Hello, Friday! It's us, Said the Gramophone!
Today, two ladies who have put out new albums in the past year. Both cuts, however, are from earlier records. Kooky.
(These are wonderful songs.)
Sarah Harmer - "Lodestar". Sarah Harmer's very finest track. Behind "Pyramid Song," it was my favourite song from 2001. For Canadians, Harmer's now a familiar face at festivals and in national newspaper Arts sections. Like the Leslie Feist of 2001, or something. But while she's proven her songwriting skills, I'm not sure she's ever reascended to "Lodestar"'s moon-bathed heights. The song's brilliance is in the way it starts slow, smooth, an oar through lakewater. But a trumpet cuts over the water, sharp through the night. A cello begins to advance, the stars sliding out of focus. Dazzle. Before long everything's turned sparkling, bright, a night "scooped out," full of laugh and dance and, as Harmer sings, "fireglow". These are two songs, almost, but the whole is so much finer than the parts. This is dusk, midnight and dawn; it's loneliness, freedom and jubilation. It's some of the country's very, very best. (From Sarah Harmer's debut, You Were Here.) [buy]
Nina Nastasia - "Ocean". Nastasia' debut, Dogs has just been reissued and, wouldn't you know it, I still haven't found a copy. I'm left, then, with the dark richness of 2003's Run to Ruin, and 2001's Blackened Air - both on Touch & Go. Nastasia does amazing things in her songs. Her words are stories, macabre and haunting and brave. The melodies, meanwhile, are tossed like black rags into the air. They turn and twist, pulled by creaking strings and the entropic drumming of Jim White (Dirty Three). Listening to Nina Nastasia's songs, I always imagine the wood of the cello like the hull of a ship. "Ocean" blows in slowly, a snatch of accordion that comes in on the wind. Later, as drums thump and hammer the roof, as a violin tears the door off, Nastasia stands resolute - angry, defeated, unwilling to bend. There is a moment of respite, literally a calm before the storm, but then she's wiped away by tide and gale, dashed on the rocks. The blood mingles with slate-grey surf. Post folk. [buy]
tonight, if all goes according to plan: The Microphones and Matt Haimovitz.
Posted by Sean at June 11, 2004 2:05 AMAgreed on the Harmer front, I've come to love Basement Apt. a lot, but she'll never top Lodestar, IMO.
Posted by caley at June 11, 2004 2:45 AMLove me some Sarah Harmer. You Were Here was just a great album through and through. 'Lodestar' of course is beautiful; you described it better than I ever could. 'Don't Get Your Back Up' is another highlight for me.
Posted by Robbie at June 11, 2004 4:15 AMI was at both stores yesterday, and I can tell you there's copies of "Dogs" at Birdman and Organised Sound, $19.99 for the CD, $17.99 for the vinyl.
Posted by Bryan at June 11, 2004 6:53 AMSarah Harmer's voice is part nonchalant and part comprehensive. Beautiful song, thx :)
Posted by Ronan at June 11, 2004 8:21 AMGuess I'm preaching to the choir! No surprise there.
Thanks for the tip, Bryan. I think I'll check Record Runner - they do good sale stuff.
Posted by Sean at June 11, 2004 12:35 PMHarmer's voice is wonderful Sean. thank you for the knowledge.
Posted by scandal face at June 11, 2004 3:23 PMYes! That is my favourite thing she's ever done, absolutely.
If you're ever inclined to put up any other old Sarah Harmer, I'm quite fond of her cover of "Trouble In the Fields" on Songs for Clem. It's quite a beautiful song. Now taht I think of it, I've never heard the original by Nanci Griffith. Must look it up.
Nina Nastasia is one of the few true geniuses in music right now. The last time i saw her (with Jim white on drums) was mindblowing. I'm going to see her again on tuesday - i'll let you know how it goes if you like. Run to Ruin was the best album of last year without a doubt.
Posted by jed at June 11, 2004 7:58 PMI saw Nina in Ottawa last summer, and indeed with mr white on drums. It was pretty darn cool, and yet she didn't look anything like I expected. The music played much more subtle, live - more avant garde in its wisps of strings and scattered drums.
Kelly - I'm going to get "Songs for Clem" out right now and listen to that tune again. I have to say, I found that record pretty darn disappointing.
Posted by Sean at June 14, 2004 1:40 PMif anyone cares - Nina was truly amazing, hun tur tuur were incredible, i can't say much except that this was one of the very best gigs ever.
Posted by jed at June 15, 2004 7:18 PMHave you heard "Dogs" yet? It's incredible! There's a cut called "No One Knew Her" that may be her best work yet. It seems to be a concept album about how dogs are like people and vice versa (i.e. they can be loyal or turn their backs on you, they like the sunshine, they end up dead on the roadside).
Posted by Chris Jay at June 16, 2004 5:32 PMStill haven't heard it, although my sister says she pulled it off the net. Should visit the record shop, for sure. You've got my drooling like a schnauser, Chris.
And Jed - jealousy! Who are HUn Tur Tuur?
Posted by Sean at June 17, 2004 1:51 AMSara Harmer is perfection.
Posted by SARA THOMAS at October 22, 2004 4:46 PM
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
