“Things And The Images of Things” (The Shock of The New Part I) (#11)

There is something about the Modernist art movement that really speaks to me, and when I first discovered this documentary by Robert Hughes, I immediately became obsessed.  It’s a pretty good overview of the general shape that Modernism took over the years.  The late ’70’s aesthetic, the foppish art criticisms, the overall englishness of it just speaks volumes about the perspective this film takes, and I have been trying to find a way to use it on the air for years.

While a number of genres have come and gone over the years, music has rarely taken on a modernist approach to sonic art.  If it happens at all, you get something like Talking Heads, and at best, Mission of Burma, and while they give you an artistic perspective on music creation, only a handful of artists actually seem to get it.  Fortunately for me, experimental music happens to feature a number of groups that skit those edges, and this is the first installment in a series that will attempt to connect music that is in that vein, and the non-fiction narrative styles of The Shock Of The New.

In this installment, we cover the beginning section of The Mechanical Paradise, were we discuss the introduction of machinery into our everyday life, and then discuss the work of Cézanne, Picasso & Braque.  I’m looking forward to continuing the research (both in the world of art and music) to put together Part II.

A couple of notes: near the beginning of the program, Robert Hughes makes reference to a thing in Paris that represents Modernity.  He is referring to the Eiffel Tower.  The Picasso painting that is mentioned in the last third of the
program is Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.  The Sex Funeral Tour Dates are here, for those who are curious.

But, for not, sit back, and enjoy Things And The Images Of Things.  

Enjoy!

 

Spinitron Playlist

 

“Things And The Images of Things” (The Shock of The New Part I) (#11)

Part I: “The art of our own century: modernism”

01.) Austin FM Theme * Paco Jones * Austin FM Theme * Self-Released (2016)
02.) Mechanical Paradise * Robert Hughs * The Shock Of The New * BBC Worldwide (1980)
03.) Run, Paint, Run Run * Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band * Doc At The Radio Station * Virgin (1980)
04.) Scenes From A… * Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic * Sonic Geology * Rykodisc (1988)
05.) Near But Far Away * Eero Koivistoinen & Co. * 3rd Version * WM Finland (2010)

Part II: “Nevertheless, it was an abstraction”

06.) Collapse * Daniel Steffey * Chloros * Edgetone Records (2011)
07.) And Out * Sex Funeral * Your Heaven Sucks * Personal Archives (2015)
08.) Forgery * DNA * DNA * Avant (1993)
09.) You Go To Art School * Anal Cunt * I Like It When You Die * Earache Records (1997)
10.) Every Artist Needs A Tragedy * No Age * Weirdo Rippers * Fat Cat Records (2007)
11.) Art Project * The Hospitals * I’ve Visited The Island Of Jocks And Jazz * Load Records (2005)

Part III: “Anchored in the tradition of the new”

12.) Clay Margins * Christmas Decorations * Communal Rust * Community Library (2007)
13.) Mercury * Evolutionary Jass Band * Change Is Gonna Come * Community Library (2007)
14.) Tempest * Wendy Atkinson * Pink Noise * Smarten Up! & Get To The Point (2007)
15.) Frohgemut * Han Jachim Roedelius * Selbstportrait Vol. VI / The Diary of The Unforgotten * Bureau B (2010)
16.) The Story Of An Artist * Daniel Johnston * Don’t Be Scared * Self-Released (1982)