The music of late
I never write music reviews. Occasionally I’ll write a post about a band or album I’ve discovered and say a few words, but I’m intensely dissatisfied with any attempt I make to really write about music.
Obviously it’s to do with it being about trying to verbalize the non-verbal—but what sort of writer shies away from such a challenge? What interesting writing isn’t about doing that? In any case, while music fills my life with gifts, I feel blocked from singing about its generosity in my chosen medium. It’s no big problem for me, but I realize that perhaps a quick shout to some of the great stuff I’ve been getting into, in an occasional “digest”, might be in order. What’s a blog without some indulgent lauding of music?
Bonnie “Prince” Billy
This is the current performing name of Will Oldham, and his music is playing right now. It’s the reason I started this post. Country and folk don’t have a huge place in my musical life, but it’s slowly growing, and a wonderful new space has just been opened up by this prolific and finely talented singer-songwriter. I’m listening to The Letting Go and Master and Everyone; both wondrously warm, razor-sharp in lyrical honesty but gentle and embracing in delivery. My heart’s been a-flutter with various anxieties recently, but Oldham’s spacious, melting world has swiftly and graciously brought it to stillness.
Introduction courtesy of Mahalia—thank you.
Sir Richard Bishop
Persisting both the Americana and the high-ranking stage name themes, Sir Richard Bishop is another treasure. My window onto his experimental yet accessible solo guitar is his most recent work, Polytheistic Fragments. The title hints that the Majesty that this “Sir” bows to isn’t our frigid monarch; it is none other than that darkly vibrant Queen of creative destruction from the Hindu pantheon, Kali. His influences range from country and blues to gypsy and Indian; track titles such as ‘Hecate’s Dream’ and ‘Ecstasies In The Open Air’ emphasize his thoroughly, avowedly pagan stance. And ‘Canned Goods & Firearms’ tells you he sees the Kali Yuga going down here and now. All his music is suffused with a light playfulness that dances even if it’s dark.
And… isn’t it gratifying when you find your spontaneous posting urge has led to a genuine gain? Checking Bishop’s site while writing this, I noticed he’s playing London next month: February 12th at Dingwalls in Camden, supporting Earth. Yes!
Introduction courtesy of Erik—thank you.
Clogs
Not the most auspicious of band names. But Clogs, drawing on classical music, minimalism, jazz, rock, and folk music from around the world, craft lovely instrumentals that can weave you through languorous, delicate landscapes of bass and guitar or whisk you into a frantically whirling storm of violins. Again I’m mining recent work, 2006′s Lantern. Their 2001 debut Thom’s Night Out is less immediate and accessible, but equally beguiling.
Introduction courtesy of Erik—again, thank you.
