Monday, August 19, 2013

It's wrong to create heroes; it's not possible for them to fit the perverse folds of one's imagination.


Well, this marks my 10th post and I'd love to hear some feedback from you guys. You must be tired of Brazilian music, amirite? If so, fortunately I've decided to divert from it a little and dedicate this one to my jefe and accomplice, ryan (I hope you haven't listened to this one already, buddy).

Acknowledging I'm far from being literate in North American music history, it's quite evident, though, how essential John Fahey's sub-chapter was, whether ethnomusicologically or compositionally -- in a similar fashion to Lomax, even though each one excelled in a different field.

I was starting to really get into Cul De Sac (one of my favorites bands until today) when I first heard this album, and having listened to one thing or another from Fahey, I thought it would blow my brains out.

Yeah, I'll admit It wasn't quite like that. This is something you'll probably read around there: at a first listen, the album doesn't sound exactly a collaboration, but a Fahey/Cul De Sac split, with no real interaction between them. I listened to a couple of songs and kinda gave up.

But just like with alcohol, when I got older -- and after getting more in touch with Fahey's works -- I gave it another try and suddenly felt something very compelling about it. And then I would find the missing jigsaw piece [for those who owned a physical copy of the disc *cough*, this was no secret at all]: Glenn Jones' liner notes on making the album. One would argue that music should speak for itself, which I agree in some extent, but sometimes music simply isn't big enough to embrace the life which surrounds it. As Fahey would put, through Jones, "recording is an opportunity to be in touch with his inner self and his emotions", and likewise, notes are somewhat a more intelligible way to translate the relationship between the artist and his work.

I'll go so far as saying that reading the piece is equally inspiring as listening to the album, so go ahead, print it, frame it and place it over yr bed.

pw: spooked

6 comments:

  1. Been enjoying your posts here at the ZenArcade.

    I'm not familiar with this Fahey/Cul De Sac CD. Looking forward to hearing it. Timing is right since I just listened to "Guitar Vol. 4 / The Great San Bernardino Birthday Party And Other Excursions" for the first time last night. Found it at the thrift last week.

    Thanks for the new music.

    iZen

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    1. thanks, I wish I could get a hold on some fahey's vinyls myself. if you're more into his previous works (i.e. more colorful handpicking), I totally recommend glenn jones' releases on thrill jockey. I've been listening to them compulsively lately. I will check your podcasts as well

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  2. Speaking for myself I will never tire of brazilian music. Keep 'em coming good sir!

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    1. glad to hear it, buddy. there are many more to come, stay tuned!

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  3. Thanks for sharing this. I've never heard this album, and those liner notes were great to read.

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    1. yr welcome, beard. it makes me wonder if fahey already had all this in his mind

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