Dedicated to Chavela Vargas (1919-2012). One hour long journey through the fields filled by voices of dead and alive, invisible touches of night shadows, crickets singing and echoes of sleeps… Highly recommended to listen in the night time.
“This is my tribute to Chavela Vargas, the voice and the heart of Mexico.
What a voice she had!
Rough hewn by cigar smoke and tequila, Chavela’s voice was perfect for the songs of love, death, joy, heartbreak and revenge that were her trademark. Songs that until Chavela, had only been sung by men.
Born in Costa Rica, but adopted by her beloved Mexico. As a girl she roamed the streets of Mexico City with a gun in her belt and a song in her heart. A free spirit. A strong and powerful woman. A legend.
She was part of the riotous Mexican art scene of the 1930′s and 40′s that included her friends Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and lived a life that would have sent many a lesser mortal to their graves a long time earlier than the 93 years that she was blessed with.
If ever a voice reflected a life, then that voice was Chavela’s.
When I awoke, one Sunday morning, to learn of her passing, I took a deep breath, played ‘Paloma Negra’ one more time in her honour, and reached for my guitar…………”
Written and produced by Jeff Stonehouse on the morning of 6 August 2012.
Equipment – “Wind driven” Electric Guitar, Rotary Fan, Ableton Live, Macbook Pro.
Listening Mirror is the collaborative ambient/drone project of Jeff Stonehouse. Jeff has been making noise of one kind or another for most of his life. He has no musical training, his background is in sound recording, generation and manipulation. Listening Mirror is an attempt to extract some beauty from the noise that surrounds us all every day.
supported by 15 fans who also own “On The Passing of Chavela”
This album so perfectly captures the soothing and inspirational nature of melancholy beauty that I am quickly transported to a place east of the sun and west of the moon, filled with endless magic and wonder. I am able to find serenity so easily, I find myself asking, as Keats wrote, "Was it a vision, or a waking dream? / Fled is that music: Do I wake or sleep?" Scott
supported by 12 fans who also own “On The Passing of Chavela”
Phasen is a surprising album in its abrupt construction.
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Sensitive and subtle, skimming the experimental and noise fields from strong ambient roots, René Margraff created a work alike a morning haze : a mysterious ghost hiding treasures of beauty if you pay enough attention. Dotflac
In the music of Paul Jordan, digitally manipulated field recordings become striking electronic songs that feel eerie and surreal. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 7, 2020
Dreamy ambient from Tokyo's Betts(JP) that captures the impermanence of emotion in elegant washes of synth and field recordings. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 14, 2022
supported by 12 fans who also own “On The Passing of Chavela”
Genuine, earnestly crafted journey album of ambient moods passing through meticulous stages to a final peaceful homecoming. Very nice and worthy of a spin. Egg Wizard