As Long As I Can Hold My Breath pt.3

February 19, 2008 at 11:32 am

Image credit: unknown

This is the third and final part of a series that pays tribute to the supernatural ambience of the ocean’s deep. Not so much the sea itself but the mystery and solitude that lies beneath its seemingly endless surface is what brought inspiration for this series. Whereas the previous part evoked the solitude of a dark endeavour to the depths of the ocean, this list is more hopeful and during the final part even strangely romantic.

The central piece here is the overwhelming performance by Lubomyr Melnyk of his so-called Continuous Music on piano. A tidal wave of notes comes crashing down on the listener. An endlessly swirling composition that constantly changes only in the tiniest details. Comparisons could be made with Charlemagne Palestine’s Strumming Music (read and listen here), but Melnyk is more of a romanticist and his work feels less abstract.

And finally, the oddly romantic piece for guitar and theremin by Pamelia Kurstin and the heartbreaking violin melody on Tom Waits’ Fawn mark the end of our sub-aquatic voyage.

  1. Francois Couturier - Nostalghia
    Nostalghia: Song For Tarkovsky (ECM, 2006)
  2. Slow Six - Distant Light, Part 1: ‘Chromatic Clouds Surround’
    Nor’easter (New Albion, 2007)
  3. Lubomyr Melnyk - Part 5
    KMH (Unseen Worlds, 1978/2007)
  4. The Balustrade Ensemble - The Drowning Calm
    Capsules (Dynamophone, 2007)
  5. Ketil Bjornstad - Floating
    Floating (EmArcy, 2005)
  6. Pamelia Kurstin - Copingheaven
    Thinking Out Loud (Tzadik, 2007)
  7. Tom Waits - Fawn
    Alice (Anti, 2002)

Stream playlist


Posted by Bubbachups in Bedroom playlist
 

9 Comments »

  1. Victor said, February 19, 2008 @ 1:12 pm

    Hola,

    All the songs are amazing , I usually visit the motel and I like very much … I propose or suggest that you post something about Wim Mertens and The Durutti Column someday, They play a good ambience too.

    thank you and happy listenning !

    victor

  2. Eric Florenzano said, February 19, 2008 @ 8:17 pm

    I love “Nostalghia”, and love the new look. Keep up the great work guys!

  3. Moka said, February 19, 2008 @ 9:07 pm

    This is extremely beautiful bubba, this series just kept getting better and better, a shame it’s the final installment, they provided some of my favorite songs this month to listen to when I needed to wind down.

  4. Bubbachups said, February 20, 2008 @ 9:22 am

    Thanks, I’m really glad about the positive response I’ve received on this series. :)

    I already have some ideas for a similar series, and thanks to you Moka, I now have a title too. ;)

  5. ldp said, February 20, 2008 @ 11:26 am

    With only three installments, I say you can’t hold your breath long! This is beautiful. I haven’t heard the other two sets of music, but if they are anything like this … THANK YOU!

  6. ola said, February 21, 2008 @ 3:27 am

    wonderful selection!

  7. ldp said, February 21, 2008 @ 9:14 am

    p.s. i meant to say how much additional bliss it brings to have streams of these lovely mixes. and i have now been able to listen to all three installments. BEAUTIFUL! THANK YOU bc! –ldp

  8. Bubbachups said, February 21, 2008 @ 12:42 pm

    That’s great to hear, also that you’re using the streams, thanks!

  9. pijotr said, February 22, 2008 @ 5:08 pm

    if I can recommend one ‘oceanic’ song, it would be ‘Save The Whale’ by Solar Quest. Check it!

    Great list all in all :)

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