Saturday, May 31, 2008

miles and miles ahead



How had this one slipped by me until now?

One of the great pleasures in life has to be suddenly discovering a new book or a new album and thinking how essential it is while knowing you've managed so far without it and yet - now - how could you do without it? The world has changed while you weren't looking. The shadows fall differently. There's a new melody to your days.

I'm typing this as track 4 - 'My Ship' - plays. About as ravishing a solo I think I've heard Miles Davis play. (Am I right in saying he's using a flugelhorn - giving that soft focus quality?).

Who cares - it sounds great. Walrus, if you're reading, I owe you big time for this one!

2 comments:

walrus said...

Wow. That really does my heart good. It's one of those albums that just gets inside you. And yes, a flugelhorn. It's regarded as a masterpiece by Miles fans, but seems to have been overshadowed by Kind of Blue, etc. I think perhaps the awful punning title hasn't helped. And there were issues around the cover art. But the music -- oh, sublime!

A greatly cheered,
Walrus

PS Thanks for kind words regarding previous post.

belgianwaffle said...

'Filles de Kilimanjaro' is also damn good. However, I realise that I know certain tracks - they are on the 'In A Silent Way' Complete Sessions box set I got out a while ago from the mediatheque.

I agree: the cover art for 'Miles Ahead' leaves a lot to be desired.

Having a Miles weekend here. (I also got out 'E.S.P.' & 'On The Corner').

By the way - I was going to do a special Walrus Miles sonnet (using only track titles) - then I see someone's had exactly that idea in the liner for 'E.S.P.' - ESP indeed!

cheers

The C.

April Fool?