Drunk : A derby spiritual

(Jagjaguwar.1996) *****

Once in a while I fall in love with a recording. Over the years these
have included Townes’ ‘Our Mother the Mountain’ ( stolen from my uncle’s  record collection), The Feelies ‘The Good Earth’, Uncle Tupelo’s 16-23 March 1992. All recordings that survive the test of time and constantly appear at the top of the pile.
I recently picked up a new disc to add to these favourites. Drunk’s ‘A Derby Spiritual’ on Jagjaguwar was going cheap at a record fair and attracted by brilliant artwork and a half-remembered review in David Henderson’s mag. Happenstance I bought it. The only hint as to its contents was the eclectic instrumentation – and a note ‘thanks to the city of Billings,Montana'. If anybody out there knows anything please let me know!
The contents are phenomenal! Imagine a group of immigrants, hair still sticky with salt, stumbling down the gangplank and into a town full of folk and blues with a bunch of classical instruments under their arms! They meet up with a slide and banjo player and head off to an empty,peeling clapperboard house and set up and play. Rain lashes the
tiles, wind pushes through the floorboards and a beautiful, discordant
music spirals from the echoing rooms. At least that’s what it sounds
like to me! That review tried to pin down influences but like all great music.I can think of none or millions – it is that great.

Brecht’s Berliner Ensemble, Nick Drake, David Ackles, Slow-core,
The Velvets, 22 PistePirkko oh the list goes on. Somewhere in the
hard to catch lyrics which are strong as poetry I thought I caught the
phrase ‘pine-wood music’ –that’s it, ‘pre’ as opposed to ‘post’ rock
that really is chilling, surreal and wonderful when a lot of things that say they are aren’t!

partially heard lyrics include –

“…I’m still waiting to feel the buckle in my knees.” ( drunk bed)
“..I can tell where you come from by the questions that you ask..”
     (a nip for kitty)
and from my favourite track “Fireballs rise, Germany skies”
     (germany skies)

A skewed folk sensibility invested with a ‘european’ surrealism
That seeps in and out of the songs. Words fail me. Like the
‘Ship that never Returned’ just did. Recorded so you can hear the
creak of wood, buzz of string, breathing …
Wrapped around powerful lyrics. Sort of record the GoBetweens
would have made if they were born in 1820. A.J.Alverson may be
the guiding voice but ,whatever , they produced something special.
 

 

Originally written January 1997 - for Hearsay Magazine.

( Since then a few more facts have emerged including a Jagjaguwar website)