Annette Peacock in The New Yorker

You might be interested in Damon Krukowsk´s piece "The Unclassifiable, Unstreamable Eighties Albums of Annette Peacock" in the New Yorker (5 December 2018), where she among other things talks about Alfie and Robert Wyatt.

"I was impressed with Alfie’s work, its innocence, the colors, her concept, and I asked her to do a portrait for the cover of “I Have No Feelings.” Alfie was apologetic for never having finished the hands. But all I saw was that glorious, blue, technicolor sky visible through my transparent eyes, and I didn’t care about the unfinished hands. Robert and Alfie are like Paris in the thirties, wonderful, and I fell in love with them both!"

Nicolas Roeg (RIP), Venice and Rock Bottom

Somebody (@MrPaulDuane) recently tweeted a link to a piece called "Two Intertwined Semi-Venetian Masterpieces" by Glenn Kenny (The Criterion Collection 2015).

I must have read it before but can´t see that I have posted it.

"Venice asserts itself as “a sinister presence” in Roeg’s film ((Don’t Look Now, 1973)) Robert Wyatt aptly notes in the liner notes to a 1998 reissue of his 1974 album Rock Bottom. Wyatt cites Don’t Look Now in his notes because the making of the film, particularly its six-week Venice shoot, is intimately intertwined with the genesis of his classic album—ranked alongside Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks by NME in the year of its release, when it was also awarded an international Grand Prix du Disque in France, and, according to biographer Marcus O’Dair, “still widely considered one of the finest albums ever made.”

Late in 1972, Wyatt’s then girlfriend and future wife, the artist Alfreda Benge, was hired as second assistant editor for the just-beginning Roeg production. Benge had met Roeg while he was shooting the concert doc Glastonbury Fayre, and was close friends with the film’s female lead,Julie Christie. The picture began filming around Christmas in England, and in January of 1973 moved to Venice for location shooting."

North Sea Radio Orchestra plays Rock Bottom

North Sea Radio Orchestra with John Greaves and Annie Barbazza plays Rock Bottom Friday 30 November 2018 - in Italy that is (Conservatorio di Musica G.Nicolini, Piacenza).

Carolina Katún - Al Silencio (Jazzland 2018)

A nice cover of "Sea Song" on Carolina Katún´s album "Al Silencio" on the Norwegian Jazzland label (October 2018).

""In Al Silencio", I was willing to pay tribute to some of the keys songs and singers that have impacted my life so far. This repertoire is composed of some Latino American standards such as la ranchera mexicana "La llorona", and others which are less well-known, such as "Le tengo al silencio", from Athahalpa Yupanqui, the song that gave the Album its title..." Through pieces by Robert Wyatt or Purcell, the band opens up to other horizons such as pop and baroque music. The specific quality of the band is to make each piece their own in a common spirit, conjuring new arrangements that possess a beautiful simplicity. The group's open-mindedness was the perfect fit for Carolina Katún."

Listen, buy and read more on Jazzland´s Bandcamp and home page.

MOJO No. 300

Finally Mojo´s issue no. 300 is in the shelves here in Norway too.

The cover is a nice tribute to Beatles´ white album of course and the CD that comes with the magazine has a previously unreleased track by Robert Wyatt.

The Wyatt song is a beautiful demo of Robert Wyatt singing the Paul Weller lyrics to "Invisible", a song later used on Weller´s "22 Dreams" (2008).

From Mojo:
"I owe so much to Paul, he´s been so encouraging over the years", Wyatt tells us, "and he played on half a dozen of the best recordings I´ve been able to make. This is my way of saying "Thank you, Paul"."

Æncrages and Wyatt Tribute Concerts

Found this info on Twitter via @dheissler:

"#Æncrages fête ses 40 ans : Samedi 13 octobre à 16h30 à La Claranda (11190 Serres) #Rencontre avec les éditions Æncrages & Co et Roland Chopard, suivie d’une soirée « hommage à Robert Wyatt ». #savethedate #RobertWyatt".

A 40 years celebration at La Claranda of publishers Æncrages there with a tribute concert to Robert Wyatt too. Musicians are Éric Lareine and Pascal Maupeu.

For info on Æncrages and their projects with Robert Wyatt and Alfreda Benge please visit the still fantastic Une Discographie De Robert Wyatt.

Lareine and Maupeu are doing a tribute concert the day before also!

Mr Jukes presents Soft Machine's 'Third'

Mr Jukes presents Soft Machine's 'Third'at EFG London Jazz Festival 24 November 2018.

Musicians:

Jack Steadman, bass/vocals
Dan Berry, saxophone
Binker Golding, saxophone
Sarah Tandy, keys
Max Hallett, drums

Ivor Cutler Exhibition at CCA

If you are in London 1 Oct – 4 Nov 2018 better check out the new exhibition on Ivor Cutler at Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Arts! That´s an order!

See also "The World According to Ivor Cutler" in Another Man October 2018.

Robert Wyatt and Elvis Costello `Loose Talk' May 1983

Robert Wyatt and Elvis Costello on the release of `Shipbuilding' on the Channel 4 programme `Loose Talk'.

Rock Bottom - Animated film

What? An animated film called "Rock Bottom" on Robert Wyatt?

See "Así será 'Rock Bottom', la película de animación sobre el pionero de la música psicodélica Robert Wyatt" on valenciaplaza.com

Google Translate:

"The project, which has just received a grant from the Valencian Institute of Cinematography, is led by the Valencian illustrator and filmmaker María Trenor (winner of 15 awards at festivals such as the Berlinale with her short film Con que la lavare ?, and candidate for a Goya for the animated short ExLibris); the scriptwriter and draftsman Joaquín Ojeda (known for his works in television and award-winning films such as El Cielo Sube or the aforementioned Con la lavare?), and animation director Raúl Colomer (who has also participated in productions such as ExLibris or El vendedor de smoke, winner of a Goya in 2013). The team will be completed with 60 professionals specialized in 3D animation. It will be recorded in English, it will be about 80 minutes long and will involve two and a half years of work. The estimated budget is 4 million euros."

Cristina Donà Live

Ginevra Di Marco and Cristina Donà “Del Mondo” (C.S.I.) Festival "Note di Settembre" Trepponti di Comacchio, Via Trepponti - Comacchio (FE) (yeah, I copied that!).

"Del Mondo" (Ferreti/Zamboni/Maroccolo/Magnelli/Canali) is a track on Robert Wyatt´s album "Comicopera" (2007).

"Goccia" (acoustic version) from the Waves Festival (Italy) July 2018.

"Goccia" was recorded with Robert Wyatt singing on the album "Nido" (1999).

Max Andrzejewski's Hütte and guests play the music of Robert Wyatt

Max Andrzejewski's Hütte and guests play the music of Robert Wyatt at Leipziger Jazztage in October!

The band: Max Andrzejewski (Schlagzeug, Arrangements, Stimme), Johannes Schleiermacher (Saxophon, Synthesizer), Tobias Hoffmann (Gitarre), Andreas Lang (Kontrabass), Jörg Hochapfel (Keyboards, Gitarre) und Cansu Tanrikulu (Stimme).

This is a commissioned work that will be recorded by Radio Berlin Brandenburg and released in 2019 according to the video.

Janek Schaefer "What Light There Is...."

Janek Schaefer´s new Robert Wyatt inspired album "What Light There Is Tells Us Nothing" will be out October 26 2018 (Temporary Residence).

"In 2014, Schaefer was commissioned by the Sounds New Festival in Canterbury, England to craft a new, original piece of music made entirely of elements from Robert Wyatt’s Cuckooland album. Originally designed and presented at the festival as an immersive, multi-channel radio installation, the 21-minute cloud of sound was a sublime meditation on the profundity of Wyatt’s work, and its transporting idiosyncrasies. With Wyatt’s blessing, Schaefer adapted that piece into the side-long opus, “What light there is tells us nothing,” and complimented it with seven new, original compositions that not only exist in the same wondrous space, but echo its playfully poignant resonance well after the album has ended."

Another blog post on Schaefer and Wyatt right over here.

(Photo from a concert at Lydgalleriet in Bergen (Norway) 2009).

To Canterbury and Beyond (A tribute to Canterbury Scene)

The sampler "To Canterbury and Beyond (A tribute to Canterbury Scene)" (Mellow Records) was released in 1999.

Now it seems to be re-released, so you may check it out and listen here on BandCamp.

The Track List:

CD 1
1. ZOO LUNAIRE (Italy) ? The Isle of Everywhere (7:54)
2. CHAMELEON (Sweden) - Crumble / Didn't Matter Anyway (9:42)
3. PHIL MERCY (UK) ? The Bryden 2-Step (for Amphibians) (10:05)
4. ARBOGAST (Italy) ? Ride (7:09)
5. MARCO MASONI (Italy) ? Radio Gnome Invisible (6:13)
6. ATRICK FORGAS (France) - Ethec Naturel (6:44)
7. HOSTSONATEN (Italy) ? Sea Song (4:21)
8. ASHQELON QUILT (Israel) ? Dedicated to You But You Weren't Listening (2:43)
9. SYNTHETIC BLOCK (USA) ? The Soft Weed Factor (8:04)
10. DAVID BAGSBY (USA) ? Hell's Bells (5:55)
11. NOTTURNO CONCERTANTE (Italy) ? Hello Hello (3:39)

Total Time 72:34


CD 2
1. THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD (USA) ? Wring Out the Gound (Loosely Now) (11:06)
2. TILION (Italy) ? Can't Be Long Now / Francoise / For Richard / Warlock (11:11)
3. L'IMBROGLIO (Italy) ? The Collapso / Squarer for Maud (6:43)
4. MARY NEWSLETTER (Italy) ? A Last Straw / Box 25/4 Lid (5:32)
5. NOSTALGIA (Italy) ? At Last I'm Free (4:37)
6. ALGEBRA (Italy) ? De-constructing Wyatt (9:40)
- The British Road
- The Age of Self
- Speechless
- Gharbzadegi
7. DONO CELESTE (Italy) ? Alifib / Alifie (11:02)
8. PHIL BEANE (USA) ? Spring Any Day Now (3:00)
9. MOONMADNESS OF DIVAE (Italy) ? Sasquatch (3:54)
10. ROTTERS' CLUB (UK) ? Place of My Own (3:55)
11. TRAMA (Italy) ? Unevensong (5:12)

Bristol £5 note

Finally I got my own Bristol £5 note! Thanks to Stewy!

There is no Winston Churchill on this one, but Robert Wyatt, Banksy, Tricky, DJ Derek, J.K. Rowling and others.

Visit Stewy on www.stewy.eu.

On Bristol Pound here and on Wikipedia.

Wyatt Lyrics

Check out the lyrics section over at the great Une Discographie De Robert Wyatt!

Signed Curtain (Robert Wyatt)

This is the first verse
This is the first verse, verse
This is the first, first...
And this is the chorus
Or perhaps it's the bridge
Or just another part
Of the song
That I'm singing

And this is the second verse
It could be the last verse
And this is the second verse
Second verse, second verse
It could be the last verse
Last verse
And it's probably
The last one
And this is the chorus
Or perhaps it's the bridge
Or just another key change
Never mind
It doesn't hurt
It only means
That I have lost faith in this song

'Cause it won't help me
Reach you...

Punky Reggae Party Politics

David Chiu´s interview with Vivien Goldman for The Quietus, "Punky Reggae Party Politics: Vivien Goldman interview" (July 9th) should be of interest to Robert Wyatt fans.

"I think everyone was amused by ‘Launderette’, it has a charm. It was so typical of the time.” Robert Wyatt also provided percussion on that track. “He really had significant input,” said Goldman.”I didn't really have a vision of the drums, but he knew what just to do, so delicate and instinctive. Even now, people refer to that sound of ‘Launderette’—it's tough but light.”

Heart Beats: Stuart A Staples On The Music That Inspired Arrythmia

Stuart A. Staples selects Robert Wyatt´s "Rock Bottom" as one of the albums that shaped his new solo album, "Arrythmia" (for The Quietus).

About one of the tracks: "Without the influence of this album I could not have written "Memories Of Love"".

Listen to "Memories of Love" on YouTube (official audio).

Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road (Cover)

Robert Wyatt´s "Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road" performed by THE WATTS (Tim Hodgkinson: clarinet, Chris Cutler: drums, Yumi Hara: piano, voice) + Canterbury Favourites (Yumi Hara, Kazuto Shimizu: keyboard, Toshiaki Sudoh: bass, Yuya Osabe: drums) at Akihabara GOODMAN, Tokyo, Japan, on 4 Dec 2017.

See Spockminder on YouTube.

Nick Mason Solo Box Set

Some Nick Mason news for you today:

"Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason has announced that he will be releasing a brand new box set collection of his solo albums, "Unattended Luggage", on August 31.

The limited-edition offering compiles the rocker's 1981 release, "Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports," 1985's "Profiles" and 1987's "White Of The Eye" soundtrack in both 3CD and 3LP vinyl packages for the first time in over 20 years".

Of most interest here I guess is "Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports" recorded in 1979 and released on Harvest in 1981. Among the musicians we find Robert Wyatt, Carla Bley, Michael Mantler and Gary Windo.

Gavin Esler In Conversation with Robert Wyatt

You remember Gavin Esler in Conversation with Robert Wyatt at University of Kent (6 April 2016)? No???

Well, here is a previous post on it, and it´s now also available on SoundCloud and on iTunes, including music by Soupsongs.

Nothing is more radical than the facts

In April I had a blog post about the Boyle family exhibition at Henie Onstad in Oslo: "Nothing is more radical than the facts" (April 20 – September 2), with works by Mark Boyle, Joan Hills, Sebastian Boyle, Georgia Boyle & Soft Machine.

I finally got to visit the exhibition some days ago, and it is highly recommended!

It was great to spend time in a room filled with Mark Boyle´s psychedelic light installation and the recording of Soft Machine´s concert at Henie Onstad in February 1971.

Clarinet & Piano: Selected Works Vol. 1

Look out for "Piano & Clarinet: Selected Works Vol. 1", the debut album from Group Listening (Stephen Black and Paul Jones) to be released early May 2018. It is a collection of ambient works for piano and clarinet (surprise!), and Robert Wyatt´s "Maryan" is in there.

More info on Bandcamp.

The Unknown Zone Phil Manzanera, Robert Wyatt, Brian Eno

Info rom Phil Manzanera´s YouTube:

"A few years ago when Robert Wyatt was recording ' Cukooland 'at my studio Eno popped round for dinner ,a chat,and an overdub or two and after a few bevies we had a jam.This track ,The Unknown Zone' grew out of that night's improvisations, as did my track '50 minutes later
Phil Manzanera

THE UNKNOWN ZONE
(Wyatt/Eno/Manzanera)

Phil manzanera: Guitars
Brian Eno: Chaos drums and synth bass
Robert Wyatt: Keyboards
Yaron Stavi: Double Bass

Engineered and mixed by Jamie Johnson at Gallery Studio London October 2006".

Download available.

Mary Halvorson selects the songs which inspired her new band Code Girl

Go here for Mary Halvorson´s Wire Playlist, and to read more than the lines I copied!

"Known for her experimental jazz guitar playing as both band leader and accompaniment, Boston born Mary Halvorson recently released her first record including vocals and lyrics. In light of this, as well as her cover feature in the The Wire 410, Halvorson has compiled a playlist of songs which helped lead her to the point of forming her own group, Code Girl. The group released their debut LP via New Haven label Firehouse12 in March 2018.

“Here is a playlist including several key influences for my newest project, Code Girl, which is my first leader project that features a singer” starts Halvorson. “All of the musicians on this list have a totally unique concept and approach to lyrics and song. I’m starting with Robert Wyatt because his influence probably runs deepest. He is a true individual and innovator and I’ve spent years with many of his albums on repeat listen. “Sea Song” was the first of his I ever heard, so it holds a special place for me."

The Music of the Cosmos

Just a mention of a new book today. I saw it on the net a couple of minutes ago, and know next to nothing about it.

But here are the facts:
Carole Bulewski: "The music of the cosmos" (KGHH Publishing 2018).

There are some videos on YouTube from a book launch right over here.
In one of them the author says the book is heavily influenced by the Canterbury music scene.
She also admits to being a big fan of Robert Wyatt, so what can possibly go wrong?

Boyle Family at Henie Onstad

Going to Oslo this year? You might want to visit Henie Onstad and the Boyle family exhibition:

–Nothing is more radical than the facts: April 20 – September 2 (2018)

Works by Mark Boyle, Joan Hills, Sebastian Boyle, Georgia Boyle & Soft Machine.

"Høvikodden became a key place of work for the Boyle Family, and in the mid 1980´s, "The Boyle Family Archive" was established at Henie Onstad. This exhibition will showcase this special collection together with a room dedicated to the Boyle’s unique psychedelic light design for the legendary Soft Machine concert at the art center in 1971".

The Soft Machine concert "Live At Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971" was released by Reel Recordings in 2009 and Smalltown Superjazz in 2010.

Hobby Horse: Born Again Cretin

I mentioned Hobby Horse´s cover of Robert Wyatt´s "Born Again Cretin" back in January, and the album "Helm" is out there on BandCamp and Spotify (and probably elsewhere too), and it´s also available on real vinyl.

Heap of Sheeps

Here is Keel Her with "Heap of Sheeps" - a cover of Robert Wyatt an Alfreda Benge´s "Heaps of Sheeps" ("Shleep" 1997)!

Keel Her is Rose Keeler-Schäffeler, and the track is from the 2017 download album "Not Myself".

Sea Song cover

Two Little Woodpeckers cover "Sea Song".

Different and sweet. Made me smile!

joo : vocal, baritone uke, drawings
jon : baritone uke, harmonica

Life Is

Still going nerdy here!

Yesterday Norwegian author Frode Grytten read his poem "Livet er" ("Life is") to Karen Mantler and Robert Wyatt´s "Life is sheep" (2003).

This happened in the Norwegian radio- NRK P2´s "Salongen".

I believe it´s accessible for all of you (for some time at least). Move over to NRK P2, and jump to 47 minutes.

Phil Miller – The Legacy

This is probably of interest to a lot of you: Phil Miller - The Legacy: Phil Miller´s music on CD is uploaded and musical scores and archives of previously unreleased tapes,live gigs and private recordings are being made available.

I found it via the The Canterbury Scene public group on Facebook.

Martin Beck: Last Night

This might be streching it a bit, but here are some kind of Robert Wyatt news from Bergen (Norway)!

The Bergen Kunsthall art gallery is showing Martin Beck´s "Last Night". The info and explanations below are stolen from Bergen Kunsthall´s site:

"In Last Night the historical material consists of a list of 118 songs, organized in the order they were played at the New York dance party The Loft on 2 June 1984. Since 1970 David Mancuso had been hosting weekly parties in his own home, first at 647 Broadway and later at 99 Prince Street. What eventually became known as The Loft has a unique position in the history of modern music and dance culture. With an intimate atmosphere typified by collective affinities and with the focus on music, The Loft had no commercial agenda — unlike the discotheques that, in time, filled New York with the high-glamour and celebrity factor."

"The 13-and-half-hour-long film version of Last Night (2016) consists of a series of lock shots of a record player where each song is played in its entirety. Each new song is presented from a new camera angle. A total of ten different camera angles are repeated in a pattern based on the Golden Ratio. A hypnotic focus on the slowly moving pickup across the rotating vinyl record emphasizes the physical reproduction of the music. In the exhibition, a specially adapted hi-fi system is used, assembled to correspond to the high-level sound quality one could experience at The Loft."

I have visited the exhibition a couple of times, hearing some random tunes, but last Saturday morning I was alone in the hall watching the beginning of the 13 hours continuous screening of the film, just to hear the third song to be played: Working Week: "Venceremos (We Will Win)", 12-inch single (Paladin Records 1984), with Tracey Thorn and Robert Wyatt singing.

Hobby Horse

Italian band Hobby Horse will cover Robert Wyatt´s "Born Again Cretin" on their next album "Helm" (release date 26 January 2018).

Follow on Bandcamp, homepage and Facebook.

A piece in The Journal Times (January 18 2018) right over here.

Verity Sharp with Robert Wyatt

Please note:

Verity Sharp with Robert Wyatt - Late Junction - BBC Radio 3 Tuesday 23 Jan.

"Ahead of his birthday this weekend, Robert Wyatt rejoins Verity down the line to share some musical selections that are exciting him at the minute.

Also on the programme; 16th century court music from Japan, men imitating birds and a psycho-sexual choral piece by Jenny Moore's "orchestra of chaos" Mystic Business. Plus stripped back grime from East Man, and we dip a toe into slow radio".

Jono McCleery: Age of Self

I posted a SoundCloud link to Jono McCleery´s version of "Age of Self" back in 2015, but I think I missed this video.

Well, here it is!

The Muses Within

Tali Atzmon recently uploaded her film "The Muses Within" to YouTube. Nice!

"A close look into the making of "The Ghosts Within", a 2010 co-production by Robert Wyatt, Gilad Atzmon and Ros Stephen. The film brings to light the unique relationship between the three artists and explores some of the underlying substances that brought this project to life".