Category: Uncategorized Page 20 of 64

Listening to
Oh, sequels. They unilaterally suck, right? David Byrne and Brian Eno have sidestepped the whole thorny issue by following-up their legendary 1981 collagist-funk masterpiece My Life in the Bush of Ghosts with something completely different in tone — namely, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, an optimistic, brimming-over pop record with duties neatly split between Eno (music) and Byrne (words + singing). Done exclusively via email, the results have their own quirky, laid-back charm. Available via download on August 18th. Also released this week: Byrne’s Big Love: Hymnals.

Reading
Urban Outfitters’ ubiquitous album cover frames are a thoroughly depressing curio, because to me they suggest nothing so much as the lost heyday of the album. Despite being mute objects, their very existence raises a valid point: Who listens to a record all the way through anymore? I reluctantly raise my hand while decrying the depressing state of affairs. I, too, have fallen victim to the relentless iPod-ification of the long-playing LP —this mixtape culture we live in.

Black Dog must have been thinking along the same lines when they green-lit Old Rare New, an oversize tome dedicated to rapturous recollections of the (nearly) endangered species, the Record Store. It looks like great fun, with contributions from fans like Chan Marshall, Bonnie Prince Billy, St Etienne’s Bob Stanley, and The Wire’s Byron Coley. (Old Rare New, Emma Pettit, editor. US $29.95.)

Watching
Guy Maddin’s delirious Brand Upon The Brain (Criterion). Or at least, I will be, just as soon as Amazon sees fit to send it my way. (Such are the perils of the free shipping option.)

Everything That Happens| David Byrne (official site)| | Big Love Hymnal | Brand Upon the Brain!| Old Rare New

David Byrne & Brian Eno, “America Is Waiting” [from My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, 1981]

David Byrne & Brian Eno, “Strange Overtones” [from Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, 2008]

PHOTO BY ANDREA FELDMAN, “TROPICALIA, NYC”

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