Ivor Cutler (1923-2006)
[by Ken Hunt, London] His claim to inclusion here may seem droll, but the poet, songwriter, teacher, Noise Abatement Society mainman and so-called but very eccentrically sane, Ivor Cutler deserves homage more than an obituary for his surrealistic pillow folksongs. Born on 15 January 1923 close to the Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow of Jewish, Eastern European stock, he died aged 83 on 3 March 2006. Renting at one point a flat from Gerry Sharp upstairs at Topic Records' headquarters in Nassington Road in the Hampstead district or headlining an important, early gig in Martin Carthy's very early career in Ealing, west London remain at best footnotes. Maybe you know him as one of the company the Beatles' 1967 Magical Mystery Tour in the character of Buster Bloodvessel or from his recordings from the [...]Egon Bondy (1930-2007)
[by Ken Hunt, London] In 2000 Česká Televize (Czech Television) celebrated Egon Bondy's life and times with the documentary Fišer alias Bondy. The poet-lyricist, writer, philosopher and political commentator's achievements could have filled a whole series of television programmes. One of Czechoslovakia's most prominent and prolific men-of-letters, he railed against his homeland's politicians and politics throughout his life. Outside his homeland however, he was primarily known as the era-defining lyricist for Czechoslovakia's best-known beat group, The Plastic People of the Universe. The Plastic People of the Universe took their name from Frank Zappa's Plastic People, a song that had appeared on the Mother of Invention's 1967 album Absolutely Free. The Plastics are still playing and [...]Rachid Taha, Diwan 2 (La Voix des Lilas; Barclay/Universal, 2006)
9. 12. 2006 | Categories: Articles,CD reviews
Rachid Taha, Diwan 2 (La Voix des Lilas; Barclay/Universal, 2006)
Last time, with album Tekitoi two years ago, Rachid Taha was Alter, this time, with second Diwan, he is foremost Different, thus basically not Indifferent, conditionally more rootsy, rough, acoustic, with less electricity and electronicity, not only in comparison with regular author albums, but also with first Diwan (1998), which has in common with Rachid's nondivanic opus at least sound, which pretty radically changed with Tekitoi (not necessarily for worse, not necessarily for better, only elsewhere), all the while producer remains the very same Steve Hillage (yet the sound engineer did change). According to Rachid in concept of Diwans he -as restorer of old paintings- restores old songs, giving them new lustre and [...]
Bellowhead – A Record Launch With A Difference
30. 10. 2006 | Categories: Articles,Live reviews
Bush Hall, Shepherd's Bush, London 6 October 2006
[by Ken Hunt, London] Bush Hall's entrance on the Uxbridge Road doesn't prepare you for what you find inside. Rather like the Tardis in BBC television's Dr. Who, the interior is so much bigger than you are prepared for. The album artwork for Burlesque, Bellowhead's début long-player (as opposed to their recorded début, E.P.Onymous and you've guessed what size that was), shows the interior of a balconied hall. Bush Hall felt a little like a bleached out echo of the Burlesque photo shoot. Maybe it helped Bellowhead's decision to launch Burlesque there. It worked in ways that, if such a thing exists, unfaithful replicas of the cover artwork seldom do.
The octet musters an impressive instrumentation. Over the course of the evening people [...]
Reflections on the 2006 Tanz&FolkFest Rudolstadt
8. 8. 2006 | Categories: Articles,Live reviews
Rudolstadt, Germany, 7-9 July 2006
[by Ken Hunt, London] Much has changed. Much remains the same since 1991, the year of the Rudolstadt’s first capitalist-swine-era folk festival. Post-reunification investment, the festival’s monetary and publicity injections and the media coverage generated by the festival have contributed to the town’s tell-tale affluence, so evident when comparing photographs of then with now. What looked shabby, potholed or ramshackle in 1991 has largely vanished. Shops now merely nod to yesteryear with displays of the odd Ostalgie board game, GDR-era children’s storybook favourites or accounts of ‘wie wir waren’ (the way we were) as Barbra von Streisand sang in the old film hit.
The 2006 TFF RU had France as its country or national theme with the likes of Les [...]
Aija Puurtinen singing with Värttinä in Ostrava
22. 7. 2006 | Categories: Articles,Interviews
July 2006
How was the Ostrava concert, compared to the other gigs you did with Värttinä?
Ostrava concert was great. Audience knew the band and they were ready from the first minute. People were singing and dancing whit us, so whatelse can you ask.
I never heard your recordings, but I suspect they are very different from Värttinä's: blues, soul, English? So, what are the things you have in common, which led to your production job?
Common thing is music, singing. I'm specialised in different kind of vocal sounds and techniques and that is the reason Värttinä asked me to produce the Miero album. And after that they thought that i might be good choice to take Mari's place for awhile. If music is the thing and not one musicstyle, if you are openminded then you can join any production and [...]
Chango Spasiuk, The Transcendental Accordionist
25. 1. 2005 | Categories: Articles,Interviews
His playing is everchanging and full twists like an imaginary landscape. No wonder, the chamamé accordion style is a "mestizo music", rooted both in European polkas and Guaraní Indians culture. When Spasiuk played at Womex in 2001, many people wondered: "This music makes me dance, but also opens the gates of imagination. I never thought you can do this with an accordion!" This hard to define spirit is fully captured on Spasiuk's last CD, Tarefero de mis pagos, produced by Ben Mandelson. I talked to Chango at the BBC World Music Awards Ceremony in Gateshead in January 2005, where he performed as a winner in the Newcomers category.
Chamamé is often explained as meeting of two cultures: Indian and European. Is it really as simple as that?
First I have to say that Guaraní have their own [...]
Kristi Stassinopoulou + Stathis Kalyviotis
9. 5. 2004 | Categories: Articles,Interviews
Your "Secrets of the Rocks " booklet is really very secretive. You mention places like R..., G.., and E., For the foreign travellers to Greece, could you explain what these places mean to you? And are there still some deserted islands in Aegean or Ionian seas?
Kristi- In my first album, back in 1986, there was a song that was speaking about one secret beach near Athens, where no cars could arrive. People had to climb for one hour inside a rocky pine forest in order to reach this natural sea paradise, where there were no umbrellas, no bars and lights and of course no... bathing suits. Few people knew Ramnunda then. But that song of mine became a radio hit. And next summer, the beach was filled with people. Unfortunately some of them would leave their garbage there. Others were [...]
Lu Edmonds, aka The Uncle
9. 11. 2001 | Categories: Articles,Interviews
Besides Yat Kha, you also tour with Billy Bragg, What is your contribution?
I'm playing - gtr, saz, cumbus + other lute-type variations and singing bits. And I also play with punk originals The Mekons (new CD out 2002 and 25 years anniversary) as well as with veteran free-music saxophonist Lol Coxhill (with whom I played in The Damned).
Is it still possible to make living playing live music in the era of major companies?
it is possible, but not easy, you need lots of friends who also want to play + what our French cousins call "complicité" when you do. As for the Major companies like SFX and CCC, they are not making the most concerts, they are only making the biggest. So you just have to make sure you get to play enough. The real "problem" is that for the last 50 years bands have [...]
