17/03/2025 Rambling

 17/03/2025

Been listening to a lot less emo at the moment. I've been listing to a lot of Mark Hollis, Bert Jansch, Talk Talk; they are artists on my mind at the moment.

There is a way of writing music which is a lot more spontaneous, rather than compositional that I've come to really admire with the more folk elements of their music. It is not intended to be so moving in the way a lot of music usually is. A lot of music is moving because it's written that way. Whether through specific chords, intervals or simply through lyricism, but it just is, completely spontaneously and it's very touching. The sparseness of their records create a lot of weight and the crescendo's and climaxes are much more natural rather than formulaic. Makes for an incredible experience. I don't think this is an incredibly intelligent thing to write, but no one reads this blog any way so I don't really give a shit.

A lot of my music has been completely collaged rather than one piece flowing through in one sitting. When I start writing this second record I started with 6 or 7 songs that have mutated and changed 100s of times to the point where it all feels hazy and random to listen to sometimes. Bit by bit though, it has all come together. However, the more I listen to more great records, the more I want to start again. I want to record a record properly, but in a way that's a lot less 'frankenstein'd'. In a real studio with nice machines. I'd like it to be more collaborative too. So if any label or whatever wants me and wants to help organise this mess, you have my email. It's very fun doing everything DIY, but its just become very demoralising being so limited. I find I have to change my music a lot as I don't have the equipment or time to make it sound how I ever intend it to. I try not to complain though, it really could be worse. But I have a lot of big ideas, which is stressful and scary, but fun. That's why music is great, I wish more people understood it that way. You really have to work hard for something great to the point were you start to lose it, and then all of a sudden it just 'happens' and you finally have something you like. I'm trailing off, but I thought I'd just share my thoughts as I've recently had a very refreshing sense of inspiration to play and practice music at the moment. Anyway, emo forever though! Listen to these:

- Mark Hollis - Mark Hollis (Sparse Jazz, Folk)

- Philip Glass Symphony No. 2 - Philip Glass (Minimalist composer)

- A Portable Model Of - Joan of Arc (Sparse, Experimental, Indie Rock, Emo)

- Red House Painters 1 - Red House Painters (Slowcore, Folk, Introspective)

- Bert & John - Bert Jansch and John Renbourn (Folk, Country)

- Home Is Where You Hang Yourself - Her Space Holiday (Indie Rock, Electronic)

- And Their Refinement Of Decline - Stars Of The Lid (Ambient)

- Blue - Joni Mitchell (Country, Folk)

- There Is No One That Will Take Care of You - Palace Brothers (Folk Rock)