theworsthorse.net: horsefeed

Thanks to reader Dan Barry, who recently wrote to the Horse with some of his thoughts on “good dharmic tunes.”

First up is the album you see on the left, “Suzuki,” by the excellent electronic act (and I mean that in the best way), Tosca. I’ve been meaning to put this up for forever — I LOVE this album — but somehow just never did. Let’s let Dan do the explaining:

“[Tosca's disc is called "Suzuki,"] after/dedicated to Shunryu Suzuki-roshi. (From whom The Worst Horse got its name, at least indirectly. - ed.) It’s good, chilled-out lounge in the vein of Thievery Corporation and Kruder & Dorfmeister. The front cover features the two members of the group in bathrobes, with their bodies Photoshopped out — I cracked a big grin when I figured out it was a ‘no self’ reference.”

Dan also sent on a couple of other music tips:

I have a job as a music critic, and so I’ve come across several musicians who are overtly or covertly dharmic. Just thought I’d share.

Dredg’s 2002 album “El Cielo” is a really complex alt-rock disc (they get compared to Tool a lot in that sense, even though they sound quite different). One track is called “Sanzen,” and another interlude features soft breathing in the background.

And, Dan writes, “Bill Madden released a disc about a year ago called ‘Gone’ that has some explicit Buddhist themes on it as well. (He even has the wheel of the dharma on the covers!) Also, interestingly, Jimmy Chamberlin, drummer for the Smashing Pumpkins, played drums on this disc. Really solid folk rock.”

Thanks, Dan. What a great contribution!

And while we’re at it:

Ravenna Michaelson’s new album Dharmasong is now out. Ravenna’s very cool; she cites Joan Baez, Motown, and Milarepa among her influences. You can hear tracks yourself, here.