Well … it’s been a strange week – we have no captain … I’m not even certain we have a vice captain these days.
But here’s a man with balls –
Will Guthrie
Stick, stones & breaking bones
One thing must be said about Guthrie’s percussion work: he has relentless drive.
The propulsion is inimitable.
I recall seeing him play in Melbourne many years ago with three-piece Assumptions along with the wonderful Stephen Magnusson on guitar and towering Julien Wilson and being struck by his posture and presence which reminded me of an Energiser bunny who might have been over-charged overnight. But despite his arms moving in vertical lines his sticks seemed to spray every which way to create the audial splays.
The opening clammer-stanzas of the first track Sticks on this album of solo-drumming are rhythmic and almost pastoral which is quite extraordinary given its almost nervous a-syncopation. At first I thought that this might be simply explained due to the types of cymbals used and the almost ceremonial and tribal tom-toms which are present in the beginning and become a large part of the second cadenza, which is also trance-like. On second and third listen I decided that it was something different despite the obvious parallels to a frenzied African dance in the dirt. This sounded like some kind of frenetic spiritual chase across from the Vatican to Istanbul perhaps. What was clear though was the anxiety soaked barrage of sound that Guthrie works us into is intoxicating with the cymbals runs that he envelopes you with. Drumming crescendos can often seem a touch cliche in most solo works but I found nothing of the sort here, he is as refreshing and original as he was when I first came across him.
Breaking Bones is a different beast entirely and is a fitting way to round up this extraordinary album in minimalistic grandeur of tom-banging rapture. I couldn’t help my ears searching out something somehow melodic throughout the drawn out slow march of this piece. Guthrie achieves that difficult task of introducing arhythmic elements which evoked Steve Reich’s phasing without bothering too much about the finer details (not to imply that Guthrie should have done so, the beauty here is the incautiousness of his expression). It’s at this point that I feel I should talk about the experience that I had in listening to this with my headphones – halfway through this track of rollicking toms and snare and bass and bluster I experienced an something of an elevation of mind – This extraordinary piece dragged me willingly upwards and upwards on an irresistible trend. The ecstatic punchline at the end is still ringing in my ears even now as I write these words.
An altogether exultant album that does not deserve to be ignored.
Bravo Guthrie.
Joshua Santospirito
Matty Kreuzer had a corker against the Pies last week and may be back in CRACKING form! Go The TRACTOR!!!!
This week against North Melbourne – I watched North playing against the Weagles down here in Hobart last week – and especially now that we’ve found our mojo against the arch-enemy Collingwood – I reckon we can take them!!!!!! CAAAARRNNNN THE BLUESSSS!!!
To have a gander at others in the series go HERE
Number #22 – Shaun Hampson had eye surgery in the off season – he’s been playing some absolute corkers despite the team having a form slump!
We play the Pies for the second time this season – GO BLUES!!!
Next pages in a few weeks – check back here.
So the first page here took me ages … as in, it didn’t take me long to do – I just procrastinated for ages on it … because I was sort of dreading the work that it would require in terms of research. It turned out quite nice I reckon. The themes are starting to get a little Chatwin-ish here with the Songlines criss-crossing the planet.
From September to December I’ll be starting a campaign to see if I can get this project funded for printing. I have asked the wonderful Nadine Kessler to assist by doing the book design. Pay attention to this FACEBOOK page for update … or if you’re not a facebooker then come back to this website during that time and you can find links to the campaign here – you’ll be able to make a pre-order on the book then!