Not all of us were hip enough to turn onto minimalism via Steve Reich, La Monte Young, or even Dylan Carlson. Some of us came in through the back door; long, inspired nights, moving back the needle, falling into a repetitive cave, collapsing into the three chords that we knew. To some of us, ZZ Top were sages, bringing down riffs like clay tablets, from the top of Mt. Sinai, via West Texas.
This outstanding LP from famed Japanese improviser, which i understand is out of print, isn't afraid to show that he spent as much time with John Lee Hooker as William Hooker, not afraid to come out of the avant-improv ghetto, and make something other than squeaks and squawks with his six string. What we have here, is what Julian Cope would call the 'ur-boogie', the godhead of Texas blues, as channeled through a shamanic trance. Lengthy explorations of mood and tone and texture and energy, rhythmic and riffing, pummeling and sweet and most importantly, BADASS!
Discovering this album has been majorly refreshing for me, having spent the better part of the week with chilly, existential neo-classical albums, staying up all night, staring into the void. This week its been sunny here in Co, time to open the windows, get out the damn house, take the dog for a walk. Do some dusting. Hibernation be damned, its time to frickin move, and the rolling, rollicking transistor tones of Don't Forget to Boogie are just what the doctor ordered.
Unashamed, unabashed rock. Totally essential. This has quickly become a personal favorite.
Don't Forget to Boogie
don't get mad because i have all those characters and more on my blogspot! you also left out the other easy way for hipsters to get into minimalism, iannis xenakis, lustmord, tangerine dream, hell even aphex twin....
ReplyDeletei love steve reich, la monte young, sunn O)), earth, krautrock, rave musick. Bout anything with a grinding, repetitive beat, to pulverize those thoughts into dust. But i also fondly recall those days of limited musical ability, falling into a trance over the same 2 chords, for hours and hours. Shitty drug addled garage band jams. Mostly just like that this record is not really a cerebral exercise, seems more visceral and immediate.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that my listening habits have brought me to some rock, afraid i may be construed as some winnowing indie navel-gazer, with the records that availed themselves for consideration this week. stay tuned for more heaviness (and weirdness, and awesomeness).
i legitimately think stratosphere and some of the middle eno works opened me towards the really spacey sort of klaus-esque ambient scenes....but krautrock for sure has always been close to heart. i'm pleased to hear these words from you though, as i often praise trance-like states through music and self-indulgent vacuums. must be why we're friends.
ReplyDeletemust be.
ReplyDelete