Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world Over the last couple of weeks it seems all that everyone has been talking about in the world of music is the return of Adele. The blanket coverage given to 25 would make anyone think she was the only artist to be releasing music anymore. Thankfully this is not the case! By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world There is a deep electronic flavour to many of the albums reviewed this week. As a fan of all things dark, autumn is a fantastic time of year for me as producers start to release music which evokes a world of Gothic gloom. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world After a short break to have my highlights done, the world’s best music column written by me makes a welcome return this week with a look at some of October’s top album releases. We have great new LPs by the likes of Julia Holter, King Midas Sound, Helena Hauff, Wolfgang Flür, Ghost Box, Visionist, Bruce Brubaker, Grant and more. By JOHN BITTLES
Film | Amnesia – ein Film von Barbet Schroeder »Ein Filmfestival«, so der künstlerische Leiter Michael Kötz in seiner Eröffnungsrede des Internationalen Filmfestivals Mannheim-Heidelberg 2015, »ist eng an die Lage des Kinos gebunden, ja, es feiert das Kino geradezu, das vor gut 100 Jahren mit den Lichtspielhäusern in allen Großstädten der Welt geboren wurde und dafür sorgte, dass die Filmkunst sehr bald zur alles beherrschenden Form der ästhetischen Weltwahrnehmung wurde. Und gibt es denn dieses Kino noch?« Anmerkungen von DIDIER CALME.
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world. An Interview with Michael Reinboth Compost Records is a Munich-based label which specializes in soulful and funky. Throughout a distinguished career they have released music which has touched on numerous styles and genres. From the vocal house of Robert Owens, the smooth techno of Roland Appel to the jazzy lick of Rainer Trüby Trio, and more, the only thing which unites every Compost release is the fantastic music to be found on each disc. By JOHN BITTLES
Roman | Peter Härtling: Verdi »Ich hatte nicht vor, eine Biografie zu schreiben. Es ging mir nicht darum, das Leben Verdis zu erzählen, Daten und Werke einzusammeln. Der Untertitel nennt neun Fantasien. Verdi hat nie eine geschrieben. Eine Fantasie folgt Motiven, Stimmungen. Es ist eine dem Alter angemessene Form. Ich nähere mich an Jahren dem Verdi, und ich wünschte mir waghalsig einen Austausch der Erfahrungen«, schreibt Peter Härtling in seiner dem Buch vorangestellten Kopfnote. Der neue Roman ›Verdi‹ – gelesen von PETER MOHR
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world. An Interview With Bob Moses Surprisingly enough Bob Moses is not just one man. While the name might conjure images of a lonesome troubadour wandering desolate plains, the band are actually a deep house duo consisting of Tom Howie and Jimmy Valance. Having first risen to fame through a series of sparkling EPs for Anthony Collins and Francis Harris‘ esteemed Scissors & Thread imprint, this September sees the band move to Domino to release their debut LP Days Gone By (All In All from earlier this year
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world The singles market has systematically been destroyed over the last few years. For me, the process began with the decision to limit the length of a single, and how many songs it can contain. Before this we had bands like The Orb releasing 40 minute songs and bands such as The Verve and Oasis bringing out sublime four track EPs. By diminishing its value the humble single became even more disposable than it already was. Nobody took chances anymore! By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world: August/September New albums reviewed Part 2 If there is one thing I have learned from life so far it is that sadness can be a fine thing. It let’s you know you are human in an increasingly robotic world. Without sadness the majority of great art and literature would be shallow, soulless things. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world: August/September New albums reviewed Part 1 Music doesn’t challenge anymore! It doesn’t ask questions, or stimulate. Institutions like the X-Factor, Spotify, EDM and landfill pop chameleons are dominating an important area of culture by churning out identikit pop clones with nothing of substance to say. Opinion is not only frowned upon, it is taboo! By JOHN BITTLES
