someone who's doing some things
Things of beauty, objects that are beautiful.
I’ve been a fan for a long time now, and I saw them at WOMAD a few years ago, which was a real joy. Now they’ve released Burials in Several Earths on 10″ vinyl and it is a thing of beauty. Not only to listen to but simply as an object in itself. I’m glad to own it.
I couldn’t help but get this new limited edition box set by Fennesz. Even though it’s live I really wanted it, and got it, and it’s beautiful. 2 x LPs, 2 x DVDs and a CD too, plus a very beautiful overall package.
Can’t fault it really.
I already have this album, I got it when it first came out, but when I heard that Steve Jansen was selling off the last remaining stock and signing them I thought I ought to buy it again. It’s always lovely to have a signed copy of things and this album especially so.
I hope he releases some more stuff from Bandcamp in the not too distant future.
I know I only posted this recently, but as it is Cassette Store day today I thought I would post it again. This is a beautifully made and packaged cassette. I also love the music too, which makes it even better.
I already have this album, on vinyl and on CD, but the tape has something special about it, and it isn’t just that it was the format that I bought this album on for the first time. No, it’s something different.
With the original tape was a lyric list that came with it, printed on the same sort of paper that bibles are printed with. It was a lovely touch and in keeping with the whole album, so when I saw it come up on eBay I knew it was something I wanted to own again just for old times sake.
I put up some pictures of Unknown Public 1 and I thought I’d continue with that and show the next in the series. From issue two I moved from cassette to CD, as you can see.
I’d been wondering for a while where these poetry cards had disappearted to, and then, when I found my little pencil box which also has an abacus inside it, there were the cards, all ready to use. I was really pleased to have found both again.
But it isn’t and hasn’t been for a long time now, which is such a shame. It was such an interesting idea and such a good package. Of course it was in a time before music discovery on the internet was a thing. Before Spotify was a thing. Back then, stuff like Unknown Public (although there wasn’t really anything like it) was a really good way to discover new music, new artists. It worked like that for me.
So in many ways it doesn’t have a place in terms of today’s music world, but I think we’re poorer for it. A lot of the enjoyment from Unknown public was in how it was put together. The beauty of the package and its contents. You can’t make that on the internet. Maybe someone should try.
This is one of the things I really wanted to get this year at RSD. I have the tracks already, in fact, I think I have multiple versions in multiple formats too, but that’s not what this is about.
The two songs are really important to me. They bring back special memories, and any opportunity to have a new version or iteration, even in just the packaging, well, I’ll take it. This edition, for Record Store Day, is rather lovely. I’ve played it once, just once. That’s enough. It’s a thing of beauty, and I’m glad to have it.
I am Ashley Elsdon 