Jim White, Martina Topley-Bird, Hamell On Trial
Jim White's new album is Americana Gothic in the
mould of The Handsome Family or Joe Henry...the man himself turns out to be a
charming and erudite conversationalist
My feeling is that what Ed needs is fresh blue sky strategic planning from a visionary manager, rather than more touring of his astonishing one-man show to club-sized audiences.
My feeling is that what Ed needs is fresh blue sky strategic planning from a visionary manager, rather than more touring of his astonishing one-man show to club-sized audiences.
Take tube in to Broadcasting House with Jim
White's new album "DRILL A HOLE IN THAT SUBSTRATE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE" on
the iPod. The sheer train noise on the Victoria Line, the high pitched whine and
rattle from the tracks drowns out Apple's smart little earbuds even at maximum
volume with bass boost on full. By all account iPods bought in the UK appear to
be much quieter than US models - maybe there's some daft EU directive to nanny
us into not damaging our hearing than means Apple have to cripple the ones we
can buy over here. In any case, hard to hear a damn thing except in stations,
when the train announcements then obscure any music you migh have been able to
hear.
At all events by the time I make it in to the Beeb, I've got the general idea - Jim's album is Americana Gothic in the mould of The Handsome Family or Joe Henry - and it's only a mild surprise to find Joe himself appearing on the album and sharing production credits with Mr White.
Half an hour later the man himself is ushered into 6 Music's pre-record studio and turns out to be a charming, voluble and erudite conversationalist with a completely disarming line in self deprecation that belies the craft and intensity of his work.
Jim leaves, and Martina Topley Bird is already waiting for the next interview - this time an "Under The Influence" slot where a guest artist talks about favourite music from earlier years. Martina's choices are entirely movie soundtracks - one from a seminal Bollywood blockbuster plus two children's movie classics. Her engaging 10 year old daughter Mazy waits in the station's R&R area - the so called "Hub".
Third guest of the day is already prerecorded for tonight's programme: Hamell On Trial, with an interview and live session track that we play out midway through the programme once we're on air. My memory of our chat was that it was funny and flip - but hearing it back there seems to be a certain weariness and edge underlying Ed's banter that saddens me. A fine artist and prodigious talent waging an uphill battle for recognition by an indifferent media, that expects to be spoonfed each successive sensation by a ravening, money-guzzling PR industry.
So much of the business of succeeding is to do with looks, age, connections and simply happening to be in the right place at the right time as to do with ability. And regardless of whether an artist's aiming at cult immortality or mass commercial successm it's still vital for their talent to be channelled along avenues that will connect with the external world. Having been more or less in Ed's postition myself only recently, it's clear that what he needs more than anything is fresh blue sky strategic planning from a visionary manager, rather than more intensive touring to take his blinding one-man show in small venues to club-sized audiences.
At all events by the time I make it in to the Beeb, I've got the general idea - Jim's album is Americana Gothic in the mould of The Handsome Family or Joe Henry - and it's only a mild surprise to find Joe himself appearing on the album and sharing production credits with Mr White.
Half an hour later the man himself is ushered into 6 Music's pre-record studio and turns out to be a charming, voluble and erudite conversationalist with a completely disarming line in self deprecation that belies the craft and intensity of his work.
Jim leaves, and Martina Topley Bird is already waiting for the next interview - this time an "Under The Influence" slot where a guest artist talks about favourite music from earlier years. Martina's choices are entirely movie soundtracks - one from a seminal Bollywood blockbuster plus two children's movie classics. Her engaging 10 year old daughter Mazy waits in the station's R&R area - the so called "Hub".
Third guest of the day is already prerecorded for tonight's programme: Hamell On Trial, with an interview and live session track that we play out midway through the programme once we're on air. My memory of our chat was that it was funny and flip - but hearing it back there seems to be a certain weariness and edge underlying Ed's banter that saddens me. A fine artist and prodigious talent waging an uphill battle for recognition by an indifferent media, that expects to be spoonfed each successive sensation by a ravening, money-guzzling PR industry.
So much of the business of succeeding is to do with looks, age, connections and simply happening to be in the right place at the right time as to do with ability. And regardless of whether an artist's aiming at cult immortality or mass commercial successm it's still vital for their talent to be channelled along avenues that will connect with the external world. Having been more or less in Ed's postition myself only recently, it's clear that what he needs more than anything is fresh blue sky strategic planning from a visionary manager, rather than more intensive touring to take his blinding one-man show in small venues to club-sized audiences.
Posted: Thu - April 8, 2004 at 08:23 am
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Published On: Apr 14, 2004 10:01 am
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Published On: Apr 14, 2004 10:01 am