Just thought i would ask - what are you listening to right now?

Also - sometimes i go out and listen to music on some headphones whilst taking shots - it removes you from thoughts about things other than what you are doing and offers some sort of "inspiration" to take a shot (i havent done it in a while, because i havent got round to sorting out a new playlist on my phone (tis one of those new walkman ones)).

So yeah - what, if anything do you listen to when shooting, postworking, and what are you listening to now?

I'm on Ezio at the moment - a rather nice folk/blues guy (plus band) from cambridge which a german girl in madrid recomended to me... ;)

I don't know if this question was aimed at anyone in particular but, as I have the rare benefit of having the afternoon off work (I booked a half day holiday, just 'cos I fancied a bit of "me" time!) and I was planning on just chilling doing nothing - unfortunately for me, I forgot that my fourteen year old son was still on half term holiday so all I am listening to right now is him watching Dr Who in the lounge whilst I sit here and try to see how my few shots just taken in the garden have turned out.

Normally, I go on shoots with Darren and Rob, so music doesn't come into the equation but I have found that more and more I become frustrated with them being around when I want to snap away at things and feel like they're rushing me (even if they're not!)

Perhaps time out on my own with nothing but a bit of Clannad if I'm feeling deep or Celine Dion if I'm feeling anything else.

I don't listen to blues really, mind you, I don't listen to a lot of music at all anymore - shame really, I used to love losing myself in a good tune!!

If this was wasn't an open question then forgive me for butting in!! xx

LOL? You know, that Dr. Who song is quite catchy and has inspired several surreal photos of mine. ;'] I like the Blues too Crissy, and lots of other genres. I just got the latest MoFro album (a Florida band) and also picked up Bright Eyes lastest release Casadage...because I had just visited that town. :) Right now I have some ambient music on, a compilation from TIP WORLD called 12. It makes for nice background music. I usually don't usually listen to music when out shooting though.

Ouch.  You had to mention music.  I'm out of the country for a month and my mp3 player won't hold a charge.  That's just cruel.

I can't get enough of Tom Waits (Alice and Blood Money).  If there's anything better, I haven't heard it.  Of course, I'll wear myself out on it and have to find something new.

David.

I've made a compilation of all sorts of female jazz singers, 203 songs that keep on rotating in iTunes for the last couple of days... from Mildred Bailey and Ethel Waters (1920-30) over Billie Holiday, the Boswell Sisters and the Andrews Sisters, Sarah Vaughn, Kay Starr, Peggy Lee, Diane Reeves, to the contemporary jazz singers like Karrin Allyson, Jackie Allen, Jacqui Naylor, Jane Monheit, Cassandra Wilson, Renee Olstead, Holly Cole, Stacey Kent, Tierney Sutton, Diana Krall... A very fine and varied compilation, and I just can't seem to get tired of it... Before that, I was mostly listening to ambient, electronic, acid jazz and the contemporary 'Indie' bands or singers (like Bright Eyes, Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Devendra Banhart, Elliott Smith, Joseph Arthur, Damien Rice, M. Ward, David Gray, Calexico, Magic Numbers, The Flaming Lips, Arcade Fire, The Notwist, Band Of Horses, The Decemberists...). I like lots of variety in my listening habits...

Just got home...today at work I had on ..

Propellerheads, Chemical Brothers and Fallout Boy

Great and interesting tread Rick! 

When ever I am working on my shots and pictures using a computer a second programm I open after cs2 is one of the music player. I listen " batman returns"  sound track at a moment. In my car have a collection of Queen, Pink Floyd, Kake, Mike Oldfield.

seeya  Tunde

Good thread :) 

Depending how the works going - ELO's reatest hits comp CD, Floyd, Hawkwind and Motorhead.

rather ecclectic mix of music people listen to, and a fair amount of singers/bands/groups i have never heard of before - and i thought i was musically non-ignorant!  Havent heard Propellerheads in a while, that brings back memories :)
Kort - for ambient music check out Enigma (although i'm not sure what your definition of "ambient" is) when i just want something on in the background i just whack that on and let it run... funnily enough i just typed them into Music-map.com to find what they are similar to and Clannad comes up, which is a fair assesment based on the braveheart theme i think they did - although enigma uses a lot of vocals and is slightly less celtic based.
mrsparky - i know what you mean "depending how the works going" - hehe.  I have days where only heavy metal (Pantera, Killswitch Engage etc) will do, and others where i just need something relaxing like sigur ros...
I never really got into jazz Geert - except when it is played live, i find it just looses all sense of connection when you have it playing from a stereo, it's like listening to house/techno/drum and bass when you arent in the club - i think the only jazz cd i own is a scat compilation, and i'll admit that it is fun to listen to when the mood takes me.

Rich, if I may make a recommendation for serious 'ambient' to match your spirit of artistry, see if you can find anything of Amon Tobin... the guy's a genius. ;o)) Ah, and about hearing the music live... it's difficult to attend a concert of Billie Holiday nowadays ;o)

hehe - granted... although i would admit to one flaw in my love of music - anything which was recorded probably pre-1980 i tend to stay clear of, it always seems to sound very tinny. Whether that was intentional or not i am not sure - it might have been the trend back in the day, but certainly those who recorded in the 50s and before fell foul of poor recording equipment, just listen to anything which never made it onto tape and you will see what i mean.  That is why i think classical music will endure forever - just get an orchestra together and you have it sounding exactly as it sounded in Beethoven's time!
But anyway - that sound is definitely not something i like and i cant get past that intial reaction to it and enjoy the music behind it :(

I'm sure Bruce might have an opinion on this...

Everything from Danzig to ELO to RadioHead to Rap (my assistant, Mark, just GAGS!) to top40 (I can hear the "yechh!" right now from some friends of mine - only minor gagging from Mark) like the new Daughtry CD. Today Mark and I heard Fallout Boy and Paul Okenfold between listening to the radio. Before he came over I was listening to my MP3 player on the little bookcase soundsystem.

I'm usually up for "whatever is on as long as it's not silent here" (generally speaking I'm not picky, and have eclectic tastes as far as music) or whatever my clients like to listen to.
-Lew ;-)

Rich your missing out on a lot of good music prior to 1980

Great Blues, Jazz...motown...Big band...

Yes, Rich I can't believe you don't listen to anything pre 1980??? Some of the best music ever recorded has fallen short of your ears...

Some of the ones I like to listen to are:  and these are probably after 1980...

pre 1980 would be a whole other list...

Dido, Jack Johnson, Loreena McKennitt, Ben Harper, The BoDeans, Gypsy Soul,
Indigo Girls, Bob Marley, Dave Matthews Band, Praful, Jake Shimabukuro, Fugees,
Alasdair Fraser/Natalie Haas, Barenaked Ladies, Natalie Merchant, Eric Clapton
just to name a small  few...

Now you've mentioned stuff I DO like - Enigma and Dido specifically.
Enigma is enchanting to say the least and very calming and relaxing. xx

Bruce - i do realise that, but when it comes to a choice between listening to Robert Johnson or Jack Johnson - Jack is going to win, because it is more accessible for my ears.  Granted Robert may have sold his soul for the music he created but that doesnt change the fact he didnt have hi-fidelity recording...
Akemi - i didnt say i never heard it before, just that i tend not to like it.

Here's what I am listening to right now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1akRj3CTMck David Russell.

and another favourite...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdFRrZQags4  Tommy Emmanuel. This one I turn up the sound! I love all guitar music and celtic, world, classical and pygmies singing. I don't listen to music when taking photos but I do when I'm doing artwork.

Now I'm ib love with this music - that guitar piece was eerie, romantic, calming, just beautiful!
Thanks for sharing that with us - I'm going to see if I can download some of David Russell's music now then borrow my son's iPod to go on a shoot in the countryside tomorrow afternoonn!! xx

I'm glad you enjoyed it. David Russell is a fantastic guitarist. You can find him all over YouTube.

hehe - i liked that tommy guy - i was wondering why the varnish had worn off his guitar behind the bridge! ;) Reminded me of the first guy i saw use a guitar as a percussion instrument justin king:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6NA9nd4Fgs
That reminds me - anyone who likes blues/folk, may I introduce Kelly Joe Phelps - i think i have every album of his minus one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_QEnsG-Md8

oh and if you like flamenco music then you have to listen to Paco de Lucia... he plays all the classics, well. Now if he recorded them in the 1950s i might not like them ;-P

inshaala,
If you like Paco de Lucia I think you would like this Spaniard too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVRSD9GQO5s

Oh and thanks for introducing me to Kelly Joe Phelps. I really liked that clip.

Sharon Shannon...Diamond Mountain Sessions, she is a superb Melodean player from Ireland and mixes up many styles,folk, blues,jazz,country. In a similiar way Kathryn Tickell has done this with the Northumbrian small pipes,that is taken the instrument into areas further afield than the starting point of folk.  So I also love most folk rock groups, Fairport Convention, Oyster Band.
My own contribution comes from playing by ear using a melodean and Sharon Shannon is my goddess.

@Rich -- thanks, I have been listening to Enigma since those durn monks first started chanting. They started off that whole new age/ambient craze of the 90s that was later expanded upon by Delerium and the etheral beat music with angelic female vocals. @Geert -- sorry my man, but I cannot classify Amon Tobin as ambient. A master, yes, but not ambient. His music tends to defy genres so I lump him into the electronica group. I am a bit of a music fanatic and listen to music from most genres. The few that I don't listen to have the occasional exception as well. But Blues, Rock, New Wave, Electronica, Classical, Ambient, Trance, Folk...all good stuff. Today I just finished listening to John Hammond's Push Comes To Shove and enjoyed it so much that I think I'll give it another spin! :)

i managed to get hold of some Amon Tobin - seems my flatmate likes him... reminds me of some Aphex Twin and Squarepusher stuff, but yeah - i will concur with the genius statement :)

Okay Kort, you're right... It does seem like an insult to Amon Tobin to call his music ambient (as well as electronica, for that matter -some of his stuff has little to do with electronica-) Has anyone ever heard the Tuvinian (Mongolian) throat singing monks, Huun-Huur-Tu..? That was one of the strangest and unearthliest listening experiences I ever had... If you can't find anything from them, the American singer Paul 'Earthquake' Pena worked with them and knows the singing technique as well. Another unworldly one: Sainkho Namtchylak... I think she's also from Mongolia. Chances are you never heard anything quite like it... There's a new trend of producing Tango dance elements in Ambient/Electronic music... and it works quite well. Examples: Gotan Project, Bajofondo Tango Club, Tanghetto, Federico Aubele... Could be interesting for you, Rich, with your Spanish 'background'...

Yes, I have Geert, it one of my favorite CD's~ the one I have is called
"Back TUVA Future" by Ondar,  these throat singers are simply amazing,
it's unlike anything I've ever heard!!!  I'm so glad you mentioned this unusual singing!!   Everyone I've ever turned on to this Cd really enjoys it!!!!    Akemi

Yes, Akemi... Isn't it astonishing when their voice starts to split up into different registers and sound like some kind of electronic synthesizer whistle with a deep bass groan at the same time..? Never thought the human voice was capable of doing such amazing things... I'm really glad that you know this and love it as well.. Kongar-ool Ondar is (or was) part of the Huun-Huur-Tu group, no..?

Attached Link: Twisted

I've recently saw something about those monks, I think one or some may be touring my way soon. I have several recordings that sample their unearthly chanting, amazing what the human voice can do. I'll have to check out your other recommendations Geert. As for Tango elements in Ambient/Dance/Trance -- I think I may be able to pinpoint where it started. At least for me anyway. Sphongle's *Tales of the Inexpressible* 's first track, Dorset Perception, starts off very tango and then mixes in elements of (good) psy-trance in bit by bit. It then goes on to integrate all manner of musical traditions into it's tracks. This album really rekindled my love of music back in 2001, and I HIGHLY suggest anyone listen to it if you have the chance - Rich, Geert, Akemi, any of you. Just have an open mind and let yourself be transported. The production is out of this world so it should past your criteria Rich, lol. It may be hard to find though, but you can download/listen to samples at Beatport.com. Sorry for the speach, but it is a Top Ten album for me. Their first one is amazing too, though it has more of a 'world music' sound to it, and their 3rd one is more dancy but still highly creative. #4 is in the works.

Ha, Kort, I just went searching on Amazon for Sphongle, and what did I find..? The first review on the page is by a certain TwoPynts from Florida ;o)) Gonna have a deeper look now...

Heheh, I am sure I'd trust what that Amazon TwoPynts guy has to say. ;'D Glad to hear it, I hope you get a copy and enjoy. I'm listening to "Around the World in A Tea Daze" currently, one of my favorite tracks from Tales of the Inexpressible. Shpongle is great headphone music by the way.

Billy Joel, Elton John, Mellissa Etheridge, a local Irish band called The Coogans, Lord of the Rings 1,2 & 3 sound tracks mixed in with a barking Samoyed and the AFL footy from the next room when my hubby has it up a bit loud Sigh Jenny.

Just got the new NIN album, Year Zero. So far, I'm luvin it. Much more engaging for me than his previous two. I left my 2 on Amazon if you care to read more. ;'P

I listen now to this song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG6TS2huZpI  I  love music with strong lyrics.....
my favo is R&B....but a lot others I like
David Gray is one of my favorites
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgHTMxF3eJY&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIHJu2lIPTk

If I go out in nature......I use often my mp3 player.........for some reason it gives me inspiration to do my job.....and it depends in what kind of mood I am as well......music is just like my passion for nature a thing I can't without it......If I go to bed, I always use my headphone and listen to music and fall in sleep....

I still own the original iPod. I don't even know if the battery will hold a charge anymore, hahahah.

Aha, Ilona, David Gray's 'Flame Turns Blue' is one of my alltime favorite songs..!

david gray is good stuff, he's a pain to watch tho - that head tick he has whilst singing is sooo distracting!

NIN rock, Closer has got to be one of my fav songs...

Anyone listen to Drum and Bass? hehe - if you want something with a great beat and a pumping bassline then check out the album "Hold your Colour" by Pendulum - songs like "Slam" or "Fasten your seatbelt" are chest and mindblowing .  If you dont like drum and bass because of the whole "dirty" aspect to a lot of it (and i include myself in that, even tho i DJ the genre), then you might be pleasantly surprised, i think this is the only stuff i have heard played at a "conventional" club. Production is of course - top notch ;)
Along those lines - some of Amon Tobins stuff reminded me of a rather dark and twisted, yet insanely good drum and bass act... check out Noisia - i think either Tide or Concussion were the ones i was thinking about (they come on the same EP so i never remember which one is which  - just that the red side is mixable and the blue side is insane ) - you can type in Noisa and find the ep to listen to at http://www.dancerecords.com/search.php (it is the second bit in the sample i was thinking of with the completelely offbeat style to it)

Thanks Rich, will check that out. It isn't drum and bass, but check out the new Prometheus album "Corridor of Mirrors" if you get a chance. 9th is an epic take on Beethoven's....well...9th. :)

oops - just realised a typo - the first one was right - it's Noisia... not Noisa

Will sure try to find it - sounds interesting. I have a techno remix of Fur Elise, strange to hear it with a beat when you are used to people (mostly attempt) playing it on the piano ;)

Well it isn't Beethoven's 9th techno, but it heavily influences the song. There is a part where it prgressively fades to silence, then slams back into the beat like a kick to the chest. Intense. It is on Twisted Records, UK company, so you should be able to track it down. You can listen to a long clip at www.beatport.com (search Corridor of Mirrors) and that will give you a taste, if not the full idea. BTW, I see they have Noisia there, heheh. EDIT -- Listened to both The Tide and Concussion, and some other Noisia stuff, pretty wild. I'd say that The Tide is the bizarre one you were thinking of. ;']