Sorry bout the delay! Initial "Glasgow Sunday" impressions!!! Yoko is my Goddess, poetry practice [aka/ I'm losing my mind!]

Sorry bout the delay

reality interrupts....

gets in the WAY
of LIFE.

Yes, I've had to focus my attention...and t i m e
on resumes, cover letters, studying job pdq's (not a lotta fun...but helpful).

Until I'm back in a regular routine and the job search is over
(amidst great relief on my part!!!)
blog publishing may become a little...irregular.

So here's what I haphazardly have noted. I'll try to keep within a week next time.
***

Jandek: "Glasgow Sunday" (2004)
Initial impression...I was startled at the dynamics of the music!
I had only heard New Town (1998) which was quiet, dark and acoustic.
This is louder, dark and electric.
Am I the only person who sees a connection between Jandek and Krautrock???

The way the music ebbs and flows...improvised, but in tune with each other.
Jandek's young rhythm section drive hard and keeps the pulse of the music flowing.

The mysterious Mr. Jandek is very thin and quite youthful for his age (sorry J). Like a young William S. Burroughs on electric guitar...

I love the way the video starts without any big introductions...
3 guys on a small stage
nod at each other
start the journey
and we are invited
along to savor the sounds
and observe the action.

The lyrics and singing are something else!
Jandek certainly understands how it feels to be
lonely, isolated, depressed
one would think he has an intimate knowledge of these feelings.

The vocals threw off The Guru somewhat who kept mumbling about drugs...I don't know what she meant! I wasn't that high!!

I remember placing my first order for a Jandek (ordered "New Town" from Amazon for like $12!! Great deal!), and the darkness of that album may have been a bit impenetrable on first listen. I feel that this dvd opens up his music and makes exploration of this muse long overdue!!

I should have time over the long weekend to view this amazing documentary again, and give my opinion (or whatever the hell it is I do!) in more detail. It's worth it! Thanks Mole!!! When I get a chance I'll throw you some more great krautrock I got recently. Jandek web site.
***

Charalambides: Market Square (1995)
What a brilliant wrapped way to start an album.

"please, pick up the phone...
pick up the phone!!
If you don't pick up the phone
...I'm calling the police!!"

...the desperation,
pleas falling on empty ears...

The strumming of the electric guitar, the whispered vocals...
enticing you into Market Square.
think about...before it's too late...I mean, just "think about".

This is spooky, enchanting, thought-provoking... Excellent!!

Randy heard of these guys through a top 100 list on Terrascope.

This is another great way to discover new/old bands. Check out lists. Rate Your Music has tons. Top 50 krautrock albums you never heard...Top 100 Dylan bootlegs...I mean the possibilities are endless out there!
***

It's no fucking joke...Yoko Ono WAS the BOMB!!!

Fly (1971) is EVEN better (!!??) than Plastic Ono Band (1970)...Absolutely stunning and brilliant. She had so much fucking GALL...I love it!!!

Another reason to love her: She broke up The Beatles!!!
***

OK

Life is getting..weird

The past week:
1) Steve and I were talking about this cd Psychedelic States in the 60s: Alabama and were laughing at imagining hippies in Alabama in the 60s.
So, I leave, get in the car, turn on the radio. What do you think was playing? Of course, it was "Sweet Home Alabama" by Skynyrd.

2) Yesterday I started thinking about my old workmate (for 13 years!!) from Hamilton, Marg Turnbull. [aside: Hi Marg!!] Out of the blue. We haven't communicated since xmas. I get home, go to my email and sure enough...there's an email from Marg notifying her contacts of an address change!

3) I have been recollecting parts of my childhood in excruciating detail that I haven't thought about for...decades!! Let's leave this one alone!!
***

Bob Bannister: Dives and Lazarus (2002)
Oh My fucking God!!!!
Who the hell is this guy? This is absolutely stunning.

"Maria Marten" starts the cd off with fantastic violin and Bob singing about killing his fiancee instead of marrying her. A little drastic maybe, but...isn't this what folk music is about?
"I Am A Pilgrim" rocks along with the desperation of hope.
"A Minature Rainbow" experimental beauty
"Got To Hurry" I love his singing! Bob's in a hurry to get to the promised land...and the song convinces me that Bob's well on his way!
"Dark Hollow" has some amazing electric guitar.
"In Christ (Slight Return)" ends the cd beautifully.

If you like intelligent, string based (and not afraid of electricity) folk this is HIGHLY recommended. The musicianship and vocals are top notch. Brilliant!!
This is firmly in the folk tradition BUT not tied to it. It is free, experimental, traditional.

There's not much online about Bob, but here's a link to his label.
***

The Mind of Self Pity

fragility...
broken glass cells twist into unending fury

dreams become your reality...
your dreams are a fucking nightmare

sweat drips into unseeing eyeballs
the terror of the future
has you clutching for something
...you never had, you've never seen
- only sensed -

friends come
... go
lovers come
...go

...you're still...
with yourself

addictions supply
warmth and comfort
BUT
isolated and withdrawn

the walls enclose
you like a prison
but the prison
is your mind
...in your mind...

Link to Walsh gallery - Lucy Kim page (artist of painting)
***

Jandek arrives, Randy's Stash continued: Agitation Free, Acid Mothers, Dylan and now - Steve's Stash of lps!!

A package arrived all the way from Hamilton, Ontario from my friend, ex-manager and all around man about town, Bruce "The Mole" Mowat.

As hands grasped the package, one could tell it was a cd. Ha! Wrong! It was a DVD!! It's hard to tell the difference these days....

Jandek's "Glasgow Sunday"!! Footage of the mysterious Mr. Jandek playing live in October 2004. I am anxiously awaiting viewing this piece of historical footage and relating my thoughts here at the Carnival.

Thanks Bruce!!! Jandek web site.
***

I am working my way through Randy's stash and discovering so many morsels of musical goodness that it is keeping me in a constant state of excitement! Here's more of:

Randy's Stash (part 2)

Agitation Free: Malesch (1972)
Another band I was ignorant of. Here's a snapshot of info I found:
They disbanded in 1974 after two albums. Malesch was the first. 2nd (1973) was the second. Last (1974) was..the last and live. Other albums appeared after they broke up.
2 main guys regrouped as Lagoona.
That broke up.
In 1998 they reformed.
First impressions: Very impressed! Awesome for you krautrock fans out there. I definitely need to check out their 2nd as well, and later various offshoots. Check out the official Agitation Free web site.
The band also look very cool as well...(or freaks)...same thing to me!

Acid Mothers Temple: The Penultimate Galactic Bordello (2004)
4 - FOUR fucking cds!!!
I know I mention these guys a lot, but what can I say? I'm a huge fan!
The Acid Mothers and their various offshoots [aside: Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno, Acid Mothers Gong, Acid Mothers Afrirampo, and the most common (but done with...for now! or are they??) Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso UFO] have released seemingly thousands of recordings, but...BUT!!!
This sounds to these ears like a classic!!! I've only heard the 1st cd and it's taken me on a
flight

through stars
and comets
and laser beams
shooting
through
synapses
of brain tissue
nailing me
to its dream
state
... a new path
opening and
I hear the heavens calling me calling me.....
Also...Cotton Casino is awesome. She could take you away with a touch of her finger on the right key...This is already one of my fav hits of the Acids.

Bob Dylan: Beneath the Border Sun (1978) bootleg
Here's a concert of Bob's from 1978 that blows away At Budokan (1978) ** for live performances. This was recorded a little over a year after that, and the energy, arrangements and Bob's voice are much more"involved". For some reason I get a kick when he keeps saying "Merci" to the crowd.
First impressions: Great bootleg! Good sound, great performance. Great Bob Dylan bootleg discography site. Bob has a few...
***

Steve's Stash (part 1)

As if going through gigabytes of Randy's stash wasn't enough...

Well...I picked up 61 lps (counting 2 & 3 lp sets as 1!) at Steve's garage sale on the weekend.
All kinds of stuff...

Derek & The Dominos (Layla & In Concert - both 2 record sets), Sidney Bechet, Humble Pie (w/ Peter Frampton still in the band), Manfred Mann, Roy Buchanan, George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" with poster!! Pink Floyd, XTC, Ry Cooder, CSNY Deja Vu, Goblin: Suspira (1977)!! Ian Hunter: Shades Of - 2 records!! Zappa in New York (another 2 record set!), Warren Zevon from 1969...
all kinds of shit...
some brilliant, some fun, some silly, some kitschy....it's lps man!!!! Gotta love it.

The Guru was going through them and she related how much she liked looking at album covers when she was 13-14. There is something about the allure of lps over cds/cd-r's. The artwork was part of the package. This is probably why lps refuse to die the way of 8 tracks or cassettes.
***

Life Crap

Harvey Dog's contract at his current job [aside: which I love...best job ever!] is ending in less than 5 weeks...so I'm starting to feel the pressure of having to go out...
do the
bullshit resume
bullshit cover letters
bullshit interviews and all the other bullshit involved.

As you can see, the ol' attitude needs to be readjusted so I can get through this.

I know I'm not alone when it comes to
looking for work,
dealing with shitty work,
even getting shitty work!
So here's some positive vibes to those currently in the same boat.

Positive Vibes!!
Positive Vibes!! peace out..
***

The good people of Wells! Randy's Stash! Yoko Ono Rules!! Edgar Broughton, Fela, Popol Vuh!! Poetry?! That's Enough!!

Back from my Holiday in the Sun...in the new Belsen!!!

Actually the funky little town of Wells, BC
for their 3rd Annual ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art.

It was a relaxing time for Harvey Dog, the Guru and the Bah.

The Town: I've never really been to a town quite like this. It's a town full of artists, freaks and a few others (total pop: 500). The area is gorgeous and is perfect to rejuvenate broken down, tired depressed people. Check it out: Wells BC

The Music: We didn't see as much music as we originally planned, but that's ok...The music we did see was all good...relaxation was the order of the trip!

Here's who we saw:
The Buttless Chaps: Enjoyed them live, and when they did their 80s schtick (cheesy..ie. Duran Duran) it worked fine, but listening to Love This Time (2003) when we got back home, I found that the 80s schtick broke the momentum of the album. I mean...if you're going to do 80s music you have to be coked out, and these guys don't seem coked out at all! Overall: fun band.

Kia Kadiri: very popular with the crowd and she had tons of energy and seemed to enjoy herself. Overall: Good.

OK Cobra: We only got one (of two) OK Cobra, but I liked him. He worked his ass off and seemed to mean every word. I thought it started ok, got really strong and enjoyable, then tapered off at the end. Overall: Very Good.

Ken Hamm: This man can play the guitar and he sounded great. I'd like to check him out with better sound than you get in a Community Hall! Overall: Worth investigating.
***

My friend Randy went incredibly insane and sent me a massive amount of music from his collection.

I am FREAKING OUT!!!

And Vaspers always recommends brilliant music and videos, as well as creating incredible music himself...
And Steve (another music fanatic) is always feeding my rock and prog desires...
And Mole is sending me a package from Hamilton that sounds...intriguing.

good friends...good music...good times
***

Impressions of Randy's Stash

Where to begin? So much music....How about what I'm listening to right now as I'm typing this?

Yoko Ono: Yoko Ono / Plastic Ono Band (1970)
This is absolutely brilliant. Stunning. I guess it was outrageous in it's day for conservative Beatle lovers, but today it sounds vital, experimental, engrossing...
"Paper Shoes" is freaking me out...should I be listening to this at work?
Should I be doing my blog at work?
Should I get back to my VS2005 copy function project? OK...but LISTEN to this one!
Wait...is Yoko screaming: "Alfred!!! Alfred!!!!" in "Open Your Box"? Who's Alfred? The butler? Her man-servant? Paul McCartney? Alfred E. Newman?
[aside: This album just finished up, and it appears to me that Yoko was the TRUE innovator of The Beatles! Forget Lennon/McCartney let's hear it for Yoko!!!]

Miles Davis: The Cellar Door Sessions 1970 (2005)
Randy and I were extremely stoked when we first heard about this 6 cd box. We're both huge Miles fans of his late 60s early 70s electric period. Incredible fucking music!

Soul Jazz collections
The Soul Jazz compilations are a great way to discover obscure, underrated artists from the past. Always interesting.

Fela Kuti: Expensive Shit (1975) / He Miss Road (1975)
I love this! The groove is happening and entices you in...immediately! Then Fela and company bitch about expensive shit that smells. Now who can't relate to expensive smelly shit!?
The politics are great as well. I mean, you can go on and on about why Bush and all these other world leaders (using the term "leader" very loosely) are demonic and seemingly bent on the destruction of our world and its people...
BUT, Fela sums it all up by saying: "He Miss Road". How fucking true!
Summary: Happy to be introduced to Fela's world.

Edgar Broughton Band: Out Demons Out - Best Of 1969-1972 (2001)
Gotta love the freaks...and STILL going strong. Loads of fun...
"There's No Vibrations But Wait" is insane.
Actually, there's tons of good old freaky insanity going on.

Popol Vuh: Affenstunde (1970)
OK...I had heard of these guys and desperately wanted to hear them.
Finally!
This is beautiful music that takes one into
different atmospheres
walking on planets
reminding me a bit of Eno's Apollo (1983) album which I always thought was brilliant.
***

scattered
and strewn
amongst my pile
of music

refreshing the mind
constantly revolving
like old lps
on a dusty turntable

solid...true...
reliable
like life
and death...

drowning in the
v a s t n e s s
of humanity
called music

music is life
music is death
music is everything
and

all is music
***

The Guru and I are hooking up a second computer at home...
will this lead to more posts?????

Just warning ya!
[aside: I didn't use any of the post I mentioned...last post! Once you get started...]
***

Vacation....

Vacation Time!!!!

Off to Wells, BC for the 3rd Annual ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art!!

4 DAYS
40 ACTS
Eric Tompkins!!! [from PG!!]

It should be
fantastic
relaxing
soothing
healing

Guru T-Lu, the Bah and myself will be departing tomorrow morning.

A new post will be published early next week.
The notes are done...just gotta put it together!

Happy BC Day!!!
***