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Spinning On Air Archive

December 2006

The Best of 2006's Sessions, part 1

Sunday, December 31, 2006

2006 was another great year for in-studio performances on Spinning On Air, so this week and next we'll hear some of the passionate, compelling, surprising music recorded for the program during the past year.

Featured are artists who are finding new paths connecting art and pop, and new ways to reach us with music. Host David Garland has chosen examples of great, creative songwriting in performances that can't be heard anywhere else. This week: Akron/Family, Feathers, Vashti Bunyan & Ens., Islaja, Mi & L'au, White Magic, Nat Baldwin, Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice, Timesbold, Au Revoir Simone, The Weird Weeds, Bridget St. John, and Nomi. Next week: Currituck Co., Et Ret, Juana Molina, Vetiver, Lisa Germano, Metallic Falcons, Seductive Sprigs, Danielson, Death Vessel, W-S Burn, Vashti Bunyan solo, Wooden Wand solo.

Hear the full sessions and interviews:

Akron/Family
Feathers
Vashti Bunyan & Ensemble
Islaja
Mi & L'au
White Magic
Nat Baldwin
Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice
Timesbold
Au Revoir Simone
Weird Weeds
Bridget St. John
Nomi


Christmas Garland

Sunday, December 24, 2006

An Xmas Extravaganza of sonic ornaments, glittering globes of melody, tinsely tunes, and glowing multi-colored lights of familiar and surprising holiday songs. Drawing from his large library of unusual Christmas recordings, host David Garland unwraps a gift box of Santa scenes, kiddie records, xmas jingles, Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" reinterpreted by Polygraph Lounge, Moog-synthesized carols, and even some lovely seasonal songs.


White Magic

Sunday, December 17, 2006

The band White Magic made a vivid impression a couple years ago with an EP of memorable, mysterious songs. Since then the group dissolved and re-grouped, still featuring the distinctive voice and songwriting of Mira Billotte as its defining sound, now with versatile guitarist Douglas Shaw. Mira's swooping, authoritative singing and unusual piano playing build songs that are like tuneful incantations. She's joined by Douglas in the WNYC studio to perform a set of new and traditional songs, and to present some tracks from from their new CD "Dat Rosa Mel Apibus." Host David Garland talks with them about the magic of White Magic.

View photos from the session

White Magic on Myspace


Mussed Have

Sunday, December 10, 2006

During WNYC's Must Have Festival, host David Garland presents some of the most unusual musical choices and comments submitted by listeners. Plus David offers some of his own favorite, essential music, and investigates the related topic of music and memory, and music about memories.


Wooden Wand

Sunday, December 03, 2006

A few months ago on Spinning On Air the band Wooden Wand And The Vanishing Voice gave what the band themselves consider one of their best performances. Their music swirled and flowed in long colorful improvisations around a few songs. This time Wooden Wand returns without the band, and his songwriting is the focus of his in-studio performance, as he sings and plays, along with vocalist Jessica Toth. Wand's songs are generous and sardonic, perceptive and surrealistic, surprising, biting, and very tuneful. He's a prolific writer, offering several new songs in this session, and he talks about his work with host David Garland.

woodenwand.net
View photos from the session