Tag Archives: Richard Youngs

Mixtape #97

03 July 2018

It may be hard to find a more prolific musical polymath than the wonderful and inimitable multi-instrumentalist and improviser Richard Youngs. A restless sonic adventurer and highly versatile musician, his extensive and influential body of work encompasses well over a hundred solo and collaborative releases, on labels big and small, including his own No Fans. We're ecstatic he found the time to put together this month's mixtape, which is a unique insight into his myriad influences, or in Youngs' own words "All over the shop".

  1. Cocteau Twins – Blind Dumb Deaf [4AD]
  2. Donald MacPherson – Lord Lovat’s Lament [Siubhal]
  3. Kazuki Tomokawa – Storms in the Dead of Night [20|20|20]
  4. Derek Bailey w/ DJ Ninj – N/JZ/BM (re-mix) [Avant]
  5. Rosalia – Si tu supieras companero [Universal]
  6. Sun Ra & His Arkestra – Disco 2100 [Strut / Art Yard]
  7. Religious Overdose – Control Addicts [Glass Records]
  8. Armin Mieth: VI – Raum 1 (extract) [Chocolate Monk]
  9. Franco Battiato – Aria di rivoluzione [Ricordi]
  10. Guillaume de Machaut – Ballade 33 Nes qu’on porroit (performed by Oxford Camerata) [Naxos]
  11. Van Der Graaf Generator – Refugees [Charisma / Probe]

Richard Youngs shares new track ‘Bewilderment’ off upcoming album

15 February 2018

Richard Youngs live at Le Guess Who? 2017

Ahead of the imminent release of Belief, the new album from Richard Youngs, and after being enraptured by his first single ‘Nebulosity‘, he’s teasing the album again. The wonderful and inimitable multi-instrumentalist and improviser has shared ‘Bewilderment’, an utterly gorgeous and poignant new song. Take a listen below and grab Belief when it’s out on March 2nd via O Genesis Recordings.

Richard Youngs announces new album Belief and unveils first single ‘Nebulosity’

07 December 2017

There’s a very good reason to look forward to 2018, Glasgow-based multi-instrumentalist and improviser Richard Youngs will release a new album entitled Belief. Youngs’ music catalogue is extensive, with hundreds of solo and collaborative releases under his belt, including this year’s Paradise / In Love An Arc, the 12″ release from his collaborative disco project AMOR also featuring Turner nominated artist Luke Fowler, Paul Thomson (Franz Ferdinand) and Michael Francis Duch (LEMUR).

Set for release on March 2nd via Tim Burgess’ O Genesis Recordings, Youngs initially planned to send the record to ‘major’ labels and collect the rejection letters as an art project. But Burgess wanted to release it as soon as he heard it. He explains:

“Richard’s album came to me via his friend Daniel O’Sullivan. He gave me some of Richard’s songs and they completely bowled me over. I immediately asked if O Genesis could release it and he put me in touch with Richard. Belief is sublime gnostic pop and is the soundtrack to why I wanted to be able to release albums on our label.
O Genesis had recently released Daniel’s record (VELD) and it’s always difficult to know what an artist thinks of our label – they might just be being polite when they say good things. If someone recommends a friend or a band that is dear to them, then that is a perfect sign for me.”

‘Nebulosity’ is the first staggering single lifted from the upcoming Belief. “Nebulosity is about finding my way”, Youngs explained. “Although the lyric declares “no time for faith”, it is a song of self-belief.”

In other good news, and after being utterly dazzled by Youngs’ live show at Le Guess Who? last month, he is performing at London’s Servants Jazz Quarters on December 18th as part of a two-day Yuletide event also featuring Daniel O’Sullivan & Dream Lion Ensemble, Grumbling Fur, Alexander Tucker, Nik Void and Tim Burgess.

Le Guess Who?’s Who 2017: Tom Rogerson

07 November 2017

There’s only a couple of days to go before Le Guess Who? takes over Utrecht. With over 150 artists set to perform, how do we make sense of such a monumental line-up? We made a list of the artists we’re most excited to see and asked them for their recommendations.

Tom Rogerson

Facebook Page

Performing Friday 10th November at TivoliVredenburg

Photo: Mathew Parri Thomas

Staggeringly talented British composer and pianist Tom Rogerson has impressed us many a time with his creativity and technical skill behind the keys in Three Trapped Tigers, the trio he founded a decade ago. A prolific classically trained musician and gifted improviser, and a long-time presence in the London experimental/improv scene, Rogerson has played and collaborated in various other projects. His most recent venture saw him collaborating with Brian Eno, and Finding Shore is the fruit of it, the first album under his own name. Today he shares his thoughts on which acts he’s most looking forward to seeing at Le Guess Who?.

 

I could have picked from so many. I’ll be trying to watch Julianna Barwick, GAS, Steve Beresford,Tiny Vipers, Prurient, Ex Easter Island Head, Yves Tumor.

But here are my three:

Richard Youngs

Facebook Page

Performing Friday 10th November at LE:EN, curated by Grouper

“Singular vision and artistic courage. Very influential on me artistically, especially in relation to what’s ‘allowable’, how far you can take something. But I’ve never seen him live so this is a must-see.”

 

Visible Cloaks

Official Website

Performing Sunday 12th November at Theater Kikker

“Bit of a highlight of the year so far, so much so that I bought the CD. We’re used to hearing these sounds in ironic contexts, but here it’s tactile and organic. Also the album seems very loose and live so I’m looking forward to seeing how/if they recreate that in performance.”

 

Matana Roberts

Official Website

Performing Sunday 12th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Jerusalem In My Heart

“Coin Coin Chapter Three: River Run Thee
This album is basically one piece so it’s hard to pick a specific track. Incredible depth of vision and ambition, someone striving to push the form forwards while reckoning with its history. Confrontational, cathartic.”

 

Le Guess Who? will take place 9-12 November. For the full line-up, tickets and more info visit leguesswho.com. And take a look at other artists we’re excited about picking their own Le Guess Who?’s Who.

Le Guess Who?’s Who 2017: Aquaserge

24 October 2017

There’s just over two weeks to go before Le Guess Who? takes over Utrecht. With over 150 artists set to perform, how do we make sense of such a monumental line-up? We made a list of the artists we’re most excited to see and asked them for their recommendations.

Aquaserge

Official Website

Performing Saturday 11th November at EKKO

The wonderful and thrilling musical universe of Toulouse’s experimental pop band Aquaserge sprawls across a number of influences and genres, from pop and 60s/70s rock to free jazz and noise. A supergroup of sorts, with an ever evolving cast of incredible musicians, they’ve released Laisse ça être earlier this year and we love the album to bits. Have a look at their recommendations for the festival, with a few words from the band.

“First of all, it’s very rare, and we are very happy to be invited to play at a festival with such a quality line up. Picking acts was no easy task…”

 

Sun Ra Arkestra

Official Website

Performing Sunday 12th November at TivoliVredenburg

“for the power of the orchestra, which goes in all directions”

 

Lili Boulanger – ‘Du fond de l’abîme’ performed by Radio Philharmonic Orchestra

 

Performing Friday 10th November at TivoliVredenburg

“it’s very rare to be able to listen to her music”

 

Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares

Official Website

Performing Thursday 9th November at Domkerk, curated by Perfume Genius

 

Film: Incident at Restigouche

 

Showing Sunday 12th November at Louis Hartlooper Complex, curated by Jerusalem In My Heart

 

Juana Molina

Official Website

Performing Sunday 12th November at TivoliVredenburg

“simply an exceptional artist”

 

Richard Youngs

Facebook Page

Performing Friday 10th November at LE:EN, curated by Grouper

“a collaborator of our friend Makoto Kawabata, a unique guitar sound”

 

Le Guess Who? will take place 9-12 November. For the full line-up, tickets and more info visit leguesswho.com. And stay tuned for more artists we’re excited about picking their own Le Guess Who?’s Who.