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Wim Mertens — A Man of No Fortune, And With A Name to Come

Some of you may know that I sell vinyl records for a living. Today, a copy of Wim Mertens' A Man of No Fortune, And With A Name to Come walked in the door along with some Philip Glass and Steve Reich. I first heard this record in 1993, when I was running Art & Trash, the best arthouse video store Toronto's ever seen. Though not expensive, today's copy is only the third I've seen in 30+ years.

In North America, the Belgian composer is probably best known — if he's known at all — as the composer of the score for Peter Greenaway's film The Belly of an Architect, which contains Mertens' most famous piece, Struggle for Pleasure:

My personal favorite Mertens piece is probably Often a Bird:

Here's A Man of No Fortune..., which is just Mertens' piano and countertenor voice:

As I listened to it today for the first time in many years, I recalled that I'd sometimes put the CD on repeat, played very softly, to calm my dog, Fletcher, who suffered from separation anxiety — he once almost ate his way through my wooden front door. The music worked quite well.

If it agrees with you, you may like Hania Raini's output.

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HBD Kind of Bloop

Andy Baio's Kind of Bloop is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a vinyl release.

If you're not familiar, it's an 8-Bit interpretation of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue. Baio was sued over it way back when.

You can order the vinyl starting Saturday at noon, Toronto time or download the audio now for free.

Music Nick Cave Documentary There

Nick Cave on Australian Story

Australian Story is an ABC program that does 30 minute pieces on Australian figures. In anticipation of his forthcoming album, Wild God, they spoke with Nick Cave.

And of course, Cave's Red Hand Files is among the best of the internet.

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Original Blue Notes

Not too long ago, I made a post about the beauty of Blue Note Records album covers.

Some in extraordinary condition recently came into my life and I thought I'd share them with you. These albums were all released between 1957 and 1962 and these are originals so are between 67 and 62 years old as I post this.

Album cover for Cliff Jordan & John Gilmore — Blowing In From Chicago — 1957, Blue Note Records #1549 — Cliff Jordan & John Gilmore — Blowing In from Chicago — 1957, Blue Note Records #1549

Cliff Jordan & John Gilmore — Blowing In from Chicago — 1957, Blue Note Records #1549

Album cover for The Hank Mobley Quintet — Self-titled — 1957, Blue Note Records #1550 — The Hank Mobley Quintet — Self-titled — 1957, Blue Note Records #1550

The Hank Mobley Quintet — Self-titled — 1957, Blue Note Records #1550

Album cover for Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers — At the Corner of the World Vol 1 — 1959, Blue Note Records #4015 — Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers — At the Corner of the World Vol 1 — 1959, Blue Note Records #4015

Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers — At the Corner of the World Vol 1 — 1959, Blue Note Records #4015

Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers — Big Beat — 1960, Blue Note Records #4029

Album cover for Hank Mobley — Soul Station — 1960, Blue Note Records #4031 — Hank Mobley — Soul Station — 1960, Blue Note Records #4031

Hank Mobley — Soul Station — 1960, Blue Note Records #4031

Album cover for Jackie McLean — Capuchin Swing — 1960, Blue Note Records #4038 — Jackie McLean — Capuchin Swing — 1960, Blue Note Records #4038

Jackie McLean — Capuchin Swing — 1960, Blue Note Records #4038

Album cover for Stanley Turrentine — Look Out! — 1960, Blue Note Records #4039 — Stanley Turrentine — Look Out! — 1960, Blue Note Records #4039

Stanley Turrentine — Look Out! — 1960, Blue Note Records #4039

Album cover for Tina Brooks — True Blue — 1960, Blue Note Records #4041 — Tina Brooks — True Blue — 1960, Blue Note Records #4041

Tina Brooks — True Blue — 1960, Blue Note Records #4041

Album cover for Jackie McLean — Jackie's Bag — 1962, Blue Note Records #4051 — Jackie McLean — Jackie's Bag — 1962, Blue Note Records #4051

Jackie McLean — Jackie's Bag — 1962, Blue Note Records #4051

Album cover for Hank Mobley — Roll Call — 1961, Blue Note Records #4058 — Hank Mobley — Roll Call — 1961, Blue Note Records #4058

Hank Mobley — Roll Call — 1961, Blue Note Records #4058

Album cover for Dexter Gordon — Doin' Allright — 1961, Blue Note Records #4077 — Dexter Gordon — Doin' Allright — 1961, Blue Note Records #4077

Dexter Gordon — Doin' Allright — 1961, Blue Note Records #4077

Album cover for Dexter Gordon — Dexter Calling — 1961, Blue Note Records #4083 — Dexter Gordon — Dexter Calling — 1961, Blue Note Records #4083

Dexter Gordon — Dexter Calling — 1961, Blue Note Records #4083

Original Blue Note Inner Sleeve with 43 West 61st St New York 23 address.

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Future Islands on Letterman

An oldie but a goodie. Gotta be my favorite talk show performance. I watch it a couple times a year. Sam Herring's sincerity and vulnerability; the unexpected change in his voice's tone; Letterman's joyous expression of delight. So great.