With Van Dyke Parks’ new Songs Cycled (Bella Union), the renowned composer, arranger and vocalist (in that order), not only releases his first album of originals since 1995’s Orange Crate Art (with Brian Wilson singing), but lends his usually complex creations a renewed sense of simplicity. The thoughts may be determinedly complicated and touched by the soul of social protest, but Parks’ music is deliciously direct, while remaining as elegant as anything he’s done for himself (à la 1968’s chamber-pop initiator Song Cycle) or others (the Beach Boys and Rufus Wainwright amongst them). Parks will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new feature with him.
Parks: I prefer Lord Kitchener above all songwriters of the 20th century. Yet, writers from Atilla the Hun, Lord Invader and Sir Lancelot (Murder In Trinidad, 1941) all appeal. Recommended intro to the genre: Mighty Sparrow‘s Hot & Sweet album (I co-produced it in 1971). It was recorded during a hurricane, on our own generated power, in just one day. Like, wow! Without doubt, this album is as hi-fi as you’ll ever hear outta the Caribbean.
Yeah man, it’s retro, but part of my diet today. I totally eat this stuff up.
Available on CD here.
Video after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnjKmpIlFn8
