|
With a growing
discography of hand-crafted releases by the likes of Mark Bradley, Guanaco, Hourglass
Drops, and several others, Stephen Kent's Dust Wind Tales imprint is one of those
titillating relics of the underground CDR scene. Since his inaugural
compilation, The Dusty Tales -- which mined a glorious assortment
of obscure gems from the nether regions of bedroom music -- Kent has
been actively putting out experimental and unusual music he believes in.
And believe me, the world is a better place for it. Kent also records
under the name The End Springs, and has issued a few sparse releases
here and there -- including a split cassette with The Wolf Tracks on
weird-music mega-conglomerate Not Not Fun.
--
  
 
--
"Ten Crucial Records" By Stephen Kent
(Dust Wind Tales & The End Springs)
(In no particular order)
"Tindersticks II" by Tindersticks
An amazing album. Purely for the fact that
it features the track "Tiny Tears."
If I had to only listen to one song for the rest of my life it would be
"Tiny Tears." The
whole album features the most beautiful strings I have ever heard.
Around the time the album came out I don’t believe a lot of people
understood what Tindersticks were trying to do and you have to really
listen. This album, for me, is the best they’ve done.
"Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain" by Pavement
What defined the "indie" scene in the UK
around the time of 1994 for me (even though Pavement are American).
Reminds me of being 19. Pavement were an incredible band. When you heard
one of their songs you knew it was them. Killer melodies
& a roughness that grabs you & beats you down.
"Silence Kit" is an
amazing opener, with "Fillmore"
Jive ending it in a classic fashion.
"The Southern Harmony & Musical
Companion" by The Black Crowes
An album that I discovered while at college
when I was 17 and one I listened to constantly for
four years. I became obsessed with the Black Crowes and through
them discovered so much amazing music, including Nick Drake, Gram
Parsons, Big Star and many more. This album is them at their best.
Amazing tunes with a killer smokey hippy vibe. I learned a lot about
open guitar tunings too through this album and Rich Robinson. Good to
see them back to their best with "Warpaint".
"The Stone Roses" by The Stone Roses
The best debut album EVER! I could even go
as far as to say the best album ever. The Stone Roses defined an era in
British music. They created a scene with the music, the attitude and the
clothes. Each song is amazing and fits perfectly with each other. Four
amazing musicians creating the feeling that anything can be done. John
Squire, for me, is one of the greatest guitarists to ever come out of
the UK. From start to finish this album will grab you and never leave
you, especially "I Am The Resurrection". You MUST own this album.
"Preemptive Strike" by DJ Shadow
Might look a little out of place on this
list but definitely deserves to be here. DJ Shadow creates such amazing
sound sculptures from what has gone before that they can’t help grabbing
your soul. Of all his albums this was the first I heard and I became
instantly hooked. "What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 2)" is
the killer track on the album and when I first
heard it it scared me to death (I listened to it stoned, in the dark and
with headphones on!!). Perfect music to get stoned too and escape!
"School of The Flower" by Six Organs of
Admittance
For me Ben Chansy has to be one of the most
gifted guitarists and songwriters around today. This album is what
caught me when I wasn’t looking. His use of melody and rhythm reminds me
of old England and "Eighth Cognition / All You've Left" is a killer
opener! If you play guitar you MUST get this album and everything else
he’s done.
"Pink Moon" by Nick Drake
The greatest acoustic fingerpicking
guitarist of all time. This is pure beauty and Nick should be remembered
forever. Enough said!
"GP" / "Grievous Angel" by Gram Parsons
I’d heard so much praise for Gram Parsons
before I heard these two albums. At first I found his voice to clean and
pure, not like the rough country voice I prefer. But after listening to
more I discovered that this is part of what makes Gram so good. His
phrasing and melody, as well as his song writing, is so perfect. A guy
ahead of his time. I have to include both GP and Grievous Angel as they
simply belong together.
"Rejoicing in the Hands" by Devendra
Banhart
After hearing the "Golden Apples of the
Sun" compilation put together by Mr Banhart for Arthur magazine I became
hooked with the vibe and spirit of the music of this man. This album
didn’t come out if my cd player for months. You hear the influences but
he breaths new life into them and draws you in. The music and guitar is
soft and simple but so beautiful. Again I have found so much amazing
music through Devendra and also some very good friends (You know who you
are…VM & GG!)
"The Soft Bulletin" by The Flaming Lips
Let’s get serious. The Flaming Lips fucking
rock. At their best they beat everyone hands down. "The
Soft Bulletin" is them morphing into a new,
gentle but so more powerful band. This album is so uplifting and gives a
feeling of hope. "The Gash" has to be one of my favourite songs and
contains the best line ever in a song -- "Will the fight for our sanity
be the fight of our lives?" I think that sums up life for a lot of
people.
DUST WIND
TALES ONLINE |
THE END
SPRINGS ON MYSPACE |
