Monatliche Offenbarungen (August)
The whole time of a lifetime can find its roots and reflections in the power spots of your favourite forest. Remember your walks, the desire to go there, strolling, dreaming, holding hands, being for yourself. For Paul Newland aka Clevelode it is Epping Forest. In 1972 Leonard Cohen toured Europe and Israel. Closeby, Tony Palmer‘s film crew. This documentary is a true revelation, with its funny and heartbreaking moments. I only had to read the first chapters of Manfred Jelinski’s book to „be there“. A fantastic time travel experience, even for people who haven’t been in the 60’s. When Lou Berney wrote his classic crime novel, „The Long And Faraway Gone“, it was another trip backwards, full of ghosts and false memories. When I talked to him, he told me amongst other stuff of interest, how deeply Bruce Springsteen‘s „Darkness At The Edge Of Town“ helped him to open some gates of perception.
We all have records that kind of elevated us beyond pure excitement, that went so deep as deep can go, haven’t we!? Which come to your mind (just speaking of song albums of the 21st century): maybe „American Head“ from the Flaming Lips? „Lives Outgrown“? „Ys“? „Foreverandevernomore“? A Lana del Rey opus, one by Lucinda Williams, Robert Wyatt, Leonard Cohen or Sufjan Stevens? Damon Albarn‘s „Everyday Robots“? Valentin Silvestrov’s „Silent Songs“ (an archival discovery by ECM, released 2004, but, fair enough, recorded in 1986)? David Sylvian’s „Manafon“? Scott Walker‘s „Bish Bosch“?
In her surreal poetry book P.J. Harvey went back to the myths and dreams of her childhood spaces in Dorset – and the book built a central foundation (here we are again) for one of the deepest song cycles of the 21st century. How the days of growing up can be devastating and sadly, missing portals of silver lining, the Apple plus series „Under The Bridge“ definitely is the saddest trip of our monthly recommendations. (Eine nordic noir-Variante mit weitaus mehr „good feel“-Momenten bietet die Serie „Dicte“ auf Arte (Mediathek), mit meiner dänischen Lieblingsschauspielerin Iben Hjelje). After all these „zigzaging“ between men-made heaven and hell, an album like „Future Fashions“ seems to be a perfect release. I swear, it will put a smile on your face.
ALBUM – Clevelode: Muntjac
FILM – Bird On A Wire
PROSE – Manfred Jelinski: Drogen, Sex und gute Laune
TALK – Lou Berney im Interview
POETRY – P.J. Harvey: Orlam
BINGE – Under The Bridge
ARCHIVE – Tomorrow‘s Fashions – Library Electronica 1972 – 1987