Sonic Youth - "Goodbye 20th Century" 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, U.S. (Sonic Youth Records - SYR4)

For the past few years, I have been interested in purchasing 20th-century experimental/classical music on vinyl.   The medium of vinyl is important to me because I listen to music differently on vinyl than say through my computer.   For me, I like to jump into the aural landscape without being interrupted by words, things, or anything else around me.  So, yesterday I purchased an album that I have wanted to hear for awhile now.  "Goodbye 20th Century" (a great title by the way, especially since this album was recorded in 1999) is Sonic Youth performing avant-garde classical music by legendary composers.  Christian Wolff, Pauline Oliveros, James Tenney, John Cage, Takehisa Kosugi, Yoko Ono, Nicolas Slonimsky, Cornelius Cardew (a composer I want to be more familiar with), George Maciunas, and Steve Reich.  

I have the John Cage/Christian Wolff album, which I love.  I think that specific album was recorded in the early 1960s, and it's an amazing document.  Wolff actually worked with Sonic Youth in the studio for his two recordings on this album.   Of all the composers I find him to be the most Cage-like, but that is my take on the sound of his work.  I never read an essay on or by him, so I'm very much an amateur listener at this point.  "Burdocks" for me is great.   Having Christian Marclay on turntables on this track really adds an intensity to the piece.   But beyond that, I don't find any weaknesses on this album.  The other composer who is on this album, and covered by Sonic Youth is Takehisa Kosugi.   It's very much a collaborative work.   Besides the fab four, there is Jim O'Rourke (before he officially joined the band), and William Winant among others.

What impresses me is that this is very much of a Sonic Youth album.  With guest stars of course.  It's interesting to hear a rock band (in theory) covering the territory of the avant-garde.  They do so with a large respect for the material but also don't give up the core sound of Sonic Youth.  When Kim Gordon gives a vocal, it immediately reminds me of Ennio Morricone's film scores -especially when he scored horror/sexy films from the 1970s.  Come to think of it, Morricone would fit like a hand in a glove on this album.   An excellent album. 

The Scratch Orchestra - "London, 1969" (Die Stadt) Limited Edition of 500, vinyl 10"

The first time I heard of "The Scratch Orchestra" was in a Brian Eno interview, around the time he was in Roxy Music.  I have always been intrigued by this project, which as legend has reported, was organized by the British composer Cornelius Cardew.   With a name like that, I knew he had to be fantastic.  The other co-founders were Howard Skempton and Michael Parsons.  "London, 1969" is the recording of the first concert they gave in '69 at Hampstead Town Hall.   

First of all, one doesn't know which side is one or two - so that obviously doesn't make a huge difference.  Nor do the two selections have titles.  Which probably fits the Scratch Orchestra motif of everything is equal.   The actual rules of the orchestra are that anyone can join, graphic scores were used instead of musical ones, and oddly enough, concerts are assigned in reverse seniority, so that means the newest member has a stronger say in the programming.  Which comes to this record.   Eighteen year old Christopher Hobbs (then a student of Cardew's) designed or headed this specific concert that took place on November 1, 1969.  

This album, in a particular style, is ground zero for British avant-garde music and its (non) musicians. Five or six years later, most of the composers/music makers became hooked up with Brian Eno's label, Obscure Records.   I have listened to it twice, and basically it resembles John Cage and David Tudor's "Variations IV."  A mixture of radio sounds, and what I presume is tape loopings.  It's a fantastic little record.  Someone should re-issue it again.   Love the pigeons on the front and back cover as well.