Author: andrea Page 19 of 71

Brighton group Ebsen and the Witch are a rather mysterious lot, all sepia-toned and wintry on their Myspace page. (Which is to say, I know next to nothing about them.) Today they released a limited edition single as part of the newly-reinvigorated too pure singles club—which is reason enough for me to pay attention to them. Reason #2 is a recommendation from none other than producer Mark van Hoen —always a sign of something wonderful going on.

Like the fog, this track tip-toes in on little cat feet. But it gathers in power as it goes along, turning into a storming, fuzz-drenched, JAMC-by-way-of-Phil-Spector-before-he-went-completely-psycho delight. (How I love bands that harken back to the glory days of shoegaze.)

The song’s mix of delicacy and power brings to mind Sian Alice Group, the Cocteaus (all those ringing guitars), with dreamy echoes of Julee Cruise, Beach House. Thematically, this is akin to AC Marias’ “One of Our Girls (Has Gone Missing)” —taking the dramatic ending of The Awakening as a starting point, a new beginning. (Like the book, both songs are melancholy but hopeful too.)

Welcome back, too pure, Kick my ass again with something this great, I dare ya.

Esben and the Witch, “Lucia at the Precipice”

PHOTO BY ANDREA FELDMAN

I’m still in quiet shock over Vic Chesnutt’s death. Some people have such an indelible presence that it’s impossible to imagine the world without them. Vic was one of those people.

Through his beautiful, incisive songs, the world seemed to blaze a little brighter. As Kristin Hersh wrote in her incredibly moving tribute:

I don’t think I like this planet without Vic; I swore I would never live here without him. But what he left here is the sound of a life that pushed against its constraints, as all lives should. It’s the sound of someone on fire. It makes this planet better.

A few years ago, my friend Giles wrote a wonderful post about discovering Vic’s music for the first time:

Arriving home, I placed the A-side on my turntable. A few plucked notes that bent upwards, a plaintive harmonica, and then the first line, “I dreamed I was dancing with Isadora Duncan.” I was smitten, and devastatingly so. … This, this music, this little song, was simple, sad, and crushingly beautiful.

Rest in peace, Vic. You are missed.

***
Kristin Hersh has set up a Paypal donation page to help Vic’s family defray the expenses associated with his recent hospitalizations and death. 100% of all funds raised will go to Vic’s family.

For more about Vic’s music, visit Constellation Records.

Vic Chesnutt and Kristin Hersh, “Panic Pure” (live)

A wintry mix tape for our wintry mix.

16 zipped tracks + artwork that you can assemble into your own little CD sleeve, if you so desire.

1) ICICLE WHEEL : the focus group
2) HOT SPRINGS IN THE SNOW : the creatures
3) AFTER TORINO : David Cunningham
4) JASZ : Dome
5) BRIMSTONE IN A BARREN LAND : Danielle Dax
6) SNOWS PAST : The Lowest Note
7) THE SCREENS : Atlas Sound
8) A DULCIMER’S FANCY : The Occasion
9) SUN DRAWING : Movietone
10) CORPOREAL : Broadcast
11) HEREFOREVERALWAYS : His Name Is Alive
12) LITTLE TIGER : Tune-Yards
13) BLUSH : Bows
14) DEATH + ANNIE : Quickspace
15) ZOMBIE CLOUD : Urdog
16) IN BRISTOL WITH A PISTOL : Third Eye Foundation

”Snows Past” sleeve art (1.7MB PDF)

“Snows Past” Winter Music Compilation (70MB .zip file includes artwork, MP3s and playlist)

ARTWORK BY ANDREA FELDMAN