An enjoyable hour:
Musical Influences
Interview with Paul Simon’s Biographer
Here’s an audio interview with Robert Hilburn, the author of the new Paul Simon biography called Paul Simon, The Life.
I found it somehow reassuring to find out that Graceland came about after a very low period in Paul’s life, after having made the decision to go it alone, which initially didn’t go well, and led to a lot of self-doubt/depression.
Also, it was interesting to find out that he’s done Ayahuasca, quite a few times, and that, while it wasn’t an addiction, it did become a problem for him, and he had to stop it.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018648729/paul-simon-the-life-robert-hilburn
Mantle: Ambient Drone Musician
My fondness for ambient music is increasing, and I was lucky enough to stumble upon New Zealand’s Mantle last night on RNZ Concert. He likes to use degraded analogue tape static etc for his textures. Check out his Ode To Decay on Bandcamp:
Doco Recommendo: Thelonious Monk- American Composer
My First Decent Painting – Tribute to Jim Morrison
Probably in Jim’s case the JD would be empty.
This was an assignment when I was training to be an illustrator, and we could choose who to base the illustration on. I was obsessed with The Doors, and reading Aldous Huxley’s Doors of Perception at the time (Iwas about 19 or 20).
Doco Recommendo: Vashti Bunyan – From Here to Before
Vashti has a very enchanting voice, and thanks to the internet is finally getting some of the recognition she deserves:
Suzanne Vega on Songwriting and the Music Business
Daily Song Share: Sugar Man, Rodriguez
Daily Song Share: Human Behaviour, Bjork
Daily Song Share: Fall To Pieces, Velvet Revolver
GD Bates 