Darcy James Argue, Molly Tuttle, Natalie Merchant, Julia Bullock, Steve Reich News & More
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society pre-order * New Molly Tuttle song * Natalie Merchant on 'Song Exploder' * Julia Bullock & Steve Reich win Opus Klassik awards * and more
Available to Pre-Order
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society: Dynamic Maximum Tension
Available September 8
Composer and bandleader Darcy James Argue and his Secret Society ensemble make their Nonesuch Records debut with Dynamic Maximum Tension. The album pays homage to some of Argue's key influences with original songs dedicated to R. Buckminster Fuller, Alan Turing, and Mae West. Cécile McLorin Salvant joins the ensemble for a track. Dynamic Maximum Tension's eleven tracks, on two CDs, also include a response to Duke Ellington's "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue," titled "Tensile Curves," among other originals.
News from the Nonesuch Journal
Watch: Darcy James Argue Shares "Dymaxion" Video
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society performs "Dymaxion"—a portmanteau of the title of their upcoming album, Dynamic Maximum Tension—from the song's recording session in a new video.
Watch: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway Release "San Joaquin"
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway have released "San Joaquin," a new song from their upcoming album, City of Gold, due July 21, as well as an in-studio video and a live performance of the track.
Listen: Natalie Merchant Talks "Sister Tilly" on Song Exploder
Natalie Merchant was on Song Exploder to talk with host Hrishikesh Hirway about "Sister Tilly," breaking down the track from her new album, Keep Your Courage. The song was arranged by Gabriel Kahane.
Julia Bullock, Steve Reich Win Opus Klassik Awards
Congratulations to Julia Bullock and Steve Reich, who have each won an Opus Klassik award in Germany: Bullock as Breakout Artist of the Year for her debut solo album, Walking in the Dark, and Reich in the Symphonic Recording of the Year category for Runner / Music for Ensemble and Orchestra, performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conductor Susanna Mälkki.
Best Alt-Country Albums Per Paste
Among the 70 Best Alt-Country Albums of All Time per Paste magazine are Hurray for the Riff Raff's LIFE ON EARTH, Yola's Walk Through Fire, Rhiannon Giddens's Freedom Highway, k.d. lang's Ingénue, Billy Bragg & Wilco's Mermaid Avenue, Carolina Chocolate Drops' Genuine Negro Jig, Emmylou Harris's Wrecking Ball, and Wilco's Being There.
Nonesuch Events for the Long Weekend
This long July 4 holiday weekend in the US, Chris Thile and Michael Daves perform at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC as part of a concert series to keep the venue open. The Black Keys hit the European festival circuit with sets in Belgium, Italy, and France. Julia Bullock joins San Francisco Symphony and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen. Sam Gendel is at Montreal Jazz Fest. Tigran Hamasyan's trio plays festivals in Romania, UK, and France. Natalie Merchant and National Symphony Orchestra perform at The Kennedy Center in DC. Cécile McLorin Salvant concludes Asia tour in Singapore.
Ry Cooder's I, Flathead at 15
It was 15 years ago this week: Ry Cooder's album I, Flathead, the culmination of his trilogy exploring a historic/mythic/surreal California, following 2005's Chávez Ravine and 2007's My Name Is Buddy, was released. On the album, Cooder assumes the gruff yet chummy voice of Kash Buk, a hard-living, car-racing, guitar-playing man with a space-alien sidekick.