RFI:Arto Lindsay

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
Recently saw the seminal Downtown 81, and was impressed with Arto's drunken nerdy stage presence and tortured guitar-strangling. I managed to find one LP with Arto on guitar (Lounge Lizards). Can anyone point me in the right direction? What's a good place to start?

turner, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

For tortured guitar strangling try DNA. They're on the No New York comp and did an EP called A Taste of DNA. Dunno much about his more recent stuff tho.

David, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Old DNA vinyl is pretty much impossible to find, but A TASTE OF DNA (last seen on the American Clave label) is definitely worth the search. There was also a seven-inch (the song titles escape me now) and four tracks on the NO NEW YORK comp, all worth hearing. I think one of John Zorn's labels put out a live DNA disc a few years back. It's okay.

Other Lindsay highlights (for me) include the first self-titled album by '80s avant supergroup the Golden Palominos (he's basically the "frontman," such as it is--quite a bit of slash-and-twang guitar and his patented mid-cum vocalizing); Greed and Envy, the first two albums he did with synthesizer guy Peter Scherer as the Ambitious Lovers (the former AL disc is warped '80s dance pop with Brazilian underpinnings and smears of Arto guitar; the latter is much more slick and self-consciously pop, but it's quite good nonetheless; the third one kind of blows); and a live disc called Aggregates 1-26 that he did a few years ago with Melvin Gibbs and Dougie Bowne (DNA-era Arto reconstituted into a rock power-trio format).

I like some of his more recent bossa nova/MPB-ified solo recordings, but I'd hesitate to recommend them to anyone interested specifically in skronk-and-bleat Arto. -

lee g, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

rumor has it that the dna catalogue is set for reissue, but don't know more than that

M. Matos, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Just picked up (at Mondo Kim's on St.Mark's Place in Manhattan) a DNA full-album on compact disc, actually. A Japanese reissue of some kind, it features both tracks performed in "Downtown 81" and well as many others. Uneasy listening to say the least.

alex in nyc, Thursday, 4 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I remember the name of one of the songs on the seven inch: "Little Ants".

Kris, Thursday, 4 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Alex, do you have any idea if the whole soundtrack to Downtown '81 was ever released?

turner, Thursday, 4 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Yes, Turner, it is indeed back out (initial reports stated that its initial print run ran out). I picked up a copy at Tower Records here in NYC, of all places. It's well worth it, to my mind. Along with both DNA tracks, it also features stuff from Tuxedomoon, Suicide, Kid Creole & the Coconuts (which actually isn't that bad), Lydia Lunch, Basqiat's "band" Grey, Japanese new wave band The Plastics and a whole bunch of other stuff. Definetely worth searching out!

Alex in NYC, Friday, 5 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I really liked the Dub track with wah wah guitars which played when Basquiat was out on the street...N-E-W Y-O-R-K. I have that bass hook in my head all the damn time.

turner, Friday, 5 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

The DNA single was "You&You" b/w "Little Ants," 1978, produced by Bob Quine and not altogether well, since for some reason he took the keyboard way down on the A-side so that the track lost its groove. He got a good sound on voice, drums, and guitar, though. The song was kind of a groove song, four-on-the-floor drums, Arto throwing his guitar noise and vocal shards on top. B-side was more disparate, like little ants scurrying around without portfolio. Arto Lindsay guitar and vocals, Robin Crutchfield keyboards, Ikue Mori drums. The record label was "Medical Records," but that was just one of several monikers used by Lust/Unlust Music, the real record company. Each band would get its own label name. The best was for Teenage Jesus & the Jerks' "Orphans" single: "Migraine Records," subtitled "The World's Lowest Signal To Noise Ratio."

Frank Kogan, Saturday, 6 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

one month passes...
The best of any of Arto's work were the "No New York" compilation effort LP and the amazing EP "A Taste of DNA", which was originally issued on the fickle American Clave label in 1981, and then in 1982 (and reportedly in 1987) on the Rough Trade label. This version of the work has the sides mislabeled, so at first it can be a confusing listen. Don't get the "Last Live at CBGB's" CD because it's got bad sound and they have repetitive tunes. In fact they leave out the epic (that's by DNA's standards) "New World". So it's ultimately avoidable. At this point his sound has so much more dimension to it because of Tim Wright (Pere Ubu's founder)'s velveteen bass and Ikue Mori's intense drumming. Not only that, but they got to produce and arrange the sessions themselves and recorded the six best. His later stuff is very pitifully watery. Caveat emptor, caveat actor.

A. Mike Schmidt, Tuesday, 27 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Jess, you fogot to factor this into the equasion: http:// www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/_photos/2001-08-09-inside-woody- allen.jpg

turner, Tuesday, 27 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

two years pass...
So if I have the DNA live album, do I need the new DNA collection as well? I like the live one, but don't really feel like I need more DNA unless it's different in some interesting way.

St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 July 2004 19:33 (nineteen years ago) link

dna on dna is soooooooooo much better than last live at cbgb's (the one on avant).

additionally, his newish album salt is really excellent...

peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 29 July 2004 19:50 (nineteen years ago) link

peter smith otm

artdamages (artdamages), Thursday, 29 July 2004 20:23 (nineteen years ago) link

i like the DNA stuff a lot. i love "mundo civilizado." "noon chill" and "invoke" are relatively weak but both are quite listenable. "the subtle body" and "prize" both rank just below "mundo" in my book. i'm a bossa/MPB fan, big-time, and i think arto's really contributed to the genre, as much as anyone. i've heard conflicting reports on "salt" but i'm gonna get it anyway.

eddie hurt (ddduncan), Thursday, 29 July 2004 21:33 (nineteen years ago) link

its instantly beatier, and maaaaybe a little better textured than noon chill, eddie. theres no guitar histrionics whatsoEVER, but as long as you bear that in mind, i think its a really nice record.

ill have to hear "mundo civ"

peter smith (plsmith), Friday, 30 July 2004 01:53 (nineteen years ago) link

"Q Samba" is my fave still.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 30 July 2004 02:08 (nineteen years ago) link

the last marisa monte record rocks.

amateur!st (amateurist), Friday, 30 July 2004 02:30 (nineteen years ago) link

GET "Mundo" Peter. It's one of my favorite records ever. And yeah, "Q Samba" is something else. I also like the remix album "Hyper Civilizado." "Mundo" is one of those records that reproduces that elusive sound I hear in my mind, you know? That real life so seldom delivers. All angular and smooth at the same time.

I only have Monte's "Rose and Charcoal" now. Used to own "Mais" and "A Great Noise." There are some sublime moments on "Rose."

I totally identify with tropicalismo and MPB. I need to visit Brazil in the worst way.

eddie hurt (ddduncan), Friday, 30 July 2004 02:38 (nineteen years ago) link

four years pass...

Search LOCUS SOLUS with John Zorn early live in the 80's and aggregates 1-26 CD as ARTO LINDSYA TRIO,very good no wave/noise works

almudeno, Thursday, 6 November 2008 15:09 (fifteen years ago) link

I actually own th Trio album and can agree with you there. But what has Arto done lately? I mean geez buddy. Pick up the pace.

❤ⓛⓞⓥⓔ❤ (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 6 November 2008 23:05 (fifteen years ago) link

recently picked up the don king album. some good bits.

jaxon, Thursday, 6 November 2008 23:47 (fifteen years ago) link

The DNA is interesting and amazing at points, but too many parts barely listenable. I had to have it, yet I may play it only a couple more times before I die. His solo albums, however, have been on heavy rotation this past decade. Dismiss at your own risk.

In order of recommendation:

Noon Chill 98
Prize 99
Mundo Civilizado 97
Invoke 02
Salt 04
O Corpo Sutil 96

Fastnbulbous, Friday, 7 November 2008 00:57 (fifteen years ago) link

Ambitious Lovers!

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 7 November 2008 06:51 (fifteen years ago) link

Prize should be top and O Corpo Sutil second but the order is otherwise correct. In the noughties - too much bland, not enough scraping.

A suit to remember at Montague Moss (Marcello Carlin), Friday, 7 November 2008 15:20 (fifteen years ago) link

two months pass...

So he's living in Brazil now....read down through these long David Byrne posts from his recent trip there

http://journal.davidbyrne.com/

from the January 2nd posting-

Paulinha throws a party at the house in the evening. There is a room with rotating fans set up for dancing (I do) and 2 Baianas on a patio making acarajé and abara (the steamed rather than deep fried version of the bean cake). A bartender makes caipirinhas and batidas out of fresh maracuja (passion fruit).

Arto Lindsay is here with his wife. I haven’t seen him in years. He’s been in Salvador for a number of years, but now he’s moving to Rio as there will be more work there. Good to see him.

We leave around two and we hear that, at four AM, just as the party was winding down, Seu Jorge and Beth Carvalho (the singers) show up — both of them with their entourages. The bartenders rolled their eyes as if to say “now the party will start all over again.”

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 02:54 (fifteen years ago) link

I'm jealous.

nabisock (PappaWheelie V), Tuesday, 3 February 2009 03:02 (fifteen years ago) link

Byrne's whole trip there makes me jealous--hanging w/ Caetano V. & his wife Paulinha, Gilberto Gil, and various others

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 03:11 (fifteen years ago) link

five years pass...

Oddly enough this is the most recently updated Arto Lindsay thread on ILX.
He's going to be on WFMU from noon-3 p.m. today. Interview and solo performance.

Immediate Follower (NA), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 15:29 (ten years ago) link

Thanks for the reminder -- saw that bit of news the other day.

hey, big dispender (WilliamC), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 15:32 (ten years ago) link

I love a bit of Arto Lindsay, can he play a chord yet?

Just like the idea of him actually being proficient in a traditional way, its just that he chooses to play totally mangled.

Master of Treacle, Wednesday, 16 April 2014 15:47 (ten years ago) link

Artos's been talked about on the reissues 2014 thread, a best no wave thread, and on this one

Ambitious lovers: the greatest band ever?

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 16 April 2014 15:57 (ten years ago) link

But this is the most recently updated Arto Lindsay thread on ILX.

Immediate Follower (NA), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 15:58 (ten years ago) link

With his name in the title, yes.

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 16 April 2014 15:59 (ten years ago) link

Starting now.

hey, big dispender (WilliamC), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 17:30 (ten years ago) link

Best of 'Encyclopedia of Arto' out in May apparently - 2 disc set

Master of Treacle, Saturday, 26 April 2014 16:09 (nine years ago) link

three months pass...

http://pitchfork.com/features/the-out-door/9408-tk/2/

interview

curmudgeon, Thursday, 31 July 2014 04:37 (nine years ago) link

two years pass...

He seems busy doing avante-improv stuff in Queens NY with sax player Sam Hillmer. Not sure its my cup of tea.

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 21 September 2016 17:45 (seven years ago) link

five months pass...

This looks more interesting. Wonder if they will collaborate together? Chad of Beauty Pill writes a bit about Arto on the link page

http://www.beautypill.com/schedule/

WED. APRIL 26, 2017 | ARTO LINDSAY & BEAUTY PILL | ONE LONGFELLOW SQUARE | PORTLAND, ME $18

THURS. APRIL 27, 2017 | ARTO LINDSAY & BEAUTY PILL | ONCE BALLROOM | SOMERVILLE, MA $20

FRI. APRIL 28, 2017 | ARTO LINDSAY & BEAUTY PILL | BELL HOUSE | BROOKLYN, NY $20

SAT. APRIL 29, 2017 | ARTO LINDSAY & BEAUTY PILL | BLACK CAT | WASHINGTON, DC $20

SUN. APRIL 30, 2017 | ARTO LINDSAY & BEAUTY PILL | BOOT & SADDLE | PHILADELPHIA, PA $20

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 21 February 2017 19:01 (seven years ago) link

Arto's got a new album too!

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 21 February 2017 21:26 (seven years ago) link

Cuidado Madame (on Northern Spy) artsy, noisy , drum & bassy meets Brazilian melodies

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 21 February 2017 21:40 (seven years ago) link

Not available till April 21

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 21 February 2017 21:41 (seven years ago) link

Maybe I shoulda mentioned this on a Beauty Pill page

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 22 February 2017 14:49 (seven years ago) link

Nice! He also produced last year's Thiago Nassif - Três - http://thiagonassif3.tumblr.com/

Fastnbulbous, Sunday, 26 February 2017 05:50 (seven years ago) link

two months pass...

Just saw Arto and his band in DC last night. He and the band emphasized his noisier stuff. I liked "Tangles" from the new album, which layers one of his more melodic samba vocals over a noiser bottom. He was grinning all night, and Melvin Gibbs was then making faces back at times.

curmudgeon, Monday, 1 May 2017 02:14 (six years ago) link

New album is marvelous.

the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 1 May 2017 03:06 (six years ago) link

Oh yeah, saw your review. I like much of it, but not all. It was interesting live that some of the studio recorded cuts that I thought relied totally on programmed drum & bass type rhythms, were played live by the drummer, although the keyboardist was involved too. A few cuts live turned into almost formulaic jazz-funk power quartet efforts-- not my thing; while the finest cuts balanced samba-rooted vocals with noisy guitar and/or a funky bottom.

curmudgeon, Monday, 1 May 2017 17:45 (six years ago) link

Had no idea he had a new album! He's been pretty quiet lately.

Josh in Chicago, Monday, 1 May 2017 18:42 (six years ago) link

First full album with new songs and a band in 13 years I think

curmudgeon, Monday, 1 May 2017 18:57 (six years ago) link

I guess he's been sick?

Josh in Chicago, Monday, 1 May 2017 19:16 (six years ago) link

Not that I know. But maybe? He's been doing avante-garde sound installations plus curating Brazilian influenced parades, and doing some NY solo and duo gigs. There was also a collection issued a few years ago, that has some songs from his solo efforts, plus some additional live, noisier renditions of those songs.

curmudgeon, Monday, 1 May 2017 22:28 (six years ago) link

Ace album is this.

calzino, Tuesday, 2 May 2017 00:58 (six years ago) link

During his original run of solo albums I thought Arto was the best thing ever. But I can't get into this new one to save my life. I'm just not on that wavelength right now. Will revisit when it stops raining and is over 45 degrees.

Fastnbulbous, Tuesday, 2 May 2017 12:38 (six years ago) link

There are a number of different approaches on the new one (done with varying degrees of success), so you may eventually only get into some of it-- there's one song that's all noise, others with drum & bass influenced beats, and 3 I think with samba/tropicalia inspired melodies

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 2 May 2017 12:52 (six years ago) link

http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/04/26/525392502/the-brash-and-calm-of-arto-lindsay

When I ask him about the 13-year gap between the release of Salt in 2004 and Cuidado Madame, Arto tells me that he had been living in New York and became seriously ill, moving back to Brazil for health insurance reasons. He does not specify the illness and says he rarely talks about it. (He is healthy now.)

Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 3 May 2017 16:54 (six years ago) link


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.