Swansolian

So, as you may be aware, crispmush occurred the other day. Up until last year, I hated crispmush, but then I realized that, guiltily, I somewhat enjoy it. The best thing I got was from Iris; a book of her poetry, augmented by illustrations. Beauteous! I also received Outward Bound by Eric Dolphy, Pithecanthropus Erectus by Mingus, and Backlash by Freddie Hubbard, among other discs.

I was very much looking forward to hearing the Hubbard record, as it features the original recording of "Little sunflower". (I also thought that Eric Dolphy played on it, but I was wrong about that.) However, I discovered that the last tune on the album, Bob Cunningham's "Echoes of blue", is also of supreme quality. My first reaction was, "Swans in jazz form!!!" - then I recollected something. About a year ago, Occupant penned a series of blues songs, featuring the creepy guitar work of Nils. The third song we recorded, "Think of something to say, but don't", was something of a murder ballad with a two-note bassline. Right after we wrote it, my reaction to that song was also "That was like the Swansiest thing of all time." The guitar work went from being tentative at first - Nils playing with a little plastic ruler here - to blasting, reminiscent of Swans' "Blind love" (from Children of God). Too bad the mood was kinda thrown off by my less-than-subtle bass solo.

These two songs are suggesting to me an interesting genre - some kinda ultra-slow blues - and I want to explore it. I've also been thinking about recording the blues I wrote recently - still untitled - as a shoegazer-type of tune. Distorted and acoustic guitars overdubbed and interlocking - Loveless stuff. Y'know, I always have all these ideas for music I want to write, and I never get them down in time - it's like creative A.D.D. I have to get my shit together, and school's not helping!!