Pink Violin - another album from public eyesore's Eh? sublabel (number 32). Marina Hardy is a multi-instrumentalist from Omaha and while no album image is available, there are other examples of her artwork on her myspace-space (from whence the poster came). This album is extraordinary - it is hard to believe that the range and depth came from her playing solo and multitracking (except for voice on one track and piano on another). To give you some idea I am going to run through each track.
Mkay - swirling voice and synth, humming dream a little dream of me plus general voice sounds and tchings
Cowgypsy - combining accordion, banjo, strings and brass in a strange parallel universe of country and klezmer, hinting at Johnny comes marching home, in an inspired mash-up
Zoom - a heavy metal surf electric guitar solo
Apple sauce pudding - a longer piece with ambient guitar, drums, washes, quite spacey, swirling violin and an echoed vocal loop, breathing and chanting
Funk - short, soft distant percussive swishes
Trummpet - layered and looped trumpet that builds gloriously, together with a futzy rhythm, before a long fade.
Spanish - mashed slide and spanish guitar with accordion and brass - all with a bright bouncing melody
Red teeth - a simple lovely picked guitar and harp melody
YipYip - bass, guitar, drums and strings in a cool instrumental
Yowsa - another cool piece with country slide, brushes, string bass and organ
Ceisel - a modernist violin solo
Nnow - high tone and violin, percussion and horns break in, and it all collapses into a light loop
It ain't necessarily so - violin and piano on this staple, with variations
Dollering - jazzy deep bass, piano, a yearning violin melody and drums.
Mkay - swirling voice and synth, humming dream a little dream of me plus general voice sounds and tchings
Cowgypsy - combining accordion, banjo, strings and brass in a strange parallel universe of country and klezmer, hinting at Johnny comes marching home, in an inspired mash-up
Zoom - a heavy metal surf electric guitar solo
Apple sauce pudding - a longer piece with ambient guitar, drums, washes, quite spacey, swirling violin and an echoed vocal loop, breathing and chanting
Funk - short, soft distant percussive swishes
Trummpet - layered and looped trumpet that builds gloriously, together with a futzy rhythm, before a long fade.
Spanish - mashed slide and spanish guitar with accordion and brass - all with a bright bouncing melody
Red teeth - a simple lovely picked guitar and harp melody
YipYip - bass, guitar, drums and strings in a cool instrumental
Yowsa - another cool piece with country slide, brushes, string bass and organ
Ceisel - a modernist violin solo
Nnow - high tone and violin, percussion and horns break in, and it all collapses into a light loop
It ain't necessarily so - violin and piano on this staple, with variations
Dollering - jazzy deep bass, piano, a yearning violin melody and drums.
This album is incoherent, but in a wonderful and extravagant way. There is no line that you can draw through it: only Yipyip and Yowsa demonstrate a flow, and that is hinted in the titles; and Funk could be the entree to Trummpet. But the variation and diversity are this album's strength and attraction. Apparently it took about 2 and a half years to complete this project, and it is beautifully and seamlessly constructed to fabulous effect. A great and stunning album.
7 comments:
Just letting you know that none of the above songs were written or recorded by Marina Hardy. She has stolen the above and changed titles. Some of them are recognizable as others' work. She was recently removed from Myspace. You may want to remove this review.
Hi - at the time of the review Marina strongly emphasised that she was not into plunderphonics, both on her site and in an email to me. I understand there has been debate about her since (for example http://lazyi.proboards42.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=616&page=1
Interestingly many negative posts have been anonymous. I have asked Bryan Day for his comments.
As fas as the review goes - I stick by my response to the album, including the reference to surprise that all the music came from her - an oblique reference to plunderphonics.
Bryan can shed no extra light, but for the record here is Marina's email to me:
I am glad you enjoy it. No, sampling was not used, nor will it ever be used. The review was from someone who may not review instrumental music, I am aware he deals with electronic music. It is all orginal, I really hope you did not mention anything about samepling in the reveiw, it is a bit frustrating defending it sometimes, I do have people to back it up though. I have spent a total of at least 8 months recording one song, such as Spanish, as well as Yip Yip. I am sorry to get defensive about it, a lot of time was spent, probably a total of 2 and half years was put into this album. Everything is individually played, every single instrument, and yes it is possible for one person to play them all. Perhaps for some reason I am talented enough for it to sound like a sample, but I assure you, it was all original work. I hope this clears some things up.
I am glad you are impressed, I wish you didn't even bring up sampeling and trusted my musicianship, that is a shame.
Glad you enjoy it though.
There is actual proof that Marina Hardy has stolen music. You can see it for yourself here. Scroll down and look for the YouTube clip of a guy playing the uke. Proof positive. It might be time to remove this review and stop promoting a discredited thief.
Marina has given out a demo cd that she claims to have written all the music on. One song on there is a Yo La Tengo song.
So Strange . . I befriended Marina a couple of years ago. I thought the music on her site was very good. We shared many mutual friends. Most were talented experimental musicians. We were astonished by what seemed her brilliant abilities. She looked cute and dorky and seemed pure and unpretentious. I sent her a book on Harry Partch and some recordings. I lost contact and just Googled her name and saw all the controversy. Too Much! She is an enigma. All old avantGarDe musicians wish for young, cute geniuses that they think will understand them. That's some sad shit, Man!
So Strange . . I befriended Marina a couple of years ago. I thought the music on her site was very good. We shared many mutual friends. Most were talented experimental musicians. We were astonished by what seemed her brilliant abilities. She looked cute and dorky and seemed pure and unpretentious. I sent her a book on Harry Partch and some recordings. I lost contact and just Googled her name and saw all the controversy. Too Much! She is an enigma. All old avantGarDe musicians wish for young, cute geniuses that they think will understand them. That's some sad shit, Man!
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