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Thursday, July 07, 2005

From the Inbox: Hangnail Phillips
We recently received an email from Hangnail Phillips promoting his new album, Wit's End. I usually approach solicitations for reviews with caution and skepticism. I'll try anything, but it's rare to find quality. With nothing to lose, I downloaded Wit's End (It's available on CD or as a legal, free download from Hangnail's web site.) and to my delight and surprise, found that it's actually quite an enjoyable homemade album.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of The Beatles, Beefheart, Zappa, and a host of other leading names in psychedelic and folk rock, Phillips's songs are dense, eclectic, yet always melodic. Heavy reverb drapes over pounding drums and Phillip's twangy vocals. Two instrumental tracks, "All Tied Up" and the title track are collages of synth, discarded samples, and ringing telephones.

Wit's End would be the perfect soundtrack for my life if I owned a van and smoked lots of pot. But for this mundane corporate wage slave, it's still a fun, psych-rock trip. Try "Be Yourself" (MP3).
posted by jason @ 4:13 PM  LINK |
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check it
Dinosaur L
Dinosaur L
"#5 (Go Bang)"
"#7 (Recorded Live at the Kitchen, 1979)"
Not that it takes much, but the trailer for the upcoming Arthur Russell documentary got me onto an AR kick the other day, and I headed for Dinosaur L's 24-24 Music. 24-24 is thought by some to be the gem of Russell's dancier material, and it'll hopefully be reissued soon. The Francois K remix of its masterstroke "#5 (Go Bang)" kicks off 2004's The World of Arthur Russell compilation, but I actually prefer the 24-24 original (MP3). When I first heard 24-24, though, the standout for me was far more fleeting. The two-minute "#7 (Recorded Live at the Kitchen, 1979)" (MP3) is a tantalizingly short slice of a session I hope is sitting in full in a vault somewhere. Russell's cello anchors a percussive horn-guitar groove that quickly recalls (or, I should say, previews) !!! and others. And, like much of Russell's music, I love it not only for its sound but also for the era of NYC it instantly evokes.

- rajeev, 12.14.06
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