So when asked to be a guest editor for MAGNET, my initial reaction was that my inner 18-year-old self might flip out so much that I might have nary a word to say. However, I persevered and was immediately filled with some of the memories of growing up in the proverbial “sticks” in the ’90s. Starting there and moving forward to the present day, I accumulated a list of people, movies, music, food, poets and other stuff that, although not exhaustive by any extent, it gives an insight into me, my music, the band, inspirations and interests. At the very least I would hope that a few of these things may also be viewed as recommendations that could steer people toward becoming acquainted with a few new people, and things that I find dear. It goes without saying, I appreciate the opportunity to “preach from the pulpit,” so to speak and air my opinion on so many different things. Normally people only care about what I say about my music or music in general, which can get tedious. So thank you, MAGNET, for providing the platform to impose my taste on others. Really and truly, I hope someone finds something in here that they, too, can enjoy.
So this is probably very old news to many, but this folk band from back in the day that Bert Jansch headed up is kinda fucking awesome. We have listened to Pentangle in the van when we are on tour quite bit over the last few years, and everybody in the band generally agrees upon its greatness. There’s something really experimental and weird about what they do that is hard to put your finger on exactly. At moments, it’s very traditional but then totally takes off into other directions that re-contextualizes the whole thing into something that wasn’t just current in 1971 but is borderline current now. On the first track of this record, which is a traditional called “Wedding Dress,” if you listen to it and tell me that the drums couldn’t be used as a hip-hop break, I would say listen again. Of course, Celtic-sounding banjo might not be the taste du jour for most MCs, but the drum and bass are definitely feeling the backbeat enough to elicit a head bob or two. There’s quite a bit of really interesting musical textures going on with the instrumentation and the fidelity of the whole thing is perfectly analog. Plus Jansch is just generally rad.
Video after the jump.
