In memory of …

Later in his life, John Kelman wrote a stream of reviews about albums that did not get a fresh remaster or that just appeared in the endless stream of novelties. He had an eye on albums that he kept returning too every once in a while and nearly vanished from the public eye and ear.

One of these albums that just springs to mind, was „New Rags“ from Jack DeJohnette‘s Directions. A rather wild ECM production, full of energy and „uninhibited joie de vivre“. I bought that album in the days it was released, and was impressed when listening again, after reading John‘s text: I joined his excitement.

Now I remember our conversation about „Manafon Variations“ in Kristiansand, a sort of „remix-reshape-reinvention“ of the meanwhile classic „Manafon“. We talked about the richness of details, the impressing input of artists that were not around in the days of Manafon, and, especially David‘s „slow motion singing“. O me oh my!

This conversation on a rainy afternoon has happened a long time ago, and moments of it appeared out of nowwhere today when I put on the first vinyl reissue of „Died In The Wool – Manafon Variations“. The double album features an extra sidelong track „When we return, you won‘t recognise us“ that is so much more than a curiosity from dusted shelves.

Now, we old listeners do exactly return, and we experience every piece of it like it would be a terrific first time. This work is on par with Manafon, equally powerful. One of the side effects I experienced was, well, an uninhibited „joie de écouter“, a strangely elevating feel in a work that is generally supposed to come from the dark. A passionate affair all the way through!

In the words of John from 2011: „If Manafon was a masterpiece that found new ways to shape music, then Died In The Wool is equally important, as it eschews the concept of remix and, in its place, aims for reinvention—re-composition that takes place, in multiple degrees of separation, from the founding material that was the previous album’s inspiration.“