Archive for November, 2009
Sylvain Chauveau – Nuage (Type) LP
Sylvain Chauveau - Nuage
Those of you who admire Max Richter’s blend of neo-classical composition, post-rock and electronica are strongly urged to investigate the work of Frenchman Sylvain Chauveau. At first glance, the two artists seem to have the exact same modus operandi. However, Chauveau’s music eschews the simple, melancholy loveliness of Richter’s compositions, in favour of a rather thornier aesthetic.
The Black Book of Capitalism, Chauveau’s first album, presented a startlingly lo-fi take on chamber music – with musty strings coming under siege from ominously chiming guitars and primitive sampling. More recently, his 10″ single S displayed a new-found mastery of digital signal processing – with shards of piano and guitar refined into ornate glitches and stutters.
But the best place to start – if only because it bares the closest resemblance to Max Richter’s work – is the quite staggeringly beautiful Nuage. Some wag recently noted that the rise of eclecticist composers like Chauveau and Richter may be related to the fact that soundtrack work is one of the few ways recording artists can still make a living. Whether or not this is true, the facts remain that Nuage is indeed a collection of music composed for films and that it often recalls the mellower soundtrack work of John Zorn.
Hopefully, Cheavau will gradually gain the recognition he deserves, which will allow him to build a discography as diverse – if not as voluminous – as Zorn’s. The available evidence suggests he has both the talent and the attitude to succeed on these terms. To give Sylvain Chauveau a helping hand, you are strongly urged to buy Nuage from Forced Exposure.
Not One but TWO Interesting Shows in Vancouver This Saturday
Valet (Honey Owens of Nudge) at Little Mountain, with Sinoia Caves.
Not Me Presents: The Acid Folk Remix Project
Not Me
Last year witnessed the launch of a new Not Me adventure: The Acid Folk Remix Project. The project came in response to a series of CDR compilations that were circulated around Christmas-time for the preceding few years. These comps collected legendary British folk and folk-rock recordings from the late ’60s and early ’70s.
You should still be able to download the compilations via the following links:
The Acid Folk Remix Project invites contemporary musical artists from across the world to remix, re-record or otherwise reinterpret recordings by the artists featured on these compilations. The initial results were collected as Not Me Presents: The Acid Folk Remix Project Volume One.
As you might expect, the collection featured lots of contributions from connect_icut. It also included valuable input from Chris Mastheim (Nick from No Kids), Esperik Glare, Skullfucker (Dan from Solars), The Luminaries and Gunshae.
The styles covered ranged from ambient abstraction to lo-fi outsider rock, with stand-outs being Gunshae’s Watersons remix (“Christmas is Now Drawing Near”) and Skullfucker’s hair-raising cover of a Kevin Coyne song (“Evil Island Home”). You can listen to and download all of the tracks, in two parts, here and here.
The project was pretty well received, so its happening again this year and you – yes you – are invited to GET INVOLVED! Just remix or cover some vintage UK folk-rock and send the results to this here blog.
You can email MP3s of your contributions to interimlovers(at)yahoo.co.uk or drop a link in the comment box of this post. Hopefully, we’ll be able to rustle up enough music before the new year to complete NOT ME PRESENTS: THE ACID FOLK REMIX PROJECT VOLUME TWO.
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In related news, the still-untitled Not Me full-length is very much a work in progress after several years of struggle and sabbaticals. Currently, the album exists as a series of dubby, minimal instrumentals, broadly in the style of Basic Channel/Rhythm & Sound. All it needs now is for some kindly singer-songwriter types to add lyrics and vocals. If you think you can help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via interimlovers(at)yahoo.co.uk or the comments box.
In the meantime, you can download the instrumentals from this link.
Jandek is Also Playing in Victoria
Jandek
In addition to his previously mentioned BC appearance, the Corwood representative will be sailing over to Vancouver Island for a show at Victoria Events Center. It’ll be going down on Wednesday, December 9th at 8pm. Jandek will be joined by Jeremy Van Wyck (drums) and Dave Chokroun (bass).
Bubblegum Cage III 