Complicated music, like...

funkmonkey · « **Reply #20 on:** 28 Dec 2008, 03:20 am »

Ornette Coleman, SunRa, X2 John Coletrane (Ohm, Sun Ship... on impulse)

Rashan Roland Kirk...

Folsom · « **Reply #21 on:** 28 Dec 2008, 03:44 am »

I guess I feel like complicated music is never stuff with stand alone instruments and vocals.

Examples are things that interact to contrast or go with each other. Both at the same time is best. Call and response is cute but even better is layering of vocals like Michael Jackson on Billie Jean, on top of that they come from different places. Also The Knife - Silent Shout just has a lot going on. Pink Floyd I suppose fits the category even if it is not as I just described, there is just so much going on.

Hard to describe...

MaxCast · « **Reply #22 on:** 28 Dec 2008, 02:02 pm »

Elvis Costello - Spike has a lot of stuff coming at you.

drphoto · « **Reply #23 on:** 30 Dec 2008, 05:09 pm »

How about Peter Gabriel? Doesn't hurt that his bassist since the second solo album has been the afore mentioned Tony Levin.

I think PG is a genius. Someone who can do 'out there' prog rock, but churn out radio friendly hits too. Plus his music videos were probably the best ever.

BobM · « **Reply #24 on:** 30 Dec 2008, 05:12 pm »

As are his live shows. Now THAT'S what a concert should be!

Bob

Crimson · « **Reply #25 on:** 30 Dec 2008, 05:56 pm »

Quote from: drphoto on 30 Dec 2008, 05:09 pm

How about Peter Gabriel? Doesn't hurt that his bassist since the second solo album has been the afore mentioned Tony Levin.

I think PG is a genius. Someone who can do 'out there' prog rock, but churn out radio friendly hits too. Plus his music videos were probably the best ever.

+1000. Know how much I like him? I named my kid after him (the G, not the P).

BobM · « **Reply #26 on:** 30 Dec 2008, 06:32 pm »

Quote from: Crimson on 30 Dec 2008, 05:56 pm

Quote from: drphoto on 30 Dec 2008, 05:09 pm
How about Peter Gabriel? Doesn't hurt that his bassist since the second solo album has been the afore mentioned Tony Levin.

I think PG is a genius. Someone who can do 'out there' prog rock, but churn out radio friendly hits too. Plus his music videos were probably the best ever.

+1000. Know how much I like him? I named my kid after him (the G, not the P).

Are you in the movie business? I thought you had to live in Hollywood to give your kids strange names.

drphoto · « **Reply #27 on:** 31 Dec 2008, 01:07 am »

Yeah Bob, his live shows have fantastic stage and lighting design. Unfortunately, I've only seen them on DVD.

The post PG Genesis put on a hell of a show too. I got to see them live several times starting w/ the 'And Then there were Three' tour. Their lighting designer was the guy who invented the Varilite....the computer controlled moving light you see everywhere now. It was first unveiled on the 'Abacab' tour. I was flat blown away the first time I saw them. I was doing some rock show lighting design at the time and this was just revolutionary.

I thought post PG Genesis also did some really good music too, though they did lapse into some serious cheese as Phil's songwriting took over (Invisible Touch...ugghh. But prior to that...good to excellent)

Wayner · « **Reply #28 on:** 31 Dec 2008, 01:33 am »

Never seen Genesis, but have all of their albums. Love Selling England by the Pound and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

Here is another guy that makes complicated and moving music, Aaron Copland. If you want to venture into the classical arena.

Wayner

drphoto · « **Reply #29 on:** 31 Dec 2008, 07:27 am »

DOS, sorry to turn this into a Genesis discussion. Wayner, 'Selling England' and 'Lamb' were the last two PG era Genesis records. I personally love "A Fifth of Firth" from 'Selling England' Fantastic guitar solo.

If I remember correctly, "Trick of the Tail" was the first post PG Genesis record. Still had the amazing Steve Hackett on guitar, who was doing tapping stuff when Eddie van Halen was still in diapers. (Of course...Eddie turned it to eleven and made it ROCK!

)

If you want complex....check out 'Suppers Ready' from Foxtrot. (PG era again)

Folsom · « **Reply #30 on:** 31 Dec 2008, 08:38 am »

No issue.

In large part I feel like PG might be more my David Bowie, in the way David Bowie is David Bowie for some people I know.

orthobiz · « **Reply #31 on:** 31 Dec 2008, 11:07 am »

Crack the Sky, anybody?

Paul

BobM · « **Reply #32 on:** 31 Dec 2008, 01:48 pm »

Quote from: orthobiz on 31 Dec 2008, 11:07 am

Crack the Sky, anybody?

Paul

Ohh yeah, especially the live album. Here's a few more in the prog vein ...

Mahivishnu Orchestra (or pretty much anything from John McLaughlin)
Return to Forever (or pretty much anything from Chic Corea)
Branx X (another Genesis x-reference, did you know Phil Collins was a member?)
Porcupine tree (the more recent stuff)
The Flower Kings
Crack the Sky
Pat Metheny
Happy the Man
Emerson Lake and Palmer
Yes
Frank Zappa
Oregon

... then there's the whole world of Jazz ...

Bob

mjosef · « **Reply #33 on:** 1 Jan 2009, 10:05 am »

Amazing thread...starting at MJ and ending up with the likes of Sun Ra, OC, MO, FZ. I am totally flabbergasted.
These are indeed "complicated" times.

themailman · « **Reply #34 on:** 2 Jan 2009, 05:34 am »

if you can find them:

PFM
Clearlight
Steve Hillage
Henry Cow
UK
Cocteau twins
Guru Guru
Kissing the pink
Mortal Coil

Imperial · « **Reply #35 on:** 3 Jan 2009, 12:06 am »

Max(well) Sedgley. An English dude that makes seriously complex beats!
I also like Imogen Heap. If one listens deeply into her songs, one will indeed hear immense amounts of detail.
Weird female by the way, she talk to her studio... she does...

Like how weird is this woman? Pretty weird, take her own words for it...

(Guess who can't wait for her new album... MEEEEE!!!

)
The song "Hide and seek" is so complicated it takes like (preferably more than..) 15 singers to duplicate Imogens superb vocoder magic... Can't be beaten!!!
Imperial

orthobiz · « **Reply #36 on:** 3 Jan 2009, 12:36 am »

PFM? Henry Cow?
Where have I been?????

I read on allmusic.com that PFM vinyl suffered from bad pressings, CD is better.
What about Henry Cow? Should I start looking for vinyl?

Which albums do you recommend for the neophyte?

Paul

BobM · « **Reply #37 on:** 3 Jan 2009, 01:34 pm »

I would STRONGLY suggest you listen to some Henry Cow selections before you buy anything. This music is strange and not for the faint of heart. Bizzarro stuff.

Enjoy,
Bob

Crimson · « **Reply #38 on:** 3 Jan 2009, 01:42 pm »

Complicated instrumental guitar: Allan Holdsworth (incredible), Al Dimeola, Michael Hedges, Adrian Belew (Solo), and Kaki King.

Ridge Street Audio · « **Reply #39 on:** 3 Jan 2009, 04:46 pm »

What!?...No Carpenters or Glen Cambell?