my weblog

The Fine Art of Taking Time

2008-01-23T02:04:58

Just some brief news spurts for now. Not presently enough spare moments to prod at these Random Notes, really, but some things are afoot and warrant mentioning, despite of my yearning to hold back until there’s time enough to go into some other matters that may or may not concern Lumberton Trading Company.

Firstly, both the Andrew Liles LP and Sion Orgon CD are about to go into production. These will then be followed by the equally long overdue limited edition print and one-sided 7″ by Volcano The Bear’s Nick Mott before the compilation LP, a Steven Severin reissue LP and Human Greed album rear their rather fine heads into view before, it is highly anticipated, the summer. Somewhere along the way, the Faust album might also still appear on the originally mooted limited edition vinyl format, but this idea is no longer directly in our hands, unfortunately.

Whilst all of this is going on, the Adverse Effect/Fourth Dimension website is very shortly going to be given an overhaul that will see it look more contemporary and easier for me to add new material to. And, indeed, there’s plenty of new material gently rustling in the wings.

Fourth Dimension itself will also be occupied during the next two months or so. Firstly, a compilation CD which should have surfaced last year (featuring 15 minutes of music each by Dickson Dee, Band Of Pain, Merzbow, Zenial and Freiband) is scheduled to finally cough its way out and, secondly, a new Circle 2LP is very much on the agenda.

Besides Fourth Dimension’s own releases, the soon-to-be-revamped website will once again work on its mail order section. There are already a number of new titles waiting to be noted here, and more coming in soon.

2007 was, ultimately, a rather slow year. However, it was punctuated by several highlights for me, personally. Besides the (perhaps convoluted) label activities themselves, I was invited by Krakow’s annual Unsound Festival to do a label presentation back in November, which itself was made even more pleasant by my having a chance to meet Lawrence English, plus both Steven Severin and Michael Begg of Human Greed visited last month to purely meet and, well, suck some of the air in here. Back in March, of course, the Whitehouse dates also furnished me with something to feel proud of, even if they were discoloured somewhat by (mostly minor) problems. Also met Dickson Dee, too, after his performance here, which was likewise enjoyable.

This year should promise more, and already there are ideas for a small festival being discussed that will centre around our friends at AudioTong but, of course, forever remain tainted by LTCo’s presence. Outside this, there’s tentative talk still going on to try and bring Steven Severin, Human Greed and Consumer Electronics over.

Let’s hope everything unfolds as planned. For a change.

Richo x

Feels Like Yesterday

2007-09-26T01:39:55

Didn’t realise it had been quite so long since I was last here. Time brushes past so quickly these days. And, as noted in the previous entry, I seem to be snagged on so many things now it can be rather difficult to keep up sometimes. Besides the already noted MySpace profiles for myself, Theme and Splintered, I also recently succumbed to a Facebook profile and, indeed, am presently contemplating getting a LTCo profile onto MySpace as well that would then also double-up as a place to access news concerning Fourth Dimension and Adverse Effect. Only an idea at this stage. Somewhere between the notion of accessing all areas and creating yet another rod for my own already twisted back pokes an answer I’ll contemplate over a little more. Meantime, however, let’s bring you up to date with what’s going on here at Lumberton and with my other concerns. All may appear fairly quiet on the surface but, deep down in the bowels of these operations, rivers of sweat, blood and tears are flowing as strongly as ever. To begin with, the Faust release is finally in production and should be available during early October. It will only appear as a 2CD for the moment, though. The limited edition 2LP version will follow somewhere between late November and January and has simply been delayed because of the release’s coinciding with Faust’s new studio album. Once the 2CD is out, the Sion Orgon and Andrew Liles albums will soon go into production, whilst the now long held up limited edition Nick Mott print has both been changed and become a combined one-sided solo 7″ and print that’ll be screen-printed and, I hope, finally made available shortly following or around the same time as the Sion Orgon and Liles releases. As usual, just keep visiting the website for updates on these releases either in the Releases or News sections… Work on the (as yet untitled) compilation album has also finally commenced. This will, once again, be a limited edition vinyl-only release and feature new work by Sleazy, Steven Severin, Andrew Liles, Sofia DeVille, Human Greed, Theme, Sion Orgon, Miss del Real, Volga, Thighpaulsandra, Nick Mott and possibly one or two other artists. Depending on whether some of the contributors can deliver more than one track, the album may also be a double. Furthermore, there should be a couple of surprises there in the form of collaborations between a few of the artists involved… The compilation album may well also be preceded by a very limited split-10″ comprising the tracks by Steven Severin and Sleazy. Following the compilation release, LTCo will launch a reissue campaign of Steven Severin’s solo albums on limited edition vinyl, plus work towards a Human Greed release of one kind or another. Ideas are being bounced around as I write. Other news amounts to the fact Volga’s title track from their ‘Pomol’ album should appear soon in a BBC documentary, ‘Russia Revealed’. At present, I know nothing else about this, but I am pleased that somebody, somewhere, has been paying attention to perhaps Moscow’s finest group. The Fourth Dimension label also continues to pump blood via the latest release by Circle: a CD reissue of last year’s ‘Arkades’ LP featuring an extra disc of equally wonderful and often quite insane live work. The ‘Five Times Fifteen’ comp. CD (featuring Merzbow, Zenial, Band Of Pain, Li Chin Sung and Freiband) is likewise being primed for release, whilst a limited edition Theme 10″ will then follow as a joint-venture between Fourth Dimension and Betaphonic. On the subject of Theme, the next album should be ready in Spring 2008. It will also feature an exclusive Steven Severin remix… Splintered’s proposed burst of activity has been held up due to a couple of reasons, but will begin to make some progress soon enough… And, finally, the Adverse Effect website will be updated with heaps of new material around late October. Autumn always smells so good… Richo x

Rapidly Dimishing Time

2007-06-08T11:56:05

Never seem to have time enough to add much here these days. Not helped by the fact I now maintain three MySpace profiles (my own and one each for Theme and Splintered) and am often caught spluttering out my spleen in the form of anything that may happen to be on my mind at any given moment, either. And, of course, have the Adverse Effect website (housing Fourth Dimension Records) to also think about (of which, more reviews and the
latest FD news will appear there sometime during the next week or so).

It’s likewise been absolutely manic here since the previous Random Notes entry. To begin with, I co-organised two Whitehouse shows in Poland back in March with the AudioTong team and then had a hand in bringing Colin Potter of Nurse With Wound to Poland last month (a matter itself made more complicated by Theme supporting him in Krakow - see the few photos in Theme’s Artists section for evidence or, indeed, go to Theme’s MySpace
profile or the AudioTong link here, if interested). Additionally, I’ve been as much embroiled in Fourth Dimension activity as I have with LTCo. On the former, the debut CD by The Fields Of Hay, ‘Songs for Nine Ladies’, has just been released and a 2CD reissue of Circle’s ‘Arkades’ (plus extra live disc) is presently at the manufacturer’s, whilst recent LTCo releases amount to Volga’s ‘Pomol’ CD and Formication’s ‘Icons for a New Religion’ CD.
Details concerning these last two releases can, of course, be found in LTCo’s Releases section.

Simultaneously, the Faust ‘Live in Krakow’ 2LP/2CD joint-release with AudioTong is now being primed, alongside (finally) the Nick Mott print, Sion Orgon’s CD and Andrew Liles’ LP. And then there’s the V/A ‘Five Times Fifteen’ comp. CD/booklet (featuring artwork by Theme’s Jeanne Boyer) also being prepared for Fourth Dimension, a comp. LP also being slowly prepared for LTCo (featuring Steven Severin, Human Greed, Theme, Andrew Liles,
Sleazy, Volga, Miss del Real, Sion Orgon and others, plus sleeve art by Maria Husarska), a limited edition Theme 10″ for Fourth Dimension/Betaphonic, more work towards the next Theme album (also to include a Steven Severin remix), new Splintered recordings to think
about (we’re working on a 3CD set with guests such as Robert Hampson, Amaury Cambuzat of Faust/Ulan Bator, Andrew Liles and Sion Orgon), and work towards getting Andrew Liles to Poland again in October for two or three dates.

Somewhere along the way, I’m supposed to get together a new edition of Adverse Effect for the website, too, featuring interviews with David Tibet and Steven Severin…

Coupled to the fact I also have to keep the many wolves at bay by working ‘properly’ (as a TEFL teacher), it’s little wonder I both feel like I’m forever on the verge of collapse and can barely keep up with everything as well as I’d like to. I need an assistant who’d be prepared to do all of this for little more than, at this stage, the simple rewards afforded by being
involved, to be honest. Of course, Hassni’s still there in LTCo’s wings, doing whatever he can to help whenever the need arises, but he also has countless other commitments to drown himself in. Never mind.

Always find time to keep up with some music and books, though, despite everything. And, of course, going out far more often than I should to alleviate the pressure via a few Polish beers and games of chess. There’s only so much being glued to a computer screen or going to the Post Office each week with countless parcels, etc. one can take.

If you’re at all interested in reading further details about my sorry existence, anyway (and there’s no reason why you should be), simply visit the already noted MySpace profile at: myspace.com/richo_j

Thanks.

Richo x

Predictably Predictable

2007-04-02T02:19:08

Not been here for a while, so this update is long overdue. Ultimately, as largely expected, matters in my personal life strayed towards the usual rounds of turbulence after the last entry, but LTCo’s engines are still ticking over regardless. Nothing ever really stops in this respect, despite appearances to the contrary. I’m well aware of the fact the entire website
needs updating, but this will hopefully happen during the next week or two.

Volga’s ‘Pomol’ CD is actually ready, but not officially released till the end of April. Copies can be purchased directly from us meantime, but stock handled by our distributor won’t be available in the shops until Monday 30th, due to the present promotional campaign we’ve undertaken. The very same month will also see the Faust ‘Live in Krakow’ 2LP/2CD go into
production, so expect some news on this very shortly. Likewise, the Nick Mott print will finally appear during April. Once, however, the Faust album is out, the plan is to then focus on the releases by Sion Orgon, Formication and Andrew Liles and attempt to get them all out before the summer. Ultimately, everything rests on the cash flow, really. I’ll spare you
from the full mundane mechanics behind getting a release out, but can at least illustrate the fact each one takes a while to recover its costs once in the distributor’s hands, no matter how hard they actually push it. The whole process is a slow one and, well, LTCo simply doesn’t have the funds to function beyond its control. All the same, we’re getting there. Slowly…

Once these releases are out, the next (perhaps tentative) plan is to put together a limited edition compilation LP featuring exclusive material by artists who will have so far appeared on the label and a selection of other tracks by affiliates such as Sleazy, Steven Severin and Human Greed. It’s an idea which won’t even be prodded at until at least the summer months, though, so watch this space.

Otherwise, my Adverse Effect website is now in operation (follow the link from the appropriate section here if interested) and, indeed, further updates concerning Theme and other activities of mine can be found via my MySpace profile at: www.myspace.com/richo_j

At both the AE website and the MySpace profile, you’ll also find the latest news on Fourth Dimension, too. The label is once again going to soon spring back into action via a 2CD reissue of Circle’s ‘Arkades’ album (including an extra live disc), the debut CD by Stuart Carter’s The Fields Of Hay and the long delayed ‘Five Times Fifteen’ compilation CD (featuring Merzbow, Zenial, Li Chin Sung, Band Of Pain and Freiband).

Okay. Time to return to my dusting off of some music by Pierre Boulez, Pascal Comelade and Swans. The party here just never ends…

(RJ)

Here We Go Again

2007-01-21T13:30:14

Another fucking year, bringing with it, I daresay, more hurdles, drama, disappointments, stupidity and strife. And that’s just the more positive stuff. Seriously, though, all looks set to continue more or less the same way as the last one, really, and by this I’m referring as much to matters revolving around Lumberton Trading Company and my other endeavours as those perhaps concerning my (not so) private life.

As I write, the Michael Gira LP is out and doing its thing and the Volga CD is, following another last minute set of hitches, also in production and will hopefully be ready, at least, for Volga’s tour of Germany which commences sometime next month.

Meantime, the limited edition Nick Mott print is also very near to being made available as well. Ultimately, what with my TEFL teaching commitments taking a hold of me once more, I’m being torn in a few too many directions to actually find the spare couple of hours I need to attend to this, but it’s at least finally nestled near the top of a vast and sprawling backlog, anyway. Mostly, the past two or three weeks has seen me strapped to getting a new Adverse Effect/Fourth Dimension website going and, indeed, although the online version of the AE magazine itself is still far from complete, it was deemed good enough to go live only yesterday. Of course, the existing link to it here at LTCo has also been updated, but here’s where you’ll find if so inclined: www.adverse-effect.co.uk

Not a great deal else to add actually. The Steven Severin tour I was helping out with via co-organising three dates in Poland during May has just been cancelled; the Sion Orgon and Andrew Liles releases for LTCo are primed and almost ready to go soon after the Volga CD is released; Theme are still trundling along slowly with recordings for our next album; other projects and ideas remain hanging over every waking minute…and so on.

Despite increasing piles of review material stacked up all over my place, I’m mostly fishing out anything from Gorecki to Alva Noto to The Misunderstood to Andrew Weatherall to Thelonious Monk and Sun Ra from the collection at the moment. All the same, Formication’s latest release is getting aired frequently, too, plus Polish avant-jazz group Pulsarus’ ‘Squared Rotoscope’ CD and a heap of other jazz and electro works recorded for me or loaned by Maria Husarska. Hopefully, now that Adverse Effect is online, however, I’ll
finally start working my way through these other mountains of music during the next week or two.

It’s been said before by many, but if only there were more than 24 hours a day…

More soon, I’m sure…

(RJ)

SANITY IS(N’T) COMIN’ TO TOWN

2006-12-16T12:13:28

About time I threw something else on here, so here goes the latest…

The Michael Gira ‘Songs for a Dog’ LP is now out and, apparently, looks fantastic. I’m presently still waiting for my bundle of copies to arrive from Hassni, so I can’t comment at this stage, but I’ve no reason to doubt either our distributor or Hassni himself on the matter. This release, of course, will keep LTCo occupied during the next few weeks, anyway. Then, the wheels will start turning on the Volga CD and the Faust 2LP/2CD that’ll
be joint-released with AudioTong. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but I think next year is going to prove itself an extremely busy one…

Not only for LTCo, either. Firstly, my other (much older and somewhat more erratic) imprint, Fourth Dimension, has a couple of new releases due during the first two or three months of 2007. Namely, the first volume of my ‘Five Times Fifteen’ compilation CD series, featuring Band Of Pain, Li Chin Sung, Freiband, Zenial and Merzbow, and, secondly, the debut CD by Stuart Carter of Theme’s Fields Of Hay outlet, which also features contributions by Sonic Boom, Lukasz/Zenial and myself. In the meantime, the Andrew Liles
limited edition (only 25 of each) t-shirt and signed prints are also finally ready and can be purchased directly from me (via LTCo’s email address) for, respectively, a paltry �15.00 or �4.00 plus p&p. The t-shirts feature the very same ‘The Brevity of Enamel’ artwork featured on the print, in black on white (and in limited numbers of sizes S, M, L or XL), whilst the
prints are likewise black on white, A4 size, and are hand-numbered, labelled and comprise a signature and an exclusive passage of Liles’ text individualising each. Usually, of course, this would be noted more fully on the Adverse Effect website but, unfortunately, this has been sitting in limbo during the past few months and will very shortly be replaced by a new one that will both continue from where this left (and comprise Fourth Dimension) and
commence Adverse Effect online; bringing with it the new e-’zine version of my magazine devoted to exploring the many contours created by today’s more interesting musicians, non-musicians, artists, writers and suchlike as well providing a forum for discourse, debate and anything else I deem worth including. The contents of the unfortunately now abandoned (due to having zero finances) final paper version of the magazine will appear here, anyway. More news soon.

Besides all of this, I’m once again in the throes of helping to organise more concerts here in sunny (and, seriously, it IS very bright here at the moment!) Polska with the AudioTong chumps, Marcin and Lukasz. Whitehouse should, all going well, be visiting in March and Steve Severin will play three dates in May (the first of which, hopefully in Krakow’s magnificent Teatr Groteska on May 17, will be supported by the group I’m involved with,
Theme). Meantime, indeed, AudioTong are responsible for hosting many other concerts as well, and (as ever) I recommend you check what’s going on precisely via their own website. These people are doing good things.

Music furnishing my humble abode at the moment amounts to Human Greed, 48 Cameras, Lisa Germano, Steve Severin, Coil, The Velvet Underground & Nico, Contrastate, The Cure’s ‘The Top’ reissue, Amir Baghiri, William Basinski, Arvo Part and tons of other stuff awaiting attention at Adverse Effect. The stereo barely rests when I’m not here.

If there’s not another Random Notes entry before the end of the year, thanks to everybody who has supported all of our endeavours here during the past twelve months. Both Hassni, myself and, I’m sure, absolutely everybody else either involved with LTCo or any of our many other concerns, sincerely wish you nothing but the best for 2007.

xXx

(RJ)

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM FOR…

2006-11-26T11:21:40

Well, the Faust concert here in Krakow on November the 15th was nothing short of wonderful. Although it was disappointing (and slightly financially stinging for me) that less people saw it than anticipated, the actual night itself was perfect. The audience was enthusiastic, and Faust put on what was probably the best show I’ve personally seen by them. Actually, let’s scratch the ‘probably’ and declare quite boldly that it WAS the best time. Although I was directly involved with the organisation of the concert (alongside
Audiotong’s Marcin), and had been afforded a chance to meet up and hang around with Jean-Herve and Amaury during the few days before the concert, my objectivity remains intact. Faust simply seemed to really enjoy themselves and put a lot into the performance, and the audience’s highly mobile reaction only appeared to enhance this. It’s not often that I’ll claim a concert (and, let’s face it, Faust NEVER really put on a mere ‘concert’) was an actual OCCASION, but in this instance it’s completely justified. I just now hope that the (professional) recording we did of it is as flawless as Marcin has said he’s been told…

Of which, I’m in the throes of discussing the release being a 2LP and 2CD, in order to catch the entire performance, or at least most of it. Jean-Herve so far seems to be firmly in agreement as well, which is good news, but we’ll return to this after Faust’s concert in London on Friday, December 1st. All going well, the live album will appear in February 2007, anyway.

What else? I saw Volga play here in Krakow, at the Unsound Festival, on Friday night. An incredibly engaging mix of pounding rhythms, traditional elements, occasional live flute and guitar, spiralling shards of space-crackle, restrained squalls of white noise, jagged structures and powerful vocals that surpassed my already lofty expectations. This band
deserve to be HUGE.

Also met Volga’s Alexei again yesterday a couple of times, amongst the final day of Unsound’s shenanigans, and not only got invited to supply guest vocals (read: spoken word) on an album he’s presently working on by another Russian group but also got asked whether I’d be interested in curating an event of some description over there next year, if the Institute of Culture can formally invite me to. Needless to say, it would be an honour to
participate in both. Alexei proved himself to be an extremely charming chap, too, and I’m presently looking forward to devouring the handful of CDs he plied me with during the course of the next couple of days.

Only other news is that the Gira LP should be ready in a week or so and that Volga’s CD is going into production this week (although won’t be released till late January).

Apart from the fact that the girl I fell for now resides in Dublin, all presently seems good.

Current reading amounts to Kurt Vonnegut’s classic, ‘Slaughterhouse-Five’, which (perhaps surprisingly) I’ve never read before, and moremoremore Saul Bellow and Kosinski. Music, on the other hand, amounts to everything from Lisa Germano, Stuart A. Staples and The Cure to Contrastate, Andrew Liles, NWW, Coil, Faust and some Harmonia, whilst recent viewing has been wrapped around the perfect blend of nihilism, soul-searching strife and comedy that is the ‘Peep Show, Series Three’ DVD.

Deeper and downwards…

(RJ)

MASTERING THE ART OF STAYING AFLOAT

2006-11-11T12:27:56

Well, the Crooked Stylus radio show that Hassni and I appeared on as guests a couple of weeks ago can now be heard online at www.totallyradio.com (go to Crooked Stylus from the menu). We were both nervous, but I think it’s far more noticeable in my bumbling between songs, to be honest. Although I’m happy to talk about the music I like to anybody, generally, I always feel somewhat compromised when in a comparatively unnatural ‘interview’ situation. And, well, given the fact this was the very first time I’d participated on a radio show in this context (my previous group, Splintered, did three radio sessions; two of which were for the late John Peel), I was perhaps understandably feeling slightly more awkward and disconcerted than usual. Having said this, however, Darius was a fantastic host and made both Hassni and I feel especially welcome. And, to that end, it would be a
genuine pleasure if he invited us back sometime in the future. Anyway, if interested in hearing us previewing the Michael Gira and Volga releases alongside a selection of songs/pieces by Coil, Echo & the Bunnymen, Nalle, Arvo Part, P.I.L., C93, Joe Meek, Jack Rose, The Hamilton Yarns, Cromagnon, Plastikman and others, then you know what to do…

Onto some other news now, the Michael Gira test-pressings are expected to arrive anytime now, so as soon as they’ve been approved, we can give the green light to the production. I think we’re still on target for the LP being out this month, if there are no problems at this stage. Equally, the Nick Mott print should be ready soon enough, too.

On the other hand, the Volga CD will not now appear till January 2007, due to the fact that, although it’s just about to go into production as well, we need to spend at least five or six weeks on promoting it as best as possible. A task that will, of course, already be disrupted somewhat by the looming Yuletide and related festivities.

Around the same time as the Volga CD, LTCo will be also be concentrating on a joint-release with Poland’s Audiotong of a live Faust LP/CD which will both mark their Polish debut here in Krakow on Wednesday 15th November and represent Audiotong’s debut non-download-only release. More news will follow soon about this, of course.

Once both these last two releases are at the production stage, or even out, LTCo will press on with the Sion Orgon CD, Andrew Liles release (the format of which we’re still undecided upon) and Formication CD. Next year certainly looks busy…

Things are busy here otherwise with the pre-Faust preparations (Audiotong’s Marcin being the brains of the operation, but I’ve been roped in after being keel-hauled a few times as some kind of spiritual guide, or something…). Am slightly apprehensive, but it’s probably unwarranted. Fingers crossed we get the anticipated audience on the night.

On a massive Coil trip at the moment. Bought both the ‘Black Antlers’ and ‘The Remote Viewer’ 2CD reissues and can’t stop playing them. Alongside Max Richter’s ‘Songs from Before’ CD (FatCat), Flim’s wonderfully reflective ‘Ohne Titel 1916′ CD (Korm Plastics) and Jack Rose’s ‘Two Originals of…’ CD (VHF), my stereo’s being given its usual run to the max every day that I’m actually at home and not teaching in a town some 100km away called
Polaniec.

Also finally catching up with my backlog of DVDs. Just watched Richard Linklater’s ‘Waking Life’ and Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Pi’. I saw the latter when it first came out, and it certainly revisited my praise this time round, too. ‘Waking Life’ is also very good, tho’ I can understand it not being appreciated by many people due to Linklater’s usual complex
philosophical tricks and layers of introspection and over-analysis. All the same, it worked for me.

Am also working my way through more Saul Bellow and Kosinski books.

No wonder I feel like having a couple of beers most days.

RADIO NOTES

2006-10-24T02:51:16

Just a quick update on the Crooked Stylus radio show. Hassni and I will be recording it on Friday Oct 27 with its presenter, Darius Akashic. Not sure when it’ll be broadcast, though, but there should be a link to it elsewhere on our website now, should you be interested.

No time to report anything else, really. I fly to England tomorrow morning and have umpteen tasks to attend to today. The Gira LP is at the pressing plant, however, and the Volga CD will follow in about another week’s time. I’m hoping the latter will be ready for their two concerts here in Poland nearer the end of November.

Over and out. For now.

(RJ)

YOUR GOD WAS A FAILURE

2006-10-10T07:52:53

Just spent a few days with fellow Theme-mate, Stuart, and a couple of other pals from Leicester, Dougie and ‘Egg’, paying a visit to my humble shack here in Krakow. Stuart and I managed to at least get some more recording done and deal with a couple of other matters, though. Hopefully, Theme will play in Krakow again in December to both test some songs from the next album and see how they sit with a few from the last two CDs. Meantime, however, I’m hoping to at least try to get a preview of one of the new songs on to a new Myspace page we’ve now, finally, set up. Of course, the horrors of signing up to Myspace have long been established and, indeed, are many, but I feel we’re compromised by the world we live in. Besides, there are plenty of advantages as well. Anyway, for those interested, it can be found at:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=113864554

And, massaging my self-indulgent tendencies even further, my own Myspace can also be found here:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=36702410

Onto more comparatively more important matters now, I’m pleased to report that the Michael Gira ‘Songs for a Dog’ LP is a few days away from going into production, whilst the Volga CD is presently being primed to follow a week or two later. After a rather quiet few months, Lumberton is once more ready to lumber on, and the website should pay witness to a number of updates during the oncoming weeks, so please keep checking on it…

Amongst the big news at LTCo recently, however, is Hassni’s decision to leave the label. It’s very sad, but he now wishes to simply remain as a founding figure and somebody who’ll now only work for the label from the wings (in the same manner as he helps me a lot with Fourth Dimension). His talent and enthusiasm for packing and mailing out releases is unlike anybody else’s, so (outside maintaining the LTCo website and attending to other
duties once in a while) his role here will remain invaluable.

It�s hoped that he�ll be bowing out of the label by accompanying me for a special radio programme by Darius at the Brighton-based Crooked Stylus show sometime soon. This radio programme will comprise of an interview with myself/us, some music from the label(s), and a selection of songs that I/we can take along by some favourite artists. Should be interesting, I hope. If all goes according to plan, we�ll be recording the show during my next trip to England nearer the end of the month. I�ll ensure that it will be noted here once confirmed, anyway.

As ever, it’s all go, really.

Unfortunately, however, the Whitehouse shows I was co-organising with Audiotong over here in Poland for later this month have been postponed until, I imagine, next Spring. Nothing we could do about it, unfortunately.

Still, Colin Potter has confirmed he’s still likewise interested in playing here, plus I received an email from a friend earlier stating that it seems as though Volga will have three shows in Poland next month, too. I look forward to finally getting an opportunity to meet them.

The soundtrack here at the moment mostly amounts to Stuart A. Staples’ ‘Leaving Songs’ album. Given the fact that the closest girl to me for the past few years, Ania, is moving to Ireland at the end of the month for a new job, the sentiments resonate pretty deeply. On the other hand, Max Richter’s ‘Songs from Before’ CD (FatCat), Lisa Germano’s ‘In the Maybe World’ CD (Young God Records), C93’s ‘Sleep Has His House’ CD (Durtro) and an eBay win of the ‘God Bless…’ Tiny Tim LP are equally commanding much in the way of heavy rotation here.

Life goes on…

(RJ)