When Goldfrapp released Silver Eye on Mute Records – a luxurious return to the electro-pulse of 2003’s Black Cherry – Will Gregory invited Long Live Vinyl for a root through his record collection…
‘I AM’
EARTH WIND AND FIRE
“Groovy and beautiful sounding… Layers of instruments, voices, drums, percussion and synths, in some mercurial combination that sounds perfect. How did they do this just with 24-track tape?”
‘SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND’
THE BEATLES
“It’s mono and yet it still sounds brilliant.”
‘RAINBOW IN CURVED AIR’
TERRY RILEY
“Electric organs getting used to make visionary early systems-music manifesto…Western art music has never sounded less western. A schism in contemporary music opened up right here.”
‘WATERMELON MAN’
HERBIE HANCOCK
“You are in the hands of the best musicians in the world, just making it sound easy.”
‘SWITCHED-ON BACH’
WALTER CARLOS
“I’ve played this to death, especially the weird middle Brandenburg movement.”
‘HUNKY DORY’
DAVID BOWIE
“Bowie’s youthful collection of genius songs. I think he never bettered this. And, to my youthful snobby taste, this was the first pop music since The Beatles to stand alongside them.”
‘THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG SOUNDTRACK’
MICHEL LEGRAND
“Is it jazz, easy listening, musical theatre, or classical pastiche? It’s certainly OTT, and from some kind of Gallic kitsch planet that nevertheless can make you well up against your will.”
‘PORGY & BESS’
MILES DAVIS
“Gil Evans’ arrangements defined the concept of cool, and made it leap out the speakers in 3D.”
Ian Peel