It was December 2012 when Vodka first discovered Courtney Barnett. At the time, Barnett didn’t have a label (she created her own that same year, Milk Records), but she did have her first EP, I’ve Got A Friend called Emily Ferris, which contained History Eraser, a song I still love. This scrappy left-handed guitarist, with a flair for inspired lyrics, started the same year as this incantation of Vodka’s blog. When I started, I’d scour the dark corners of the Internet searching for new and different artists, hoping that in the process, I’d garner my own following to the blog….
Vodka doesn’t often get terribly excited about instrumental-only music. It happens though, and quite a lot more often than it used to. It’s not that I don’t like instrumental music, I do. Listening to instrumental music is a pleasant experience, I just have a tough time getting my mind into it enough to review much of it. Some notable exceptions are Lydian Collective, Snarky Puppy, a handful of others, and now Carlos Eiene. Carlos Eine has been a big force in…
Vodka likes to expose all sorts of music, but honestly, it usually isn’t straight-up instrumental. There are several exceptions, Lydian Collective, Snarky Puppy, etc., but for the most part, the music that I cover here has lyrics. That seems to be shifting a bit over time. Perhaps because the quality of instrumental music itself has increased, or perhaps I’m just noticing it more these days. Enter Daniel Sherrill, whose traditional banjo compositions are beautiful and breathtaking. Fortune, (seen/heard here) is from Sherrill’s…
If you are unfamiliar with The Laszlo Project but know about the sound that Lydian Collective makes, then there will be an immediate connection to this music. The reason is that The Laszlo Project is the side project of Lydian Collective founder, Aaron Wheeler. He is joined here by Lydian Collective drummer, Sophie Alloway, Simon Joyner on trumpet, Michael Underwood on saxophone, and Phoebe Wright-Spinks, vocals. Phoebe uses her vocals as an instrument here and you will swear this is a 100% instrumental track! Like Lydian Collective’s music, The Laszlo…
Vodka regulars will note that instrumental music of any kind is a rarity here. It’s not that I don’t like instrumental music, but for it to reach the blog, it really has to be accessible. Lydian Collective, Snarky Puppy, and The Fearless Flyers are just a few whom I believe have transcended the niche status. Enter Andrew Wasylyk, whose compositions are super-accessible and blend modern classical, ambient, and jazz to create a unique and wonderful soundscape. Awoke In The Early Days…