William Tyler - New Vanitas – New LP – RSD21
Format: New & Sealed LP Label: Merge Records Cat. No: MRG745LP Barcode: 673855074511 Released: 12/06/21
*** RECORD STORE DAY 2021 DROP ONE Product Saturday 12 June 2021 *** Remaining stock will be available to buy here ONLINE from 6pm on Saturday 12 June 2021 *** LIMITED SALE 1 PER CUSTOMER ***
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1000 pressed, 300 for the UK
The concept of “vanitas” in medieval art refers to the juxtaposition of macabre symbols of death with material ephemera in order to illustrate the impermanence of earthly things. What struck me about this was not the representation of death in a macabre/morbid way, but rather that very sense of ephemerality and impermanence. Reading an article about the history of ephemera in art led me to the concept of vanitas, and I wanted to find a way to pivot that in a more, well, hopeful direction. But these paintings force us to bear witness to the contrasts of life, death, and impermanence, and if 2020 has taught me about anything, it is this concept of “bearing witness” both on a personal and political level. With these new songs, I really just wanted to create a sort of mood board for where my head and soul have been at the last few months. The sound dissolves into another sound, the image into another image. Time passing, transience, change. Although “static” means lacking movement, static sonically is almost the literal opposite: it is transience, noise, change. William Tyler, August 2020. Tracklisting: Side A. 1 With News About Heaven 2 Time Indefinite 3 Big Sky Waltz 4 Four Corners. Side B. 5 Slow Night's Static 6 She Swims in Hidden Water 7 Pisces Backroads “’Hisser’ is the vision of a truly unique and engaging talent, and in its pure heart and soul lies a masterpiece.” College Music Journal // “Pure genius and usually chaotic, Howe Gelb is a cottage industry… often labelled the Godfather of alternative country.” BOMB magazine // “There are wonderful glimpses of what Gelb is capable of when he’s not rushing off to dabble with the next nugget in a seemingly inexhaustible flow of ideas.” The Line Of Best Fit // “One of those albums that could have a semi-permanent spot next to the hi-fi for late-night playing.” The Independent // Track listing: Side A. 1 Temptation Of Egg 2 4 Door Maverick 3 This Purple Child 4 Shy Of Bumfuck 5 Propulsion 6 Catapult 7 Creeper. Side B. 8 Tanks Rolling Into Town 9 Halifax In A Hurricane 10 Living On A Waterfall 11 Like A Store Front Display 12 Explore You 13 Nico's Lil Opera 14 Thereminender 15 Hisser 16 Intro Speck 17 Soldier Of Fortune 18 Lull 19 Short Way To End The Day