Death Is Not The End is a magnificent archive label based in Bristol, England, that also releases some amazing reggae, dub, and experimental music. These recordings are archival pieces from the Mexican Revolutionary period. Though the sources are quite old, the label has done a fine job bringing out the Continue Reading
Archival Recordings
Keçaçioğlu Muhammad, Gurban Primov & Sasha Ohanezashvili – An Azeri Mugham Trio ca. 1912
From the damn-near-perfect record label Canary Records’ Bandcamp site: “Keçaçioğlu Muhammad was the stage name of Muhammad Mashadi Khalil oglu who was born June 18, 1864 in the city of Shusha in the mountainous region of the Russian Empire known to the overwhelming Armenian majority of its residents for centuries Continue Reading
Yiannis Kyriakatis – Blue Series | Sep 3
Yiannis Kyriakatis is an electroacoustic composer who comes from Cyprus. I’ve had the privilege of following his career arc since I discovered his name in a copy of the magazine Gaudeamus. It’s great to hear that he is still active, and this is something new for me. He is preserving Continue Reading
Various Artists – Magnificent Sounds Records: A Chant About the Beauty of the Moon at Night: Hawaiian Steel Guitar Masters 1913-1921
Magnificent Sounds Records is a record label out of Buffalo, New York, and they specialize in rare archival recordings and remastering music from a century ago in a lot of cases. From this magnificent compilation of Hawaiian music, you can read the promo quote on the label’s Bandcamp site. “A Continue Reading
Various Artists – Longing for the Past: The 78 RPM Era in Southeast Asia
Atlanta-based record label Dust-to-Digital have rescued 90 tracks in this collection from obscurity. Featured on this disc are recordings from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand, for starters.
George Macreyannes (Nesereos) – Blue Series | Mar 21
George Macreyannes (Γιώργος Μακρυγιάννης) was a violinist active during the early part of the 20th century. Some of these archival recordings are nearing 100 years old, so it is quite nice to get a glimpse of music that has such a remarkable history. Respect to 1tracktape for a job well Continue Reading
Various Artists – Let’s Stamp: 1950s Folk Dance Recordings from Bulgarian and Yugoslavian 78rpm Discs
The ever-reliable Canary Records out of Baltimore, Maryland, have released a compilation of Balkan 78 rpm shellacs with a lot of the artists being unidentified, but whose music is most assuredly from my home away from home.
Lou Reed – Words & Music, May 1965
I never thought I’d have the opportunity to hear Velvet Underground demos, but I suppose this new Lou Reed album will serve as a fine replacement until I find such a box set.
Marika Politissa – All Parts Dark
Much respect to Mississippi Records out of Chicago, Illinois for releasing this magnificent artifact! The back story is explained in great detail on the label’s Bandcamp site: Marika “Politissa” Frantzeskopoulou was a Greek singer from Constantinople, reknowned for her precise, fluid and graceful performances and depth of feeling. Backed by Continue Reading
Various Artists – Canary Records: Let’s Add Raki to Wine: Women in Istanbul ca. 1931-46
Canary Records are the kings of shellac-era reissues, and this is one of their most fabulous. It’s a collection of female singers who were active in Turkey’s cultural capital, and Ian Nagoski, musicologist and venerable head of the company, has made these recordings sound as clear as possible, despite being Continue Reading