Tag Archives: Instrumental

A trip to other worlds with Mike Milan Dedic

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According to Mike Milan Dedic “The guitar instrumental rock genre is very small at best, and is very difficult to garner attention to.”

Yes that’s perhaps true but man, listen to this guy play. Listen to the three YouTube clips I added below and tell me if this doesn’t sound BIG to you! I remember back in school- which was ages ago- there were friends who were crazy about Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. They spent countless hours dissecting albums and tracks (if they are not worrying about Chemistry and Physics projects) and sported long hair like their idols. I didn’t look like any of them but I hangout with them so I really love the genre.

I am glad to discover this gifted artist and talk about him.

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Maddening beauty…

These amazing passages remind me of great composers like Beethoven and Rachmaninov on acid. Mike Milan Dedic who currently resides in Ontario has dedicated his musical gift to this, creating other words with his guitar and enchanting new listeners. His guitar solo track called “Zoom” is a total trip to outer space. You forget everything! It’s really remarkable how one instrument can do that to you. “Energy” is intoxicating with his clever use of arpeggios and varying scales.

He also released a brand new track called Escape, which I think sums up his music and the mood he is trying to create. Amazing artist. Check him out via YouTube and facebook!

 

Something Strange, Something Beautiful: Shades of Living by Dee McIlroy

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Singer-songwriter and guitar builder Dermot “Dee” McIlroy has created an ambient album that’s both relaxing and strange. I say strange because if you’ve watched many Chris Carter TV series like the X-Files and Millenium-and even Nic Pizzolatto’s True Detective, Shades of Living evokes those moods. It opens with a suspenseful Where it Takes You. And from there, you are on a journey.

Midnight is a fave track as of the moment. It has that eerie synth sound coupled with slow beats – a perfect company for a midnight bike ride. There are also  the Mexican flavoured Bon Voyage and the upbeat The Edge to set the balance. The closing track Spring sounds optimistic.

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Dee McIlroy

Here’s a blurb from his Bandcamp page: “Dee McIlroy’s third album of 2017 (so far) and all completely different genres. This is an album of instrumental ambient chill music that brings you from the dark into light. A mean and moody jazzy start progress’ through various shades, just as in life, to eventually finishing with “Spring”, an enlightening and uplifting final track.”

Guitars, piano, bass, drums, mando, organ and electronic music performed by Dee McIlroy.

Shades of Living has eight tracks and plays around 39 minutes.  Dee also performs with Irish folk / trad group Clanú-made up of Dee McIlroy, Damian McIlroy, Paul Conlon, Niall McIlroy and Fiona McIlroy.

Duende by Calonego

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In October he’ll be perforing live, his new (2) CD (Acoustic Guitar ) . He won the 2015 Atkins Dadì Guitar Players Association (ADGPA) Award in his country, Italy.Screen Shot 2015-08-28 at 9.21.24 PM

Beautiful music. It is hard to find something like that in mainstream. But if you are persistent then you might stumbled upon instrumentalists like Calonego. Artists who make you feel and think differently.

A duende is a fairy– or goblin-like mythological creature from Iberian, Latin American and Filipino folklore. Duendes may also have some traits similar to goblins and kobolds.

The word is often considered to be the Spanish and Portuguese equivalent of the English word “sprite” or the Japanese word yōkai and is used as an umbrella term for any fairy-like being such as goblins, pixies and elves. I ripped this info off Wiki. Thank you music for broadening my mind!

It is also the title of his single which shows the energy and playfulness the duende. The piece has two parts: the tune starts with a playful tapping and then progresses into the percussive shower of notes. The second part is mellow and reveals the poignant soul of the artist.

Jork – Andy’s Song

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According to Jork, Andy’s Song was written a long time ago but was never published. He added that it is a very special tune

Lee Tobin a.k.a. Jork

Lee Tobin a.k.a. Jork

with special meaning. I did not ask further as I plan that for future post. I think it fits the mood to the day:stormy, uncertain and reflective. I love his compositional skills. I followed this guy for years now and I am always enthusiastic with every new material from him. I can rarely say that to other artists as I listen to LOTS of music and you know how that is.

Jork is Lee Tobin and he plays many musical instruments. He has done many collaborations and dabbled with different musical styles including chiptune. Looking forward to more from him.

“Numbers & Shapes: Revisited by Rebecca Brandt”Featuring14 remixes

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Numbers & Shapes: Revisited is a dance-floor driven remix album based on Brooklyn based composer, Rebecca Brandt’s debut album Numbers & Shapes. rebeccabrandt.bandcamp.com

When an album reaches cult status I always notice a certain kind of tribute given to it. This happened to Sarah McLachlan which resulted to Remixed in 2001. To have a remixed album dedicated to a certain artist is not common. I think it is a win- win idea. It promotes the album to a wider audience (electronic/dance/club) and it also gives us the works of the DJs and producers involved.
I wrote a previous blog on Numbers & Shapes(released in 2012) by Rebecca Brandt. I just found out that it received a top-25 shortlist nomination at the 2013 Grammy Awards. According to Brandt:

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A newly-formed label Green Village took notice and pitched the idea of curating a remix album based on the original pieces, and thus our new baby was born, “Numbers & Shapes: Revisited.” It features 14 remixes from different producers and DJs from around the world, including Starkey, Policy, Liondub, Rabit and more. The project had no guidelines or expectations – we just wanted to create dance floor-driven tracks built off classical elements, to try to challenge and play with the rules of genre and have some fun.
I think this is a good idea as it will open doors for her to new fans. The album is set to be released on March 3 on Bandcamp. I love what I heard on the preview! This is intelligent dance music set around her original tunes. I am posting the sample here so you can listen and buy the album when it comes out!