Nico Muhly "Mothertongue"

The Washington Post goes 'hey there's this guy':

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/20/AR2008082003362.html?hpid=sec-artsliving

Talking faster than the kinetic rhythms of some of his music, he embeds pointed observations in an agar of "likes" and "you knows," not unlike the sweet fragments of sound that rise out of the many layers of his likable, involved, yet wholesome music.

Oh, those wacky kids.

I like his collab with Antony from the previous album. And there can't be a Nico Muhly thread without mentioning his gorgeous choral arrangements on Björk's "Oceania." "Sirenes" gone askew.

I actually thought the review's tone was pretty ok and well done, as much as the Pitchfork cynic in me would like to say otherwise. Haven't heard the new album yet, but it's funny - the review's descriptions of the songs and the way they sound on paper made me laugh. WHale fat?!? Awesome!

I do want to hear this soon. And I totally got the New Yorker joke - glad you're poking their ribs, Jayson. I can hardly stand to read their bios these days, whether they're of Wall Street giants or musicians.

I sure like this Sam Amidon guy that sings on Mothertounge. He's got a great voice.

The Beyonce arrangement he was in charge of is pretty impressive too. Almost creepy. Definitely creepy, actually.

Which was that?

There's a couple versions floating around on the internet of it. While he worked with Antony on his concert he arranged a cover of Crazy in Love, and it's pretty great. I'd post but I'm on the wrong computer.

seeing 'The Only Tune' live was pretty awe-inspiring. His new Cello Concerto was v good too, though for me (me being someone who doesn't know shit about classical music) he seems to have more of a distinctive voice in the singer-songwritery mode than he does as composer.

Slightly creeped out that he (and others including our very own Owen P, who has a helluva sharp suit, and confusingly much darker hair than I remembered) covered 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' literally an hour after I was talking about the Saint Etienne cover. Stalkers.

That version of Only Love Can Break Your Heart totally made me do a little cry in my seat. Absolutely lovely.

I found it fascinating how Muhly has such a distinctive voice for his concertos. The cello concerto had so many similarities to the violin concerto, but yet it was still very different. (It probably shows my lack of knowledge about contemporary composers) but are there any other who sound similar?

Second on that cover of Only Love Can Break Your Heart. I can't remember the last time I sat through a piece of music without grinning so much, and physically hug the music. If ever. Thinking about it, that's probably a pretty odd reaction to music.

ya I should perhaps have mentioned that it was lovely alongside being personally creepy.

Doveman always covers that Neil Young song! It's his 'thing'.

It was a great night, hearing The Only Tune in person was amazing and I loved the spatial violins at the end, gave me Unanswered Question style chills. The only problem is that piece makes me feel really sad and It's still lingering now, so I've been wallowing in really sad music ever since, I need to cheer the hell up.

Also Owen, do Nico and Thomes practise that modern dance keyboard relay thing? It's hella impressive to watch.