From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org (fegmaniax-digest) To: fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Subject: fegmaniax-digest V9 #94 Reply-To: fegmaniax@smoe.org Sender: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk fegmaniax-digest Wednesday, April 12 2000 Volume 09 : Number 094 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Mafiosi, movie music, bunnies [Christopher Gross ] While Satan was puking on would-be sorority girls, I was silk screening republican propaganda on the asses of elephants at a great profit... [] Fwd: FW: FW: Oh, good lord! [lj lindhurst ] Re: Tour [Gleek37@aol.com] Re: eb's "etchings" [MARKEEFE@aol.com] Re: While Satan was puking on would-be sorority girls, I was silk screening r... [MARKEEF] Software Servant Boys all over the world, phase I ["Capitalism Blows" Subject: Mafiosi, movie music, bunnies On Tue, 11 Apr 2000, Capitalism Blows wrote: > > > i was a bit let down, but not too much. is it true there aren't going to be > any new episodes until *january*? Hmmm. The good news is, HBO is going to rerun all of *both* seasons' episodes. (This according to the HBO website.) The bad news is, they might be doing that *because* there will be no new episodes until January.... Personally, I loved seeing Tony get sick. Any actor in America would want to play a mob boss, but how many would do such a good job playing a mob boss who's feverish, puking and generally stripped of all his machismo and even dignity? > by the way. remember quail's suggested thread about the best use of music > in movies? (i was really sorry the thread never took off. was too busy at > the time to participate myself, but would liked to have seen other people's > thoughts.) the music The Sopranos' creators use over the closing credits > never fails to knock me out. not quite sure why. I agree. As for the movie music thread, let's try to revive it! I'd nominate the pool party scene in Boogie Nights. Hell, I'd nominate the entirety of Boogie Nights. On Wed, 12 Apr 2000, lj lindhurst wrote: > http://www.funstuff.com/html/comics/killfrog.html Looks cute, but crashed Netscape on my Windoze 95 machine. (Not that that's hard to do.) - --Chris ne (now ear-worming): NIN, "Just Like You Imagined" ______________________________________________________________________ Christopher Gross On the Internet, nobody knows I'm a dog. chrisg@gwu.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 10:15:46 -0800 From: Mahavartika Subject: the "Head of EB" all over the world Speaking of rock star art: http://bowieart.com/gallery_choiceC.asp?intItemID=56&intPageRef=2 Yours for a mere $1920. And the likeness is frightening. (Home page: http://bowieart.com/) - --Jason "Only the few know the sweetness of the twisted apples." - Sherwood Anderson ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 10:19:56 -0700 From: Mark_Gloster@3com.com Subject: While Satan was puking on would-be sorority girls, I was silk screening republican propaganda on the asses of elephants at a great profit... "She" rexed: >I just don't get it - Respect and Moss Elixir are my two *favorite* RH >releases, and generally the ones I play or recommend to someone I'm >just introducing to Robyn. Jewels is great, but not as good as these two. These are at or near the top for me. I think that with minor exception on Jewels/Star, Robyn's songwriting keeps getting better. I also really like the production of his more recent stuff compression, reverb, echo, and not. I still think that "Mexican God" is the best thing he's written. Ever. >But I guess that's the spice of life, eh? It's good we're all different - >makes the world much more interesting! The good news is that Dave and others on this list who are occasionally critical, also do have some appreciation for RH and aren't just trying to piss people off/on. Sr. Blatzman and I can't seem to agree on what constitutes a brilliant Stan Ridgway CD, but we both like the dude. Hope all is well on your side of the universe! Oh, and I think we can all agree that Bayard (thanks!) is right about that CD... Happies, - -Markg ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 16:56:49 -0400 From: lj lindhurst Subject: Fwd: FW: FW: Oh, good lord! >> > > The following is an excerpt from a children's >> > book, >> > > "Captain Underpants and >> > > the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants", by Dav >> > > Pilkey: >> > > >> > > The evil Professor forces everyone to assume new >> > > names... >> > > >> > > Use the first letter of your first name to >> > determine >> > > your NEW first name: >> > > >> > > a = stinky >> > > b = lumpy >> > > c = buttercup >> > > d = gidget >> > > e = crusty >> > > f = greasy >> > > g = fluffy >> > > h = cheeseball >> > > i = chim-chim >> > > j = poopsie >> > > k = flunky >> > > l = booger >> > > m = pinky >> > > n = zippy >> > > o = goober >> > > p = doofus >> > > q = slimy >> > > r = loopy >> > > s = snotty >> > > t = falafel >> > > u = dorkey >> > > v = squeezit >> > > w = oprah >> > > x = skipper >> > > y = dinky >> > > z = zsa-zsa >> > > >> > > Use the first letter of your last name to >> > determine >> > > the first half of your >> > > NEW last name: >> > > >> > > a = diaper >> > > b = toilet >> > > c = giggle >> > > d = bubble >> > > e = girdle >> > > f = barf >> > > g = lizard >> > > h = waffle >> > > i = cootie >> > > j = monkey >> > > k = potty >> > > l = liver >> > > m = banana >> > > n = rhino >> > > o = burger >> > > p = hamster >> > > q = toad >> > > r = gizzard >> > > s = pizza >> > > t = gerbil >> > > u = chicken >> > > v = pickle >> > > w = chuckle >> > > x = tofu >> > > y = gorilla >> > > z = stinker >> > > >> > > Use the last letter of your last name to >> > dertermine >> > > the second half of your >> > > NEW last name: >> > > >> > > a = head >> > > b = mouth >> > > c = face >> > > d = nose >> > > e = tush >> > > f = breath >> > > g = pants >> > > h = shorts >> > > i = lips >> > > j = honker >> > > k = butt >> > > l = brain >> > > m = tushie >> > > n = chunks >> > > o = hiney >> > > p = biscuits >> > > q = toes >> > > r = buns >> > > s = fanny >> > > t = sniffer >> > > u = sprinkles >> > > v = kisser >> > > w = squirt >> > > x =humperdinck >> > > y = brains >> > > z = juice >> > > >> > > For example, our presidential candidates: >> > > >> > > George W. Bush's new name is Fluffy Toiletshorts, >> > > and Al Gore would be >> > > Stinky Lizardtush. >> > > >> > > Do you know who you are? >> > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * LJ Lindhurst White Rabbit Graphic Design http://www.w-rabbit.com NYC ljl@w-rabbit.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 17:10:21 EDT From: Gleek37@aol.com Subject: Re: Tour Hi all, was hoping that some of you might come out to support a fellow list member who is opening on the following JBC tour. See you there. The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy : Gigs : 2000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - -- April 13 - TT the Bear's, Boston MA 15 - Mohawk Place, Buffalo, NY 16 - The Beer Mug, Erie, PA 17 - Club Laga, Pittsburgh, PA 18 - Phantasy Nite Club, Cleveland, OH 19 - Magic Stick, Detroit, MI 20 - Schubas, Chicago, IL 23 - 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis, MN 25 - Gabe's, Iowa City, IA 26 - Inferno, Madison, WI 27 - Second Story, Bloomington, IN 29 - Hi-Tone Cafe, Memphis, TN 30 - 12th & Porter, Nashville, TN May 1 - The Nick, Birmingham, AL 3 - Echo Lounge, Atlanta, GA 4 - 40 Watt, Athens, GA 5 - Cat's Cradle, Chapel Hill, NC 7 - Upstage, Philadelphia, PA 8 - Iota Cafe, Arlington, VA 9 - Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ 11 - Mercury Lounge, NYC ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 17:50:19 EDT From: MARKEEFE@aol.com Subject: Re: eb's "etchings" In a message dated 4/11/00 11:05:07 PM Pacific Daylight Time, etews@hotmail.com writes: << i was a bit let down, but not too much. >> Man, I thought it was great! I was expecting something fast and furious and crazy, but I thought it was great how incredibly slow the show was. I loved the way that things wrapped up nicely, but that there was a lot of ominous foreshadowing, too. Man, I love The Soprano's. << is it true there aren't going to be any new episodes until *january*? >> Heartless HBO fuckin' bastards. Yeah, it's true. In the meanwhile, however, they'll probably show all the episodes from the first two seasons at leats twice. FWIW. << by the way. remember quail's suggested thread about the best use of music in movies? (i was really sorry the thread never took off. was too busy at the time to participate myself, but would liked to have seen other people's thoughts.) the music The Sopranos' creators use over the closing credits never fails to knock me out. not quite sure why. >> Their use of music is just one more reaosn why I love The Soprano's. Did I mention yet that I freakin' *love* The Soprano's. Great show. I couldn't have jumped and down more gleefully than when they used a couple of Tindersticks songs in an episode during the first season. But, anyway, yeah, Eddie's right. For some reaosn, no matter what song they choose to end a show with, it never fails to take the emotion of the end of the show and really drive it home in a big way. - ------Michael K. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 18:18:12 EDT From: MARKEEFE@aol.com Subject: Re: While Satan was puking on would-be sorority girls, I was silk screening r... In a message dated 4/12/00 11:34:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Mark_Gloster@3com.com writes: << >I just don't get it - Respect and Moss Elixir are my two *favorite* RH >releases, and generally the ones I play or recommend to someone I'm >just introducing to Robyn. Jewels is great, but not as good as these two. These are at or near the top for me. I think that with minor exception on Jewels/Star, Robyn's songwriting keeps getting better. I also really like the production of his more recent stuff compression, reverb, echo, and not. >> First of all, hmph! to the "Jewels/Star" naysayers (or lukewarmsayers) of the wordl! On the other hand, I respect everyone's opinion and often find myself wishing I liked "Moss Elixir" more than I do (which is just fine; kinda mixed; some great songs, some good songs, a couple that bug me). Second of all, I don't think I can really go along with the assessment that his songwriting has gotten better. More mature, yes, definitely. That *could* be one's criteria for better, but then you'd have to say that someone could write songs that're *better* than "Do Policeman Sing?" or "A Globe of Grogs." Can't be done, I say! How about if I grant you that his songwriting can more often tend toward being sublime (but not like Sublime!) than it used to. And I'd also say that, more so recently than in the past, his lyrics resonate on a more emotional level with me. On the other hand, much of the dark twistedness is gone. Certainly, an artist *should* grow from being a darkly twisted jerk into a warmly twisted person who's in touch with his emotions, and I really like the direction Robyn's taken his songwriting. I'm not saying I don't love his newer material! I'm just saying I like his older material equally as well, but for different reasons. From "I Wanna Destroy You" to "The Speed of Things." It's all good, baby. - ------Michael K. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 19:30:52 PDT From: "Capitalism Blows" Subject: Software Servant Boys all over the world, phase I finally received that ish of Abus Dangeruex that had been flogged about these parts some time ago. you'd think, having taken three years of french, that i'd be able to make out more of it than i did. at any rate, i don't think you'll ever find a bitchin'-er phrase, in any language, than this: "J'avais 21 ans et c'etait la fin des hippies". all right. i'll append the article in two different posts: the french original, and the babelfish mangling. (talk about a pain in the ass: the word-limit for each translating operation is pitifully miniscule.) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 19:32:05 PDT From: "Capitalism Blows" Subject: Software Servant Boys all over the world, phase II Abus Dangereux Decembre, 1999; pg. 18 Fegmaniac Again by Cathimini Depuis 1996, Robyn Hitchcock nous avait laisses presque sans nouvelles. You And Oblivion, collection d'inedits n'etait que difficilement disponible en import et son dernier album Moss Elixir, etait passe presque directement du stock Warner aux bacs des boutiques d'occases. La tournee de reformation des Soft Boys s'etait arretee bien loin de nos contrees et l'on pensait bien ne plus le revoir. Des nouvelles rassurantes filtraient cependant du dernier Grant Lee Buffalo ou il chantait et jouait de l'harmonica, ainsi que du (excellent!) premier album de Tim Keegan and the Homer Loung ou il jouait de la guitare. On l'a meme reconnu en fond sonore du film Judas Kiss sorti au printemps. Mais rien de tres concret jusqu'a ce mois de juin ou je tombe en arret sur une petite affiche: "Beer Necessities" present les soirees acoustiques en compagnie de Robyn Hitchcock et Peter Blegvad en eoncert exceptionnel a L'Hotel du Nord. Ou, m'dame, celuie d' "Atmosphere, atmosphere, est ce que j'ai une gueule d'atmoshpere!" Autour de la photo de Robyn, des critiques dithyrambiques du NY Times, du SF Chronicles pour appater le chaland, mais pas un mot de francais. Il faut dire qu'a cela rien d'exceptionnel puisque, sans aucune pretention de ma part, je pense etre la seule personne a ecrire regulierement sur lui dans ce pays et notre derniere rencontre remontait deja au 21 Decembre, 1993. 1993?!! Le temps pour un sacre pquet de lecteurs d'Abus de se demander de qui je parle depuis tour a l'heure. Decouvert avec son groupe The Soft Boys et confirme par divers albums incontournables au cours des annees 80 enregistres en solo ou avec The Egyptians, Robyn Hitchcock derange, intrigue et seduit par un melange de rock hargneux et de pop jumineuse, de poesie surrealiste dt d'idees macabres. Catalogue un peu facilement comme excentrique a cause de son gout pour l'absurde et les animaux de mer, Robyn est toujours reste en marge de tout, meme du psychedelisme qui pourtant definit le mieux le kaleidoscope d'emotions et de traits d'humour qui rendent la plupart de ses chansons si exceptionnelles. Les annes 90 lui ont apporte une certaine reconnaissance aux Etats-Unis qui lui permet de se concentrere sur l'ecriture, le dessin, la peinture et bien sur la musique. Une musique qui oscille entre la simplicite de l'acoutstique et la richesse d'arrangements electriques delicieusement pop ou sauvagement bizarres, suivant l'humeur. Une musique qui n'a cesse d'evoluer depuis que Robyn est tombe dans la soupe preparee par Bob Dylan, les Beatles, Syd Barrett, Nick Drake (comme le confirme le morceau qu'il nous a donne) ou Jimi Hendrix qu'il a vu en concert a l'Isle de Wight. Une musique qui reprend pleinement vie depuis quelques mois avec les sorties presque simultanees de deux best of chez A&M et chez Rhino, un live enregistre par la BBC au Cambridge Folk Festival et la BO du film Storefront Hitchcock (et depuis que cette interview a ete faite Jewels For Sophia, enfin disponible dans notre pays par les voies legales). Ce dernier document est de loin le plus interessant car il fait le lien direct avec l'actualite, temoignant d'un concert donne dans la vitrine d'un magasin de New York. Pour qui n'a jamais eu la chance d'assister a l'une de ses prestations, ce sera peut'etre l'occasion de se rnedre compte de l'incroyable complecite qu'il est capoable d'installer en deux phrases avec son public: "Bonsoir mes amis vifs et morts...J'espere que tout le monde va fumer." Et le voila s'engageant dans une descente en flamme de Gene Hackman dont il ne veut plus entendre parler, car les personnages qu'il interprete sont tourjours glauques et mauvais. Une chanson peut-etre inspiree par "Les pleins pouvoirs". Car le cinema est une autre des passions de Robyn et de son amie Michele Noach, artiste plastique dont on peut deja apprecier le travail sur la maquette de Storefront Hitchcock et auteur a part entiere de la pochette du nouvel album Jewels For Sophia... Parlons de ton nouvel album: Jewels For Sophia. Cet album est beaucoup plus rock que les precedents. Il est produit par Jon Brion qui a travaille avec Fiona Apple et Grant Lee Phillips. C'est un tres bon arrangeur. C'est beaucoup plus enthousiaste, plus vif, moins sombre que mes derniers albums. Il y a bien quelques chansons tres noires, mais la plupart sont elevees. Il a ete enregistre a Los Angeles avec Grant Lee Phillips, a Seattle avec les Young Fresh Fellow, Peter Buck et mon ami Tim Keegan, et a Londres avec la section rythmique des High Llamas et Kimberley Rew, qui faisait deja partie des Soft Boys. Apres 17 ans, je pouvais enfin retourner en studio avec lui sans que cela ne me pose de probleme. Maintenant que son aventure avec Katrina And The Waves est terminee, il essai de jouer le plus possible. C'est un guitariste qui adore tellement son art qu'il est pret a traverser les mers pour venir jouer sur un rappel en fin de concert. Nous allons partir en tournee ensemble avec Tim et lui pour jouer des chansons de toutes les epoques, meme des Soft Boys. Pourquois as-tu enregistre dans de si nombreux endroits? Parce que Michele et moi voyageons beaucoup, meme si notre adresse est a Londres. Si je passais plus de temps a Paris, j'enregistrerais probablement ici. Ca depend de la ou je me trouve. Quelle est l'histoire de "Cheese Alarm"? Apres les crevettes et les poissons, est-ce ta nouvelle obsession culinair? J'a ecrit cette chanson a 8h du matin dans un cafe de Chicago. Elle s'est imposee a moi dons l'urgence et je ne pouvais pas resister a tous ces mots: roquefort, gruyere, brie qui remplissaient mon esprit a ce moment precis. Il faut arreter de chercher des metaphores derriere toutes mes paroles. Je parle de ce que je connais et de ce que j'aime, en l'occurrence les fromages francais, en particulier la mimolette. [Alors que nous entamons un debat sur l'origine du fromage qui a mon avis est plutot hollandais, nous revenons vers des considerations plus generales.] Mais il est vrai que l'on ne peut pas ignorer que les 3/4 du monde creve de faim tandis que presque tout l'autre quart depense des fortunes pour maigrir ou lutter contre la boulimie. Voila de quoi parle ma chanson, de cette absurdite. Comme la plupart de mes chansons il y a une part d'egoisme a me concentrer sur ma vision des choses et une part d'altruisme a evoquer le monde tel qu'il est en realite. Tu sors deux compilations sur deux labels differents presqu'au meme moment: Uncorrected Personality Traits sur Rhino et un best of sur A&M. Est ce que cela marque une pause dans ta carriere ou un nouveau depart? Non, parce que ce n'est pas mon idee. Je n'ai rien fait pour A&M. Rhino a decide de presenter regulierement das periodes da ma vie comme la compil Soft Boys il ya a quelques annees. Uncorrected Personality Traits morceux et fait les notes de pochettes. Il ne s'agit pas du tour de faire un coffret qui retrace la carriere complete de Robyn Hitchcock, bonjour, au revoir et c'est fini. C'est comme le live au Cambridge Folk Festival qui a ete enregistre avec The Egyptians en 1992, il est sort l'an passe sans que je m'en occupe vraiment. J'ai jut ecrit les notes de pochettes et ecarte deux ou trois morceaux qui n'etaient pas terrible. Mais ce n'etait pas du tout mon idee, c'est celle des gens qui avaient sorti il y a quelques temps Les Kershaw Sessions. Tous ces disques finalement appartiennent plus aux personnes qui ont voulu les sortir qu'a moi. Mes derniers albums sont Jewels For Sophia qui appartient vraiment a Michele et moi...et Storefront Hitchcock que j'ai vraiment realise avec Jonathan Demme. Pourquoi avoir enregistre deux albums presqu'exclusivement acoustiques avant celui-ci? Moss Elixir etait le premier album que je faisais sans un groupe et j'essayais de baser tour sur la voix et la guitare. Tout simple, sans les nuages, les dindons et les trains et les autres messieurs avec le brouillard. C'est seulement moi et rien que ce qui etait necessaire. Meme chose pour Storefront Hitchcock. La guitare et la voix sont aussi au coeur de mon nouvel album. Je voudrais retrouver ces choses tres simples, souvent perdues dans le studio avec tous les instruments et les effets sonores et les amplis, pour les mettre sur disque. Parfois il y a un peu de violon ou de sax, mais je les ai relegues au fond pour qu'ils ne gachent pas le sujet. C'est comme cela que j'essaie de travailler maintenant. Comme le concert que tu as vu hier soir: seulement moi et de temps en temps quelques amis qui passent, comme Syd Straw ou John Blegvad. Mais plus ensemble, plus de groupe brouillard! C'est pour cela que tu as enregistre le nouvel album avec autant de gens differents? Exactement. C'est fun de travailler ainsi car tu sais des le depart que tu n'es ensemble que pour une courte periode et tu evites ainsi toute promiscuite musicale. J'ai ete monogame trop longtemps en matiere de musique... D'autre part je trouve interessant d'avoir l'avis de jeunes gens. Le fait de partir en tournee avec Kimberley qui est de ma generation et Tim qui a dix ans de moins me permet de ne pas avoir l'impression d'etre un vieux barbon qui singe son passe comme Les Rolling Stones. Le melange des ages est une chose tres interessante et constructive pour tous. Il faut encourager la communication entre les generations pour que les vieux arretent de penser que les vieux sont depasses. Je me rappelle de ce groupe gitan ou les musiciens avaient de 20 a 80 ans. Certains avaient le ventre qui depassait de leur costume de nylon trop serre, le chanteur s'agitait dans tous les sens completement a cote du micro... [Je passe sur les gesters et les mimiques a crever de rire de Robyn qui imite chaque membre du groupe.] Ils etaient totalement ridicules au premier abord mais je n'avais pas vu une telle vitalite depuis le Captain Beefheart. Ils ont completement vole la vedette au Kronos Quartet qui les avait invites. Storefront Hitchcock s'ouvre sur une chanson qui s'intitule "1974". Que s'est il passe de si particulier cette annee-la pour que tu ecrives une chanson dessus? Beaucoup de choses, mais dans un sens, c'est une annee sans rien de tres marquant. C'est une anne grise. J'avais 21 ans et c'etait la fin des hippies, c'est l'annee ou Nixon a du demissionner, ou le choc du petrole a change l'economie du monde, ou la guerre du Vietnam s'enlisait... En fait j'ai parle d'une annee pas si importante que ca car j'etais a la recherche du temps perdu...en fait du temps jete a la poubelle. Mais c'est comme ta vie, meme si ce n'est pas tres interessant, c'est quand meme ta vie. La plupart de notre vie d'occidental est occupee a marcher d'un endroit a un autre, ouvrir le frigidair, ouvrir un robinet...rien de tres interessant, mais c'est ce qui occupe la plupart de notre temps. Est-ce a cause de constations de cet ordre que tu as ecrit une chanson comme "Where Do You Go When You Die?"? Et toi, le sais tu? C'est bien sur une des questions que l'on me pose tout le temps. Quand tu es en train de mourir et que tu essaies de te rappeler ta vie, tout te parait important alors que tout ce qui n'etait pas dramatique te paraissait sans interet quand tu etais en train de les vivre. 1974 par exemple etait tres dramatique pour moi, mais le monde semblait tres calme a cote. La vie est faite d'un tas de riens. [En fait, renseignements pris, 1974 est l'annee ou Robyn a demenage a Cambridge a partir d'ou l'histoire des Soft Boys est devenue possible, donc une annee cruciale pour nous atures. --nda] Tu sembles beaucoup... Oh oui, beaucoup plus qu'avant. J'adore ca, je suis beaucoup lus a l'aise que la derniere fois que tu m'as vu [en Decembre 1993 au Passage du Nord Ouest, Paris. --nda]. Tu vois cette annee j'a joue en Espagne, en Suede, en Italie, aux Etats-Unis, en Australie...en France. Je vais meme arriver a jouer en Angleterre a force. Je pars six semaines avec Sebadoh et Les Flaming Lips pendant l'ete. J'adore voyager ainsi, juste avec Michele ou Tim. Il faut dire que quand tu enfourches ta quitare electrique pour nous jouer une version punk de "Only The Stones Remain" comme hier soir, on a limpression que tu fais plus de bruit que tout un groupe reuni. Si c'est i'impression que je donne, c'est super. C'est tres fun de jouer du rock sans etre dans un troupe de rock parce que c'est un show. C'est moi en train de jouer le role d'un musicien do reock. J'adore ne pas avoir a partager la scene avec d'autres. De plus je joue maintenant des chansons de toutes les epoques. Tu te rends compte que "Queen Of Eyes" a 20 ans? J'ai tellement de chansons a ma disposition! Pourquoi avoir sorti une version alternative de Moss Elixir en vinyl avec des morceaux differents? Parce qu'il y avait trop de chansons laissees de cote a mon gout. De meme nous allons sortir un album avec les out takes de Jewles For Sophia en fevrier. Il ne sera disponible que sur mon web site et aux concerts. Je vais creer mon propre label Editions PAF! qui me permettra de sortir tous les morceaux que Warner ne voudra pas inclure sur les disques officiels. Dans les annees 80, j'avais sorti pas mal de trucs sur Glass Fish, des titres se sont retrouves par la suite sur Rhino mais j'a les droits de certains disques comme I Often Dream Of Trains ou Invisible Hitchcock et je pourrais ainsi les reediter... Sophia est un personnage ayant reellement existe dont j'ai vu une photo mais dont je sais tres peu de choses si ce n'est qu'elle etait mariee a un certain Bram et qu'elle a ete envoyee dans un camps de concentration tres peu de temps avant le fin de la guerre. J'ai decide d'intituler le disque d'inedits A Star For Bram. Michele: Avec l'internet, on ne sait pas tres bien ce qu'il va advenir des maisons de disques telles que nous les connaissons maintenant. Donc beaucoup de musiciens se lancent dans la vente par correspondance directement sur leur web site. Pourquoi s'embeter avec une maison de disques qui vend trois disques et te taxe 50% de tes benefices dessus, si tu peux directement en vendre mille sur ton web site et tout mettre directement dans ta poche? C'est vrai qu'on a limpression de se diriger vers un juke box global et que mon prochain disque n'aura peut-etre meme pas de realite physique. Ma musique sortira du mur... En attendant, voir Robyn Hitchcock sur scene avec juste ses guitares acoustique, electrique et son harmonica est un plaisir trop rare pour que l'on se contente d'entendre sa voix sortir d'un mur, aussi joli qu'il soit. L'une des raisons de ce plaisir est ses improvisations farfelues dans un melange de francais et d'anglais, dont j'espere que vous aurez saisi tout le charme, tout au long de cet interview. Pour finir donc, je vous livre encore telle que, cette interpretation toute personnelle de l'histoire de la musique, tandis qu'il s'accorde: "Encore une fois cet harmonica joue par Beethoven...toujours son harmonica et son chien, il a marche parmi les bois anciens, jouant toujours ses melodies jolies sur l'harmonica et sur le chien...son 'Ouverture Pour Harmonica Et Chien' est fameuse parmi le monde! [Peinant dans sas reglages.] Beethoven, parce qu'il etait sourd, n'a jamais eu de problems with the tuning. Il a regarde l'arbre...ou peut-etre le chien, et il a compose sa musique en un instant. Mais moi, je suis un peu out of tune..." A en croire l'attention dont il fait enfin l'objet en France de la part de sa maison de disque et de la presse, ca serait plutot une bonne chose. Mercie a Kathleen Aubert et Olivier Nuc qui m'ont permis de mettre a jour cette interveiw en Octobre. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 19:33:07 PDT From: "Capitalism Blows" Subject: Software Servant Boys all over the world, phase III Dangerous Abuse December, 1999; pg. 18 Fegmaniac Again by Cathimini Since 1996, Robyn Hitchcock had us almost leashes without news. You And Oblivion, collection of inedits was only not easily available in importation and its last album Moss Elixir, was master key almost directly Warner stock with the vats of the shops of bargains. The tournee of reformation of the Software Servant boys was well arretee far from our contrees and one thought well more of re-examining it. Reassuring news filtered however the last Grant Lee Buffalo or it sang and played of the harmonica, as well as (excellent!) first album of Tim Keegan and the Homer Loung or it played of the guitar. One same recognized it in background music of the film Judas Kiss left in spring. But nothing very concrete until A this June or I falls in stop on a small poster: " Beer Necessities " present the acoustic evenings in company of Robyn Hitchcock and Peter Blegvad in eoncert exceptional A the Hotel of North. Or, rams me, celuie " Atmosphere, atmosphere, is what I have a mouth of atmoshpere! " Around the photograph of Robyn, criticisms dithyrambic of the NY Times, SF Chronicles for appater the barge, but not a French word. It should be said that has that nothing exceptional since, without any pretention of my share, I think of being the only person has to write regularly on him in this country and our derniere meeting went already back to December 21, 1993. 1993?!! Time for a sacring pquet readers of Abuses to wonder which I speak since turn has the hour. Decouvert with its group The Software Servant boys and confirms by various albums impossible to circumvent during the Eighties record in solo or with The Egyptians, Robyn Hitchcock derange, intrigue and seduit by a mixture of aggressive rock'n'roll and the pop jumineuse one, of poesy macabre surrealist dt of idees. Catalogue a little easily like eccentric because of its taste for the absurdity and the animals of sea, Robyn is always remains in margin of all, same psychedelism which however definit best the kaleidoscope of emotions and features of humour which return the majority of its so exceptional songs. The annes 90 have brings a certain recognition to him to the United States which allows him concentrere on the writing, the drawing, painting and well on the music. A music which oscillates between the simplicity of acoutstic and the richness of electric arrangements delicieusement pop or wildly odd, according to mood. A music which does not have cease to evolve/move since Robyn is tomb in soup preparee by Bob Dylan, Beatles, Syd Barrett, Nick Drake (as confirms it the piece that it us A gives) or Jimi Hendrix whom it saw in concert has Isle de Wight. A music which has fully taken again life for a few months with the outputs almost simultanees of two best of at A&M and Rhino, live records by the BBC in Cambridge Folk Festival and the BO of the film Storefront Hitchcock (and since this interview has ete made Jewels For Sophia, finally available in our country by the ways legales). This last document is by far more interessant because it establishes the direct link with the actualite, temoignant in a concert gives in the window of a store of New York. For which never was likely to assist has one of its services, it will be peut' to be the occasion of rnedre account of incredible the complecite which it is capoable to install in two sentences with its public: " Good evening my sharp and dead friends...I espere that everyone will smoke. " And veiled it engaging in a descent in flame of Gene Hackman of which he does not want to hear any more speak, because the characters that he interprete is tourjours glaucous and bad. A song perhaps inspiree by " the full powerss ". Because the cinema is another of passions of Robyn and of his/her friend Michele Noach, plastic artist which one can already apprecier work on the model of Storefront Hitchcock and author has share entiere small pocket of the new album Jewels For Sophia... Let us speak about your new album: Jewels For Sophia. This album is much more rock'n'roll that the precedents. It is produced by Jon Brion who A works with Fiona APPLE and Grant Lee Phillips. It is a very good arranger. It is much more enthusiastic, sharper, less dark than my last albums. There are some very black songs well, but the majority are elevees. It has ete records has Los Angeles with Grant Lee Phillips, has Seattle with Young Fresh Fellow, Peter Buck and my friend Tim Keegan, and has London with the rhythm section of High Llamas and Kimberley Rew, which formed already part of the Software Servant boys. After 17 years, I could finally turn over in studio with him without that not posing a problem to me. Now that its adventure with Katrina And The Waves is terminee, it test to play as much as possible. It is a guitarist who adores so much his art which it is pret has to cross the seas to come to exploit a recall at the end of the concert. We will leave in tournee together with Tim and him to play of the songs of all the times, same of the Software Servant boys. Pourquois do you have records in so many places? Because Michele and me travel much, same if our address is has London. If I spent more time has Paris, I would record probably here. Ca depend of or I am. Which is the history of " Cheese Alarm "? After is shrimps and fish, your new obsession to culinair? I wrote this song has 8h morning in a coffee of Chicago. It is imposee has to me gifts the urgency and I could not resister has all these words: roquefort, Gruyere, Brie which filled my spirit at this time precis. Is needed arreter to seek metaphores derriere all my words. I speak about what I know and of what I like, in fact French cheeses, in particular mimolette. [ Whereas we start a debate on the origin of the cheese who has my opinion is rather Dutch, we return towards more general considerations. ] But it is true that one cannot be unaware of only the 3/4 of the world creve of hunger while almost all the other quarter depense of fortunes to lose or fight against the bulimia. Veiled what speaks my song, of this nonsense. As the majority of my songs there are a share of selfishness has to concentrate me on my vision of the things and a share of altruism has to evoke the world such as it is in reality. You almost leave two compilations out of two different labels at the same time: Uncorrected Personality Milked on Rhino and a best of on A&M. Is what that marks a pause in your career or a new departure? Not, because it is not my idee. I did not do anything for A&M. Rhino has decide to present regularly das periodes da my life like the compil Soft Servant boys it ya has a few years. Uncorrected Personality Milked morceux and makes the notes of small pockets. It is not a question of the turn to make a box which recalls the career complete of Robyn Hitchcock, hello, goodbye and it is finished. It is as the live one in Cambridge Folk Festival which has ete records with The Egyptians in 1992, it is fate the year passes without I really occupying myself some. I have jut written the notes of small pockets and draws aside two or three pieces which were not terrible. But it was not at all my idee, it is that of people who had left there is a few times Kershaw Sessions. All these discs finally belong more to the people who wanted to leave them than has me. My last albums are Jewels For Sophia who really belong has Michele and me... and Storefront Hitchcock which I have really realise with Jonathan Demme. Why have records two albums almost exclusively acoustic before this one? Moss Elixir was the first album which I made without a group and I tried to base turn on the voice and the guitar. Very simple, without the clouds, turkeys and trains and other Messrs with the fog. It is only me and only what was necessary. Same thing for Storefront Hitchcock. The guitar and the voice are also in the heart of my new album. I would like to find these very simple things, often lost in the studio with all the instruments and the sound effects and the amplifiers, to put them on disc. Sometimes there is a little violin or sax, but I have them relegues at the bottom so that they do not gachent the subject. It is as that which I try to work now. As the concert which you saw yesterday evening: only me and from time to time some friends who pass, like Syd Straw or John Blegvad. But together, more fog group! It is for that that you ace records the new album with as many different people? Exactly. It is fun to work thus because you know upon the departure whom you are together only for one short period and you avoid all thus promiscuite musical. I have too a long time ete monogamist as regards music... In addition I find interessant to have the opinion of young people. The fact of leaving in tournee with Kimberley which is of my generation and Tim which is ten years old less me makes it possible not to have the impression to be an old greybeard who monkey his master key like Rolling Stones. The mixture of the ages is a thing very interessante and constructive for all. It is necessary to encourage the communication between the generations so that the old men arretent to think that the old men are depasses. I remember of this group gitan or the musicians had of 20 A 80 years. Some had the belly which depassait of their nylon costume too greenhouse, the singer was agitated in all the directions completely has dimension of the microcomputer... [ I pass on the gesters and mimicry has to burst to laugh at Robyn which imitates each member of the group. ] They were completely ridiculous with the first access but I had not seen such a vitalite since Captain Beefheart. They have completely steals the high-speed motorboat in Kronos Quartet which had invite them. Storefront Hitchcock opens on a song which is entitled " 1974 ". What is it spends so particular that year so that you write a song above? Many things, but in a direction, it is one year without anything very outstanding. It is a gray Anne. I was 21 years old and it was the end of the hippies, it is the year or Nixon has demissionner, or the shock of oil has exchange the economy of the world, or the war of Vietnam was enlisait... In fact I have speak one year not so significant that Ca because I was has the search of the time wasted... in fact of time jete has the dustbin. But it is like your life, same if it is not very interessant, it is when same your life. The majority of our life of Westerner are occupee has to go from a place has another, to open to frigidair it, to open a tap... nothing very interessant, but it is what occupies the majority of our time. Is this because of noted this command which you wrote a song like " Where Do You Go When You Die? "? And you, know it you? It is well on one of the questions that one poses to me all the time. When you are dying and that you try to point out your life to you, very appears significant you whereas all that was not appeared dramatic you without interest when you were living them. 1974 for example were very dramatic for me, but the world seemed very calm A dimensions. The life is made of a heap of riens. [ makes some, information taken, 1974 is the year or Robyn has demenage has Cambridge from or the history of the Software Servant boys became possible, therefore one year crucial for us atures. -- nda ] You seem much... Oh yes, much more than front. I adore Ca, I am read much has ease that the derniere time that you saw me [ in December 1993 with the Passage of Western North, Paris -- nda ]. You see this year I has cheek in Spain, in Sweden, in Italy, in the United States, in Australia... in France. I same will arrive has to play in England has force. I leave six weeks with Sebadoh and Flaming Lips during the ete. I adore to travel thus, just with Michele or Tim. It should be said that when you enfourches your quitare electric to play us a punk version of " Only The Stones Remain " like yesterday evening, one has limpression which you make more noise than a whole reuni group. If it is i' impression which I give, it is super. It is very fun to play of the rock'n'roll without being in a troop of rock'n'roll because it is a show. It is me playing the role of a musician C reock. I adore not to have has to share the scene with others. Moreover I play now of the songs of all the times. You realize that " Queen Of Eyes " is 20 years old? I have songs so much has my provision! Why to have left an alternate version Moss Elixir in vinyl with different pieces? Because there was too many songs laissees of dimension have my taste. From same we will leave an album with the out takes Jewles For Sophia in February. It will be available only on my web site and with the concerts. I go creer my own label Editions PAF! who will allow me to leave all the pieces that Warner will not want to include on the official discs. In the Eighties, I had left not badly tricks on Glass Fish, of the titles are find thereafter on Rhino but I has the rights of certain discs like I Often Dream Of Trains or Invisible Hitchcock and I could the reediter thus... Sophia is a character having reellement exists of which I saw a photograph but of which I know very few things if it is not that it was mariee has certain Bram and that it has ete envoyee in concentration camps very little time before the end of the war. I have decide to entitle the disc of inedits A Star For Bram. Michele: With the Internet, one does not know very well what it will occur of the houses of discs such as we know them now. Therefore much of musicians launch out in the mail order business directly on their web site. Why embeter with a house of discs which sells three discs and taxes you 50% with your benefit above, if you can directly sell of it thousand on your web site and all to put directly in your pocket? It is true that one has limpression to move towards a juke total box and that my next disc will not have perhaps same step of physical reality. My music will come out of the wall... While waiting, to see Robyn Hitchcock on scene with Juste his guitars acoustic, electric and its harmonica is a too rare pleasure so that one is satisfied to hear his voice leave a wall, as pretty as it is. One of the reasons of this pleasure is its eccentric improvisations in a mixture of French and English, of which I espere that you will have seized all the charm, throughout this interview. To thus finish, I still deliver to you such as, this very personal interpretation of the history of the music, while it agrees: " Once again this harmonica always plays by Beethoven... his harmonica and its dog, it has functioning among wood old, always playing its pretty melodies on the harmonica and on the dog... its ' Opening For Harmonica And Chien' is famous among the world! [ Paining in hopper reglages. ] Beethoven, because it was deaf, never had problems with the tuning. He A looks at the tree... or perhaps the dog, and he A composes his music in one moment. But me, I am a little out of tune... " With believing of it the attention of which it is finally the object in France on behalf of its house of disc and the press, Ca would be rather a good thing. Mercie has Kathleen Aubert and Olivier Nuc who allowed me to update this interveiw in October. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ End of fegmaniax-digest V9 #94 ******************************