Showing posts with label Andrew Stranglen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andrew Stranglen. Show all posts
February 25, 2017
September 2, 2012
October 23, 2011
Andrew Stranglen
August 30, 2011
Banjo Bug : A Collaborative Compendium of Electrically Recorded Music and Sound Collage Improvisations
Hey folks! I've just been given the green light on sharing this with y'all. Andrew Stranglen, Charlie Schmidt and Mike Luckett get twangy and clangy on this effort and I highly recommend you check it out! Oh, and there's more to it than banjos, whew!
Between the interval of the death of John Fahey and the tragic events of September 11th 2001, this rustic and highly limited edition Album was completed by me on September 9th of that year. With the help of longtime friend Michael Luckett, and separately with then new friend Charlie Schmidt, we plunged the depths of faheyana with guitars, Banjos, Tiples, and Electrified guitar. With Charlie, we were inside the Edgebrook Episcopal Church (Chicago), complete with a dusty wooden model of a seagoing ship hanging near the apex of the ceiling between nave and chancel. With Michael, we were in a 10 x 12 Screen hut set well away from the house and road, surrounded by deep mature woods, Oak and Hard Maple, in the midst of Crickets, Katydids and all manner of banjoey bugs, while distant trains punctuated the night with lonesome diesel throb.
It is my wish that y'all enjoy the Banjo Bug as much as I still do! -Andrew Stranglen
Download it HERE - all art included
April 4, 2011
Nick Jonah Davis - Of Time And Tides
Nick Jonah Davis
“Of Time and Tides - Guitar Recordings Vol II”
Review by Andrew Stranglen
“Of Time and Tides” is a collection of 11 songs that would have seamlessly meshed into the Takoma catalogue. Nick is a fine player who strikes the balance between player and instrument, letting the guitar guide him as much as he is guiding it.
Fans of the Takoma & Kottke/Lang/Fahey (and others!) tradition, will not be disappointed in this latest coup de gras by Mr. Davis. Track 7, “Nocturne” is dominated by the piano, assumedly also played by Nick Jonah Davis (or perhaps pianist Ed Earl, see ‘Guitar Recordings Vol I') with just a slight hint of guitar accompaniment alongside. Track 10, “A Broken Circle” explores accompaniment of a single shimmering chord, reminiscent of John Fahey’s improvising against the hum of refrigerators and the like.
I know something is good, when I get lost in the reverie of listening to what I am supposed to be reviewing. I found nothing to dislike in this new album by Nick. He hails from somewhere in Nottingham, U.K. This probably means some British folk influences, Renbourn and others, are present, but not overwhelming. As I previously stated, this album could pass for a Takoma ‘blast from the past’. Being a guitar player myself, I also know something is good if it makes me reach for my guitar. This it did, but I restrained myself from playing alongside or stopping the playback to indulge myself, until it was over.
“Of Time and Tides”’s sequence is flawlessly chosen. Sometimes that can mean the difference between an okay album and an excellent album. But in this case it probably would not make a great difference if you shuffled things around a bit. Never boring, very captivating is my diagnosis, ***** Five Stars!
Good job Nick! -Andrew Stranglen
You can find Nick Jonah Davis on MySpace and buy the vinyl release on Tompkins Square.
March 22, 2011
Andrew Stranglen - Doggone Gone Dog
Folks, I'm proud to present to you a recording by Andrew Stranglen, available for download. If you aren't familiar with Stranglen's work you need to check it out. This is an older one that was never released for sale. But he has those too, be sure to check the links at the end of the post. His "Harken" release made my Tops of the Decade list. So without further ado, take it away Andrew...
Def.1 An American colloquial expression of exasperation
at the impermanence of life; An expression of loss of
a close friend or relative. “Doggone it, the doggone
dog is done gone!”
Def.2 A collection of experimental music recordings ca1999,
by Andrew Stranglen using two Teac reel to reel tape
decks in an endless loop setup, a la Steve Reich, or
Fripp & Eno, earlier pioneers of R2R 2 R2R audio tape
music experimentation.
Conception
Doggone Gone Dog was originally conceived while playing around with two Teac reel to reel tape decks. And 12-string acoustic guitar with all lighter gages tuned DGGDGD.
Deck 1 is the record & supply deck, and deck 2, set some few feet away is the playback & take-up deck which plays back into deck 1 opposite channels. This creates a delayed repeat or long echo that slowly fades as new audio material is continually added, creating riffs that morph throughout time. Other noisemakers on this collection include an electric guitar(Harmony Gibson S-G copy), kalimba, jaw harp, tambourine, voice, whistling, electronic cicada toy, and on the Bonus track (Jivas extracted from Splendor) I bring a harmonica into the mix.
Formerly an extremely limited edition
Here is the new and improved “Doggone Gone Dog” album originally made in 1999 with a limited issue of probably no more than 20 cdrs ever produced. I've remastered it for normalization and elimination of some pesky resonances. It sounds better than ever, and I still enjoy it a lot! I'm happy to give it away, and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Notes on the cover art
Front cover: Dog + Lightning = Electrik Dog => Lectrikdog(as currently).
A collage of a lightning sky turned upside down, midground is a blue disc shaped birdbath
sized fountain in front of which: a wolf type dog is eyeing us whilst licking his snout for a better whiff.
Is Mr. Executive attempting to warn her?, or is he simply freaked out about his own situation? There is a radio telescope array seen outside the windows of the boardroom.
Notes on the Songs
1) “Doggone Gone Dog, Gone Dog”
Yamaha slotted head acoustic 12-string with custom light gages tuned all mid-high register D-G-G-D-G-D(Dog-Gone-Gone-Dog-Gone-Dog).
2) “Tropical Force Pt.1”
Title inspired by a pre-Katrina hurricane Floyd(mid September 1999).
Electric guitar in Standard tuning plus assorted other instrumentation.
3) “Tribal Interlude”
a respite?, from the chaos of tropical storms, maybe.
4) “Electric Gone Dog”
The original theme of track 1 is reiterated here using a Harmony “Gibson SG” copy tuned DGGDGD.
5) “Tropical Force Pt.2”
See Track 2.
6) “Tribal Interlude(Conclusion)”
See Track 3.
7) “Gone Dog”
Straight 12-string no tape loop manipulation, Fingerpicking with slide DGGDGD.
8) “A Song For Jon”
Straight 6 string – again no tape machines, tuned DADFAD(Dm open)
Bonus Track 9
“Jivas, Extracted from Splendor”
This piece was made in 2000 also using the dual reel to reel technology.
To me it sounded like music to accompany Jim Woodring's “Frank” in his world of the Unifactor, see http://www.Jimwoodring.com , or
Guitar 12-string, jaw harp, harmonica, voice.
Ralph Johnston said recently upon hearing Jivas,
“'Twas a curious little field holler performed by nanobotic nematodes while creating the magnificently monolithic ice crystal cathedrals of the Skapa Flow”.
then:
“Andrew...hiowdy! I indeed love "Jivas"!...check out Scapa Flow on Wikipedia...they will give you a much better, detailed description than I ever could...at first my impressions were of my late pooch Kyri ecstatically rolling around in my back yard...enthralled with a cookie treat and revelling in my rapt attention to her canine antics...but then...sinister images began to appear...images of nanobotic nematodes and huge chrystalline ice structures being constructed in places where humans labored and fought...for truth...justice...and the...American way...sorry...I loved the 1950s Superman TV series starring George Reeves.”
I figure if Ralph likes it, well that's a job well done then.
ENJOY!
Andrew
Download it HERE includes all artwork.
December 8, 2010
Jack Rose - NPR and Andrew Stranglen pay Tribute
 |
| Tim Bugbee/Tinnitus Photography |
Andrew Stranglen has sent me a couple tunes to share with all of you!
Andrew is certainly no Fahey traditionalist! Instead preferring electric sounding mixes, flabby low-tuned guitars and usually improvising as often as not. It's great!
Hit the link to d/l 2 songs: "I Didn't Know Jack" and "Dis Wam Me"
About "I Didn't Know Jack" - "I recorded at home with a crappy mic and a soundhole p.u.and the mic's not prominent at all in the mix Tuning is open C/NO, it's Open A7th tune to open C then drop it down to A, then tune the high string from C# to C for that 7th nice and flabby drop tuning"
About "Dis Wam Me" - Recorded with a ZOOM, part of a larger project Andrew is working on.
Get Andrew's tunes HERE
Rose has been garnering some attention on NPR as of late. Here's some links to those in case you missed them.
 |
| Tim Bugbee/Tinnitus Photography |
And some older stuff too!
Or get it here: Jack Rose Interview 03Oct2005
February 1, 2010
Delta-Slider’s Tops of the Decade
Hey, you aren’t a real blog if you don’t do a Top Ten list, Best of the Decade or some other sort of list that says, “I know something you don’t…”
Well I don’t know shit, but here it goes anyway…
in no particular order:
Bob Brozman is usually all over the place, and that's fine, but I generally like his blues work the best. And this one is a beauty! You can get a run-down of each song on Blues Reflex at his website. I love to read where the song is from, what the artist was trying to do or how they got an idea. This isn't your usual blues playing and Brozman smacking, tapping and beating on the guitar is a bonus! Get it!
Yair Yona is up next, going in a completely different direction. See my short review of this one here, posted just recently.
Ah, Sean Smith. This was one of the first modern American Primitive releases that I stumbled across. Though his second effort is arguably more intricate and his composition abilities made a huge leap, this one is a favorite of mine, perhaps just because of how blown away the first time I heard it. You can find him HERE
Jack Rose was a monster when it came to releasing stuff and I decided that one of the rules I was going to have for this list was only one effort per artist would be listed. When I got to Rose, that rule made things difficult. But I decided to go with Kensington Blues. It's got a little of everything, slide, 12 string, 6 string, raga and rag influences and a Fahey cover. Be sure to check out VHF Records, Thrill Jockey and Three Lobed Records for releases.
I came across Andrew Stranglen either on the Fahey board or MySpace...or maybe it was CD Baby...I don't recall, but I'm glad I did. This little gem is about as far as I go when it comes to experimental music. I know, I know, maybe I need to try harder. But nonetheless this one works for me. Love it!
Ok, Cam Deas. Here's a guy I found clicking around on MySpace again. He gets the comparisons to James Blackshaw, and he does play 12 string, but Deas is much rawer, something I like. This release WAS available here but he has since re-released it so you'll have to go to his site to get it. Go HERE to read the review.
John Hammond has really come though on this one. This is strictly solo guitar and harmonica along with some stomping and grunting. Hammond is an amazing act to catch live and this is almost as good.
Pat O’Connell was featured here on Delta-Slider back in June of 2009 when I wrote a review of his forth-coming release of On the Sunny Side of Ashland, also available at Amazon.
Mike Fekete was featured here in August of 2009 as a prelude to a successful tour. Mike is planning on re-releasing some of his earlier work this year. You can get his CD Yellow and Red on Amazon or CDbaby.
Next we have C. Joynes’ Anglo-Naïve and Contemporary Parlour Guitar Vol. 1. The title is a bit much but the music is much simpler. I love the feel of the recording. I think this is a home recording and it has a great feel to it. The songs are simple and beautiful. Joynes has a real talent for playing songs in an unhurried way. It’s a real hard thing to do, most people try to play everything as fast as possible. Whenever I try to play slow it just sounds boring…and slow. This is out of print so d/l it at the link above. Don't miss this one. Also, Joynes has been busy as of late and you can get a couple more releases on Amazon or at the label, Bo'Weavil Recordings.
Next is Ragtime Ralph’s Vol. 4 release, click on the lick to d/l it!!
Ragtime Ralph and his nom de plume Blind Brand X have been VERY popular downloads here on Delta-Slider. All of his stuff is here on Delta-Slider and it's all free. And it's all good. Just give him a listen, you’ll understand!
Mark Lemhouse plays the blues, damnit! This release, Big Lonesome Radio is amazing. No, I don’t have a free download for ya. Here’s the deal, this came out in 2002 and since then Lemhouse has been spiraling into insanity, an insanity catalyzed by banjo playing. It’s said that he wanders aimlessly around the Northwest. And when he isn’t plunking his Banjo, he’s cuddled up to it asleep…dreaming of plunking it. Nonetheless, he does stop by Yellow Dog Records once in a while to pick up a royalty check. Won’t you buy a copy of Big Lonesome Radio?
What do you think of what I DID include?
How is it possible that I didn’t include a single Radiohead release?
Well I don’t know shit, but here it goes anyway…
in no particular order:
Bob Brozman is usually all over the place, and that's fine, but I generally like his blues work the best. And this one is a beauty! You can get a run-down of each song on Blues Reflex at his website. I love to read where the song is from, what the artist was trying to do or how they got an idea. This isn't your usual blues playing and Brozman smacking, tapping and beating on the guitar is a bonus! Get it!
Yair Yona is up next, going in a completely different direction. See my short review of this one here, posted just recently.
Glenn Jones' three releases have all been great and after much waffling I pretty much picked this one at random. They are all very good efforts. But I do have one criticism of Glenn, dude, post your touring schedule somewhere, I just missed you recently and I'm very sad.
Ah, Sean Smith. This was one of the first modern American Primitive releases that I stumbled across. Though his second effort is arguably more intricate and his composition abilities made a huge leap, this one is a favorite of mine, perhaps just because of how blown away the first time I heard it. You can find him HERE
Jack Rose was a monster when it came to releasing stuff and I decided that one of the rules I was going to have for this list was only one effort per artist would be listed. When I got to Rose, that rule made things difficult. But I decided to go with Kensington Blues. It's got a little of everything, slide, 12 string, 6 string, raga and rag influences and a Fahey cover. Be sure to check out VHF Records, Thrill Jockey and Three Lobed Records for releases.
I came across Andrew Stranglen either on the Fahey board or MySpace...or maybe it was CD Baby...I don't recall, but I'm glad I did. This little gem is about as far as I go when it comes to experimental music. I know, I know, maybe I need to try harder. But nonetheless this one works for me. Love it!
Ok, Cam Deas. Here's a guy I found clicking around on MySpace again. He gets the comparisons to James Blackshaw, and he does play 12 string, but Deas is much rawer, something I like. This release WAS available here but he has since re-released it so you'll have to go to his site to get it. Go HERE to read the review.
Careening back into the realm of blues: Felonius Smith is a local here in Colorado and I have the good fortune to see a lot of good live music from these guys. Get the CD Hoolay Moolay. This is blues with an old-timey and fun feel to it. But don't let that fool you, there's some great chops on this one. Felonius studied with Bob Brozman before moving to Colorado.
John Hammond has really come though on this one. This is strictly solo guitar and harmonica along with some stomping and grunting. Hammond is an amazing act to catch live and this is almost as good.
Pat O’Connell was featured here on Delta-Slider back in June of 2009 when I wrote a review of his forth-coming release of On the Sunny Side of Ashland, also available at Amazon.
Mike Fekete was featured here in August of 2009 as a prelude to a successful tour. Mike is planning on re-releasing some of his earlier work this year. You can get his CD Yellow and Red on Amazon or CDbaby.
Mike Fekete and Pat O’Connell have something in common, besides being great guitarists. They, along with Aaron Sheppard are expected to be on the next release of Tompkins Square’s Imaginational Anthem Vol. 4. Yeah, freakin’ awesome, eh? In addition, Sheppard is going to be on volume two of Berkeley Guitar. Volume one of Berkeley Guitar gets an honorable mention in the Delta-Slider list.
Nick Schillace’s first solo CD, Box Canyon was fantastic, but he upped the ante with the second: Landscape and People. You can also get his stuff at CD Baby
Next we have C. Joynes’ Anglo-Naïve and Contemporary Parlour Guitar Vol. 1. The title is a bit much but the music is much simpler. I love the feel of the recording. I think this is a home recording and it has a great feel to it. The songs are simple and beautiful. Joynes has a real talent for playing songs in an unhurried way. It’s a real hard thing to do, most people try to play everything as fast as possible. Whenever I try to play slow it just sounds boring…and slow. This is out of print so d/l it at the link above. Don't miss this one. Also, Joynes has been busy as of late and you can get a couple more releases on Amazon or at the label, Bo'Weavil Recordings.
Next is Ragtime Ralph’s Vol. 4 release, click on the lick to d/l it!!
Ragtime Ralph and his nom de plume Blind Brand X have been VERY popular downloads here on Delta-Slider. All of his stuff is here on Delta-Slider and it's all free. And it's all good. Just give him a listen, you’ll understand!
Mark Lemhouse plays the blues, damnit! This release, Big Lonesome Radio is amazing. No, I don’t have a free download for ya. Here’s the deal, this came out in 2002 and since then Lemhouse has been spiraling into insanity, an insanity catalyzed by banjo playing. It’s said that he wanders aimlessly around the Northwest. And when he isn’t plunking his Banjo, he’s cuddled up to it asleep…dreaming of plunking it. Nonetheless, he does stop by Yellow Dog Records once in a while to pick up a royalty check. Won’t you buy a copy of Big Lonesome Radio?
Pat Donohue's latest is Freeway Man. This is one of the best Donohue has put out in years. His choice of music is unique and he arranges them nicely as well. He’s got a thumb and an attack that is just so solid.
This was really off the top of my head hard and took a lot of time! I was going to do an honorable mentions section but I think I will just save that for a later post skip it.
I’m sure I forgot some great music. What do you think I should have included?
What do you think of what I DID include?
How is it possible that I didn’t include a single Radiohead release?
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