Manafonistas

Now this was a special sequencing for my lecture in Kristiansand, a mix of words and sounds. The first idea was: to show people how to „compose“ a „thrilling“ radio show out of quite different styles; the second idea was a kind of theme running through nearly all the tracks: „structural minimalism“. That seemed a little bit too academic for me; I wanted more surprise in it, and an element of shock and disturbance on the side of the listeners. So the third theme has become – dying, simple as that.

Of course, here I won`t give away the track list. The names of the label might ring a bell as well: DENOVALI (two times), VIRGIN, HUBRO (two times), ECM, OPAL, SUB POP, and, cause I have only 25 till 30 minutes performance time, I probably have to leave out one of my favorites  from RUNE GRAMMOFON. Every visitor of the seminar will find a special posting on this blog, on the day of the lecture, with the full playlist, a number of recommendations (so, better don´t miss the vinyl or cd versions of „The Nature of Connections“ and „SUPERSILENT 12“ on Rune Kristoffersen´s label!) – and a lot of extras that all make sense for the 10th Punktfestival!  

After my lecture Jana Winderen (with Mike Harding from the excellent label Touch) and Laurie Anderson will hold their „lessons“ – I´m always very grateful for good company. Jana, I will see you smiling at one point of my performance, so don´t miss it. And, Mrs. Anderson, we had met twice. Once upon a time deep in the past century we had a fine conversation about the record that has become my favourite album in your broad catalogue: „Bright / Red“. One of the songs there was „Freefall“. That´s what my little lecture is about, too, (not only) in a metaphorical sense. If you don`t have the time to join the auditorium, enjoy the fantastic breakfast at our hotel! But, well, then you will just miss a special kind of „pacific radio fire“ … (more information: punktfestival.no) 

Not only Leonard Cohen will release a new album, Jackson Browne also readies a new release, as MOJO Magazine reports online.

Ringing peals of guitar herald the coming of a great new Jackson Browne release, itself a harbinger of an October 6-7 album, Standing In The Breach, his 14th. Browne fans will find the rousing electric incarnation unfamiliar, but the song itself is from the archive.

The Birds Of St. Marks was originally recorded on April 6, 1970 as a demo for Criterion Music, and first emerged on Browne’s 2005 album, Solo Acoustic Vol 1. Concerning a medieval-ish queen sequestered in sadness behind castle walls, the song was inspired by Velvet Underground songstrel Nico, with whom the young Browne, as a dashing young-songwriter about town, had a dalliance. Browne songs and co-writes – These Days, Somewhere There’s A Feather, The Fairest Of The Seasons – lay at the heart of the Teutonic ice-maiden’s 1967 debut solo album, Chelsea Girl.

The new band treatment of The Birds Of St. Marks sees Browne (acoustic guitar), Val McCallum (electric guitar), Don Heffington (drums), and Bob Glaub (bass) joined by Greg Leisz on 12-string guitar, while McCallum and Kipp Lennon stir essence of Crosby into the vocal harmonies. “The interplay between Val McCallum and Greg Leisz on this album – the effortlessness of their chemistry is a gift really,” enthuses Browne.

Dies war der letzte Teil unseres Versuches, mit der einst hochtalentierten Lyrikerin und nun gewiss vor einer erfolgreichen Karriere als Architektin stehenden N.N. Kontakt aufzunehmen, für ein denkwürdiges Interview, dass selbst Richard Linklater beeindruckt hätte. Insiderjoke :) – Martina (Grüsse nach Irland) und ich erklären den Fall für abgeschlossen. Erfolglos verlief zudem der Versuch, ein Restaurant in Lissabon zu finden, dass neben Fleisch auch Gemüse in die Pfanne schmeisst. Danke für die wohlgemeinten Tipps. Ich habe einen portugiesischen Kumpel in den empfohlenen Restaurants anrufen lassen – das Ergebnis war deprimierend. Ein Laden hatte als einziges Gemüse Broccoli, und ich hasse Broccoli, bin aber sonst sehr offen, auch für Blumenkohl.