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Category Archives: Recorded Music
Ball of Wax 68 Songs: The Vardaman Ensemble – “Twilight Blue”
What happens if you throw This Heat and Chico Hamilton into a mixer, shake vigorously, and serve to a spirited group of musicians wielding drums, guitars, bass, french horn, trumpet, and other assorted instrumental oddities? Our Portlandian pals the Vardaman … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 68 Songs: David Forlano and Dave Moir – “Clown’s Lament”
There’s already been a lot of talk about soundtrack music in relation to the tracks on this all-instrumental volume, but it turns out David Forlano and Dave Moir’s “Clown’s Lament” was actually created to be used in a film to … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 68 Songs: Bike Monday – “Sweepers”
With “Sweepers,” Bike Monday – the spoonerized pseudonym of Mike Bundy (of many things, but most currently half of Orion) – gives us the retro-futuristic movie theme we didn’t know we’d been waiting for. I know there’s already been a … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 68 Songs: Virgin of the Birds – “And Then We Saw the Daughter of the Minotaur”
Virgin of the Birds’ “And Then We Saw the Daughter of the Minotaur” – named (minus an exclamation mark, for some reason – I mean, how could you say that sentence without exclaiming?) after a visionary painting by Leonora Carrington … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 68 Songs: Jeff Tobias – “Holiday Music Pt. 1”
Jeff Tobias, where have you been all my life? There is a delightfully demented, playful energy coursing through “Holiday Music Pt. 1” – and much of his album Recurring Dream, from whence it came – that seems like it was … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 68 Songs: Eddie Sids – “Glass Four”
Eddie Sids‘ “Glass Flour” is a compelling, well-constructed piece that ornaments a strong melodic idea played on horns, piano, and bass with spacey synth jitters. Clocking in at a brief 3:14, the main melodic idea evolves in clever ways as … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 68 Songs: Night Owl – “Mellow Moods”
Night Owl’s “Mellow Moods” is, just as advertised, a sweet, mellow tune. The trio manage the delicate balancing act of creating a guitar-driven, bluesy, melodic piece of music that holds your interest and keeps your head bobbing (albeit slowly), while … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 68 Songs: Orion – “The Woods”
Orion is a newish project of longtime Ball of Wax friends and collaborators Mark Johnson and Mike Bundy – born, I presume, of the pandemic, though I don’t know for sure. We have heard all manner of sounds from these … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 68 Songs: Galenbaby – “Do Wild”
In his notes for Ball of Wax 68, Galen Disston – aka Galenbaby – asks, echoing Erk Satie, “Can music be wallpaper?” But then he goes on, “If you look at the wallpaper enough, do you start to see yourself?” … Continue reading
Ball of Wax 68 Songs: Domenica Diavoleria – “Only I Have the Key”
The music of Domenica Diavoleria – an oeuvre which has grown and developed with stunning rapidity since the release of her debut EP last September – is not something one can easily pin down or slap a label onto. I … Continue reading