So Jim O’Rourke has slipped a brand new album in under the radar. It’s called ‘Simple Songs’ and I haven’t heard it yet but the blurb sounds promising.
If you don’t know Jimbo he’s an interesting chap – came out of the intriguing Chicago post rock scene along with people like The Sea and the Cake and Tortoise. I discovered this music genre about 15 years ago and as a lover of the Canterbury sound (see my previous blog) I think there is a bit of that DNA in there (although Im probably on my own with that theory) – but there’s something about the gentle vocals, obvious jazz stylings and occasionally songs with varied and complex sections but with melody to the fore.
Back to Jim – he is, to use that currently in vogue expression, a true polymath. He’s made acres of stuff that is pretty much unlistenable noodly avant-garde soundscapes; he’s made solo acoustic guitar instrumental records a la John Fahey and he was, for a fair number of years, a member of Sonic Youth. But he has also made a number of wonderful eclectic pop records which generally have titles taken from Nicholas Roeg movies – the finest of which (IMHO) is ‘Eureka’ and I urge you to seek it out. His ‘pop’ style mixes Van Dyke Parks with a bit of that gentle prog style, ambient instrumental passages, some bold brass arrangements, and covers of songs by Ivor Cutler(!) and Burt Bacharach.
Here’s a very short number from Eureka which has more melodies and ideas in it than most albums have across their entire duration. Oh yes and he reckons albums should not be more than 38 minutes long and I absolutely agreed with that (although I checked out that Eureka is 43)
Other ‘post rock’ albums I’d recommend are Patrick Phelan ‘Parlour’; Gastr Del Sol ‘Camoufleur’ and Sam Prekop’s eponymous first album.
Thanks for this – the article about him in the current Uncut titled “Eureka!” on the back of his new album had piqued my interest. I’m afraid that any association with Sonic Youth or anyone else of that ilk is usually a complete turn off for me, but the article suggested there was more to this chap than that. The clip confirms it. I will investigate further.
I picked up a cheap used copy of ‘Insignificance’ a couple of years ago, mostly because of its curious cover. I don’t play it often, but when a song comes up on shuffle I always wonder why I don’t play it more. Maybe it’s because my brain gets worn out trying to take in all its layers….
Sonic Youth were best when Jim O’Rourke was in them. FACT.
A great introduction to him, FF.
You really got my mouth watering to delve deeper into his back catalogue. Well. At least the less noodly stuff.
Jim O’rourke is someone I’ve been meaning to check out for a while now. About 10 years I think, without actually doing it. That Uncut article, plus the song on the accompanying CD, plus this thread might actually make me follow through at last.
On the subject of post-rock, I’ve been listening to Mi Media Naranja by Labradford almost exclusively for the last few days, and it is pretty much perfect:
I’m a long term fan of Jimbo, I get the Canterbury link, and the Van Dyke Parks comparison is bang on, he is the equivalent of VDP for the 00s/2010s…collaborating/producing different bands and doing his own quiet thing on the side which has a gathering cult following.
Check this out it’s brilliant, if you like Van Dyke Parks/Brian Wilson this’ll push some buttons:
Love that Labradford track will check out the album (if only they were called Le Rotherham they’d be perfect)
Here’s a track from Sam Prekop featuring and produced by Jim.
Keep the post rock tracks coming in
If you want to listen to the new album, indulge yourself….
http://youtu.be/tKYaw0eTbl8