Chalkhills Digest Volume 13, Issue 14
Date: Wednesday, 28 March 2007
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 13, Number 14
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
Topics:
Time is running out ... XTC is losing! Please get this message out on Chalkh
Monstrous Rot
Trust
Thanks Ben, everyone share!
The Disappearing Moulding/An Announcement.
Monstrance *is* a Monster
Obnoxious Monstrance "review"
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 22:17:40 -0400 From: "Frey,Ned" <Ned.Frey@gartner.com> Subject: Time is running out ... XTC is losing! Please get this message out Message-ID: <3F1656F8BE95594FACDA8E6FB620FA0E01A57EE9@FINCH.ent.gartner.com> on Chalkhills ... XTC is losing badly to The Dead Kennedys in the first round of the "Band Madness" tournament at www.bandmadness.net. There's only a few days left for folks to vote for XTC and avoid an embarrassing first-round loss. Please post a message on chalkhills telling XTC fans to get over to that site and vote. XTC is in bracket D. (I'd post something in Chalkhills, but I'm not subscribed to the list any more.) And yes, the whole concept is silly, but strangely fascinating at the same time. Check out the huge image under the "Bracket" tab, which shows all the bands and their seedings ... it's a wonder to behold. Regards, Ned Frey Senior Writer Gartner
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 08:16:47 +0000 (GMT) From: Dom Lawson <britishsteel666@yahoo.co.uk> Subject: Monstrous Rot Message-ID: <20070323081647.90641.qmail@web27105.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Greetings nerds! Mr Gott said: I find Monstrance to be almost unlistenable. There is none of the sweetness that characterized Through the Hill -- or, indeed, any of Partridge's other instrumental compositions. The first track, "I Lovely Cosmonaut," contains almost nine-and-a-half minutes of guitar echoes and screeches. Don't take this the wrong way, Mr. G, but your review has made me almost psychotically interested in hearing this Monstrance thing. Unlistenable?? Where do I sign! Sounds fantastic from your description and much as I love AP's "sweetness", his skronk has always been extremely appealing to my ear(s). Mr Frey said: As I write this, XTC is losing to The Dead Kennedies by 16 votes to 26! (I mean, no offense to the Dead Kennedies, but they were a punk novelty act that lasted, what a year or two? How can they prevail over the musical legacy that is XTC?) Firstly, it's the Dead Kennedys. Jeeeezus. Secondly, they were not a "punk novelty act". In fact, they are widely regarded (by fans of the genre, natch) as one of the most important punk rock bands of all time. Lyrically brilliant - razor sharp satire, anyone? - and musically inventive in a way that most punk bands simply weren't, the DKs legacy is a fine thing indeed. Okay, so it's not quite on a par with XTC's in terms of musicality or melodic power, but the Dead Kennedys - who lasted for a lot longer than two years, you great dolt - changed my life in a more profound way than most. Punk novelty act? How dare you!!! Honestly, you can't get the staff... Now I'm off to vote for Megadeth (they're up against Belle & Sebastian, so maybe you can infer how sensible this poll really is...let the tears flow, my brothers...) Salut! Dom DOM LAWSON NP: MONSTROSITY - Spiritual Apocalypse
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:12:43 +1200 From: "Neil Sheppard" <shepster247@gmail.com> Subject: Trust Message-ID: <3d42c8180703230212v6fd1f9ccmd69e71c8757ec785@mail.gmail.com> After Andy mentioned "LHC" the other day during one of Todd's "songs of the week" I thought I'd mention this, which I happened upon earlier... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_(album)
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 11:03:21 -0700 (PDT) From: Jackson <jydson@yahoo.com> Subject: Thanks Ben, everyone share! Message-ID: <513512.56703.qm@web56814.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Thanks for the heads up on Monstrance, from the teaser at Ape House, it sounded like an 80s Enoesque ambient noise experiment.....but what do I know? While sharing your undyeing loyalty to all things Andy Partridge, I 've been thinking about emailing the list to elicit their most disliked XTC song...mine, CROCODILE, it always reminds me of something an 11 year old would have written.... Jack
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:45:03 -0500 From: Chris Vreeland <CVREELAND@austin.rr.com> Subject: The Disappearing Moulding/An Announcement. Message-ID: <C3ACD8DB-AA9C-4D13-B159-A84F0343582E@austin.rr.com> I've gotta say that this disappearing Colin stuff has got me uneasy. Yes, the implications for the future of XTC have been hashed out enough, and while that's sad, what's worse is that a musician and writer of his stature could reach a point where it holds nothing for him any longer. It speaks volumes about the state of the music industry to me when all the crap heaped on one's head in 30 years of the biz could cause him to totally lose his love for the thing he was so obviously gifted at. In a perfect world, even if he & Andy Partridge were sick of one another personally or professionally, his talent would still be sought & nurtured by those whose job it is to do such things -- but alas, it doesn't appear to be anybody's job any more to nurture talent in the music business. And so what if he's all written-out? Even so, I wish I could live in a universe where I had an array of releases by *insert great band name here* with Mr. Moulding providing his stellar talents on the bass. I ask myself this a lot -- Why doesn't he get more studio work? He's done a couple of tracks here and there, but with him not touring, it seems like over the last 25 years, he'd have certainly had the time. But apparently, he doesn't get the calls. This kind of breaks my heart. Still, someone somewhere must know what he's up to. He hasn't bugged out for the Mongolian heights, has he? One must make a living, and do royalties from Nigel keep food on his plate, or what? Sign me saddened and mystified. Part 2 of the post: While Colin Moulding might not be getting much out of his musical past, I have to say that I've been soaking it up. I've been playing the bass at least semi-professionally since the early 80s, and my participation in the Dukes of Simpleton tribute project has been an inspiration to me as a player. The things I've learned about accuracy and melody as a result of studying his parts have really caught me by surprise. I've found myself loving the instrument anew the last couple of years, as I glean more and more information from a true master of the instrument. I always knew he was good, but now I'm more convinced than ever, that as a technician, he's truly one of the greats, right up there with Jamerson & Levin. The man simply understands what the bass is for, better than damn near anyone who's ever played one. Tuesday nights, practice night for me, is my big escape valve now in a life full of travails, and it re-energizes and recharges me, and I go away a happy, fulfilled person for my love of this music. Thanks, Colin, I wish in my heart of hearts it was still doing the same for you. Part 3 of the post: The upshot of these seemingly interminable rehearsals is, you guessed it, a show. If you're within earshot of this post, come out & see us do two sets of XTC live on Saturday, April 14th at Threadgill's World Headquarters, in Austin TX. from 9 till 11 pm. We've got 5 new songs on tap for tis show, and a new drummer, Pat Brown, formerly of the well known (To Austinites, anyway) acts Year Zero & Joe Rockhead. Pat's quite the thrasher, and he really leans into Terry's old parts with a particular abandon. We're having fun with him in the band, to say the least. Hope to see a few of you there, and don't forget to check the audio and video on our site: http://dukesofsimpleton.com Chris Vreeland
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2007 06:27:50 -0700 (PDT) From: Todd Bernhardt <beat_town@yahoo.com> Subject: Monstrance *is* a Monster Message-ID: <771999.67783.qm@web32004.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi: Ben didn't like Monstrance (or, perhaps, just the two songs that have been posted for download so far?) ... I beg to differ. For what it's worth, I've had a copy of Monstrance for several weeks now, and have been thoroughly enjoying it, as it reveals itself to me through repeated listenings. It's groove-y and textural -- a fine example of ensemble playing where no one feels the need to pull their ego out of their pants and wave it around. One of the joys of listening to this album, especially as a musician, is the obvious listening and empathy going on among the three players. As for the players, I'm impressed by all. Barry's palette has never been more varied -- he moves easily from lyrical piano playing to jagged-edge, avant-garde, "where'd the hell did he find that" sounds of the type I've adored since I first heard musique concrete as a lad. Just as his dissonant chords and fills provided the perfect counterpoint to Andy's aggressive and angular guitar playing on White Music and Go2, Barry shines on this album, always playing just what's necessary and never failing to surprise. In some ways, he's the sonic glue that holds the pieces together. Martyn Barker also moves easily across a wide range of styles and approaches -- making fine use of (as the song demands) brushes, soft mallets, or sticks -- and playing the drum kit and assorted percussion in a resolutely *musical* way. Most importantly, he supplies the grooves missing from so many improv albums, which have a tendency to descend into pointless wheedle-ee wheedle-ee wheedle-ee wanking, and helps these songs be *songs* -- no, they're not traditional pop songs, but they are extremely interesting and musical explorations that develop, that *breathe*, and that ultimately reward the listener who is willing to open themselves to the possibilities of each song, just as the players did. Finally, there's Mr. Partridge, who proves his pedigree as one of the world's foremost rhythm guitarists. As I said above, there's precious little soloing on the album, and given my high regard for Andy's lead playing, my one complaint is that I would have loved for him to air it out a bit -- but he's said that this was not that kind of project, and after hearing the album, I understand and admire his restraint. He ends up providing the rhythmic bedrock for quite a few of the songs, making use of delay and other effects to provide quite interesting and sometimes very beautiful melodies that build and play off each other in an almost Gamelan fashion. Who is the audience for this album? Well, off the top of my head, I'd say any fans of Brian Eno, or Steve Reich, or '73-'74 King Crimson, or ... well, the list goes on. Basically, in my opinion, this album will please anyone who's willing to open themselves to the possibilities and opportunities provided when three world-class musicians get together and open themselves to Music. -Todd "What we hear is the way that we hear." -Robert Fripp
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:18:00 -0400 From: "Fred Weaver" <fredericweaver@gmail.com> Subject: Obnoxious Monstrance "review" Message-ID: <1f6960d30703281618j15d21747sc1b4c1c7effb9fa4@mail.gmail.com> Gang, This is my review of the inane "Monstrance," "review" written for kevchino.com. ( whatever the hell that is ) It speaks for itself. First off, the reviewer is the same guy who posted the following inappropriate and inaccurate entry in a recent digest: *** March 3 Ben Gott writes, "In honour of the end of XTC, I have compiled an MP3 of some of my favourite XTC endings <http://homepage.mac.com/bengott/.Music/XTC.mp3> . . ." ( didn't that subject line piss anyone else off ? ) *** Nowhere in the AV Club interview ( that he seems to have gleaned this information from ) was it explicitly clear that this is "the end of XTC"... Anyway, aside from that, if you actually bothered to read his "review" of Monstrance, you'd have been treated to this fine example of his prose: "So what is the market for an album like Monstrance? Modern dance companies? German film majors? Serial killers? Danny Elfman? It certainly isn't fans of Andy Partridge, Barry Andrews, or Martyn Baker. It is simply too experimental -- too jagged -- to satisfy." *** I guess the ignorant and offensive statement above " speaks for itself ". Those who can't do teach Those who can't make music review it etc Be good and have fun,
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #13-14 *******************************
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