice mindblowing drum'n'bass.
Do you know "T.Raumschmiere"? It's hard electronic and kinda strange but funny!
If you like this kinds of chill music, I think you like these too:
Fila brazillia - Power clown (http://rateyourmusic.com/view_album_details/album_id_is_19221)
Zero 7 - Simple things (http://rateyourmusic.com/view_album_details/album_id_is_2802)
Dzihan & Kamien - Freaks & Icons (http://rateyourmusic.com/view_album_details/album_id_is_13249)
I:Cube
I:Cube I discovert on Tigersushi (http://www.tigersushi.com/site/intro.jsp), you can also listen to streaming audio.
Jesus Martyr - Sudamerican Porno
Los Natas - Ciudad de Brahman
Soda Stereo - Doble Vida & Canción Animal (very know but just in South America)
Planetaria - Escape ( http://www.planetariadigital.com/default_espanol.htm (http://www.planetariadigital.com/default_espanol.htm) - The first cd of the band is sold out and they decided to offer it free in mp3 format, check http://www.planetariadigital.com/planetaria1999.htm) (http://www.planetariadigital.com/planetaria1999.htm))
whoa, there's a lot of Aussies on this board. cool.
here's some nice bands:
TISM
Blood Duster
Friendly
The Cat Empire
i'm not sure how known (or unknown) these bands are, although i'm pretty sure Blood Duster is unknown... i only met them at a party, but i'm not in the hardcore scene where they're quite well known.
a bizarre Korean (?) band is Miyavi. very strange and cool hardcore.
the other listed bands up there aren't all hardcore though. just interesting stuff.
Beth Gibbons certainly isn't unknown, but nonetheless i recommend "out of season", which she did while waiting for the rest of Portishead to finish their oh-so-overdue next album. chill and jazzy, with bits of folky in there.
Hm, hard to tell whats unknown, but here are my contributions (some of which were already mentioned):
IDM:
Squarepusher - Hard Normal Daddy
Plaid - Rest Proof Clockwork
µ-Ziq - All Albums
Amon Tobin - Supermodified
Hoyager - Now this guy from NZ is really unknown but makes very nice IDM. You can checkout his songs for Reason on reasonstation.net: http://www.reasonstation.net/users/usersng.phtml?user=7967 (http://www.reasonstation.net/users/usersng.phtml?user=7967)
Jazz:
Malcolm Braff Combo - Together (afro-euro jazz)
Egberto Gismonti - All his stuff is amazing, try Charlie Haden & Egberto Gismonti In Montreal
Eberhard Weber - Pendulum
Passport - Ataraxia (crossover jazz)
Classic/Contemporary:
Arvo Pärt - All his works
Holst - The Planets
Phillip Glass - Naqoyqatsi soundtrack
There are more, but whos into classical should know things like Mussorgsky - Pictures at an exhibition...
Rock/70's/Metal/Punk:
It’s A Beautiful Day - At Carnegie Hall
King Crimson - All
Blind Guardian - Nightfall in middle earth
NoFX - Punk in drublic
Type O Negative - October Rust
Other:
Vangelis - Soil Festivities (After many years Movement I is still pure inspiration to me)
PS.: If someone really thinks that some of the above ARE known, just say it and it'll be fixed
edit: spheling
Something for those of more metal taste, check the samples and don't just discard
it cos it's metal, most long time metal bands tend to be much more evolved than
bands of other genres.
Of course, what do I know, I don't listen to genres.
Check the websites for more info, samples, videos and maybe other bands
to check out too. All links all to official sites.
-------------------
Solefald (http://www.solefald.org) (norway)
Sample (full song): Mont Blanc Providence Crow .mp3 (http://mp3.centurymedia.com/Solefald_MontBlancProvidenceCrow_InHarmoniaUniversali.mp3)(128Kbps, 4.82MB)
Video: Mont Blanc Providence Crow .mov (http://www.solefald.org/video/solefald_mbpc.mov)(63.9MB), .mp4 (http://www.solefald.org/video/solefald_mbpc.mp4)(38.4MB)
From their site:
One thing is certain: any attempt to categorize SOLEFALD's music automatically
betrays it.
At first listen, In Harmonia Universali (http://www.solefald.org/disc_ihu.asp) immediately brings to mind the progressive
airs of Yes' vintage '70s art rock, but SOLEFALD soon lead their listeners astray
into customarily unfamiliar territory. Sung in four languages (Norwegian, German,
French, and English) and graced with a male choir, a saxophone, Spanish guitar,
and the keyboard exotica of a Steinway grand piano & a Hammond B-3 organ, the
layered nature of In Harmonia Universali's music reveals something new with each
listen.
-------------------
-------------------
Dark Tranquillity (http://www.darktranquillity.com) (sweden)
Sample (full song): Monochromatic Stains .mp3 (http://www.darktranquillity.com/media/audio/mono.mp3)(128Kpbs, 3.32MB)
Video: The Wonders At Your Feet (live) .mpg (http://www.darktranquillity.com/media/video/wonders.mpg)(27.57MB)
From their site:
"Damage Done" (http://www.darktranquillity.com/the_band/disco/damage.html) is the much-anticipated sixth full length album from Gothenburg’s
own Dark tranquillity, a band that has become an institution within the realms of
extreme Metal, seeing that they deserve full credit for originally kicking off the
stylistic wave of melodic Death Metal which has become established and frenetically
followed all throughout the world in the meantime.
-------------------
-------------------
Oomph! (http://www.oomph.de) (germany)
Sample: No full songs, check the site for samples.
Video: Supernova .asf (http://www.oomph.de/oomph_page/video/supernova.asf)(8.19MB)
From their site:
Constant reinvention embracing styles beyond the scene – only one German band
has such a rigorously ambitious and artistic approach. We’re talking about Oomph!.
For almost 15 years now, the musical creations of the threesome from Lower Saxony
have been shaped by their pioneering spirit. Critics, fans as well as colleagues
unanimously say that these three guys rank among “the most revolutionary figures
of the German scene”.
Oomph! know how to combine the cool electronic world with earthy Rock: a kind of
human music machine with powerful and extremely varied arrangements.
-------------------
-------------------
Satyricon (http://www.satyricon.no) (norway)
Sample: No full songs, check website for samples.
Video: Fuel For Hatred (explicit content!) .wmv (http://www.satyricon.no/video/fuel.wmv)(11.71MB), .mov (http://www.satyricon.no/video/fuel.mov)(13.93MB)
From their site:
...And so it begins... With their dark music and haunting imagery, Satyricon, from
Norway, is one of the most widely revered Black Metal bands in the world.
Metal Hammer Germany journal Robert Müller raves, "This darkness is no romantic
invention, no abstract delusion, but derived from firsthand experience. The sound of
"Volcano" (http://www.satyricon.no/album.asp?albumID=23) is the sound of the cozy cocoon of civilization torn apart; it envisions the
cold emptiness behind.
Satyr, songwriter, producer and frontman eludes," the music is rock based but more
extreme; it is black metal pushing the boundaries that began with bands like Venom
and Bathory, reinventing ourselves based on a foundation of rock oriented Black
Metal is our philosophy".
-------------------
-------------------
The Black League (http://theblackleague.cjb.net) (finland)
Sample (full song): Pain Without A Name .mp3 (http://koti.mbnet.fi/~darksoul/tbl/The_Black_League_-_Pain_Without_A_Name.mp3) (256Kbps, 6.43MB)
Video: Winter Winds Sing .avi (http://koti.mbnet.fi/~darksoul/tbl/The_Black_League_Winterwinds.avi)(12.64MB)
From their site:
21st Century Downer Rock.
And what the hell is that supposed to be, we hear you ask? Well, there’s never been
easy answers to The League, so here we go again: Music that you love to hear but
hate to admit. Take some classic Motörhead, some vintage Skynyrd and some of
90’s pride and joy Danzig, then mirror it thru the leaguesmen’s long list of ex-bands
like Faff-Bey, Sentenced and Legenda and you may get the picture. But because you
won’t, we suggest you get your hands on this one ’cause Man’s Ruin Revisited is
about to bring Rock Music back to where it belongs! No, this ain’t ”retro”… This is
timeless. And this ain’t ”Scandinavian” either… but Finnish – like the mighty
Hurriganes for that matter. And most important, this has nothing to do with your
”8-balls”… The League still put their trust in the ol’ Ace of Spades.
-------------------
I will post some more stuff later, enjoy.
Echo7 - One Step Away
Kicking Harold - Anything esp. 'Ugly & Festering'
And I'll throw in anything from The Tea Party. Even though anyone from Canada probably know them, almost unheard of in the states.
I have to add the poor old guy, once quite famous, but now almost forgotten:
Fish, ex-lead singer of Marillion. You find him here (http://www.the-company.com).
I still think that he is getting better with each new album.
From the homepage:
Graeme Smith, S1play:
"...being at one of his gigs is like being entertained by a boisterous host at a particularly loud private party."
I mostly love his lyrics which are not the usual 'boy meets girl' crap torturing my ears all day.
Cheers,
tiki4
Well most people who live around me have never heard of the music I listen to, but in Asia a lot of it isn't uncommon at all. Well most of it. That's just what I get being a Japanese speaker in an area where no one knows a word of Japanese
I'd say the best CD I own that isn't really known in Japan either is probably ROmantic Mode's Vision of Love. Well all of their CDs are good; this one just stood out more to me. Actually my avatar is cut from the cover of it
Tear Garden - The Last Man To Fly (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000005DBJ/ref=m_art_li_2/103-4311043-1813409?v=glance&s=music)
The Legendary Pink Dots - Crushed Velvet Apocalypse
The Legendary Pink Dots - From Here You'll Watch The World Go By (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000IMSI/qid=1090543032/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/103-4311043-1813409?v=glance&s=music)