acquisitions/10

Do Make Say Think 'Other Truths'

 

Alasdair Roberts 'The Wyrd Meme'

 

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee 'Cripple Creek'

 

Lambchop 'OH(ohio)'

 

Shirley Collins & Davy Graham 'Folk Roots, New Routes'

 

Davy Graham 'Folk, Blues and Beyond'

a good cause

Last month 4AD released a double cd titled Dark Was the Night, all profits benefitting the Red Hot Organization – an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. The album is also downloadable, information here.

The artists (in alphabetical order) that recorded tracks for this release:

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Nina Simone – Ain’t Got No/I Got Life

A bit of optimism can fight the feeling of doom that is almost tangible in this city.

Davey Graham (1940-2008)

[from the BBC4 documentary Folk Britannia]

Davey Graham, one of the best British guitar players of all time, died on December 15. He was the author of the famous tune Angie (or Anji)and the first to introduce DADGAD guitar tuning in Britain.

Listen to BBC Radio2 documentary about Graham here

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Jolie Holland playing Mexico City in her Brooklin flat

mishmash

Cover illustration for 'Opus International', 1968

I had been warned of the scale of Cold War Modern – the new design exhibition at the V&A – so I wasn’t shocked when I realised that the visit lasted at least two hours. Although I can’t really say I remember the cold war (but I do remember when the wall fell), growing up in Italy gave me a pretty good idea of political propaganda and strong pro- and anti-Americanism. I’ve been wanting to visit the exhibition also because of the shady 7th Syndikate, that contacted me through this blog at the beginning of September. As it turned out they’d contacted a bunch of other London-based bloggers with instructions and tasks to carry out in order to become an active ‘agent’ (I was Caroline something), and the big finale was a secret gathering for the show’s opening on September 24. Talking about viral marketing! I was sorry to miss it, but had a previous engagement with two friends and a pizza. Back to the exhibition: the posters were among the best pieces on show, especially the French ones from the 60s, but also a fine example of Trabant, a few interesting chairs and stereos, propaganda films from USA and URSS, and a short clip of Dr Strangelove by Kubrick that brilliantly summed up those years. It seems that the subject of war is quite popular with London galleries as Barbican has just opened three parallel exhibitions This is war! Robert Capa at work, Gerda Taro, and On the subject of war. Will definitely see them.

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I’d mentioned the End Of The Road festival (12-14 Sept) in a previous post saying that I was not going, but the lineup was too good to miss so I grew a spine and bought a ticket. It was worth every penny and ounce of mud, because almost all bands did amazing sets and the atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly.

Day one (12 Sept): Acorn (Canadian band that I saw opening for Akron/Family at the Luminaire, nothing too exciting but entertaining), followed by  A Hawk And A Hacksaw (they make great music fullstop), Micah P Hinson, and the almighty Dirty Three. There are no words to describe their music. Inspired by the Australians I went to the Big Top Stage to see Akron/Family leaving my friends at the Conor Oberst (aka Bright Eyes) gig.

Day two (13 Sept): Absentee (perhaps a bit too pop for me, but very dance-able), Bowerbirds, Bon Iver (amazing gig, probably one of the best of the weekend), Baby Dee (first time I’ve seen her live and enjoyed the set a lot, especially the craziness of Teeth Are The Only Bones That Show and The Earlie King), Kurt Wagner (great voice, great stage presence), Mark Kozelek with Sun Kil Moon (I love his/their albums but I find Kozelek very boring and cold when he plays live).

Day three (14 Sept): Sons of Noel and Adrian (a pleasant surprise), The Wave Pictures, Kimya Dawson (wonderful and endearing), Jason Molina (again, I love songs:ohia but live he’s a bit boring), Woodpigeon, Jeffrey Lewis (always funny), Moutain Goats (not a good gig, something was missing).

End Of The Road – A Hawk & A Hacksaw

End Of The Road – Dirty Three

End Of The Road – Baby Dee on fire

End Of The Road – A very focussed Alex Nielson drums for Baby Dee

End Of The Road – Kurt Wagner’s intimate set