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Tuesday, 8 December 2009

Playlist 7 - The solution to illegal downloading?

During the Summer of 2009, Windows and ReverbNation created a strategic alliance that enabled independent musicians and artists to give away their music for free - but be paid by sponsorship of these songs. This was a radical 'win win' business proposal - the sponsor, Windows, were able to embed advertising into the graphic (cover artwork) of the downloadable mp3 and the artist was paid. The payment per download to the artist was low in comparison to iTunes, Amazon etc. but the value in exposure, reaching a larger market, was generous compensation. These participating artists have been given the opportunity to let their 'Sponsored Song' continue as a free download in a new archive as part of a new initiative called “Playlist 7”

“Playlist 7” is again a joint marketing venture between Windows and ReverbNation but this version of the same idea has a few twists. In principal it follows the same methodology, giving away a pool of free music to whoever is interested. Fans, friends and followers on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter of Windows have special access to a weekly pool of 50 new 'Featured Artists' to sample. Fans can download up to 7 of these songs free, and those downloads help decide which artists’ songs will be available for everyone to download the following week.

Reverbnation have without doubt the best tools and philosophy of all the music 'fan site' websites out there in webland and this partnership with Windows is a true contender to take over the crown in the download wars. This maybe embryonic but this could be the business model that knocks iTunes et al off the top of the ladder and enables the consumer to have free music. This strategy could be indirectly the solution to illegal downloading.

Monday, 7 December 2009

Nyla Alisia - Review

I've never really thought much about poetry, I've always thought of it and treated it as a way to put words to music and in many respects I have disrespected the use of words in my own work - words are an irritating necessity that hinders music.

I stumbled on Nyla Alisia by mistake - but I actually found myself lost in the spoken word. I recommend taking a few minutes break from the usual bang bang of music beats and just simply listen to the rhythm of words and the timbre of her voice - maybe I must rethink what words are?

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Ornob - Review

This is a jazzy, world music sounding audio experience - which is great to listen to and relax Ornob was introduced to me by Jacky, she will explain more about Ornob, who sometimes sound like an acoustic version of 'Air' to me (maybe?).

Música Bengalí, un deleite para los sentidos.

Ornob. Desde el nombre ya resulta extraño y sí, es extraño.

Ornob es una banda originaria de Bangladesh que experimentando con un sinfín de ritmos, se convierte en una fusión muy bien lograda de rock, Hip-hop y Rap, con un toque sutil de electrónica que le da un aire de sofisticación y elegancia, enmarcada en el folk , la cuál se le ha denominado Folk Bengalí Baul.

Desde el principio causa intriga por la profunda y cautivadora voz del vocalista, quién le da la identidad bengalí a cada melodía y a medida que se va escuchando, uno empieza a preguntarse, ¿qué es esto?
Evidentemente, Ornob representa el grito de libertad cultural y religiosa que clama la juventud Bengalí que vive bajo un régimen extremadamente estricto, política, religiosa y culturalmente.

Y ya adentrados los sentidos, da la impresión de tratarse de una mesa servida para escucharse, en la que Ornob nos ofrece innumerables ritmos diferentes sobre una exquisita vajilla bengalí, donde la voz del vocalista le da un sabor exótico, enigmático y trascendentalmente impecable a cada canción; cada una diferente, audaz, pero todas ellas exquisitas en su elaboración y aunque habla de no sé qué que no se entiende, sí se puede sentir en la piel.

Review by Jacky

Translation:

Bengali music, a delight for the senses.

Ornob. Since the name is strange and yes, it is strange.

Ornob is a band from Bangladesh to experiment with a myriad of rhythms, becomes a very successful fusion of rock, hip-hop and rap, with a subtle touch of electronics that gives it an air of sophistication and elegance, framed by folk, to what has been termed the Bengali Baul Folk.
From the beginning produces intrigue, by the deep and captivating voice of singer, who gives the Bengali identity to each song, and listening as it is, one begins to wonder, what is this?
Obviously Ornob represents the cry of cultural and religious freedom crying Bengali youth living under extremely strict regime, political, religious and culturally.

And well into the senses, gives the impression of a table set for listening and which offers countless Ornob different rhythms on a delicious Bengali dishes, where the voice of the singer gives an exotic, enigmatic and transcendentally impeccable taste to each song, each one different, bold, but all exquisite in their design and even speaks of do not know what that means, it can be felt in the skin.

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