Looking at the Overlooked from the Other Side

graphite & putty eraser/30x20cm

Doing exactly what it says on the tin, as it were - flipping over the previously drawn 'roadkill' can to examine the manner in which it has been folded on its reverse side. Again, in best 'Cubist' fashion, four views are simultaneously present in the single, compressed plane: each side, top & base.

Soundtrack:


Scritti Politti 'Songs to Remember' & 'White Bread Black Beer'
Moon Wiring Club 'An Audience of Art Deco Eyes'
Divine Comedy 'Victory for the Comic Muse'

With a nod to topicality, one was reminded of the point at which Green Gartside's singing voice started sounding at times not entirely dissimilar to that of the departed Michael Jackson: the funky 'Lions After Slumber' on the still-wonderful 'Songs to Remember' (as indeed they are) might be the best illustration.

Aby’s Got a Brand New Hairdo

Today the opposite of tomato is ‘White Bread Black Beer’

The photograph of a snow-covered statue of Abraham Lincoln appealed as source material particularly for the opportunity it presented of transcribing a subtle range of gently modulated tones & its ‘minimalist’ white appearance, plus the fact that already there are few layers of representation going on…


graphite: 20x30cm
original source: ‘The Guardian’ 30/01/08

Soundtrack:

In particular listening for the first time since last year to Scritti Politti’s ‘White Bread Black Beer’, which on a beautiful, clear, crisp, sunny day (for which we’ve actually been quite spoilt this past week) sounded perfect, creating just the right ambience, with promises of spring & summer in its sound, mostly quite light & floaty without being insubstantial, lots of the songs sound almost like sketches or ideas for songs, with all sorts of little bits thrown into the mix & tacked on, & it‘s delightfully informal & intimate for such an approach. And above all, filled with irresistible tunes & the gorgeous, honeyed harmonies of Green Gartside‘s voice. Love the CD packaging too, really original, with a design appearing like a denim, felt & stitching effect, very tactile.