WFMU, Eno and Bryars, UbuWeb, Chinese propaganda comics, &c.
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If you stay tuned to WFMU, you won't have to hear "American Pie" for the rest of your life.
Philosophy
WFMU has a stated commitment to unstructured-format broadcasting. All programming is created by each individual air personality, and is not restricted by any type of station-wide playlist or rotation schedule. Experimentation, spontaneity and humor are among the station's most frequently noted distinguishing traits. Unlike mostcommercial broadcasting and non- commercial educational radio stations, WFMU does not offer regularly scheduled news, weather, traffic, sports, or financial information. WFMU does not belong to any existing public radio network, and nearly 100% of its programming originates at the radio station. ... Recognition and cultural influence
WFMU was named "Best Radio Station in the Country" by Rolling Stone magazine for four consecutive years (1991–1994)[4] and has also been dubbed the best radio station in either NYC or the US by The Village Voice, New York Press, and CMJ, among others. The station also won three awards ("Best Specialty Programming", "Most Eclectic Programming", and "Music Director Most Likely To Never Sell Out") at the 2006 CMJ College Radio Awards.A New York Times magazine feature article called WFMU "a station whose name has become like a secret handshake among a certain tastemaking cognoscenti",[5] and cites Velvet Underground founder Lou Reed, The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch and playwright Eric Bogosian as avowed fans of the station.Other notable fans and supporters of WFMU include Neutral Milk Hotel frontman Jeff Mangum, Kurt Cobain,[6] screenwriter/director Ethan Coen, MAKE magazine editor-in- chief and Boing Boingco-founder Mark Frauenfelder, Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant, musician Suzanne Vega, artist Cindy Sherman, indie rock superstar Ted Leo, Sonic Youth guitarists Lee Ranaldo[7] andThurston Moore, comic book artist and writer Evan Dorkin, film director, producer and actor Kevin Smith, musician Moby, The Cars vocalist/record producer Ric Ocasek, musician Max Tundra, television talk-show host Conan O'Brien, comedian and broadcaster Phill Jupitus, and Blixa Bargeld, singer of the German band Einstürzende Neubauten.[8]
... Kenneth Goldsmith (air name: Kenny G), author, UbuWeb founder, conceptualist, Dadaist, journalist, exhibitionist, and professor at the University of Pennsylvania.[13]
Via WFMU Twitter feed:Obscure Records (1975-78) [MP3] The complete run of all 10 LPs from Brian Eno's legendary record label. The label provided a venue for experimental music, and its association with Eno gave increased public exposure to its composers and musicians. Included here are The Sinking of the Titanic – Gavin Bryars; Ensemble Pieces – Christopher Hobbs, John Adams, Gavin Bryars; Discreet Music – Brian Eno; New and Rediscovered Musical Instruments – Max Eastley, David Toop; Voices and Instruments – Jan Steele, John Cage; Decay Music – Michael Nyman; Music from the Penguin Café – Members of the Penguin Café Orchestra; Machine Music – John White, Gavin Bryars; Irma – an opera by Tom Phillips, music by Gavin Bryars, libretto by Fred Orton; and The Pavilion of Dreams – Harold Budd.Gavin Bryars (b. 1943)Obscure Records on UbuWeb
Obscure No. 1
The Sinking Of The Titanic (1975)
Obscure (UK)
Catalog#: Obscure No. 1
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: UK
Released: 1975
Tracklist
A The Sinking Of The Titanic
Conductor, Piano - Gavin Bryars
Double Bass - Sandra Hill
Leader [Director] - Howard Davidson, Howard Rees
Musical Box [Music Box] - Angela Bryars
Strings - Cockpit Ensemble, The
Violin - John Nash (2)
Voice [Spoken] - Miss Eva Hart
B Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet
Conductor - Gavin Bryars
Double Bass - Sandra Hill
Guitar - Derek Bailey
Leader [Director] - Howard Davidson, Howard Rees
Orchestra - Cockpit Ensemble, The
Organ - Michael Nyman
Tuba - John White
Violin - John Nash (2)
Producer - Brian Eno
Written-By - Gavin Bryars
Notes
stock black die cut inner
'island records' at bottom of label, '1975 Island Records Ltd' at left
'Manufactured and distributed by Island Records Ltd.' lower right rear sleeve
Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet
In 1971, when I lived in London, I was working with a friend, Alan Power, on a film about people living rough in the area around Elephant and Castle and Waterloo Station. In the course of being filmed, some people broke into drunken song - sometimes bits of opera, sometimes sentimental ballads - and one, who in fact did not drink, sang a religious song "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet". This was not ultimately used in the film and I was given all the unused sections of tape, including this one.
When I played it at home, I found that his singing was in tune with my piano, and I improvised a simple accompaniment. I noticed, too, that the first section of the song - 13 bars in length - formed an effective loop which repeated in a slightly unpredictable way. I took the tape loop to Leicester, where I was working in the Fine Art Department, and copied the loop onto a continuous reel of tape, thinking about perhaps adding an orchestrated accompaniment to this. The door of the recording room opened on to one of the large painting studios and I left the tape copying, with the door open, while I went to have a cup of coffee. When I came back I found the normally lively room unnaturally subdued. People were moving about much more slowly than usual and a few were sitting alone, quietly weeping.
I was puzzled until I realised that the tape was still playing and that they had been overcome by the old man's singing. This convinced me of the emotional power of the music and of the possibilities offered by adding a simple, though gradually evolving, orchestral accompaniment that respected the tramp's nobility and simple faith. Although he died before he could hear what I had done with his singing, the piece remains as an eloquent, but understated testimony to his spirit and optimism.
The piece was originally recorded on Brian Eno's Obscure label in 1975.
-- Gavin Bryars.
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If there’s anything slightly creepier than Alice In Wonderland author Lewis Carroll’s hobbyist portrait series of sleeping little girls, it’s this striking portrait of a sleeping little girl and her ghost-double collaborating on her own murder.
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