Elodie Lauten's The Death Of Don Juan, w/ Arthur Russell on cello and vocals, has just been reissued on CD. Here's what Alan Licht had to say abt it in the third of his Minimalism Top Tens:
“This is one of the great lost experimental records of the 80s. Lauten has been around since the 70s, going back and forth between Paris and New York. The Death Of Don Juan is an opera, in the avant garde sense, but I honestly prefer it to any of Robert Ashley’s operas or the Philip Glass ones (except Einstein). There’s a Fairlight on most of the record, but fear not, as you would never know that it dates from 80s. The first two tracks sound like Joe Jones meets Glass or Steve Reich, with harpsichords, trine (an electric lyre that Lauten invented) and Arthur Russell’s cello. “Death As A Shadow” recalls Meredith Monk’s “Turtle Dreams” but is even more haunting and doomy. Russell’s vocal on “Death As A Woman” even reminds me of Moondog 2 and sounds unlike any of his other work. Even the libretto is fab-A+”
― Ward Fowler, Sunday, 31 August 2008 18:05 (fifteen years ago) link
woah that is exciting.
samples here: i think i will buy.
― jed_, Sunday, 31 August 2008 18:51 (fifteen years ago) link
http://digital.othermusic.com/search/full.php?UID=284675
there, sorry.
nice article with Tom Leehttp://www.thefader.com/articles/2008/9/19/q-a-tom-lee-on-life-with-and-without-arthur-russell
― jaxon, Thursday, 25 September 2008 17:16 (fifteen years ago) link
there's a good article in the new out magazine about russell
― M@tt He1ges0n, Thursday, 25 September 2008 17:46 (fifteen years ago) link
Just a reminder for London ILXORs - film starts tonight at the ICA, with Optimo DJing AR & related stuff afterwards in the bar, which is free.
― Jamie T Smith, Friday, 26 September 2008 14:44 (fifteen years ago) link
Short piece in the Guardian today:http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/sep/26/popandrock
― Neil S, Friday, 26 September 2008 14:48 (fifteen years ago) link
New track on the Audika myspace posted just today.
I think I heard that Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear mixed this, but maybe he was lying.
― Owen Pallett, Friday, 26 September 2008 17:08 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah, that's in the promo stuff, mixed and edited apparently.has anyone seen it confirmed for vinyl yet? the others were, and steve audika said so, but i haven't heard it mentioned in the last while.
― schlump, Friday, 26 September 2008 19:53 (fifteen years ago) link
here's a playlist from the post ica screening shindig.
Indian Ocean - School Bell / Tree HouseLoose Joints - Is It All Over My Face (Original Unreleased Version)Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face (Male Vocal)Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face (Female Vocal)Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face (acapella)Loose Joints - Tell You (Today)Loose Joints - Pop Your FunkDinosaur L - #1 (You're Gonna Be Clean On Your Bean)Dinosaur L - Go Bang!(Francois Kevorkian Mix)Dinosaur - Kiss Me Again (Version)Arthur Russell - Keeping UpArthur Russell - A Little LostArthur Russell - Another ThoughtArthur Russell - Home Away From HomeArthur Russell - This Is How We Walk On The MoonArthur Russell - In The Light Of The MiracleArthur Russell - Let's Go Swimiing (Coastal Dub)Arthur Russell - The Platform On The OceanArthur Russell - That's Us / Wild CombinationArthur Russell - Place I Know / Kid Like YouArthur Russell - All-Boy All-GirlArthur Russell - Part I: June 23, 1977Arthur Russell - You Have Did The Right Thing When You Put That Skylight InThe Necessaries - Driving And Talking At The Same TimePeter Zummo - Song IVPeter Gordon - That HatClandestine Featuring Ned Sublette - Radio Rhythm (Killer Whale Dub Mix)Arthur Russell - Close My EyesArthur Russell - Goodbye Old PaintArthur Russell - This Time Dad You're WrongArthur Russell - The LetterArthur Russell - EliArthur Russell - Love Is Overtaking Me
― stirmonster, Saturday, 27 September 2008 10:23 (fifteen years ago) link
ysi?
― john della boscaoila (sic), Saturday, 27 September 2008 14:24 (fifteen years ago) link
mmm, all-boy all-girl is so good. i've just been walking around listening to song iv, too. the ica bar must have been a nice place to be.
― schlump, Saturday, 27 September 2008 22:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Listening to Love Is Overtaking Me for the first time. It's quite an intimate listen. It's country music all the way (up till now), and some MOR pop/rock even. Can't really say anything else about it. Don't know if it's good or not. But the intimacy, and that voice...
― Le Bateau Ivre, Thursday, 2 October 2008 16:52 (fifteen years ago) link
Near the end of the album the songs slowly transform into the stylistics of his s/t album, with the drummachine entering. This is great stuff.
― Le Bateau Ivre, Thursday, 2 October 2008 17:26 (fifteen years ago) link
oh didn't know this was out already. WANT.
― willem, Thursday, 2 October 2008 17:35 (fifteen years ago) link
Seriously, nobody is commenting on 'Love is Overtaking Me'?
It's brilliant, and a real grower--21 tracks, and though I prefer the slightly more organic avant-country-folk-singer-songwriter first half to the somewhat more familiar Casio-pop second half, it's remarkable that literally ever song is memorable. Definitely some of his strongest, most traditional melodies, and the lyrics are often quite beautiful and unabashedly romantic. It's obviously very compilation-y, not much aesthetic/production value consistency, but that's not a bad thing. Amazingly, half the tracks are from 1973-1975, and truly reveal an entirely unknown side and period for him. A lot of it feels a little Dylan-The Band, or Modern Lovers, or John Prine, but every bit is indelibly Arthur, even as unexpected as the context sometimes is. The only real downside is that some of the material is so strong, it makes me wish that an entire release had been made from that particular source (for example, the Flying Hearts/Ernie Brooks era stuff, if more of it exists.
There really seems to be no bottom of the barrel for Mr. Russell, which isn't really a surprise. I imagine that for many people, this will be a surprise fave amongst his oeuvre, even those of us who prefer his more avant-garde work.
― Soundslike, Wednesday, 29 October 2008 08:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah, I saw this in the Soul Jazz shop last weekend and I thought WTF? I must investigate it.
― synths and drum machines (e.g. Simmonds) (Marcello Carlin), Wednesday, 29 October 2008 10:20 (fifteen years ago) link
i totally share Soundslike's enthusiasm although i think i prefer the second half. "Love Comes Back" hits me pretty hard. i love it.
― jed_, Wednesday, 29 October 2008 11:07 (fifteen years ago) link
Agree about this being a grower.
― I am using your worlds, Wednesday, 29 October 2008 14:17 (fifteen years ago) link
Audika's Steve Knutson was on Beats in Space last night (should be archived now at WNYU) and had heaps of unheard tracks: a never-released Walter Gibbons edit of "Go Bang" and a "World of Echo"-era track called "Planet of Thought." alas, radio crackle overwhelmed the latter, but so glad to know the 21st century has mineral rights on that stuff.
― beta blog, Wednesday, 29 October 2008 15:08 (fifteen years ago) link
Thats good to know. Is it available to stream online anywhere? Did Steve mention if any more releases were planned?
― I am using your worlds, Wednesday, 29 October 2008 15:17 (fifteen years ago) link
OK, found it on WNYU, cheers
Anyone read ceddy's post on the Rolling Country Record. The album's a bore, he says. I'm in between Eddy and Soundslike's positions: I've played it every morning in the office, able to identify at least 10 strong melodies ("Don't Forget About Me" is such a quiet, gentlemanly song), but it hasn't become a must-have either.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 29 October 2008 15:46 (fifteen years ago) link
The new album is pleasant but slight. Largely missing those elements that made much of his work great.
Reminds me most of the Lemonheads.
― bidfurd, Wednesday, 29 October 2008 20:41 (fifteen years ago) link
'pleasant' not used as a perjorative by the way (or sounding like the Lemonheads). I am enjoying it a lot.
― bidfurd, Wednesday, 29 October 2008 21:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Hmm, granted I haven't listened to the Lemonheads since about 1995 or so. . . but that connection wouldn't ring a bell for me.
Sticking by it as a "grower," because I've found several of the melodies firmly stuck in my head over the last few days, and also finding myself listening to the whole album on repeat, something I rarely do.
I can see what you mean about some of the qualities we usually associate with Russell's "greatness" being absent--it certainly isn't mysterious or (very often) experimental, it's certainly more traditional than anything one normally associates with him, and it's far from headphone music or dance music. But for me, both the essential melodicism of all his work--you can identify Arthur's keyboard playing in any context within a few note-clusters, for example--and the unabashed, unbound joy in making music that Arthur possessed come through as clear as ever.
It would be a weird introduction, or at least maybe a misleading one (though for someone who rarely seemed to do the same thing twice, maybe there isn't really a right or "representative" work). But for those of us already initiated, I think it adds yet another wrinkle. Though I have heard from some who otherwise aren't fans that this is far more likable and accessible, so who knows--maybe it's a great introduction to get someone hooked.
― Soundslike, Friday, 31 October 2008 15:07 (fifteen years ago) link
wow that beats in space looks like it had some amazing stuff on it
― t_g, Friday, 31 October 2008 16:07 (fifteen years ago) link
Oh my!
Dinosaur - Kiss Me Again (Unreleased Japanese Vocal Mix)
This is so good.
― arghkaybee, Friday, 31 October 2008 21:52 (fifteen years ago) link
the death of don juan is INCREDIBLE, one of the best i've heard all year. not that it's technically new
― psychgawsple, Saturday, 1 November 2008 11:13 (fifteen years ago) link
'Don Juan' is quite good, even the bits lacking any Arthur Russell ; )
Make sure you've heard Peter Zummo's 'Zummo With an X,' especially "Song IV" for more relatively overlooked longform Arthur goodness. . .
― Soundslike, Saturday, 1 November 2008 19:38 (fifteen years ago) link
Catching a doc on this dude Monday night. Know nothing about him, will read this thread.
― what i got is HOOS for the capitalism (BIG HOOS aka the steendriver), Saturday, 1 November 2008 19:48 (fifteen years ago) link
I only realised recently that Arthur plays cello on Talking Heads 'Psycho Killer (Acoustic)', one of the bonus tracks on the 77 re-issues from a couple of years ago. More goodness.
― arghkaybee, Saturday, 1 November 2008 21:03 (fifteen years ago) link
Hoos smoke some weed first
― Niles Caulder, Sunday, 2 November 2008 12:49 (fifteen years ago) link
I wish I could be where Hoos is.
― I know, right?, Sunday, 2 November 2008 12:53 (fifteen years ago) link
It's playing all over, even Cleveland and Ithaca!
Upcoming Festivals, Special Events, and Theatricals
Boston Theatrical:
Boston Museum of Fine Art Opens October 30 1 WEEK ONLY - buy tickets
Alamo Drafthouse, AustinNovember 3 & 5, Screening Times TBA
San Francisco Theatrical:
Roxie Theater, San Francisco Opens November 7 1 WEEK ONLY
Leeds Film Festival, UKNovember 7, 18:00 - The WardrobeNovember 11, 18:30 - Carriageworks, Film Forum
Cleveland CinemathequeNovember 9, Screening Time TBA
Pittsburgh FilmmakersNovember 9 & 11, Screening Time TBA
Amsterdam Theaterical:
SMART Cinema Opens November 13 - 1 MONTH weekly screenings and parties
Pauze Festival, Utrecht + GentNovember 13, 19:00 - Theater Kikker, UtrechtNovember 15, 18:00 - Vooruit, Gent
Starz Denver Film Festival, ColoradoNovember 22 + 23, 6:00
November Scandinavia Tour: Filmaker in attendance
CPH:Dox, Denmark November 7 - 16, Screening Time TBA
Oslo Film Festival, Norway November 20 - 30, Screening Time TBA
Stockholm Film Festival, Sweden November 20 - 30, Screening Time TBA
Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film FestivalNovember 20 - December 3, Screening Time TBA
ConClub, RotterdamNovember 22nd, 20:30 - Zaal de Unie
Cinema Maldà, BarcelonaNovember 25th, Screening Time TBA
Cinema Lux, Lugano, SwitzerlandNovember 28th, Screening Time TBA
La casa encendida, MadridNovember 29 - 30, Screening Time TBA
Brighton Film Festival, UKDecember 1st, Screening Time TBA
Special New York Encore Screening:
MoMA, New York December 5, 7:00 / December 19, 8:00 - Titus 2 Filmmaker in attendance
Cornell Cinema, IthacaDecember 10, 12, 13, Time TBD
Rooftop Cinema, MelbourneJanuary 20, Time TBD
― psychgawsple, Sunday, 2 November 2008 16:58 (fifteen years ago) link
Reminder that 'Wild Combination' sees DVD release Nov. 18th (tomorrow) in the US (apparently already released on the 4th in Europe).
I'm excited to watch it again. And I hope people aren't missing out on 'Love is Overtaking Me,' haven't seen as much press this time around. Haven't listened to it in a week, yet I still have five or six tracks on stuck-in-my-head-got-me-singing rotation. The blue-eyed-soul stuff with the brass arrangements in the middle remain especially devestating.
― Soundslike, Monday, 17 November 2008 17:09 (fifteen years ago) link
cool! did not know this was going to be on DVD so soon. and yeah, i really need to order the new one.
― tylerw, Monday, 17 November 2008 17:38 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm receiving it via Netflix tomorrow.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 17 November 2008 17:49 (fifteen years ago) link
I find myself drawn to 'Love Is Overtaking Me' every single day since I got it. So much beauty in there. Will definitely get the DVD.
― Le Bateau Ivre, Monday, 17 November 2008 23:03 (fifteen years ago) link
this is interesting but also a total tease! http://dustedmagazine.com/features/778i respect that audika isn't just throwing every last thing out there, regardless of quality, but some of that stuff sounds fascinating!
― tylerw, Monday, 24 November 2008 16:34 (fifteen years ago) link
The documentary is lovely.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 24 November 2008 16:36 (fifteen years ago) link
I need to get in touch with Mr. Knutson. Meet up with him in NYC one day, get him really drunk, convince him to make me a few DVD-Rs worth of unreleased material.
Truly, I wouldn't even leak it. I'd just be made a much happier man.
― Soundslike, Monday, 24 November 2008 21:16 (fifteen years ago) link
KATE! I've been touched by the Lord. I don't need you anymore!!
...favorite song at the moment along w/ "I couldn't say it to your face."
― Moreno, Monday, 24 November 2008 22:10 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah what the hell is the point of that dusted feature. worst listed EVER, unless the tracks are available of course :)
― psychgawsple, Monday, 24 November 2008 22:24 (fifteen years ago) link
which they aren't
― psychgawsple, Monday, 24 November 2008 22:25 (fifteen years ago) link
I find that list rather refreshing in this age of instant gratification.
― Trip Maker, Monday, 24 November 2008 22:29 (fifteen years ago) link
the worst part is "...you will NEVER hear".
why the hell not?
― braveclub, Monday, 24 November 2008 22:30 (fifteen years ago) link
Because he has all the access. So what? At least you got to hear ANY Arthur Russell.
― Trip Maker, Monday, 24 November 2008 22:31 (fifteen years ago) link
Maybe it's just me, but it doesn't seem like this comp is gathering quite the attention in press that the previous reissues/compilations got? I was so happy when Russell started getting any attention at all--guess I can't be greedy. But this one would seem an even easier sell for the general listener, no?
― Soundslike, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 15:11 (fifteen years ago) link
I am loving it. I'm not sure if what you are talking about is true or not. So, turn some people on to it. I know I will play "The Letter" on my next radio show.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 15:24 (fifteen years ago) link