The Oedipus Project
Esperanza is an album by various artists interpreting in song Tristessa, a novella by Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac.
The story explores Kerouac’s love affair with Tristessa, a drug-addicted Mexican prostitute. Tristessa means “sadness” in Spanish.
Her real name was Esperanza, “hope” in Spanish.
A fascinating album concept, listen here to two selections.
“First Page of Kerouac’s Tristessa” William Fitzsimmons with Tim & Adam
“We Are Nothing” Alela Diane
Beverly was the Brooklyn duo of Frankie Rose and Drew Citron.
Rose was also an original member of Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls and Vivian Girls. She has since moved to Los Angeles.
Citron carries on with a new partner, Scott Rosenthal, and a new album The Blue Swell.
Here are two:
“Bulldozer”
“Contact”
The Stones Roses debut in 1989 is considered to be one of the best British albums of all-time.
Due to various record label hassles the band did not release their 2nd until 1994.
Then they broke up.
Now over 20 years later, we have a new song!
“All For One”
Pure Bathing Culture is duo from Portland, Oregon.
Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman released their 2nd record, Pray for Rain, in late 2015.
“She Shakes” is delicious understated memorable Indie pop.
“She Shakes”
Endearing British singer/songwriter Beth Orton’s new album will be called Kidsticks.
“1973” has a bouncy melody as Twin Shadow provides the guitar.
“1973”
Bryde is the solo project of Sarah Howells.
She’s been part of the Welsh duo Paper Aeroplanes since 2009, but has set out on her own.
The EP Chocolate & Nectar includes the song “Wait”. Simply stunning.
“Wait”
The band Garbage have recorded off and on since 1993.
Through all these years the band has maintained the original lineup of Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig, four terrific people.
Strange Little Birds will be their 6th studio album.
“Empty” is the first single.
“Empty”
In 1996, I was invited to Paisley Park to hear Emancipation.
Prince was finally free of his prohibitive recording contract with Warner Brothers Records, thus the title of the album, a 3-record set.
It was his first recording to include covers of songs he loved. He told me that he wished that he had written “One of Us”, a hit by Joan Osbourne.
In this song, he famously changed the lyrics “What if God was one of us / Just a slob like one of us” to “…Just a slave like one of us”.
This week have we have spotlighted aether the 40 song, 4 album set from HUMANWINE.
It is rare that we are blessed with such a powerful artistic masterwork. Contrary to our short instant fulfilment lifestyle, each album, which represents one of the four classical elements, should be listened to straight through.
We have violated this tenant this week with a song from each element.
Today is air.
“White Lead” from aether: aer.
In the era of the song, HUMANWINE, the dynamic Boston/New England duo, have released aether, a 4 album set!
Holly Brewer, the iconoclastic gregarious tribal-tattooed ethereal singer/songwriter, has one of those voices descended from the heavens in the company of Lisa Gerrard, Elizabeth Fraser and Bjork.
The reclusive M@ McNiss provides the accompaniment.
Self-produced and crowdfunded, aether is nothing short of a small masterpiece.
Released on a flash drive in a small bottle, the 40 songs are divided into four parts, four elements: terra, aqua, aer, ignis.
Although each element should be heard in its entirety, we will present 1 song from each album the next 4 days.
Beginning today with “Gyre” from aether: aqua.
“Gyre”
