Author: andrea Page 27 of 71

22 year-old Mute signing Polly Scattergood is a stylistically narrow yet oddly intriguing songwriter whose work is hard to define. Her piano-driven songs may wallow in Tori Amos-style theatrics one minute, only to wryly undercut all the gloom the next. Her lyrics are imagistic and sly, painting a portrait of harried city life while emphasizing the dark loneliness at its core.

The very British playfulness and humor of this track harkens back to one of my favorite Mute tracks of the near-distant past, from Derek Jarman’s Last of England. Produced by Polly’s confrere Simon Fisher-Turner, this fantastic collaboration between Mayo Thompson and painter Albert Oehlen (both of Red Krayola) sampled Tilda Swinton’s dialogue from the movie to marvelous effect. Hard to find on CD, but well worth tracking down on ebay.

View more Polly Scattergood news.

Polly Scattergood, “Nitrogen Pink”

Mayo Thompson & Albert Oehlen (with Tilda Swinton), “Disco Death” [from The Last of England soundtrack]

STILL FROM DEREK JARMAN’S THE LAST OF ENGLAND [1987]

Wow, I had no intention of going so very AWOL from this for so long. My apologies. I’ll try and get back in the swing of things this month. Before that, though, I have a quick show announcement for any New Haven-based readers. Cafe Nine is playing host to some friends of Ecstatic Peace, Thurston Moore’s label based in Northampton, MA, tomorrow night (August 5th). His Northampton Wools associate, Bill Nace, will be playing a short set with Jacqui Ham (UT/Dial). Readings and performances will include: Byron Coley, Jack Rose, Zaika and Paul Flaherty, 50 Ft. Women and Axolotl, all in celebration of the imminent end of the Bush era. (I’ll drink a hearty toast to that.)

The show starts at 8pm, $8 cover. For more info, visit Cafe Nine, 250 State St., New Haven CT.

PHOTO BY ANDREA FELDMAN

Have a fantastic 4th of July, everyone! I’ll be in NYC, listening to (if not seeing) the fantastic Feelies. I’m posting a song off of their classic debut Crazy Rhythms called “The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness,” the title of which aptly sums up the band’s jittery, hyperkinetic charm. I first stumbled across them on celluloid, performing Bowie’s “Fame” at a high school reunion from Hell in Jonathan Demme’s “Something Wild.” I never thought I’d see them (reunited, no less!) on the front page of theNYTimes’ Arts section, but I’m incredibly pleased that they’re there. I hear they’re working on new music too, which is even more exciting.

No Wave addendum: the gallery show at Kerry Schuss has been extended through July! Go see it if you can!

For more information on the Feelies reformation.

The Feelies, “The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness” (from Crazy Rhythms)