Fredrik Söderberg, Summer Solstice II (2010)
Illuminating artwork with quasi-religious connotations? Yes, please!
Released October 11th 2010
After reading the Robert Forster book I mentioned in the last post, I investigated Elizabeth ‘Connie’ Converse and decided to post some of her gorgeously unaffected music. She’s a bit of an enigma and it’s generally noted that she was before her time.
On Bob Dylan:
“Old age suits him. It suits him the way being young did. It’s a natural fit, for both are the traditional places where wisdom can flower: in the fired minds of the young and the dusty, wily utterances of the old. It’s all the time in between that’s the trouble.”
Robert Forster, taken from The 10 Rules of Rock And Roll
Sadly, Ari Up from the Slits has died. I love their album, Cut, and wanted to post this rabble-rousing jumble of melody and attitude.
Directed by the venerable Tom Haines, my new promotional film has an absurd flavour of Samuel Beckett, an enigmatic dose of Ingmar Bergman, a dream-like sprinkle of the Brothers Quay and a cameo from my good self that contains all the intensity of Michael J Fox in Bright Lights Big City… or something. While away the minutes by pressing play.
Nwa Gezani My Love / SHANGAAN ELECTRO from s o u n d t r a v e l s on Vimeo.
Nutso video featuring a sweet vocal melody and a barrage of interesting rhythms, including a thumb piano, I believe.
As it happens, I bought a thumb piano in Berlin recently that has a lovely light quality about it. One day, I’d like to play music with the same blend of exuberance, dexterity and adventure.
I love this shapely cover.
A beautiful song with so much space.
I played Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show the other day and you can hear some tracks from Margins played live plus some random chatter and natter. You can listen to it online here.
Margins is out! Like a fox on the run (or something) it has been released into the fields and left to fend for itself. You can walk into your local record shop and buy it or you can do some clicking at the link below. The option to buy my Polaroid book, Thinking In Pictures, is also a very strong look this season. Choose wisely…
Linder, Self montage with cling-film, 1981, photo by Birrer
Linder Sterling is a Mancunian artist I’ve admired for a long time and her collages are brilliant, funny and intelligent comments on femininity. I also like her band, Ludus, where she screams and coos with abandon.
Linder: “My mother once said, ‘We were too poor to be photographed.’ And there began my life’s fascination with the medium.”
Linder, Untitled, 1978
Pale pink is working well for Mr West. Classy piccie.
All books have a copy of my debut solo album ‘Margins’ in the back, and there are a limited number available with signed bookmarks.