The Devil’s Virtuoso: In Defence of Metal
Whether you like it or not, the word ‘virtuoso’ conjures up images of single musicians playing with blistering technicality and little or no soul. Demonstrations of technicality are not without merit in the…
Voicebox Virtuoso: The Life and Death of Roger Troutman
Within the last five years modern pop music has become transfixed by auto tune. Technically auto tune is the use of the vocoder or “talk box” as a way to manipulate someone’s vocal…
Everybody Sing Along, Kumbaya
Time for a change of pace here at iCrates. Time to quiet it down and turn off the amps. Time to tear down the drums, pack up the fuzz boxes, and bring out the…
A Head Butt from Wesley Willis: The King of the Casio Keyboard
Not that many people have heard of Wesley Willis. The first time you listen to his music that may come as no surprise. But as musicians go, Wesley is one of the most…
Frank Solo: The Lonely Voice of Frank Sinatra
Before the days of his Vegas Rat-pack soirees, Frank Sinatra showcased his voice on some of the first LPs ever made to examine loneliness and the loss of love. It’s hard to imagine…
From Einstürzende Neubauten To Radical Nomads: An Interview With Alexander Hacke and Danielle de Picciotto
Few bands defined the radical environment of 1980′s West Berlin like Einstürzende Neubauten. Described by original member and bassist Alexander Hacke as “good-old fashioned anti-establishment rebellion”, Einstürzende Neubauten have become one of the…
Balkan Electro: Origins and Branches
When electro was born out of the decline of disco in the late 70′s, it would have been hard to predict that it would, decades later, find a new bed-fellow in the mountain…
![Jende Ri Palenge (People of Palenque): Afro-Columbia [Soul Jazz Records]](http://www.icrates.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/palenge-50x50.jpg "Jende Ri Palenge (People of Palenque): Afro-Columbia [Soul Jazz Records]")
