Dazzling sax-based settings for strings, edgy and lyrical both. The Turkish PM told Shimon Peres recently: ‘Atmon, a Jew himself, says that Israeli barbarity is far beyond ordinary cruelty.’ Bird Lives!
‘The most vivid rhythmic reality’: cello, voice, echoes. Drumless versions of Let’s Go Swimming, Tree House, Wax The Van; four previously unreleased tracks from Sketches From World Of Echo.
Twenty-one songs, running right back to 1971: assured, lovely, intelligent, good-humoured singer-songwriting, mixing up Americana, folk, pop, art rock, and gentle experimentalism.
Originally released in 2007 this redux edition includes new masters from a recently found pristine tape reel and was remastered by Timothy Stollenwerk at Stereophonic Mastering in Portland, OR. Revised artwork; extensive liner notes by Arthur’s partner Tom Lee.
‘The compilation that started the renaissance… twelve tracks of Buddhist Bubblegum Alt Disco Pop recorded during Arthur’s prime years 1985-90.’
The sequel to Calling Out Of Context; another precious extraction from Arthur’s original, completed 1/4” tape masters.
Russell himself compiled this material thirty years ago, on three separate test pressings, labelled El Dinosaur, Indian Ocean and Untitled: five brilliant alternate versions of key works — including This Is How We Walk On The Moon — and four offerings new to the world, triumphantly culminating in the rapt, restless Ocean Movie. Terrific.
‘An intimate unedited solo live performance recorded at Phill Niblock’s Experimental Intermedia Foundation in Downtown NYC on 12/20/85. Arthur titled this performance Open Vocal Phrases, Where Songs Come In and Out. He would later edit sections from this performance merging it with studio material recorded at Battery Sound to finalize the World of Echo album released in 1986.’
“Some of it sounds so pure and clear and I am picturing him huddled around all that gear, simply magical. In my memory he didn’t play “for” the audience but was rather trying to perfect these various permutations of sound within himself…and a few of us just happened to be present” - Tom Lee
The double vinyl LP includes the complete nineteen-minutes-plus version of Tower of Meaning/Rabbit’s Ear/Home Away along with the previously unreleased songs That’s The Very Reason and Too Early To Tell. Also two instrumental tracks from Sketches For World Of Echo, originally published in 2020 as a cassette.
The double CD includes both Open Vocal Phrases and Sketches For World Of Echo, in full.
‘Ultimate HQ CD’ from Japan, using the recent Craft transfers and mastering.
Japanese, with insert: GXK 8146.
It’s a Christmas album but fear ye not. It’s from the same six months as How Insensitive and Now Hear This, with Airto running between these sessions and the recording of Bitches Brew. Try the grooving opener, with DP alternating on piano and celeste.
‘Coxsone Boy’ showed Mr. Dodd how to lick over Studio One’s vast armament of foundational rhythms for the dancehall era to come (and claim them back from Channel One). He knew them all backwards from singing over them on his sound.
Killer selection.
Four songs and their dubs — lovers, bubblers, rockers, and well-charge dub, with great playing and Sugar brilliantly focussed throughout — originally a 1983 picture-sleeved ten-inch on his own Black Roots imprint.
An LP’s worth of vintage Studio One rhythms (and Coxsone productions), vocals plus dubs, all unavailable elsewhere.