The theme of this month’s issue, which was 100% retrospectively applied, is ‘firsts’. I was tired when I wrote a lot of this and, without realizing, I just kept reaching for that ol’ chestnut: the first time I heard this… So rather than try to rewrite my way out of the monotony, I just went ahead and slapped a theme on this bad boy: FIRSTS
To my knowledge, no other issue has actually had a theme: FIRSTS
To anyone who’s just joining us: FIRSTS
click the cover to listen or go your own way ~~
Abida Parveen - Raqs-e-Bismil (2000)
This summer, Pitchfork dedicated a Sunday Review to this album. It’s super well-written and offers some great context + anecdotes about Abida Parveen. I encourage you to give it a read as you listen to this glorious music. I actually hadn’t heard any of her more contemporary music previously, so hearing this was quite a revelation. I’ve been a fan of Parveen since my partner introduced me to this ~incredible~ performance video some years ago, early on in our relationship. I still get goosebumps when I watch it.
Brave Radar - Call Centre (2014)
I’ve really been struggling with how to write this. Partially because there’s plenty of regional / local / personal context I could dig into, but also because it’s proving much more difficult than I expected to describe the particular magic of Call Centre. I probably first heard it the day it came out (or thereabouts) and I don’t think I’ve ever really stopped listening in the decade since. These perfectly tempered, oddly narcotic ditties have an endless replayability. Perhaps that’s due to the fact that the whole thing feels half-remembered, like someone trying to hum a hook they can’t quite recall. In that sense, you can keep returning to Call Centre without ever properly scratching the itch. That the best song is called ‘Out Of Reach’ feels in keeping with this half-baked theory.
Shin Jong Hyun - Beautiful Rivers And Mountains (1958-1974)
The first time I heard this compilation, I was sunk in a couch in a smoke-filled living room, a few drinks in, surrounded by chattering pals. I’d wager that’s the perfect context for this trove of psychy Korean heaters. Each time a track kicked off, my focus pulled more intently: who is this? Who Is This? WHO IS THIS? Wow. It turns out it’s a lot of people, but the common link is Shin Jong Hyun, a guitarist with untouchable verve.
Mary Margaret O’Hara - Miss America (1988)
You know I don’t like to focus too much on The Classics™ here, but I couldn’t help this one. I just need to MAKE SURE you’ve all heard it, okay? Recently, on a long, late-night highway drive, I listened to Beautiful Tool for the first time. It’s a great and somewhat unknown live album recorded by Mary Margaret & co. in Vancouver in 2012. It reminded me of how much I adore her musical universe. There’s simply no one quite like her. Miss America is her major work in an otherwise extremely scant discography. It’s perfect and I will not be taking questions.
ICYMI, I started a donations page. All the money I receive will go back towards music (eg. purchasing physical/digital music, merch, concert tickets, supporting other music outlets, etc.). If you’re not able to support the newsletter financially (no presh!), you might also consider liking / sharing / following on Instagram.
ALSO, I started a ~*fun*~ tracking sheet that provides transparency on donations and spending. It also includes links to my Bandcamp + Discogs profiles. This is as much about accountability as it is an experiment in tracking my own financial investments in music over a calendar year.
I’m super interested in feedback / dialogue / suggestions. If you have ideas about the newsletter, want to share music with me, have specific questions / requests, don’t hesitate to get in touch. And please: share this newsletter with a pal if you feel so inspired!
Yrs.,
Andrew P.
andrewdanielpatterson [at] gmail [dot] com