Pittsburgh Net Radio

Richard Youngs- Soon It Will Be Fire (Sapphie)
This mix was originally a mix of my favorite songs from the Jagjaguwar and Secretly Canadian catalogue. After compiling some songs, I realized that I just wanted to include Richard Youngs, Julie Doiron, and Early Day Miners, possibly a few others. So, in the interests of interest, I have combined select tracks with other tracks from records I have recently purchased. The first track is from Richard Youngs's Sapphie record, re-released by Jagjaguwar in the early 00s. This record has surpassed Mingus's Black Saint as my favorite record of all-time. Along with that, this is one of my favorite songs of all-time. Recorded simply to a DAT machine, Sapphie is an amazingly minimal record, an ode to his deceased dog. My favorite memory of listening to it occurred when trying to find an alternate route to Broadway in McKees Rocks. The main road was closed for construction and I needed to get to work. I ended up driving through what seemed like a forest, occasionally passing some small run down houses.

Joe Pass- Stella by Starlight (Virtuoso)
I've been after this record for a few years and found it used at Paul's last week. Oh my god, it's great! It's so beautiful. Takes me back to Mr. Rodgers days and Johnny Costa. Check it out.

Hills- Red Bird (Hills Street Blues)
One of the highlights of 2006 was my good fortune to meet Will Dyar, Skinks drummer and now solo artist. Hills Street Blues is a six track EP that Will recorded himself with some musical help from Chris Cannon, Brian Dean Richmond, and Eric Graf. But mostly it is Will on guitar, Will on drums, Will of bass. It's a lot of Will. But after hanging out with him a bit, a lot of Will is a lot of a good thing. You can hear more of Will on the recent Skinks record, the future Skinks record, my new solo record (in May), and the Ninth Ward disc (forthcoming).

The Impossible Shapes- Florida Silver Springs (Tum)
Another group that I became acquainted with was The Impossible Shapes. Vale and Year played a show with them in Indianapolis, IN a year or two ago. Let me tell you, the Shapes have one of the best vibe-d shows around. Guitarist Jason was on tour with Magnolia Electric Co. at the time, but as the trio, they held it down real right! This track is from a limited edition record that was re-released in an unlimited number. Great melody on this one.

Jack Nitzsche- Prelude #4 in G, Op. 28 (Chopin '66)
Found this used at Paul's. I'm nuts about Jack Nitzsche production and this record of Chopin pieces done up in a 60s soul orchestra outfit fits me fine. Short, but very sweet.

Songs: Ohia- Two Blue Lights (Didn't It Rain)
Even though this was the record that brought Molina and crew into the spotlight, I always liked it the best. Always thought the lyrics and mood of this track was extremely beautiful. Sadly, I haven't kept up with Magnolia lately, but there's still time.

Peter Bjorn and John- Young Folks (Writer's Block)
Lately, I've been worried that no one is making good pop records anymore. I've found myself avoiding anything with words and really haven't been into many new bands, but I think that is changing. I heard this Peter Bjorn and John song on my friend's Myspace page (yeah, I guess it does work for networking and promotion). Anyway, the production is really sweet with lots of panned reverb, a natural drum sound, and a kicking bass line. Faith restored.

Lady Sovereign- 9 to 5 (Public Warning)
I found my way to Lady Sovreign through another friend. This record is wild and from what I hear her earlier eps are better. Anyway, it's a good bit of fun with tons of multi-tracked vocal parts. Oddly enough it reminds me of Paul McCartney when he would inject his songs with all those heavy accented asides, jokes, and narratives. This is like a whole album of those. So, you'll be alternately bopping your head and cringing.

Erlend Oye- Sudden Rush (Unrest)
Erlend Oye of Kings of Convenience made a really brilliant low key dance record with Unrest. A different producer did each track, but the record is seamless. Check out this chorus. Untoppable.

The Sea and Cake- One Bedroom (One Bedroom)
I'm going to continue on with another dance-y tune. Sea and Cake are easily one of my favorite bands. Sam Prekop's voice never gets old and I really can't get enough those clean instruments and polyrhythms. Supposedly, there is a new record set for the spring. Can't wait!

Oliver Lake Trio- 5/1 (Zaki)
Currently, in addition to my usual music projects, I'm also playing in an improv group with a vocalist and a flute player. This record was lent to me, because my free playing style seemed similar to Michael Gregory Jackson (the guitarist in this trio rounded out by drummer Pheeroan Aklaff). Eerily enough, I noticed a lot of the same phrasing techniques and melodic turns. But that's fine, since this record is extremely hot. The liner notes state how democratic the group was with everyone getting enough face time to investigate ideas within the group. It's always nice to happen upon some new music, even if it is 30 years old.

LaDonna Smith- Viola Coaster Rainbows (Eye of the Storm)
Last night I checked out violist LaDonna Smith's performance at Garfield Artworks and was blown away not only by her sheer virtuosity, but also by the emotion that seems to underlie her music. I often feel that free music sometimes loses the emotional core that seems to be the center of a lot of music. And often, when the emotion is there, it is pure aggression. But Smith, in addition to getting fierce, has a wonderful grace to her playing. It's really very captivating. This is a track from a solo viola record entitled Eye of the Storm. Also, check out her magazine, The Improvisor.

Thom Yorke- Rat's Nest (Splitting Feathers)
I just got the Splitting Feathers EP, which combines all the b-sides from The Eraser, and like many Radiohead related b-side records, it is very nice and interesting, but lacks the greatest of the album tracks, hence the b-side status. But, usually, I would like to hear more from an artist I admire than less. B-sides always give you a more complete picture of how the record was shaped. Or at least the ideas that were censored in the recording process.

Pairdown- Burning Up A Winning Ticket (Woodlab Vol. 1 February)
David Leicht of Pairdown has quickly become one of my favorite songwriters and Pittsburgh is very lucky (they don't apparently know it yet) to have Pairdown live within city limits. This song is featured on the first Woodlab compilation. (Woodlab is a new music series held at ModernFormations every second and fourth Wednesday of the month) I recorded this track in my kitchen with David and Raymond Morin on guitars and voice boxes. It was a nice intimate show for me and it was great to document it. Pairdown has an EP on Sort Of Records and there are plans for a full length possibly this year.

Richard Hawley- Long Black Train
I first got into a Richard Hawley project when I spent a few weeks in England in 7th Grade. The band Longpigs released a great double ep single thing where you paid a few pounds to get half of the single and then another few pounds to get the other half. Probably turned out a little expensive, but it was worth it. I really think their first record and especially those b-sides hold up today. I was saddened that the sophomore Longpigs album was horrible. It took a few years, maybe 5, before I happened upon Hawley's solo records. They have a strange quality. They seem classy. Classic, but not in the Springsteen, Neil Young, or Bob Dylan way. More like updated folk songs that don't seem to have an era or time. "Long Black Train" might be my favorite song ever. I waver on that, but if I had to listen to one song, continuously, for the rest of my life, this would be the song. Completely lovely.

ABOUT DAVID BERNABO

Courtesy of Unicorn Mountain - Dave Bernabo is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon's Tepper Business School, is an active writer, musician, and artist. His poetry has been published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Falderol, and Oakland Review, and a collaboration with Greg Cislon yielded Holy Music and Art, a book of vignettes and experimental writing published by Incredibly Thin. David's musical output consists of five full-length albums and three EP's with Vale and Year, a solo album, and compilation and guest appearances. David is currently working on a book of writing and drawings called Real Titles.

David Bernabo on My Space