Withers in the Waking
7inch. Released October 2008 on Touch (TS08)
The 8th in the series of Touch Sevens, and the first to introduce melodic narrative. Both songs are results of the WFMU podcast series "Codpaste", in which Vicki & Ergo publicly composed a series of collage compositions, deconstructing their respective practices, and a live soundtrack to Christian Marclay’s "ScreenPlay". The series and soundtrack resulted in the online only album " in Glue", from which these two songs are alternative versions.
"Withers in the Whist" takes one of Vicki & Ergo’s current staple obsessions: the melody line of Prokofiev’s ‘Troika’ from the Lieutenant Kije soundtrack (originally used in V & E’s work during a particularly snowy sequence of the Marclay film). This treatment dispenses with sampling entirely, instead using instruments to create variations on Prokofiev’s deceptively simple melody-line, tied together with impressionistic, stream-of-consciousness lyrics. It is playing with Prokofiev like a bad child who loves it’s toys.
"In The Waking" began with Ergo replaying with multitracked guitars the main melodic motifs Vicki collaged in the composition "Carmic Waltz", with Vicki then ornamenting the guitars with splashes of colour like a real painter of sound, all blended into a pot of carnival steam with Ergo’s wordplay. It is a fantasy for the dream the fairground has when the world is sleeping, but only takes place five minutes before the carousel wakes up
Side A: In the Waking 5:55 [Locked groove]
Side B: Withers in the Whist 4:27
Scans of reviews HERE:
Withers In The Waking review – Record Collector (January 2009)
Withers In The Waking review – Norman Records (December 2008)
Withers In The Waking review – Aquarius (December 2008)
Withers In The Waking review – Boomkat (December 2008)
Buy it here – prices include postage and packaging.
PLU & Ergo cut 7″ single with Touch
Indeed, PLU & Ergo will be releasing a single with Touch later this month – more details soon. In the meantime, here are photos of the cutting of the record earlier today.