Mallory's Picks of 2012

Top 3... Rebirth, catharsis, and subterranean rivers.

Dead Can Dance - Anastasis. Intensely calm and ancient, like the sea of grass slowly rising and reaching out to the sun. They made the top of my list, as a sign of gratitude for the experience this music has given me.
Swans - The Seer. The darkest and weightiest of them all, as powerful as black earth, Swans destructure and restructure your soul. Yet the flipside of this darkness is catharsis. This is sheer slow-burning force cleverly disguised as music.
In Death It Ends - Forgotten Knowledge. Eminently bewitching and tension-fueled, this music makes me think of the strong, pitch-black current running underneath reality as we know it.

The rest:

Aimon - Flatliner
Morten Harket - Out of My Hands
School of Seven Bells - Ghostory
Trust - TRST
In Strict Confidence - Utopia
Tristesse Contemporaine - Tristesse Contemporaine
Julia Holter - Ekstasis 

2012 Jazz Releases I Love

This Sunday's 9 to 11 set will highlight some of the best jazz albums of 2012. In my opinion, these include: Trio Libero features a trio with saxophonist Andy Sheppard and Michel Benita and Sebastian Rochford. It's a beautiful album with master musicians who are exemplars of what jazz musicians can be. Brad Mehlbau Trio's Where Do You Start is another beautiful jazz album featuring Mahlbau's stunning piano playing. I will be highlight several others as well - all from 2012. There's great music from 2012 and I look forward to even more great music in 2013.

Christmas Jazz on Sunday Morning for Sway

The world of jazz is full of wonderful Christmas music and it will be on display on Sunday morning at The Velvet during my regular 9 to 11 AM SLT Jazz time slot. I will be spinning John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, Dexter Gordon and dozens of other jazz greats who celebrate the holidays with that special jazz panache. In the holiday spirit, all tips will go to the Together For Sway fundraising event. Sway is a Second Life® furniture-maker who has always been among the first to volunteer for charitable events. She is now facing several months of recovery after surgery and the community of Second Life is working to help sustain her during her recovery. Please swing by for the Christmas Jazz and to make a contribution in the spirit of the season. 

Solstice bells

The Velvet's Xmas party gathers the seasonal solar celebrations all under one roof in a celebration of goodwill and excellent music! Live DJs and no shortage of reindeer, fine wines, festive fodder and dancing elves. 

DJs Kanjena the Solstice Witch from 3-5pm. 

Paradox the demonic Krampus from 5-7pm 

Maht the Merry Lord of Misrule 7pm onwards.

Expect the usual selection of predictably unpredictable sounds from disparate genres 

Happy Sunshine.

Dox's 2012 Favs tonight

Hey all, I'm playing part 1 of my sets of personal favs from 2012 tonight. Hope you can come by and check out what I think rocked 2012. I'll be playing Django Django, Thee Oh Sees, Tame Impala, Bob Mould, Deerhoof, Crocodiles, Fresh & Onlys, Ramona Falls, Imperial Teen, Tindersticks, Grizzly Bear, Micachu, David Byrne & St. Vincent, Wedding Present, Jack White, Islands and more 5-7pm at the Velvet