| Scottish guitar experimentalist and poet of sound Richard Youngs first emerged in the early '90s with the gripping, abrasive yet lovely Advent, on which he established himself as both the successor to minimalist experimenters like Terry Riley and a loving reinterpreter of traditional blues and folk music.Like Loren MazzaCane Connors, another brilliant guitar player with whom Youngs has more than a little in common, Youngs has received very little acclaim for his highly original and innovative work, but has pressed on nevertheless, releasing a steady stream of albums throughout the '90s.Youngs has dabbled in drones and repetitive sound collages, at times recording electronics, found sounds, strange percussion instruments, and even kazoos as accompaniment to his devastating guitar improvisations.The guitar and a prevailing feeling of sorrowful yearning are the only constants running through Youngs's varied body of work.It's nothing but Youngs's high, soft, anguished voice and the complex language of his classical guitar for nearly forty minutes, yet it never ceases to be enthralling and remarkably moving."Soon It Will Be Fire," the first song from that effort, is a deeply intimate heartbreaker, a marvel of a song that flies you up near heaven before setting you gently back on earth.Recorded over a period of six months in early 2001 in Harpenden, England, May is a remarkable piece of hypnotic and repetitive minimalism.With their mixture of plaintive vocals and droning acoustic figures, these songs take on an almost hymnal quality, as with the spiritual meditation "Wynding Hills of Maine."He has a remarkable talent for taking you through cycles of loss and regeneration, leading you through fire and ice, making you feel you've lived a little more, felt a little more, really done some traveling.Other Suggestions:
Steve Reich,
Robbie Basho,
John Fahey,
Kath Bloom With Loren MazzaCane Connors,
Steven R.The Naive Shaman (2005),
Summer Wanderer (2005), 6.Tracked Shakuhachi (2006), 6.John Fahey's instrumental folk music.The noisy guitar makes the
difference: it sounds as if Terry Riley had been locked up in a madhouse.In their quirky musical
excursions the duo manage to fuse the majestic and the amateurish
(I Live In A Big City, Goat, At Home).Enedkeg (Majora, 1996) indulges in otherworldly drones and adds another
lengthy dissonant piece to the canon, More Urban Music for the Middle Of Nowhere.The live improvisations of Knish (Ignivomous, 1996),
and Red And Blue Bear (Insignificant, 1997), with more electronics and less structure (ostensibly a children's album replete with folkish melodies), were minor versions of their aesthetic.Finally, Pulse Of The Rooster (VHF, 1998) was a simpler work, basically psychedelic pop for late hippies (Shanti Deva).New Angloid Sound (Forced Exposure, 1993) contains covers of traditional
folk music performed on guitar and kazoo.Even the two longer tracks sound more
like ideas than like music
(Sixteen 00 is merely repetition for the sake of repetition).Smith
that open new "metallic" avenues for their improvisation.Ourselves (VHF, 2004) and
Partrick Rain Dance (VHF, 2005)
document performances with percussionist Alexander Neilson, that include
both covers and acid jams.The Ilk project was revived by Canticle (2005).Lag, 2006) is a collaboration among
Alastair Galbraith, Richard Youngs and Alex Neilson that yields
some languid droning ragas.Evans), Untitled (HP Cycle, 2007).Tracked Shakuhachi (2006), another highlight of his versatile
career.Electric Lotus (2007) combines an LP of rock music (with
drummer Alex Neilson) with a CD of chamber duets for shakuhachi and percussion.SiteCatalyst code version: H.Richard Youngs (read more)
35,504 plays scrobbled on Last.Currently living in Glasgow (Scotland), Richard Youngs is a highly versatile and experimental artist, often categorized as 'folktronica', but usually spilling way outside that definition.However, his recent high point must be his bass playing duties in concert with Jandek.Who have I got to bitchslap?If anyone knows where information on Richard Youngs' cooking can be found, I'd be delighted.Web Site Support
Last."Are you sure you want to block this user?THIS IS NOT RICHARD YOUNGS.Richard Youngs is a highly prolific and diverse musician.Throughout his career, he has recorded for over a dozen independent record labels, with VHF releasing much of his collaborative work and Jagjaguwar issuing the lion's share of his recent solo albums.Smith, their releases occasionally being issued under the obtuse moniker R!!!He has performed live with Vibracathedral Orchestra, Sunroof!Skullflower and was also a member of the collective A Band, appearing on many of their releases.Shaman saw him receive some of the most positive reviews of his career to date and appear on the front cover of The Wire."Are you sure you want to delete this comment?"Happy new year to you all!HiThanks for your friendship.Im a big fan of Richard's music.Palimpsest Festival 2007** Tickets ON SALE NOW!Compilation" on my label Ebus Music a long long time ago..."Urgent Security Alert","Warning: You are submitting information to an outside site.Richard Youngs' impressive body of work continues to mount.Perfect balance is almost achieved.English born and bred, but residing in Glasgow, Scotland (where Airs of the Ear was recorded), Richard Youngs has remained busy.Smith, Neil Campbell, as well as with Sunroof!Naomi live album, Song to the Siren, on the bonus DVD where his live performance in Glasgow, Scotland is documented. |
