sergisonic, that's a lovely review. Thanks for sharing. Lee's music is hypnotic, and his words strongly evoke feelings, places, and people both present and distant. Or at least, that's what i obtained from listening to the CD included with the book "Water Days" and the accompanying images on it. That wonderful artifact was a lovely companion that really fit the context of certain situations i was going through last year. I really think it was very unfair that it was bashed when reviewed by The Wire, and i think it was worthy of more attention than the few it got. Despite all the abstraction present in the music and photographs, i thought everything actually made a lot of sense. When i went to see Text Of Light in March, i took my copy of that book with me just in case i had a chance to get Lee to sign it, if i happened to casually cross paths with him. I didn't have the chance to talk to him, i wanted to at least tell him that "Water Days" really hit me hard, and give my thanks to him and Leah Singer for the beautiful item. Since he was surrounded by many people wanting to take pics with him, and to get him to sign stuff, i didn't exchange words with him, but he was very kind and gracious to sign my copy of the book, and later, when he was leaving, stopped by and also signed my copy of "Un Pranzo Favoloso", which Tim Barnes had just signed. I thought it'd be ace to have Lee's signature on it as well, and i got in the end. I guess that was my luckiest day.
Anyway, judging by the youtube video embedded on your review, sergisonic, i have the impression that the Barcelona show had some aesthetic similarities to the recording included in that book (and also to the "Drift Hasselt" DVD released on Jef Mertens' label, Taping Policies), although obviously the themes are seemingly different: Inspiration from spam certainly seems more vacuous than the clash between wanderlust and the longing for one's home (quoting the motifs as stated by the respective press releases), but "AM DES", and "Chingy" (the first and third poems on the youtube vid, respectively) seem to have their roots in human emotion and perception rather than on any other thing spam-related (Still, i need to analyze further), unless Lee actually gets some soulful, creative spam rather than the lot of scum someone like me would get. By the way, does anyone recognize the second poem recited by Lee? I cannot identify that one at the moment.
maropi, i'm so glad you taped Lee's performance. I loved both of your recordings of Thurston Moore at Tanned Tin Festival, and appreciate very much your kindness and hard work. It's always exciting to have a chance of enjoying a DVD and/or audio of this or any other Lee Ranaldo show. Muchas gracias.
