Zoning in, what music is the cause of this phenomenon?

[Holowlegs]

Hello all

 

 

First off let me try and explain myself here. Am I the only one or are there more out there like me who get this, they may call it something else, a friend off mine calls it floating, he explains its like he is floating with the music, I called it zoned in, when you are that zoned into the music nothing else round is there or matters just in one empty void with the music. You know them times when you may be working on something, and then all of sudden you find you have stopped what you are doing, just sitting back and listening.

 

This phenomenon does not happen every day, and I can go weeks without it happening, and other times I can get 3 or 4 times in one day/ music listening session.

 

Some may think it related to drinking alcohol, yep this has happened to me while enjoying a few glasses of Rioja. But I have also spent two hours stuck on the M25, got home to a nice herbal tea and a little chill out listen in my man cave, and it can hit me then! Even when on holiday, sitting by a pool, listening to my Ipod and a cold beer ( oopppss alcohol again).Its even rumoured drugs can do this to you!! So be warned, Alcohol/herbal Tea/ drugs – and music should not be mixed.

 

So lets get to the bottom off this and lets see what pieces of music, tracks, albums, is the root cause of this, and name and shame them.

 

Basically what’s really rocking your boat, tickling you fancy etc music wise. Be it Be bop, Trip hop, Hip hop, Rock hop, or Classical bop. From Abba to ZZ Top what really moves you, or in my case makes you become a zombie lol

 

I am not really an album listener, but can get short burst off Zoning in, from single tracks. One main culprit in Massive Attacks – Better Things from the album Protection. That baseline line just drags me deeper and deeper in its so tuneful, and Tracy Thorns ( from Everything But The Girls) voice just adds to the pleasure I mean pain.

 

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Cheers Frank

[Holowlegs]

Hello there

 

Well it took me 3 hours to get home tonight, do I hate that road (M25).

 

Well a nice glass of Merlot poured and sitting in my chair in my man cave and on comes Bob Marley & The Wailers – Stir it Up, back in the zone I go. Chaka chaka chaka its starts, love that wailer guitar in the background. A great record to chill out to.

 

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Holowlegs zoning playlist.

 

1. Stir it up - Bob Marley & The Wailers
   
2. Better Things - Massive Attack
   

 

Cheers Frank

[Daudio]

One main culprit in Massive Attacks – Better Things from the album Protection.

 

...Tracy Thorns ( from Everything But The Girls) voice just adds to the pleasure...

 

Frank,

 

'Three' from that same album does it just fine for me ("...I'm missing all the things I knew..."), along with tracks from other of their albums ('Mezzanine' !). And lots of other electronica too (Ambient, Downtempo, Trance, Space, minimalism...)

 

Oh, Yes, Tracy is always a pleasure to hear !

[Holowlegs]

Frank,

 

'Three' from that same album does it just fine for me ("...I'm missing all the things I knew..."), along with tracks from other of their albums ('Mezzanine' !). And lots of other electronica too (Ambient, Downtempo, Trance, Space, minimalism...)

 

Oh, Yes, Tracy is always a pleasure to hear !

 

Daudio, yep Three is a great track. Mezzanine sort off grow on me when it first came out wasn't too sure about it, but now think its a great album, do like Dissolved Girl

 

Yep there something about Tracy Thorns voice, its the way she sings a song if you know what I mean.

 

 

Cheers Frank

[tisahobbtp]

Chaka chaka chaka its starts, love that wailer guitar in the background. A great record to chill out to.

[Holowlegs]

Hello all

 

Like I have said before there is something about Tracy thorn's voice that get me.

 

You can really relax to this next track Single- Everything but the Girl from there Walking Wounded album.

 

Great downtempo beat with some nice bass line.

 

 

Holowlegs zoning in playlist.

 

1. Single- Everything but the Girl
   
2. Stir it up - Bob Marley & The Wailers
   
3. Better Things - - Massive Attack
    
   

 

Cheers Frank

[Daudio]

Mezzanine sort off grow on me when it first came out wasn't too sure about it, but now think its a great album, do like Dissolved Girl

 

Yep there something about Tracy Thorns voice, its the way she sings a song if you know what I mean.

 

Frank,

 

I know what you mean about 'Mezzanine' growing on you. I noticed the song 'Dissolved Girl' from the 1997 film The Jackal, and went to my local music store, where they let me listen to the CD on a listening station (remember those?). The music was Very different from what I was accustomed to, but I decided to take a chance, and bought it. At home, every subsequent listening burned the music deeper into the groves of my brain, and it quickly became my 'Album of the Year' !

 

I think that one of the greatest moments on TV was the 'West Wing' episode where the presidents daughter was kidnapped from a nightclub, while the only sound was Massive Attack's 'Angel' playing menacingly in the foreground. Wow !! Sometimes less can be lots more

 

 

Re: ETBTG - I highly recommend their "Like the Desert Miss the Rain' album ! It is unusual for an artist to choose their own 'greatest' hits/remixes, and should be done more if this album is any example.

[Holowlegs]

Daudio

 

Didn't know it was in The Jackal, but so much of Massive Attack music is used in films and TV, pops up everywhere. Angel another great track.

 

Yep I remember listening stations.

 

I have got Like the Desert Miss the Rain and could not agree more its well put together. Also think I read somewhere they where very involved in the issue of deluxe versions of their albums. Not brought any yet.

 

Cheers Frank

[tranz]

Check out some of Above & Beyond mixes and you will get that zoning, trancing feeling. Probably an instinctual relation too.

[Holowlegs]

Check out some of Above & Beyond mixes and you will get that zoning, trancing feeling. Probably an instinctual relation too.

 

Thanks will looked them up

[Holowlegs]

Hello there

 

A little change of pace from me with my next song. This slow R&B number from Curtis Mayfield, its the last track from his last album New World Order, its called Oh So Beautiful. I did read that he was paralyzed during the recording,after lighting equipment fell on him during a live performance. But Mayfield managed to painstakingly record his songs by lying on his back, the only way he could get enough air into his lungs, and singing one line at a time. After he recorded each line, the songs were edited together.

 

But here he is singing about how Life is so Beautiful, in that sweet tone of his, and some nice backing vocals as well. Lovely stuff.

 

 

Holowlegs zoning in playlist.

 

1. Oh So Beautiful - Curtis Mayfield
   
2. Stir it up - Bob Marley & The Wailers
   
3. Better Things - Massive Attack
   
4. Single - Everything but the Girl
   

 

Cheers Frank

[Holowlegs]

Hello there

 

Well am now drifting back to the 60's, with Booker T. & the M.G.'s and Green Onions.

 

 

[video=youtube;_bpS-cOBK6Q]

 

 

 

 

Maybe a bit over used in films and tv now days, but still a classic track. I have it on a couple of compilation albums, but I am also sure I have a 7" vinyl in the loft as well.

 

Holowlegs zoning in playlist.

 

1. Booker T. & the M.G.'s - Green Onions
   
2. Oh So Beautiful - Curtis Mayfield
   
3. Stir it up - Bob Marley & The Wailers
   
4. Single - Everything but the Girl
   
5. Better Things - Massive Attack
   

 

 

 

Cheers Frank

[Holowlegs]

Hello all

 

Eva Cassidy wasn't she the singer who died of cancer, someone once asked me. Yes she was but she was more than that, and it's such a shame she never live to enjoy the fame.

 

A voice of an angel I once read somewhere, and when I first heard her cover of Sting's- Field of Gold I had to find out who she was. So I went out and brought the album Songbird

 

The passion in her voice when she sings People get Ready, just close your eyes and you are on that train with her.

 

 

Also found this good read about the song. People Get Ready, Eva Cassidy

 

 

Holowlegs zoning in playlist.

 

1. People get Ready - Eva Cassidy
   
2. Oh So Beautiful - Curtis Mayfield
   
3. Stir it up - Bob Marley & The Wailers
   
4. Single - Everything but the Girl
   
5. Booker T. & the M.G.'s - Green Onions
   
6. Better Things - Massive Attack
   

 

Cheers Frank

[Holowlegs]

Hello there

 

And now to a bit of soul and a group that in my opinion never really gets the accolade they deserve. I don't think I have seen them mentioned here either. Although I have never liked the term Audiophile Music, because what is it? But maybe the group known as Maze Feat Frankie Beverly don't fit into this category of Audiophile Music.

 

 

 

The article Maze: one of black America's best-kept secrets talks about how unkown they are, and yet they have sold millions of albums. There is one section of the article I disagree with is when they states But if you're not black and over 35, you probably know next to nothing about Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. As I am not black and am over 35, as a white boy from West London, I and a big group of my friends have been listening to Maze since the early 80's. They actually performed in that part of town, doing 5 or 6 sell out dates at Hammersmith Odeon.

 

A friend of mine done a poll on facebook between old friends and asked all what there top ten albums where, and it was quite surprising that Live in New Orleans featured quite heavily in this. The main reason I think was due the 9 minute long track Joy And Pain, because in our younger days, at clubs and parties we attended this was always on the playlist.

 

The one does it for me is this toe tapper Before I Let Go

 

 

 

Holowlegs zoning in playlist.

 

1. Before I Let Go - Maze Feat Frankie Beverly
   
2. Single - Everything but the Girl
   
3. Oh So Beautiful - Curtis Mayfield
   
4. Green Onions - Booker T. & the M.G.'s
   
5. Better Things - Massive Attack
   
6. People get Ready - Eva Cassidy
   
7. Stir it up - Bob Marley & The Wailers
   

 

 

 

Cheers Frank

[Holowlegs]

Hello there

 

When I first started this thread the idea was to share single tracks of music that I really like, and really sent me to that place{you know what I mean}. In sharing in threads like this, maybe someone else may find something they like.Was also someone else may join in, but oh well will go it alone for now.

 

My next song was played to death in the early 90's, recently it has been it has been showing up in my playlist, and I even find myself singing along, that the effect this song has on you.

 

That song is pop/rock song, What's Up? by 4 Non Blondes. Before you all start sending me to the Computer Audiophile sin bin with all the vinyl lovers ( joke, about recent thread) and the cable na-sayers we are all allowed guilty pleasures, I just may have more in my musical closet than others.

 

 

If you are still with me, an interesting read here about the song and the band.

 

 

Holowlegs zoning in playlist.

 

1. What's Up? - 4 Non Blondes
   
2. Better Things - Massive Attack
   
3. Green Onions - Booker T. & the M.G.'s
   
4. People get Ready - Eva Cassidy
   
5. Stir it up - Bob Marley & The Wailers
   
6. Before I Let Go - Maze Feat Frankie Beverly
   
7. Oh So Beautiful - Curtis Mayfield
   
8. Single - Everything but the Girl
   

 

Cheers Frank

[Holowlegs]

Hello there

 

Jazz, there an awful lot of people know a lot about it on this site and have listen to it for a long time. Some have recommended some great stuff. Going to give a little heads up to Musicophile, who is now writing a blog that worth reading, about Jazz and Classical. Here

 

As for me, I am just sowing the seeds,and getting a feel for what I like, since I have just started to listen to it for about the last 3 years, it sort of coincides with me getting seriously into computer audio and joining this site. One genre of Jazz, thats I have started to play more and more, is Female Jazz Vocals.

 

I am sure I am not making this up, but sure I read it somewhere, someone was listening to some Jazz, and that they sometimes like to follow a separate instrument. I didn't quite get it at the time, saying that I could listen to a reggae track and listen to the rhythm of the bass, but I think this may of been different. Well I now get it, and can do it to this next track, I can follow the rhythm of the bass line, which I must say has got better and better with each upgrade I have done to my system. Love the guitar and the piano solos as well, the music actually impresses me more than the vocals, saying that Diana Krall still has a great voice. But its now the music that gets me on Devil May Care from the album When I look In your Eyes.

 

The song was originally written by Bob Dorough someone I knew nothing about, but I did find this interview with him which I found quite interesting: BOB DOROUGH: JAZZMAN REFLECTS ON MILES DAVIS, "DEVIL MAY CARE" & MORE

 

 

 

 

 

Holowlegs zoning in playlist.

 

1. Devil May Care - Diana Krall
   
2. Better Things - Massive Attack
   
3. Before I Let Go - Maze Feat Frankie Beverly
   
4. People get Ready - Eva Cassidy
   
5. Oh So Beautiful - Curtis Mayfield
   
6. Single - Everything but the Girl
   
7. What's Up? - 4 Non Blondes
   
8. Green Onions - Booker T. & the M.G.'s
   
9. Stir it up - Bob Marley & The Wailers
   

 

 

 

Cheers Frank