It’s not actually a solo record but the 1996 Bill Orcutt “solo CD” (untitled) made a big impression on me. Particularly the track Live 71. Also the Keiji Haino CD “Execration That Accept To Acknowledge” really blew my mind early on.
I haven't heard that Orcutt album, I'll check it out! Yeah, that Haino album is so great. I really was hit hard by some of the Fushitsusha albums but when I scored a VHS tape from the label PSF of a live 1991 show, it really opened my mind. Seeing Haino play that music with such intensity was such a life lesson.
I've been thinking about this a lot recently - been working on a large poster project for class recently, trying to introduce unconventional guitar techniques in a quick manner. That Hans Reichel record I heard as a teenager and I thought it was wild. My flatmate's dad is obsessed with Fred Frith lol. Thanks for sharing that Haino video in another comment. I've enjoyed the records he did with SUMAC, and it really set them on a great path in implementing improv into their song structures - their record The Healer was the best I heard last year. Keith Rowe's tabletop playing style and use of objects like electric fans to play the strings I find really interesting - I recently found out in a similar experiment that I can use an electric razor's magnetic field to activate pickups, although I had originally been trying to play it against the wood of the neck to get that soft ambient sound you get by striking it. Most important for my day-to-day playing has really just been modal tunings, so biggest ups to Lee, Thurston and Kim. I've been playing with a few of their tunings for about six months and my guitar has hardly touched standard since. It's like it opened up a world of exactly what I wanted my guitar to always sound like, and all I've suffered is a couple of snapped high e strings. As a Gen Z person it's basically impossible to not have one foot in online guitar culture, which feels powerfully conservative and put me off of tuning like this (worried about damaging my guitar, having improper intonation - things I can easily learn to mitigate myself!), even if it was what I knew I wanted. Even web pages that discuss open and modal tunings will usually stay in territories around DADF#AD. But last year I put myself in the SY 'Death Valley' tuning, hit those four F# strings and I've played more guitar in the six months since that moment than I have at any other time in my life. Hitting the stage with it tomorrow to do 'Starpower' for a few friends.
I have to add Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music as well. That was a real mind blower for me in the mid 90’s. Though I’m not sure how much playing Lou was doing. I think he was more recording high volume guitars doing their thing and arranging it to multitrack.
Yes, Elliot Sharp is great! When I was a teen a spent many hours listening to his solo music and also really loved the albums with his band Carbon, especially Tocsin and Datacide.
Love me some Derek Bailey, Loren Connors, and of course, Bill Orcutt and Derek Bailey.
Side note, Im so glad you are doing these lessons, Ed. You've been someone to look to for guitar inspiration for awhile now and its so exciting to get a peak into your process and be able to have your knowledge shared.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate the kind words. And yes! I love Loren Connors, I listened to Long Nights over and over when I was younger, so beautiful.
Yes! All great! John, the other guitarist in Deerhoof, actually has an album with Tashi and Brandon replaced me when I left the band, The Flying Luttenbachers. I love his playing!
Woah dont know how I missed that album! Checking it out immediately.
Also Elliott Sharp has been a tremendous influence!
It’s not actually a solo record but the 1996 Bill Orcutt “solo CD” (untitled) made a big impression on me. Particularly the track Live 71. Also the Keiji Haino CD “Execration That Accept To Acknowledge” really blew my mind early on.
I haven't heard that Orcutt album, I'll check it out! Yeah, that Haino album is so great. I really was hit hard by some of the Fushitsusha albums but when I scored a VHS tape from the label PSF of a live 1991 show, it really opened my mind. Seeing Haino play that music with such intensity was such a life lesson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gnCNg6Iuts
I've been thinking about this a lot recently - been working on a large poster project for class recently, trying to introduce unconventional guitar techniques in a quick manner. That Hans Reichel record I heard as a teenager and I thought it was wild. My flatmate's dad is obsessed with Fred Frith lol. Thanks for sharing that Haino video in another comment. I've enjoyed the records he did with SUMAC, and it really set them on a great path in implementing improv into their song structures - their record The Healer was the best I heard last year. Keith Rowe's tabletop playing style and use of objects like electric fans to play the strings I find really interesting - I recently found out in a similar experiment that I can use an electric razor's magnetic field to activate pickups, although I had originally been trying to play it against the wood of the neck to get that soft ambient sound you get by striking it. Most important for my day-to-day playing has really just been modal tunings, so biggest ups to Lee, Thurston and Kim. I've been playing with a few of their tunings for about six months and my guitar has hardly touched standard since. It's like it opened up a world of exactly what I wanted my guitar to always sound like, and all I've suffered is a couple of snapped high e strings. As a Gen Z person it's basically impossible to not have one foot in online guitar culture, which feels powerfully conservative and put me off of tuning like this (worried about damaging my guitar, having improper intonation - things I can easily learn to mitigate myself!), even if it was what I knew I wanted. Even web pages that discuss open and modal tunings will usually stay in territories around DADF#AD. But last year I put myself in the SY 'Death Valley' tuning, hit those four F# strings and I've played more guitar in the six months since that moment than I have at any other time in my life. Hitting the stage with it tomorrow to do 'Starpower' for a few friends.
I have to add Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music as well. That was a real mind blower for me in the mid 90’s. Though I’m not sure how much playing Lou was doing. I think he was more recording high volume guitars doing their thing and arranging it to multitrack.
Elliot sharp's "I never meta guitar" compilation series. So much cool stuff on those records
Yes, Elliot Sharp is great! When I was a teen a spent many hours listening to his solo music and also really loved the albums with his band Carbon, especially Tocsin and Datacide.
Love me some Derek Bailey, Loren Connors, and of course, Bill Orcutt and Derek Bailey.
Side note, Im so glad you are doing these lessons, Ed. You've been someone to look to for guitar inspiration for awhile now and its so exciting to get a peak into your process and be able to have your knowledge shared.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate the kind words. And yes! I love Loren Connors, I listened to Long Nights over and over when I was younger, so beautiful.
https://psyambient.bandcamp.com/album/long-nights
Tashi Dorji, Joe Morris, Brandon Seabrook!
Yes! All great! John, the other guitarist in Deerhoof, actually has an album with Tashi and Brandon replaced me when I left the band, The Flying Luttenbachers. I love his playing!
https://tashidorji.bandcamp.com/album/midden