In the late 2000s, when everyone wanted to be a flower child inspired by Devendra Banhart and Joanna Newsom, one name kept popping up on various recommendation lists for the equally flowery genre of Freak Folk (also known as New Folk or New Weird America): Six Organs of Admission. At the time, Ben Chasny had already been releasing obscure albums with his project for ten years, ranging from meditative folk to experimental drone.
To this day, Six Organs of Admittance stand for this sound, most recently on the just-released »Time Is Glass«. On »Slip Away« Chasny leads an introverted, relaxed dream journey, on »Spinning In A River« he builds on the same mood, which he then cuts through with a distorted electric guitar. Words, if any, flow as freely as everything else. This feeling of otherworldly cosiness characterises these nine songs, which Chasny recorded mostly at home. That the American musician can transfer this mood and approach to other sounds is shown by the forerunners of his forthcoming record with Shackleton. (As various collaborations with other bands have shown in the past).
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When asked about opener »The Mission« and how Chasny translates abstract ideas and feelings into his sound, he told PopMatters: »I don’t really have a formula. The song started with a guitar riff. I had an idea for a melody with two registers.« It’s not a linear process, it’s nebulous, with all sorts of images and thoughts floating around and then condensing into a solid structure. Chasny’s guitar style, so effortless and unassuming, helps.
Over the years, Ben Chasny has also played in the band Comets On Fire, with Current 93 and Richard Bishop, and most recently with Shackleton. His body of work is already impressive with all sorts of connections and references. And yet each song unfolds on its own. Close to the essence of things, far from the noise of the streets and houses. We asked Ben Chasny which records have shaped him and made him better.
Ben Chasny: A brilliant moment where the already legendary Melvins decide to metabolize both members of the bass and drum duo Big Business to create a two drums monolith. That’s heavy enough but it’s the fantastic harmonies and Beatles level song construction that really make this record shine.
RedaktionBen Chasny: The version on here of »Everything is Fucked« may be one of my top 5 songs of all time. On YouTube there’s a video of this performance with a full lightning storm erupting behind the stage as they play. One of the greatest bands around today.
RedaktionBen Chasny: The epitome of solo bedroom recorded guitar. Nothing will ever top this record for pure 4am urban loneliness.
RedaktionBen Chasny: Guitarist Michael Cashmore’s melodies and chord progressions come from another world on this classic. This record might be the Current 93 one can most disappear into.
RedaktionBen Chasny: I’ve noticed that if a person isn’t well aquatinted with what is known as shredder guitar, they will often think that Malmsteen’s music sounds like Joe Satriani or Steve Vai. The fact is, Malmsteen has always made music much closer to the lineage of Uli Roth and Richie Blackmoore, that is, music based around a riff. This has some of his greatest songs, such as »I Am A Viking« and »Disciples of Hell«.
RedaktionBen Chasny: The late great Kaneko Jutok’s main band was Kousokuya, who practiced a unique style of deconstructed rock music that was as ethereal as it was raw. This solo record has him playing songs that essentially sound like solo folk songs but played through a Stratocaster and a wall of Marshall amplifiers, with the exception of a pair of songs that feature a full band in full-on Crazy Horse expended solo mode.
RedaktionBen Chasny: Paredes expanded the sound of fado in Portugal in a way parallel to what Fahey was doing with folk music in the US. He also toured with the brilliant bassist Charlie Haden. This record overflows with melody.
RedaktionBen Chasny: Safe to say I’ve probably listened to this record more than any other in the past 4 years.
RedaktionBen Chasny: Absolutely ripping record. Always makes me want to study music and play.
RedaktionBen Chasny: Eine der besten Platten, die der amerikanische Underground hervorgebracht hat. Niemand kann den Sun City Girls das Wasser reichen, wenn es darum geht, dass es wirklich egal ist, was andere denken.
Redaktion