While irresponsible and tragic, my long absence, now ended, was for a worthy cause. I’ve spent the last three months focused completely on the everlasting Democratic nomination, to the point of neglecting all new releases, reviews, and even most valued blogs and podcasts. I’m dying to return to music, especially in light of the election results last Tuesday and the prolonged, vicious political scuffle that is sure to follow. Nothing especially insightful to add honestly, except I think our party would be foolish to turn away all the new, young voters Obama has drawn into the process in recent months by voting in the candidate who’s “owed” the nomination. Clinton is a wonderful Senator, but Obama presents the opportunity for a real realignment of American politics. After eight years of an Obama presidency, I imagine a world where liberal is no longer effective as a smear. It’s up to my old home state now, Pennsylvania (dear god).
Regardless, the music world has been exciting in my absence. Just today, ruralfaune’s Bruno Parisse annouced (rather cryptically) his latest batch of releases, including new discs from Goliath Bird Eater, Pumice, Fabio Orsi, and Mike Tamburo. I’m still working my way through that massive Tamburo 7cdr, dvd & book box set released on New American Folk Hero / Music Fellowship last year, but I can’t resist another slew of cdrs from france. More detailed press release of sorts here. Besides ruralfaune, I’ve been bathing in the constant torrent of new Digitalis releases, especially the creepy, growling new Xela tape (sample mirrored from digitalis).
Crumbling black landscapes of mysterious buzz and whispered menace. The A side of this tape is like a field recording of a rickety old dock, jutting out into the choppy waters of the River Styx, old rust chains rattle, rusty lanterns clang against one another, the rotted wood groans and creaks, the wind howls, the choppy water laps at the pilings, black birds circle overhead, an old boat tied up to the dock rocking wildly in the water, straining against the frayed rope, while in the distance, an ominous buzz permeates the air like the stink of decaying flesh, and somewhere, below the surface of the water, or hidden behind the black clouds overhead, some unspeakable beast growls, his ominous rumble like thunder filling the sky. (aquarius records)
Exactly. Next week, Type’s Xela, Zelienople and Helios will join New York’s own Mountains for a live set at the Knitting Factory, and again in Brooklyn a day later with a trimmed Zelienople/Xela/Helios lineup. Zelienople’s page also mentions a barrage of brilliant upcoming releases, including a spring release Root Strata 7″ box set, featuring Christina Carter, Glenn Donaldson, Grouper, Hisato Higuchi, Islaja, Valet, Richard Youngs and Xela. Tons of other news, but it shall wait.
Speaking of music, WFMU, the finest radio station in the world, is currently running their once yearly two week fund raising marathon. Jersey City’s WFMU is the surely the finest example of freeform radio on the east coast, if not worldwide (there are some that come close). Rich history, brilliant, cutting edge djs, and 100% listener supported. I’m not aware of another operation quite like WFMU, even considering other the several (though far too few) wonderful listener supported independent radio stations. Providing any sort of definitive or worthy recommendation of their best program would be completely futile, so I’ll only make a couple recommendations from recent programs. Fabio’s program is consistently my favorite slot, and his show hosting The Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co., though out of character, is well worth a listen. Primarily, his show features ambient, drone, psych, prog, and the like, but TSIT&DC provided something like a breath of fresh steel-town-happy-hour air to a usually sedate program (unfortunately, only the realplayer stream is still available).
Marissa Nadler’s live performance on Trouble’s baguette, psych, folk and pop program is another essential delight. During the performance, the station’s fire alarm started blaring, but dj Trouble and Nadler pressed onwards, even at risk of a slow, painful immolation (at least, ahem, had it not been a false alarm).
If you’ve never listened to WFMU before, this week would be a painful time to start. If you’ve listened to WFMU before, or might conceivably make them a destination in the future, they definitely deserve your donation. Head to wfmu.org, or click the marathon image below.
Obama photo by Daniella Zalcman, used courtesy of CC share alike license
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