Roy Montgomery: Classic or Dud etc etc

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Roy Montgomery: Classic or Dud?

So have at it then. I only have one album of his: 324 E. 13th St, which I picked up used while in NY. This is pretty much all I've heard of his work, so I'd really rather not choose, but oh if you press me, I should say Classic. Some favorite moments to search off this album:

1. 'Just Melancholy' - perhaps a given, but this is an incredible beautiful song, with a rather fitting title as well..weepweepsobsob. but it is nice, yes.

2. The swirly, swallowing guitar parts on both 'Intertidal' and 'Fine, Fine, Fine.' Also note some glorious noise parts on 'In Your Wake' where it somehow feels as though Roy's 4 track is drunk (is that his vocals being played backwards near the end, or am I drunk?)

3. Roy's rendition of Wire's 'Used To' is also quite lovely - can't say I prefer one or the other, really.

So, tell me more - do you like? dislike? recommend?

― Emily, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

new-melancholy-kiwi-answers

― Emily, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Astoundingly, utterly wonderful. Oh hell yes. That is a good place to start, but seeing as those are singles collected, your next step should be for the longer explorations...

For his solo stuff, try Scenes from the South Island, Temple IV and the more recent Silver Wheel of Prayer. Band stuff - - the Pin Group compilation is fun enough, the Dadamah one often astonishing. Dissolve is a bit hit or miss in comparison, but the semi-spinoff True by Montgomery and Chris Heaphy is excellent.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Only know him from his work with Flying Saucer Attack on the 'Goodbye' EP which is stunning, espec 'The Whole Day'.

― stevo, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

with his mouth shut - classic. with his mouth open - painfully, drearily, terribly dull and dud.

EXCEPTION to the latter would be 324 E 13th St. generally, and the 'elegy for nick drake' 7". on the instrumental side, temple IV can't be stopped. and dissolve's "that that is" is brilliant.

― your null fame, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

i seriously recommend 'Liverpool 82', its on a split flexi with, um, silver apples i think, and came with an issue of ptolemaic terroscope. i apologise for the obscurity of this recommendation, it is probably not that easy to get hold of, but it is the best thing of his that i have heard.

― gareth, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I only have the FSA collaboration (which I like) and the track on the Harmony of the Spheres comp, which I'm a little iffy about. Anyone who has that comp -- would you say his track is representative of his other work?

― Mark, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Roy is lovely - the singles where he sings are far and away my favourite things - "Just Melancholy", "E.N.D".. the double 7" on Siltbreeze ("Four Songs"?) is great too - nice Barbara Manning collab on there. The single with Kirk Lake on Rocket Girl is ace too - my fav Kirk Lake thing as well.

I wasn't too hot on the Enraptured 7". I've just got hold of Scenes... but haven't had the chance to crack it out yet..

― electric sound of jim, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I like everything of his I've heard, but then I'm a sucker for processed folky guitar stuff. His voice is rather unconventional and I can see how it could be seen as drab, but I think it complements his droney guitars rather well. As for recommendations Temple IV is probably my favourite, with END coming a close second.

― RickyT, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

with his mouth shut - classic. with his mouth open - painfully, drearily, terribly dull and dud

So, I take it you don't like his vocals then, and prefer the instrumental business? His voice is rather *strange* if only because it's INCREDIBLY low, and I guess I can give you dreary too, but I think that's not necessarily bad in this case. Anyways, I'm sort of wondering what makes 324 a good album for you then and not some of his others, since every track (i think) on there has vocals....

― Emily, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

One of the best things he ever did was at one of his count-them-on-one- hand solo live shows at Terrastock 2. Besides two extended pieces, in between he did a solo a capella version of Bowie's "All the Madmen." And it was damn great, low voice and all.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Ned, I've heard of Terrastock, and I get the impression it's something I'd really like... could you share some more info?

― Clarke B., Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

they usedta call the Pin Group "Roy Division".

― duane, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

which was pretty funny

― duane, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

his solo music is dismal

― duane, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

seems a nice chap tho

― duane, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I do like that Roy Division comment, yes I do.

That Terrastock thing = Ptolemaic Terrascope spinoff. Investigate and learn.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

It's like the Grateful Dead; I just can't hear anything there. Except worse, because it sounds goth too.

― Kris, Friday, 18 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

But why do you think I LIKE IT SO MUCH? *drapes self in robes of blackened suffering, chants in moonlight and invokes Lestat*

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 18 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

So, I take it you don't like his vocals then, and prefer the instrumental business?

yeah... essentially i like the older stuff on 324; later things (i'm thinking of a 10" i heard and "now the rain") have guitar that's far too clear and sparkly and his voice is just TOO gothic sounding. he obviously resembles ian curtis, and he sounds best when the whole thing's muffled, to my ears. 4-tracked. whoever does the singing on dissolve's first sounds great, though. and i can stand his vocals in dadamah & the pin group.

― your null fame, Friday, 18 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

3 years pass...

I go googling just to see if he's done anything at all recently and find this. Not the same Roy Montgomery, I trust.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:17 (7 years ago) Permalink

giant space dove is attacking earth!

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:24 (7 years ago) Permalink

2 years pass...

Awesome

― admrl, Sunday, 6 January 2008 00:40 (5 years ago) Permalink

― Milton Parker, Sunday, 6 January 2008 03:14 (5 years ago) Permalink

yes

― admrl, Sunday, 6 January 2008 19:58 (5 years ago) Permalink

I have been there, Temple IV that is.

― admrl, Sunday, 6 January 2008 20:10 (5 years ago) Permalink

Nice.

Very awesome. He's doing academic work now, I gather, but damn if he didn't leave behind some great music.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 6 January 2008 20:16 (5 years ago) Permalink

what field?

when i heard temple iv on the radio once, i pulled over and called to see what it was. that's only happened twice. this guy is great.

― amateurist, Sunday, 6 January 2008 20:42 (5 years ago) Permalink

He's doing academic work now, I gather, but damn if he didn't leave behind some great music.

thank you for pre-answering the question i was about to ask!

― GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ, Monday, 7 January 2008 03:26 (5 years ago) Permalink

Here ya go:

His official homepage at Lincoln University in NZ

A group effort he participated in back in 2003

And, very happily, a recent interview talking about his music and his current doings.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 7 January 2008 03:36 (5 years ago) Permalink

The interview indicates that there's a new compilation out which I'd not heard about at all! Inroads is the title, but damned if I can find a home page for the label, Rebis. Anyway, here's one site carrying the release.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 7 January 2008 03:40 (5 years ago) Permalink

And talking about his current work in particular:

You're a senior lecturer and group leader at the Environment, Society and Design Division at Lincoln University. Care to tell us a bit about what you do? Has it ever been difficult to combine an academic career with a musical one?
Basically my job is to train up future environmental policy-makers and managers. I lecture undergrads and post-grads and supervise Masters and PhD students researching environmental management topics. Not difficult at all to combine careers since I don't have a musical one. The musical work is a fitful activity and the pressures are more with family life and being a volunteer firefighter in my twilight years.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 7 January 2008 03:41 (5 years ago) Permalink

the song Something Else Again from a mid 90s 7" was always my favorite.

― dan selzer, Monday, 7 January 2008 05:08 (5 years ago) Permalink

Wow, it's nice to see not only what Roy Montgomery's up to (classic, but another vote for instrumentals above the vocal tracks here, though I happily listen to either) but also what Mats of Broken Face is up to, since I enjoyed and miss the zine and this Deep Water Acres site Ned linked to is new to me. Thanks Ned!

― a passing spacecadet, Monday, 7 January 2008 08:57 (5 years ago) Permalink

The musical work is a fitful activity and the pressures are more with family life and being a volunteer firefighter in my twilight years.

― Michael Dudikoff presents Action Adventure Theatre, Monday, 7 January 2008 10:42 (5 years ago) Permalink

Rebis is a label out of Chicago run by the band Number None, I think.
Been listening to Temple IV a lot. His side of the Harmony of the Spheres, "Fantasia on a theme by Sandy Bull," is a personal favorite, too.

― Trip Maker, Monday, 7 January 2008 14:55 (5 years ago) Permalink

2 years pass...

― Faerie Liquide (admrl), Wednesday, 29 September 2010 05:59 (2 years ago) Permalink

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
SHREDS is not even the word 4 it

― Faerie Liquide (admrl), Wednesday, 29 September 2010 05:59 (2 years ago) Permalink

Yup.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 29 September 2010 06:03 (2 years ago) Permalink

Oh yes.

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Wednesday, 29 September 2010 13:35 (2 years ago) Permalink

does anyone here like Hash Jar Tempo?

― Dirt to Iron Man: "Suck it" (Drugs A. Money), Wednesday, 29 September 2010 14:15 (2 years ago) Permalink

Love 'em.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 29 September 2010 14:20 (2 years ago) Permalink

It's been quite a while since I gave "Well-Oiled" a spin, actually.

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 29 September 2010 14:46 (2 years ago) Permalink

does anyone here like Hash Jar Tempo?

Yup, I pulled out Under the Glass earlier this week, actually -- great stuff.

― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Wednesday, 29 September 2010 15:04 (2 years ago) Permalink

cool i want to check them out...when looking through the Flying Nun discography a few months back, it never occured to me once that the Pin Group might be as relevant as The Clean lol...

― drown sandwich (Drugs A. Money), Wednesday, 29 September 2010 15:55 (2 years ago) Permalink

There's another new Roy Montgomery track "Pressed Bloom" coming on the CD release of his Grouper split next year: http://sites.google.com/site/yellowelectric/Grouper

― plazzTT, Wednesday, 29 September 2010 15:57 (2 years ago) Permalink

HJT is great! Not as great as Dadamah though, imo!

― CharlieS, Wednesday, 29 September 2010 21:17 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Hi,

Just stumbled on this. I appreciate the comments that have kept the thread going (thanks Ned), albeit fitfully just like my output. Yes I found the "Roy Division" quip funny myself at the time not least when I arrived at work one day (record shop) to find it sprayed in day-glo on the big glass window. Expect a modest crank or two of the handle of output over the next year or so.

― Roy Montgomery, Monday, 1 November 2010 09:49 (2 years ago) Permalink

Incidentally, was listening to the collab w/ Kirk Lake, "London Is Swinging By His Neck". So, so haunting & beautiful!

― silence is a rhythm too (Turangalila), Monday, 1 November 2010 10:05 (2 years ago) Permalink

xpost -- Hey, you're welcome there sir, glad you could stop by. Looking forward to whatever comes next!

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 12:47 (2 years ago) Permalink

awesome!!

― pons (crüt), Monday, 1 November 2010 13:15 (2 years ago) Permalink

Can I be the only one here that rates And Now the Rain...? After the Pin Group, it was the first solo Roy I fell for, so that may have something to do with my everlasting love of this one.

― andrew m., Monday, 1 November 2010 13:51 (2 years ago) Permalink

Thanks for the tip, Sal, I'm listening now and "London Is Swinging By His Neck" is indeed really cool!

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 1 November 2010 14:32 (2 years ago) Permalink

Meantime, a clip from last year:

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 16:21 (2 years ago) Permalink

Some Pin Group film footage just up on Youtube. Filmed on 16mm by Ronnie Van Hout it shows us running through Ambivalence and Coat in practice room and gives a reasonably good idea of our dynamic and entertaining stage show. The first two and a half minutes feature a Christchurch poet called Desmond Brice who penned some of the Pin Group's lyrics including the above. Film closes with some flip remarks about Pin Group from local painter Marty Whitworth. Gives you some sense of how droll it was to live in ths city in the early 1980s.

― Roy Montgomery, Wednesday, 3 November 2010 10:08 (2 years ago) Permalink

Glad to hear the handle is cranking a bit. I've been wondering what you've been up to the last 5 years or so.

Incidental moment of fandom: Seeing Roy do his thing at the Cooler sometime 'round '94/5 and getting back to my Berkshire home in the middle of the night, stealing my roommate's guitar and having a go at it for the first time. Not nearly as good, but quite thrilling.

― bagelche, Thursday, 4 November 2010 03:24 (2 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

New album new album new album...

debut of a new project featuring guitarist Roy Montgomery and sonic warlock Nick Guy. the geological allusions in the group's name are apt, and the results are at once familiar and surprising, wedding Roy's melodies and riffs with Nick's rumbling bass frequencies, shuddering beats, textural drones, and finely crafted sonics.
released may 2011.

(there's a soundcloud sample at the link)

― Stockhausen's Ekranoplan Quartet (Elvis Telecom), Tuesday, 21 June 2011 00:12 (1 year ago) Permalink

but may has already passed? is it available somewhere?

― keythhtyek, Tuesday, 21 June 2011 00:52 (1 year ago) Permalink

not in NZ; they're coming up on Christmas there

― taking drugbs (to make music to take drugbs to) (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, 21 June 2011 17:23 (1 year ago) Permalink

looks to be available to order at that link

― andrew m., Tuesday, 21 June 2011 18:33 (1 year ago) Permalink

sounds really good

― Trip Maker, Tuesday, 21 June 2011 18:38 (1 year ago) Permalink

Aquarius Records has it also (just ordered)

― Stockhausen's Ekranoplan Quartet (Elvis Telecom), Tuesday, 21 June 2011 21:36 (1 year ago) Permalink

8 months pass...

bump to say there's a Pin Group soundboard recording from 1981 up on D1mead0zen right now.

― sleeve, Monday, 27 February 2012 17:57 (1 year ago) Permalink

wow, sleeve--thank you!!

― nerve_pylon, Monday, 27 February 2012 18:16 (1 year ago) Permalink

low rider!

― nerve_pylon, Monday, 27 February 2012 19:18 (1 year ago) Permalink

I heard a rumor of an anthology of Roy's work, anyone know anything? I wonder what'd be on it...

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 27 February 2012 20:38 (1 year ago) Permalink

there is a 2-CD rarities/outtakes/singles comp which i lost and now cannot find again.

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Monday, 27 February 2012 20:39 (1 year ago) Permalink

Hmmm, you mean this one, "Inroads"? http://www.discogs.com/Roy-Montgomery-Inroads-New-And-Collected-Works/release/903736

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 27 February 2012 21:41 (1 year ago) Permalink

aha

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Wednesday, 29 February 2012 21:02 (1 year ago) Permalink

Rebis Recordings has both the Inroads 2 CD comp and the Torlesse Super Group CD... the Inroads is on sale for $12, too.

― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Wednesday, 29 February 2012 22:19 (1 year ago) Permalink

5 months pass...

woot! Pin Group Retrospective reissued on Flying Nun! vinyl and cd! live tracks!

http://exclaim.ca/News/flying_nun_revisits_first-ever_signing_pin_group

― nerve_pylon, Thursday, 2 August 2012 23:27 (9 months ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

Roy Montgomery sure sounds good in Virginia this time of year, and this song rules so hard. Need to own a copy of this record:

― grandavis, Friday, 9 November 2012 18:24 (6 months ago) Permalink

5 months pass...

GREAT new interview just posted.

http://www.secretdecoder.net/features/2013/05/08/i-would-not-describe-myself-as-a-musician-an-interview-with-roy-montgomery/

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 8 May 2013 17:27 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

Thanks doesnt cover it, Ned

― Drugs A. Money, Wednesday, 8 May 2013 18:05 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

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