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Category Archives: Ball of Wax
Ball of Wax 51 Songs: Peter Colclasure – “Long Form 1”
In this space I recently sang the praises of Peter Colclasure’s compositions for piano – which, as far as I know, are usually composed and performed in the traditional way of writing down music, and then playing it. “Long Form … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 51 Songs: slicnaton – “Storch”
From the opening lines, slicnaton’s “Storch” sounds like menace slowly being poured over a smoldering fire. I imagine that scene from Apocalypse Now where a sweat-drenched and terrified Martin Sheen makes his way into the jungle temple to slay his … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 51 Songs: Steven Arntson – “The Squirrel”
A squirrel. A concertina. This is not a pair that should make for 11-plus minutes of captivating music – even if you figure in the fact that we’re talking about our native Pine Squirrel in general, and not one particular … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 51 Songs: Virgin of the Birds – “Laura and Jennifer, Bright in Some Soft Sky”
It’s a semi-sunny sunday Seattle afternoon in February and the piano slowly plays its themes in the background. There are celestial keyboard-sounding chords fading in and out. I’m half conscious, like the music that plays. I’m reflective. It’s as if … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 51 Songs: Andrew Weathers – “Walk Backwards a Lightning, Rattle Down the Sky”
And now we pare it down to just the guitar. Longtime Ball of Wax friend Andrew Weathers beamed in this transmission, recorded live at Stanford’s mighty KZSU, from his newish home in Littlefield, Texas. Iit builds slowly, as longer works … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 51 Songs: great unwashed luminaries – Sunspace Quasar (for Miles)
My word, has it really been almost six years since we’ve heard from great unwashed luminaries? As far as I can tell, that name last graced a volume of Ball of Wax on #28, our excellent Dance Party volume. (Although … Continue reading
Posted in Ball of Wax, Bands You Should Know, Recorded Music
Tagged great unwashed luminaries, kelly minnis
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Ball of Wax 51 Songs: Freeway Park – “Paintings of Famous Satanists”
Freeway Park make their long-anticipated Ball of Wax debut with “Paintings of Famous Satanists,” an expansive, extra-dirgey version of their brand of noisy, dissonant rock woven together with the prose-based (but never prosaic) verbal arts of vocalist Graham Isaac. The … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 51 Songs: The Luna Moth – “Paean”
Some music makes you want to be in a rock band. My first thought on hearing The Luna Moth‘s “Paean” was “oh hey this is live.” You can practially hear the room, maybe even the rain outside, the dark. It … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 51 Songs: Nachthexen – “NightWitch III/draft”
It’s been a while since I gushed about local guitar hero Bill Horist, and even longer since he graced a volume of Ball of Wax with his guitarical prowess, so I’m excited that both are happening again right now! I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in Ball of Wax, Bands You Should Know, Check Out This Song
Tagged bill horist
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Ball of Wax 51 Songs: The Lonely Children – “Turnaround Phase”
The Lonely Children‘s contribution to Ball of Wax 51, “Turnaround Phase,” is almost 13 minutes of slinky, spaced out electric guitar – like Ry Cooder sitting in with Luna. There are prominent lead lines and a pedal steel part that … Continue reading