blink. is a Chicago-based musical collective steeped in jazz, rock, electronica, and free improvisation featuring bassist Jeff Greene, drummer Quin Kirchner, guitarist Dave Miller, and saxophonist Greg Ward. Individually, their compositions have been commissioned and performed by the International Contemporary Ensemble, the Peoria Ballet Company, and have received awards from the Illinois Arts Council. Their debut, The Epidemic of Ideas (2008), emphasized improvisation and was the result of countless hours of rehearsals, performances, and studio time. Their sophomore album, The Architects, comes from a different place. As the album title suggests, it’s an intricately constructed statement and the product of extensive composing and rehearsing. It features a narrative arc punctuated by numerous recurring themes which include melodies and chord progressions that unfold over the course of the album. Longtime fans of blink. will be pleased to discover that Jeff Greene’s new compositions still leave room for – and are balanced by – the group’s supreme improvisational skills.

Highlights include: “Protect from Light”, parts I and II, which bookend the album and feature looped electronic samples and a reprise of the central melodic theme. “Align Your Planets” is an energetic (and, at times, unhinged) song that features the guitar and saxophone playfully exchanging riffs, only to be reeled in by the rhythm section before building into a noisy, no wave-y climax. “How to Rest in Peace” follows and closes out the first side. It is a dreamy piece of ambient-jazz with sparse vocals that hint at what’s to come. Side B opens with “The Secret Life of Quiz Shows”, a song that features an ethereal choir of voices and stands out as a decidedly non-“jazz” track – in fact, it could easily be at home on a Greg Davis or Stars of the Lid album. “I Will Save the Day (II)” briefly returns to no wave territory before coming full circle when its looping bass line reappears deep in the mix. The Architects is an adventurous album that, like it’s predecessor, features a band with no shortage of ideas.


blink. is Jeff Greene (basses, samples, compositions), Quin Kirchner (drums, cymbals, percussion), Dave Miller (guitar, keys), and Greg Ward (alto saxophone, keys). The choir is Sean Archer, Leslie Beukelman, Amanda Crumley, Carl Glick, and Mariama Torruella. Engineered by Manny Sanchez at the I.V. Lab, Chicago, IL. Mixed by Manny Sanchez, Chris Harden, and Jeff Greene. Additional engineering by Rollin Weary and Shane Hendrickson. Mastered by Ed Tinley. Cover artwork by Matt Maxwell. All compositions written and published by Jeff Greene © 2011 My Secret Weapon Music.

blink. - The Secret Life of Quiz Shows

Drink and Try Not to Cry

J FERNANDEZ - MEMORIZE NOW
EP 12' + mp3
AC25/ limited to 300 copies 
Out october 14th on Atelier Ciseaux
Pre-order now : www.atelierciseaux.com

Side A 
Memorize Now
Image
Failed Scales

Side B
Cosmic Was
Geneva
Close Your Eyes

Pre-order digital : 
World : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/memorize-now-ep/id919948026
FR :  https://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/memorize-now-ep/id919948026

https://soundcloud.com/atelierciseaux
www.facebook.com/jfernandezsongs

Close Your Eyes

Here is our complete set of Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain" from October 29th at the Whistler in Chicago.  Thanks to Matt Hannigan for recording this...

White/Light plays Maggot Brain

The Whistler's in-house record label.

BILL MACKAY + RYLEY WALKER, IN TALL BUILDINGS, DAVE McDONNELL GROUP, STIRRUP, WHITE MYSTERY, KARL BLAU, THE HOOD INTERNET x KID STATIC, ANGELA JAMES

blink. - The Secret Life of Quiz Shows

Whistler Records

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