The _iery _urnaces - Gallowsbird's Bark, 2003

A Fiery Furnaces historian would distinguish the band's four eras:
1. up till 2003 - great
2. 2004 - _ucking brilliant
3. 2005 - good
4. 2006 onwards - crap.
Here's the prelude to the brilliance - the duo's debut LP. Definitely rawker than their later efforts. Can't go wrong with this one, really.

The _leet _oxes - self-released EP, 2006

So, before their big time came, they used to be "The" Fleet Foxes. Just like "Arnold Layne" by The Pink Floyd. Okay, this is a wonderful record. None of these songs appeared elsewhere. Much more electric than their 2008's stormers, yet very melodic and innocent - same as the LP or the "Sun Giant" EP. The production is superb - crystal clear. Enjoy.

The _all - "Extricate", 1990

"There's not a bad track on it, if you ask me", says Mark E. Smith about this LP. Well, you don't have to ask him - I can tell you the same. One great tune chasing another. It's the best of their more accessible sounding albums; thus, a perfect starting point for a Fall newcomer. Noteworthy are the two Monks' covers, which made for the very first occasion the world had heard of this 60s protopunk outfit.

John _ahey - Days Have Gone By (1967)

I don't know why I didn't post it earlier. Haven't seen it uploaded anywhere else, though.
Congregation, this is a masterpiece. Solo acoustic guitar work augmented with some musique concrete, or pre-turntablism, if you will. The two parts of "A Raga Called Pat" will make you achieve a music-eater's nirvana. Ambient country never sounded better? Music never sounded better. The guy's in heaven now, mind you.

Leo _erre - Il n'y a plus rien (courtesy)

This was shared by pyrata of the excellent Muziksucker blog in response to my previous Ferre missive ages ago. I listened to it, and it's absolutely jawdropping, so I decided to put it here (click on the cover, you'll be redirected to the relevant Muziksucker post). I think it's the best record from the Monsieur - I have listened to quite a lot albums of his in the last few months, and they all kick ass, but this kicks a thousand asses. Pretty much orchestral stuff; ears up, Scott Walker fans, again. Dunno how he achieved this, but these wordy songs keep me on my toes, and I don't understand a word here! Recommendations? - "Richard", and of course the devastating title track.

Leo _erre - Chante Aragon

Never could have guessed that Leo Ferre's record was to become the most popular download over here. This being so, here's one more treat from this poete-anarchiste. To the best of my knowledge, this is the guy's music to Louis Aragon's words. Me, I don't speak a single word in French, but the album contains some of Ferre's most beautiful songs.
That's all of Ferre's stuff I've got; anyone got anything to share? Most welcome.

The _all - Slates (1981), Room to Live (1982)

Damn, I had time to upload these two fantastic miniLPs, but I don't have enough time to write something interesting about them. Chronologically, they bracketed the magnificent "Hex Enduction Hour" I posted a while ago. Get "Slates" here and "Room to Live" here.

New blog

Surprisingly enough, it turned out that there is also some good music from artists NOT sticking to our favourite letter. No shit. I have just decided to start a new blog with such unexpected treats:
http://toodecent.blogspot.com
There's only one nice record there so far, but I can promise you Bezunesh Bekele and Big Star within the next week.

_aust/NWW - "Disconnected", 2007

(The eponymous NWW being obviously Nurse With Wound)
I don't know what to think about this album. There is great music here: the first track, Lass Mich, is Faust at its Faustiest, track three, Tu M'entends?, could easily have been "Ravvivando"'s gem, and the rest of the record are two droney ambient pieces. The songs are beautiful, and they hold together well, so, why am I disappointed? There probably should be more of this than these 49 minutes. It feels like an EP rather than an album proper.
PART 1 and PART2.

Statistics bloody statistics

So, it's been a month over here, and 2000 hits. Could be worse.
The most popular download were for some time Fleet Foxes, but now it is the new Fall record. I'm so glad.
The public also tend to demand Leo Ferre, Morton Feldman and Fela Kuti.
Today or tomorrow expect a 'meta-post' with links to other F-indings worth your attention. And there's more of the old Fall to come.
Thank you, and please leave comments - either here or in the box.

The _all - "Hex Enduction Hour", 1982

More from the best band on earth. In case you didn't know, this one is considered their best. It's so good that even Mark E. Smith likes it. Two guitars, two drummers, Steve Hanley on bass. "Never felt better in my life..."

The _laming Lips with Beck - KCRW Session

Around 2002, Beck recruited the Flaming Lips as both the backing band and the support act for his Sea Change tour. It's a shame these recordings were not officially released. Waiting for a boxset in 2020, perhaps.
Songs: The Golden Age, We Live Again, Cold Brains, Do You Realize? (Beck solo version!), Lonesome Tears, Lost Cause, Little One, Paper Tiger, New Pollution.

Morton _eldman - Chamber Music

The Brian Eno of contemporary classical music. Even though all of his stuff sounds samey, you can easily say which piece is better. ('Why' is a whole another matter.) If you ask me, I'll point to the two last numbers on this cd.
Tracklisting:
1. For Franz Kline (1962)
2. - 4. The O'Hara Songs (1962)
5. De Kooning (1963)
6. Piano Piece (to Philip Guston) (1963)
7. Four Instruments (1965)
8. For Frank O'Hara (1973)
Performed by Ensemble Avantgarde (of Germany), released on Wergo Records in 1996. Encoded in the .ogg format at the absurd bitrate of 500: PART 1 and PART 2.

The _iery _urnaces - "Blueberry Boat", 2004

The record that restored my faith in rawk music a few years ago. One of the few turning points in my listener's life. Everything became possible again. (How I wish the band had followed these teachings on their subsequent albums!)
Usual .ogg files, bitrate around 180 this time in order to make it less than 100 Mbytes.

The _or Carnation, 2000

If you wish Slint had made more records (or rather: more "Spiderland"-type records), then this one is for you. A lot more bottom end to their sound, yet the same gloooooom - and the same vocals from Mr. Brian McMahan. Dig especially the funeral funk on the second track, "A Tribute to", and enjoy the sound quality of the .ogg files at the bitrate floating circa 280.

The _laming Lips - "This Here Giraffe" EP, 1995

Everybody knows them, and everybody loves them, right? A grown man, I listened to just one song of theirs ("Race for the Prize" from the Soft Bulletin LP) for one whole evening eight years ago. This is an even earlier EP: not their best shot, to be frank, but the gorgeous piano-and-vocals-only cover of Bowie's "Life on Mars?" is worth as much as the whole Clouds Taste Metallic LP.
Encoded in the .ogg format at the extravagant bitrate of 500.

_ela Kuti - "Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense", 1986

I do know he's supposed to be _iled under K; it's just an excuse to post another one of my favourites. I may not be Black President's biggest fan, but this is the man at his most creative: the LP consists of just two half-hour long songs. Yes, songs - pretty much structured pieces, not the usual endless improvisations. Those polyphonies are mind-blowing. Highest recommendation.
The songs are in the .ogg format with the bitrate around 235.

Honorable mention: Souled American - "Frozen", 1994

Even though their name does not begin with F, three - out of six - albums by this Chicago outfit bear the following names: "Fe", "Flubber", and "Frozen". Plus, their music is _ucking awesome. They have to be credited as the inventors of alternative country. Anyone who heard them, started their own band (the Mountain Goats, Jim O'Rourke). I wanted to put up all their three F-albums, but I can't find "Fe" anywhere, so I'll just stick to my favourite one. "Frozen", their fifth record, was made after their drummer had left the band and the remaining three-piece (Chris Grigoroff, Joe Adducci, Scott Tuma) had decided to carry on sans drumming. It's not alt-country anymore, it's ambient country, for what it's worth. Utterly magical.

_ushitsusha - "Gold Blood", 1998

Just skip the first song and you'll enter the best album from Japan's finest. Played live in the wonderful year of 1996. Apocalyptic and blissful at the same time. Hard to believe it's all written music and not improvised. Crushing beauty. The weirdest a regular rawk line-up (guitar+bass+drums+vocals) can go. Could anyone inform me whether this band still exist?
.mp3 files at the bitrate of 224, 120 Mb altogether: PART 1 and PART 2.

_aust - "Ravvivando", 1999

Some people tend to put down this period of the band. I never could understand why. I rate 'Ravvivando' as their BEST lp, along with 'The Faust Tapes'. Majestic psychedelic/industrial stuff, a bit droney, with very rich production. The cover fits the music perfectly. One of the best albums of the 1990s, really.
I have put this in the .ogg format rather than .mp3 with the bitrate around 320, so the whole album is split into PART 1 and PART 2. (password: the-big-f.blogspot.com)

Leo _erre - Avec Le Temps

The greatest man of the French chanson. Musically, he's much better than Brel et consortes. All you fans of Scott Walker or David Sylvian, give it a try. Even though this is a 'best of' type compilation, it starts off not so well, but each next song is better. The LP ends with the title track, the guy's most beautiful song. It can move you to tears.
Tracklisting:
1. La vie d'artiste
2. On s'aimera
3. Sa t'va
4. La gitane
5. Le bonheur
6. A toi
7. La lettre
8. Cette blessure
9. L'amour for
10. Avec le temps.
Thanks to an anonymous user on slsk for this.

_aman

Not much to be said, though: there is a series of compilation albums on Gear Fab Records called "Psychedelic States" with the 60s garage/psych/proto-punk bands from, ermmm, various US states. This here is track 7 off the "Georgia" cd. The song is called "Hurry". Awesome stuff.

_leet _oxes - leaked LP, 2008

Couldn't find the cover art, sorry.
Each time this album pops up somewhere, the links are immediately removed upon request from Sub Pop. Let's see how long this one lasts.
This, my friends, is a masterpiece. It is so great I just can't tell you. One of these great records of this world. In the vein of CSNY, but much better songwriting (with hints of Popol Vuh or Beach Boys) - ahhh, just brilliant. I'm definitely buying this when it finally comes out in June.

The _all - Imperial Wax Solvent, leaked version, 2008

I'm starting this blog quite appropriately with the leak of the new record by the best band on earth, as John Peel once said. The record is about aging; Mark E. Smith sings "I'm a 50 year old man, and I like it!" (he is 51 this year, btw). Musically, it reminds me of what they did in the early '90s, generic indie rock with harsh synths. Even the cover looks like that of Extricate or Code: Selfish.