don't make promises / you upset the grace of living when you die: the clean lines and contradictory trajectories of tim hardin

Tim Hardin was one of the foremost exponents of the specific late '60s West Coast pop/folk sound, combining exceptionally precise, almost soul songwriting with echoes of blues and jazz, music of densely emotional variations on accessible structure. The central themes of the Tim Hardin legend are there early on, in sad songs combining poignancy and yearning with a rare maturity and self consciousness. Older than many of his mid late 60s contemporaries, Hardin was an early visitor to Vietnam after dropping out of school to join the Marines. A military 'adviser' there in 1959, it's believed that's where he picked up the interest in heroin that became quite central later in his career. Initial success was as a songwriter, and even now he's often covered, with writing distinct in its containing of a worldview that complexly encapsulates an outsider's view of the 60s zeitgeist. But as his career progressed into the early 70s, the songwriting muse began to desert him, and becoming more of a jazz interpreter, Hardin was increasingly perceived as an unreliable burnout. Albums became more erratic, shows were cancelled, stories began to mount up of desperation and abjection. There were a variety of attempts at comebacks, and he remained a strong live performer... but when he died at 39, he'd been almost forgotten.

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Playlist:

1. Tim Hardin, 'Don't Make Promises' from Tim Hardin 1 (1966)
2. Tim Hardin, 'Green Rocky Road' from Tim Hardin 1 (1966)
3. Tim Hardin, 'Reason to Believe', from Tim Hardin 1 (1966)
4. Tim Hardin, 'Misty Roses', from Tim Hardin 1 (1966)
5. Tim Hardin, 'How Can We Hang On To A Dream', from Tim Hardin 1 (1966)
6. Tim Hardin, 'If I Were a Carpenter', from Tim Hardin 2 (1967)
7. Tim Hardin, 'Red Balloon', from Tim Hardin 2 (1967)
8. Tim Hardin, 'Black Sheep Boy', from Tim Hardin 2 (1967)
9. Tim Hardin, 'The Lady Came from Baltimore', from Tim Hardin 2 (1967)
10. Tim Hardin, 'You Upset the Grace of Living When you Lie' from Tim Hardin 2 (1967)
11. Tim Hardin, 'See Where you Are and Get Out' from Tim Hardin 2 (1967)
12. Tim Hardin, 'Tribute to Hank Williams' from Tim Hardin 2 (1967)
13. Tim Hardin, 'Ain't Gonna Do Without' from Tim Hardin 1 (1966)
14. Tim Hardin, 'Smugglin' Man' from Tim Hardin 1 (1966)
15. Tim Hardin, 'You Gotta Have More Than One Woman' from This Is Tim Hardin (1967)
16. Tim Hardin, 'Eulogy to Lenny Bruce' from Tim Hardin 3 (1968)
17. Tim Hardin, 'Last Sweet Moment' from Tim Hardin 3 (1968)
18. Tim Hardin, 'First Love Song', from Suite for Susan Moore and Damian - We are one, one, all in one (1970)
19. Tim Hardin, 'Question of Birth', from Suite for Susan Moore and Damian - We are one, one, all in one (1970)
20. Tim Hardin, 'The Country I'm Living In', from Suite for Susan Moore and Damian - We are one, one, all in one (1970)
21. Tim Hardin, 'Magician',  from Suite for Susan Moore and Damian - We are one, one, all in one (1970)
22. Tim Hardin, 'One One the Perfect Sum',  from Suite for Susan Moore and Damian - We are one, one, all in one (1970)
23. Tim Hardin, 'Susan' from Suite for Susan Moore and Damian - We are one, one, all in one (1970)
24. Tim Hardin, 'Bird on the Wire', from Bird on the Wire (1971)
25. Tim Hardin, 'Andre Johray', from Bird on the Wire (1971)
26. Tim Hardin, 'I'll Be Home', from Painted Head (1972)
27. Tim Hardin, 'Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out' from Painted Head (1972)
28. Tim Hardin, 'Shiloh Town' from Nine (1973)
29. Tim Hardin, 'Blues on my Ceiling' from Nine (1973)
30. Can, 'Rehearsal' (with Tim Hardin) from Outtake Edition bootleg (date unknown)
31. Tim Hardin 'Black Sheep Boy' from The Homecoming Concert (1981)
32. Tim Hardin 'Lady Came' from The Homecoming Concert (1981)
33. Tim Hardin 'Speak Like a Child' from The Homecoming Concert (1981)
34. Tim Hardin, 'Red Balloon' from The Homecoming Concert (1981)
35. Tim Hardin 'Amen' from The Homecoming Concert (1981)
 
 

an ace unable to change / as long as there's no forgiveness: the stark soundworld of jason molina

Jason Molina was well documented as being a fairly classic rock songwriter in a stark, symbolic vein, but the streak of constant invention in his realisation of sound recording is much less commented upon. Listening through his work of over 15 years as Songs: Ohia, Magnolia Electric Co. and under his own name, the consistency of voice is matched by the variety of approaches. The 70s midwest rock sounds of late Magnolia Electric Co. LPs like Josephine (2009) and Nashville Moon (2007) are a ways from the stark small lo fi clarities of early EPs like Our Golden Ratio (1998) and the stretched out solitudes of mid-career works like Pyramid Electric Co. (2004) or 'Howler' (2001).

We play an unusually song-based Avant Gardening to commemorate Molina's recent death, largely focused around the atmospheric strands that tie together this diverse canon of work.

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Playlist:

1. Songs Ohia, 'Lioness (acoustic version)' from split 7" with Scout Niblett (2001)

2. Jason Molina, 'Pyramid Electric Co' from Pyramid Electric Co (2004)

3. Jason Molina, 'Let Me Go Let Me Go Let Me Go' from Let Me Go Let Me Go Let Me Go (2006)

4. Songs: Ohia, 'There Will Be Distance' from Our Golden Ratio EP(1998)

5. Songs: Ohia, 'An Ace Unable to Change' from Impala (1998)
6. Songs: Ohia, 'One of Those Uncertain Hands' from Impala (1998)
7. Songs: Ohia, 'Howler' from Howler EP (2001)

8. Songs: Ohia, 'No Limits on the World' from Ghost Tropic (2000)
9. Songs: Ohia, 'Ghost Tropic (I)' from Ghost Tropic (2000)
10. Songs: Ohia, ' The Ocean's Nerve' from Ghost Tropic (2000)
11. Songs: Ohia, 'Ghost Tropic (II)' from Ghost Tropic (2000)
12. Songs: Ohia, 'Incantation' from Ghost Tropic (2000)

13. Magnolia Electric Co., 'Living in the Human World' from The Black Ram (2007)
14. Magnolia Electric Co., 'The Old Horizon' from The Black Ram (2007)
15. Magnolia Electric Co., 'The Nightshift Lullaby' from What Comes After the Blues (2005)
16. Magnolia Electric Co., 'I Cannot Have Seen the Light' from What Comes After the Blues (2005)
17. Magnolia Electric Co., 'Whip-Poor-Will' from Josephine (2009)

18. Magnolia Electric Co., ' Map of the Falling Sky' from Josephine (2009)
19. Molina & Johnson, 'All Falls Together' from Molina & Johnson (2009)

20. Jason Molina, 'Owl and Raven' from Autumn Songs (2012)

21. Jason Molina, 'A Sad Hard Change' from Autumn Songs (2012)

22. Songs: Ohia, 'The Black Crow' from The Lioness (2000)

23. Songs: Ohia, 'Farewell Transmission' from Magnolia Electric Co. (2003)

24. Songs: Ohia, 'I've Been Riding With The Ghost' from Magnolia Electric Co. (2003)
25. Songs: Ohia, 'Just Be Simple' from Magnolia Electric Co. (2003)

26. Songs: Ohia, 'Cabwaylingo/ Freedom pt 2' from Mi Sei Apparso Come Un Fantasma (2001)
27. Magnolia Electric Co, 'Such Pretty Eyes For A Snake' from Trials and Errors (2005)

28. Songs: Ohia, 'Captain Badass' from Axxess & Ace (1999)

29. Songs: Ohia, 'Ring the Bell' from Didn't It Rain (2001)

30. Songs: Ohia, 'Cross the Road Molina' from Didn't It Rain (2001)

31. Songs: Ohia, 'The Dark Wrong Turn' from The Ghost (1999)

32. Songs: Ohia, 'At Certain Hours it all Breaks' from The Ghost (1999)

33. Songs: Ohia, 'One Harrowing Night' from The Ghost (1999)

34. Songs: Ohia, 'One Red Star' from Protection Spells (2000)

35. Songs: Ohia, 'Whenever I Have Done a thing in Flames' from Protection Spells (2000)

36. Songs: Ohia, 'The Gray Tower' from The Gray Tower 7" (2002)

37. Jason Molina, 'Spectral Alphabet' from Pyramid Electric Co (2004)

38. Jason Molina, 'Red Comet Dust' from Pyramid Electric Co (2004)

39. Jason Molina, 'Long Desert Train' from Pyramid Electric Co (2004)

40. Magnolia Electric Co., 'Steady Now' from Shohola (2007)

41. Jason Molina, 'Alone with the Owls' from Let Me Go Let Me Go Let Me Go (2006)

42. Jason Molina, 'Everything Should Try Again' from Let Me Go Let Me Go Let Me Go (2006)

43. Jason Molina, 'Get Out Get Out Get Out Get Out' from Let Me Go Let Me Go Let Me Go (2006)

music like escaping gas / testcard: the music of this heat

"the sound of three avant-gardeners getting to grips with the mud and clay of rock."
- Jess Harvell, Pitchfork

The strikingly original combination of articulacies and lateralities that made up This Heat have dated exceedingly well. A combination of two art-rock musicians in Charles Bullen and Charles Hayward along with one "non"- musician in Gareth Williams playing a decidedly original take on what punk might entail: a revolutionary blending of machines, politics, the voice and the body, and time and space.

Kind of a darker, scratchier sibling to their (relative) contemporaries Kraftwerk, showing a different possible road forward for electronic music in the post-punk environment; a more analogue machine music, cheaper, dourer, resolutely pessimistic, tied deeply into a decidedly Arte Povera approach, playful like a cat playing with a mouse...

Tonight Avant Gardening take a dip into the cold storage cabinet of This Heat, featuring rare demos and live bootlegs.

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Playlist:

1. This Heat, 'Testcard 'from This Heat (1978)
2. This Heat, 'Horizontal Hold' from This Heat (1978)
3. This Heat, 'Not Waving' from This Heat (1978)
4. This Heat, '24 Track Loop' from This Heat (1978)
5. This Heat, 'Music Like Escaping Gas' from This Heat (1978)
6. This Heat, 'Health And Efficiency' from Health and Efficiency EP (1979)
7. This Heat, 'Paper Hats' from Deceit (1981)
8. This Heat, 'S.P.Q.R.' from Deceit (1981)
9. This Heat, 'Shrink Wrap' from Deceit (1981)
10. This Heat, 'Radio Prague' from Deceit (1981)
11. This Heat, 'Independence' from Deceit (1981)
12. This Heat, 'A New Kind of Water' from Deceit (1981)
13. This Heat, 'The Fall of Saigon' from Made Available (rel 1996)
14. This Heat, 'Rimp Romp Ramp' from Made Available (rel 1996)
15. This Heat, 'Makeshift Swahili' from Made Available (rel 1996)
16. This Heat, 'Sitting' from Made Available (rel 1996)
17. This Heat, 'Twilight Furniture', rec live in London, June 30, 1978, from bootleg
18. This Heat, untitled live track, rec live in London, June 30, 1978, from bootleg
19. This Heat, untitled live track known as 'Unreleased Title' rec 1980 from Cold Storage bootleg (1984)
20. This Heat, 'Repeat' from Repeat (rel 1993)
21. This Heat, 'Graphic/Varispeed' from Repeat (rel 1993)
22. Gareth Williams and Mary Currie, 'Breakfast Stroke' from Flaming Tunes (1985)
23. Gareth Williams and Mary Currie, 'Raindrops From Heaven' from Flaming Tunes (1985)
24. This Heat, 'Nivelles' from Nivelles (rel 2006)
25. This Heat with Mario Boyer Diekuuroh, excerpts from Untitled (aka Tago Mago tape split with Albert Marcoeur, rec 77-78, rel 1982)
26. This Heat, 'Sleep' from Deceit (1981)
27. This Heat, 'Testcard' (2) from This Heat (1978)   

a chorus of interludes / everything's going to work out just fine: the music of peter and graeme jefferies, part 2

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Playlist:

1. The Cakekitchen, 'Dogs and Cats', from World Of Sand (1991)
2. The Cakekitchen, 'This Perfect Day', from World Of Sand (1991)
3. The Cakekitchen, 'Walking on Glass', from World Of Sand (1991)
4. Peter Jefferies & Robbie Muir, 'Image of a Single Thought' from A Chorus of Interludes (1992)
5. Peter Jefferies & Robbie Muir, 'A Chorus of Interludes' from A Chorus of Interludes (1992)
6. The Cakekitchen, 'Stranger Than Paradise' from Far From The Sun (1993)
7. The Cakekitchen, 'Overexcited' from Far From The Sun (1993)
8. The Cakekitchen, 'Man In The Mirror' from Far From The Sun (1993)
9. The Cakekitchen, 'Big Fat Mouth' from Live at CBGBs (1993)
10. The Cakekitchen, 'Tomorrow Came Today' (1993) from Live at CBGBs (1993)
11. Peter Jefferies & Stephen Kilroy, 'Wined Up' from A Chorus of Interludes (1993)
12. Peter Jefferies, 'Clear By Morning', from Electricity (1994)
13. Peter Jefferies, 'Dear Boss', from Electricity (1994)
14. Peter Jefferies, 'Scattered Logic' from Electricity (1994)
15. Peter Jefferies, 'Electricity' from Electricity (1994)
16. Peter Jefferies, 'By Small Degrees' from Electricity (1994)

17. Peter Jefferies, 'Just Nothing' from Electricity (1994)
18. Peter Jefferies, 'Crossover' from Electricity (1994)
19. Cyclops, 'Uneasy Trail' from I Hear The Devil Calling Me EP (1991)
20. Cyclops, 'Steel White Bed' from Goat Volume (1994)
21. The Cakekitchen, 'Tell Me Why You Lie' from Stompin' Thru The Boneyard (1994)
22. The Cakekitchen, 'Even As We Sleep' from Stompin' Thru The Boneyard (1994)
23. The Cakekitchen, 'Mr Adrian's Lost In His Last Panic Attack' from Stompin' Thru The Boneyard (1994)
24. The Cakekitchen, 'The Mad Clarinet' from Stompin' Thru The Boneyard (1994)
25. 2 Foot Flame, 'Mr. H' from 2 Foot Flame (1995)
26. 2 Foot Flame, 'Chisel' from 2 Foot Flame (1995)
27. Mecca Normal, 'Breathing In The Dark' from The Eagle & The Poodle (1996)
28. Mecca Normal, 'The Revival Of Cruelty' from The Eagle & The Poodle (1996)
29. The Cakekitchen, 'Old Grey Coast' from The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (1996)
30. The Cakekitchen, 'Bald Old Bear' from The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (1996)
31. The Cakekitchen, 'Prophet Of The Underground' from The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (1996)
32. The Cakekitchen, 'Baby I Luv You' from The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (1996)
33. The Mountain Goats, 'Going To Kansas' from Nothing for Juice (1996)
34. Peter Jefferies, 'The Strange Case of Stuart Townsend' from Elevator Madness (1996)
35. Peter Jefferies, 'Shut Out' from Elevator Madness (1996)
36. The Cakekitchen, 'You Never Run Out Of Luck' from Everything's Going To Work Out Just Fine (1996) 
37. The Cakekitchen, 'Overground Rail Catastrophe' from Everything's Going To Work Out Just Fine (1996)
38. 2 Foot Flame, 'Resin Box' from Ultra Drowning (1997)
39. 2 Foot Flame, 'Peacock Coal' from Ultra Drowning (1997)
40. 2 Foot Flame, 'I Think You're The Weird One' from Ultra Drowning (1997)
41. Graeme Jefferies, 'Sonnenallee' from Sonnenallee OST (1999)
42. Peter Jefferies 'Three Movements' from Closed Circuit (2001)
43. Peter Jefferies 'Crocodile' from Closed Circuit (2001)
44. Peter Jefferies 'Closed Circuit' from Closed Circuit (2001)
45. Peter Jefferies 'State of the Nation' from Closed Circuit (2001)
46. Peter Jefferies, 'Ghostwriter', from Closed Circuit (2001)
47. The Cakekitchen, 'How Can You Be So Blind' from How Can You Be So Blind (2003)
48. The Cakekitchen, We See In The Dark from How Can You Be So Blind (2003)
49. The Cakekitchen, 'Strung Out' from Put Your Foot Inside The Door (2005)
50. The Cakekitchen, 'I'm So Glad That You Dropped Out Of High School' from Put Your Foot Inside The Door (2005)
51. The Cakekitchen, 'Everything's Driving You Crazy Cos You Just Can't Get What You Want' from Everything's Driving You Crazy Cos You Just Can't Get What You Want (2006)
52. The Cakekitchen, 'I Had Too Much To Drink Last Night' from Everything's Driving You Crazy Cos You Just Can't Get What You Want (2006)
53. The Cakekitchen, 'Poor Bi-Cameral Mind' from Kangaroos In My Top Paddock (2011)
54. The Cakekitchen, 'Kangaroos in My Top Paddock' from Kangaroos In My Top Paddock (2011)
55. The Cakekitchen, 'This Australian Christmas' from Kangaroos In My Top Paddock (2011)
56. The Cakekitchen, 'Petersham Rainsong' from Kangaroos In My Top Paddock (2011)

it must be thoroughly ambiguous / in view of the circumstances : the music of peter and graeme jefferies, part 1

For the AG team, this is something of a christmas special: a lovingly detailed, in depth night spent with two of NZ's most important musicians, Peter and Graeme Jefferies. From early provincial post-punk days together as Nocturnal Projections, to a moment of 'crossing the Rubicon' away from the industry into home recording as This Kind of Punishment, and then to solo divergences solo and with other musicians, their respective canons are a critical part of NZ underground's history, even though large chunks are out of print and have been for years.

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Playlist:

1. Nocturnal Projections, 'Nerve Ends in Power Lines' from s/t 7"(1982)
2. Nocturnal Projections, 'In Purgatory' from s/t 7" (1982)
3. Nocturnal Projections, 'Walk in a Straight Line' from Nerve Ends in Power Lines compilation (rec 1982, compilation1995)
4. Nocturnal Projections, 'Another Year' from Another Year EP (1982)
5. Nocturnal Projections, 'You'll Never Know' from Another Year EP (1982)
6. Nocturnal Projections, 'Isn't That Strange' from Another Year EP (1982)
7. Nocturnal Projections, 'Difficult Days' from Another Year EP (1982)
8. Nocturnal Projections, 'Out Of My Hands' from Another Year EP (1982)
9. Nocturnal Projections, In Darkness from Understanding Another Year in Darkness EP (1983)
10. Nocturnal Projections, 'The Down Song' from Nerve Ends in Power Lines compilation (1995)
11. Nocturnal Projections, 'My Neighbours' from Hate Your Neighbours compilation (rec 1981, rel 1997)
12. Nocturnal Projections, 'Worldview' from  Worldview 7" (rec 1981, rel 1998)
13. Nocturnal Projections, 'Non-Event' from  Worldview 7" (rec 1981, rel 1998)
14. Nocturnal Projections, 'Words Fail Me' from Biding My Time compilation (rec 1982, rel 1986)
15. Nocturnal Projections, 'People Who Told Me' from Nerve Ends in Power Lines compilation (rec 1982, rel 1995)
16. Nocturnal Projections, 'Moving Forward' from Nerve Ends in Power Lines compilation (rec 1982, rel 1995)
17. Nocturnal Projections, 'Restoration' from Nerve Ends in Power Lines compilation (rec 1983, rel 1995)
18. This Kind of Punishment, 'After the Fact; from This Kind of Punishment (1983)
19. This Kind of Punishment, 'Instrumental' from This Kind of Punishment (1983)
20. This Kind of Punishment, 'In View of the Circumstances' from This Kind of Punishment (1983)
21. This Kind of Punishment, 'If An Axe is An Arm' from This Kind of Punishment (1983)
22. This Kind of Punishment, 'Ahead of Their Time' from This Kind of Punishment (1983)
23. This Kind of Punishment, 'Prelude' from A Beard of Bees (1984)
24. This Kind of Punishment, 'From The Diary Of Hermann Doubt' from A Beard of Bees (1984)
25. This Kind of Punishment, 'East Meets West' from A Beard of Bees (1984)
26. This Kind of Punishment, 'Although They Appear' from A Beard of Bees (1984)
27. This Kind of Punishment, 'The Sleepwalker' from A Beard of Bees (1984)
28. This Kind of Punishment, 'An Open Denial' from A Beard of Bees (1984)
29. This Kind of Punishment, 'After The Fact' from Live 85 (1988)
30. This Kind of Punishment, 'Two Minutes Drowning' from Live 85 (1988)
31. This Kind of Punishment, 'Flipper Go Home' from Live 85 (1988)
32. This Kind of Punishment, 'Some More Than Others' from Live 85 (1988)
33. This Kind of Punishment, 'North Head' from 5 by Four (1985)
34. This Kind of Punishment, 'Out Of My Hands' from Live 85 (1988)
35. This Kind of Punishment, 'Immigration Song' from In The Same Room (1986)
36. This Kind of Punishment, 'Overground In China' from In The Same Room (1986)
37. This Kind of Punishment, 'On Various Days' from In The Same Room (1986)
38. This Kind of Punishment, 'Don't Go' from In The Same Room (1986)
39. This Kind of Punishment, 'Words Fail Me' from In The Same Room (1986)
40. This Kind of Punishment, 'Reaching an End' from Killing Capitalism With Kindness Box Set (rec 1986, rel 1992)
41. Peter Jefferies & Jono Lonie, 'Thief With The Silver' from At Swim Two Birds (1987)
42. Peter Jefferies & Jono Lonie, 'Where The Flies Sleep' from At Swim Two Birds (1987)
43. Peter Jefferies & Jono Lonie, 'Piano (two)' from At Swim Two Birds (1987)
44. Graeme Jefferies, 'All The Colours Run Dry' from Messages for the Cakekitchen (1987)
45. Graeme Jefferies, 'Prisoner Of A Single Passion' from Messages for the Cakekitchen (1987)
46. Graeme Jefferies, 'Nothing That's New' from Messages for the Cakekitchen (1987)
47. Graeme Jefferies, 'The Simple Tapestry Of Fate' from Messages for the Cakekitchen (1987)
48. Graeme Jefferies, 'The Cardhouse' from Messages for the Cakekitchen (1987)
49. Graeme Jefferies, 'Is The Timing Wrong?' from Messages for the Cakekitchen (1987)

50. Shayne Carter & Peter Jefferies, 'Randolph's Going Home' from 7" (1987)
51. Jay Clarkson & Breathing Cage, 'Raise The Glass' from Spilt Milk (rec 1987, rel 2006)
52. Plagal Grind, 'Vincent' from S/T EP (1990)
53. Plagal Grin, 'Starless Road' from S/T EP (1990)
54. Alastair Galbraith & Graeme Jefferies, 'Timebomb' from Timebomb 7" (1989)
55. Alastair Galbraith & Graeme Jefferies, 'Bravely Bravely' from Timebomb 7" (1989)
56. Peter Jefferies & Robbie Muir, 'Catapult' from Catapult/ Carbine 7" (1989)
57.Peter Jefferies & Robbie Muir, 'The Fate of the Human Carbine' from Catapult/ Carbine 7" (1989)
58. The Cakekitchen, 'Dave the Pimp' from s/t EP (1990)
59. The Cakekitchen, 'Silence of the Sirens', from s/t EP (1990)
60. The Cakekitchen, 'Airships' from Xpressway Pileup comp (rec 1988, rel 1990)
61. Peter Jefferies, 'Chain or Reaction' from The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World (1990)
62. Peter Jefferies, 'Domesticia' from The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World (1990)
63. Peter Jefferies, 'On an Unknown Beach' from The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World (1990)
64. Peter Jefferies, 'Guided Tour of a Well Known Street' from The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World (1990)
65. Peter Jefferies, 'The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World' from The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World (1990)
66. Peter Jefferies, 'While I've Been Waiting' from The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World (1990)
67. Peter Jefferies, 'Neither Do I' from The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World (1990)
68. Peter Jefferies, 'The Other Side of Reason' from The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World (1990)
69. Peter Jefferies, 'Listening In'  from The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World (1990)

If this is goodbye I just know I'm going to cry / If I jerk the handle you'll die in your dreams : scott walker

The astonishing nature of the progression of Scott Walker's work from the singer's early teen-idol days to the bracing singular sounds of the most recent work is well noted. But the release of a new Scott album is a great opportunity to run through it once more... so here's the traditional Avant Gardening dense rundown through the whole career, in a "fun pop time" Dunedin-summer celebration of Scott which runs, as is traditional, a bit... er... longer than the requisite couple of hours...

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Playlist:

1. The Walker Brothers, 'Make it Easy on Yourself' (single, 1965)
2. The Walker Brothers, 'The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore' (single, 1966)
3. Scott Walker, 'Montague Terrace (in Blue)', from Scott (1967)
4. Scott Walker, 'My Death', from Scott (1967)
5. Scott Walker, 'Always Coming Back to You', from Scott (1967)
6. Scott Walker, 'Amsterdam', from Scott (1967)
7. Scott Walker, 'Jackie', from Scott 2 (1968)
8. Scott Walker, 'Best of Both Worlds', from Scott 2 (1968)
9. Scott Walker, 'Next', from Scott 2 (1968)
10. Scott Walker, 'Plastic Palace People', from Scott 2 (1968)
11. Scott Walker, 'Windows of the World', from Scott 2 (1968)
12. Scott Walker, 'It's Raining Today', from Scott 3 (1969)
13. Scott Walker, 'Copenhagen', from Scott 3 (1969)
14. Scott Walker, 'Two Ragged Soldiers', from Scott 3 (1969)
15. Scott Walker, '30 Century Man', from Scott 3 (1969)
16. Scott Walker, 'Sons Of', from Scott 3 (1969)
17. Scott Walker, 'Funeral Tango', from Scott 3 (1969)
18. Scott Walker, 'If You Go Away', from Scott 3 (1969)
19. Scott Walker, 'The Seventh Seal', from Scott 4 (1969)
20. Scott Walker, 'On Your Own Again', from Scott 4 (1969)
22. Scott Walker, 'Boy Child', from Scott 4 (1969)
21. Scott Walker, 'The World's Strongest Man', from Scott 4 (1969)
23. Scott Walker, 'The Old Man's Back Again', from Scott 4 (1969)
24. Scott Walker, 'Duchess', from Scott 4 (1969)
25. Scott Walker, 'Little Things That Keep Us Together', from Til The Band Comes In (1970)
26. Scott Walker, 'Time Operator', from Til The Band Comes In (1970)
27. Scott Walker, 'The War is Over (Epilogue)', from Til The Band Comes In (1970)
28. Scott Walker, 'Long About Now',  from Til The Band Comes In (1970)
29. The Walker Brothers, 'Orpheus' from Images (1967)
30. Scott Walker, 'Mrs Murphy' from Solo John/ Solo Scott split 7" (1966)
31. Scott Walker, 'The Plague' B-side from Jackie 7" (1967)
32. Scott Walker, 'The Ballad of Sacco and Vanzetti' from The Moviegoer (1972)
33. Scott Walker, 'The Rope and The Colt' from The Rope and the Colt OST (1969)
34. The Walker Brothers, 'Lines' from Lines (1976)
35. The Walker Brothers, 'No Regrets' from No Regrets (1975)
36. The Walker Brothers, 'Shutout' from Nite Flights (1978)
37. The Walker Brothers, 'Fat Mama Kicks' from Nite Flights (1978)
38. The Walker Brothers, 'Nite Flights' from Nite Flights (1978)
39. The Walker Brothers, 'The Electrician' from Nite Flights (1978) 
40. Scott Walker, 'Rawhide' from Climate of Hunter (1984)
41. Scott Walker, 'Three' from Climate of Hunter (1984)
42. Scott Walker, 'Sleepwalker's Woman' from Climate of Hunter (1984)
43. Scott Walker, 'Blanket Roll Blues'from Climate of Hunter (1984)
44. Scott Walker, 'Farmer in the City' from Tilt (1995)
45. Scott Walker, 'Cockfighter'from Tilt (1995)
46. Scott Walker, 'Bouncer See Bouncer' from Tilt (1995)
47. Scott Walker, 'Patriot (A Single)'from Tilt (1995)
48. Scott Walker, 'Rosary' from Tilt (1995)
49. Ute Lemper, 'Lullably (by-by-by) from Scott Walker compilation Five Easy Pieces (rec 2000)
50. Scott Walker, 'River of Blood' from Pola X OST (1999)
51. Scott Walker, 'The Darkest Forest' from Pola X OST (1999)
52. Scott Walker, 'Cossacks Are' from The Drift (2006)
53. Scott Walker, 'Clara' from The Drift (2006)
54. Scott Walker, 'Jolson and Jones' from The Drift (2006)
55. Scott Walker, 'Psiroatic' from The Drift (2006)
56. Scott Walker, 'A Lover Loves' from The Drift (2006)
57. Scott Walker, 'Part 1' from And Who Shall Go To The Ball? And What Shall Go To The Ball? (2007)
58. Scott Walker, ' 'See You Don't Bump His Head' ' from Bish Bosch (2012)
59. Scott Walker, 'SDSS14+3B (Zircon, A Flagpole Sitter)' from Bish Bosch (2012)
60. Scott Walker, 'Dimple' from Bish Bosch (2012)
61. Scott Walker, 'The Day The "Conducator" Died (An Xmas Song)' from Bish Bosch (2012)

too hot to be cool / psych thing: the puddle, george and ian henderson, part #1

"The words and the music/ don't mean a thing/ listen to the rhythm/ listen to us singing"
- Lacsydaisical

"We were trying to impress god and the devil at the same time - hardly the epitome of cool"
- Too Hot to be Cool

Over the almost 30 years they've been in (somewhat irregular) existence, George D. Henderson and his band The Puddle have presented a rich array of different identities, to the extent that taking a genre-perspective on the work is comprehensively confounding. From mid-80s origins as a kind of orchestral-psychedelic band through to a current active life as a likeably ramshackle but precise indie pop band (organised with efficiency and care by Henderson's younger brother Ian, making an international and parallel name for himself with his curation of the Fishrider label), the band has generally followed a set of ideals and ideas all their own. The unifying line-through might be the combination of George's acutely intelligent songwriting and a capacity to re-invent and revive the band within both the usual and some quite novel constraints, be they financial, technical, emotional or intellectual.

Tonight Avant Gardening presents the first of a comprehensive two-episode trip through the musical history of the Henderson brothers, ranging from art-rock home experiments (as Crazy Ole and the Panthers) in Invercargill in the early 70s through George's days in Wellington and Christchurch with the And Band and Spies, to the various lineups of the Dunedin-based Puddle, from the 80s big psychedelic band, through 90s pop versions, through to the current day stable line-up featuring the two Hendersons along with Gavin Shaw and Alan Starret.

The first part concentrates on the 70s and 80s, featuring copious rare and unreleased recordings.

Part 1.
 
Part 2.
 

Part 3.
 

 ----

Playlist:

1. The Puddle, 'Let's Go' from Live at the Teddy Bear Club (rec 1986, rel 1991)
2. The Puddle, 'Into the Moon' from Into the Moon (1992)
3. Crazy Ole and the Panthers, 'Science Fiction' (rec 1975)
4. Crazy Ole and the Panthers, 'This For You' (rec 1975)
5. Crazy Ole and the Panthers, 'Guitar Thing' (rec 1975)
6. Crazy Ole and the Panthers, 'Rattlesnake Jive' (rec 1975)
7. Spies, 'Birdsong' (rec 1979)
8. Spies, 'Cats Keep Falling' (rec 1979)
9. Spies, 'Lacsydaisical' (rec 1979)
10. The And Band, 'Dr Brill' (rec 1981)
11. The And Band, 'Lollipop Man' (rec 1981)
12. The And Band, 'We Are Right' (rec 1981)
13. The And Band, 'Interstellar Gothic' from spilt 7" with Perfect Strangers (1981)
14. The And Band, 'Go Through Hell' (rec 1981)
15. The And Band, 'Cloudy Old Day' (rec 1981)
16. George and Ian Henderson, 'Weight of the Stars' (rec 1983)
17. The Puddle, 'Billie and Franz' (rec live 1985)
18. The Puddle, 'Interstellar Gothic' (rec live 1985)

[plus bonus tracks.]