In my first year of university, looking to fill out my timetable with an interesting course that wouldn’t provide a significant workload, I stumbled upon an ideal choice: “Listening to Music.” While it didn’t turn out to as the bird course I’d anticipated, it’s hard to argue against a class whose name describes something I do for pleasure anyway. And by the time the semester had finished, I’d added quite a few new songs that we’d studied in class to my collection, including the following three.

Chase– Livin’ In Heat, [Chase]

Chase, formed by its namesake and frontman Bill Chase, played a role in the jazz-rock genre in the early 1970s. The most notable aspect of the band’s sound was their four-trumpet assault, led by Bill Chase himself. “Livin’ in Heat” shows them off in full force, featuring some of the loudest and brashest trumpets since the fall of Jericho. Chase also included the typical guitar-bass-keyboard setup and vocals characteristic of their era, but their brass section gave them a unique flavour.

[visit this unofficial website here]

Robert Miles– Pachelbel’s Canon in D (Club Mix), [Unreleased]

Ever since I first heard Pachelbel’s Canon, I’ve been convinced that it featured the most perfect melody in music. Forget the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson or anyone from the musical canon of the past half-century. This Johann Pachelbel… he really knew how to write a catchy eight-note motif. Italian DJ Robert Miles, abiding by the “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” adage, took Canon in D and morphed it into a driving techno anthem. The instrumentation and percussion that Miles adds is fairly simple, but that just works to the track’s advantage; he leaves the original melody intact and uncomplicated.

[visit the website here]

Don Ellis Orchestra– Bulgarian Bulge, [Tears of Joy]

When you’re accustomed to listening to music that’s primarily composed in the most basic of time signatures (most frequently 4/4), the Don Ellis Orchestra throws you for a loop. “Bulgarian Bulge” act as one of their more ambitious achievements, as they effectively pull a 33/16 rhythm while performing complex, challenging compositions. The song impresses on the merits of the musicians’ technical prowess alone. When you take into consideration that the alternately bombastic and subtle jazz hooks hold your attention for the song’s five-minute duration, it’s a performance that deserves a listen.