Richard Poulin aka feodoric
View Richard's ratings:
Email Richard
Homepages:
Geographical location: Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Other contact information:
DOB: April 14, 1955
Enjoy these Styles and musical qualities: Canterbury, Difficult, Folk, Jazz, Modern Classical, RIO, Symphonic, Psychedelic, Zeuhl
Other styles/genres/qualities of music that I like not listed above: When there is substantial elements of structure and well furnished orchestration, I can give a good ear to electronic music, like that written by Zappa on the Synclavier. That does not happen very often, though... Ambient music rarely grabs my attention much, but I do like it when it takes me to far, far away places, and when it uses complex arrangements. I love baroque music (especially Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Locatelli , Telemann and Biber) and turn- of-the-century pioneers like Debussy and Faure). J.S. Bach has imagined and written the most sophisticated and mind boggling works ever invented by men, and I get the mightiest buzzes when I listen to the Art of Fugue, the Musical Offering, the whole existing body of sacred Cantatas and the Solos and Partitas for unaccompanied violin. I like some of the world/ethnic music, when it incorporates substantial elements of other beloved musical languages (jazz, rock, etc.), like what Between or Alan Stivell have been doing. I also confess a great affection for surf of the progressive type (e.g. Mermen, From) or the new school represented by the Bambi Molesters and Pollo del Mar)
Favorite or well-respected bands/artists Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull, Soft Machine, Hatfield and the North, National Health, Matching Mole, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, King Crimson, Miles Davis (almost everything he did before the Bitches Brew carnage), John Coltrane (mostly everything except Interstellar Space), Mahavishnu Orchestra, Univers Zero, Thinking Plague, 5uus, Art Zoyd, the Muffins, Strawbs (up to Hero and Heroine), Mika Pohjola, Pekka Pohjola, Henry Threadgill, Bruce Cockburn, Alan Stivell, Joni MItchell, Karda Estra, White Willow, AIko Shimada, J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, Vivaldi, Stravinsky, Debussy, Scarlatti, Locatelli, Handel, Telemann, Charpentier, Faure, Messiaen, Ligeti, etc. Not necessarily in that order... I developped serious love affairs recently with Gentle Giant and Devil Doll, too. Mostly anything daring and adventurous with structure, soul and vision....
Dislike these Styles and musical qualities: Kosmiche or Kraut Rock, Improvisational, Keltia, Mainstream/Accessible/Pop, Traditional, Blues, Space, Flamenco, New Age, Theatrical
Musical styles or qualities that I do not like: Repetitive electronic music of the drone type (e.g.eternal loop fiestas), grunge, screaming rock, metal with operatic vocals, Rush, off key vocalists of any genre, plain folk music, Bob Dylan, what's hot on MTV, neo prog (a la Marillion), Peter Hammill and clones, dreamy New Age marshmallow, riff-driven Kraut rock, Deep Purplish hard rock, standard blues (with a few exceptions), easy listening, elevator music, new wave, punk, free jazz using chaos as an end for itself, operettas of any kind, etc.
Occupation(s): Biologist/researcher and university professor
Other musical activities: I play acoustic and classical guitar for myself, and used to sing sacred music in choirs not too long ago. I am an active member of the Progressive Music Society (a Yahoo group with Lew Fisher as moderator).
Hobbies / obsessions: Traveling, hiking, bird watching, writing, and yoga. I'm a huge movie buff too.
Other comments: I always dreamed about being a musician... but I hope that being a rater at Gnosis does not make a frustrated would-be one!