Arthur's Landing - Arthurâ��s Landing

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3...according to our Brett on Thu 27 Jan, 2011.

This is a bit of an odd one - friends and collaborators of the late, great Arthur Russell forming up to reinterpret his tunes, both classic and unreleased, for a world that still only just seems to be waking up to his total genius almost twenty years after his death. There can't have been many people in music down the years who could instill the passion in their acquaintances for a tribute to their legacy this elaborate but that's testament to the quality of his songs, as well as their elasticity.. He was constantly wrestling with them himself, moulding them into ever-varied forms and Arthur's Landing continue that work, putting a spin on them that's totally gonna appeal to fans of Home Listening Friendly Dance Music in the twenty-first century - people into Hercules & Love Affair, that sort of stuff. A bit smooth and polite maybe but I can imagine it'd be quite nice to kick back to.

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Strut are proud to present the debut album by Arthur’s Landing, a broad collective of musicians that worked with New York’s revered Arthur Russell at different times during his career, from his more reflective acoustic work (‘World Of Echo’) to his disco projects (Loose Joints, Dinosaur L). Led by guitarist Steven Hall, the band comprises a core of six members with ‘floating’ guests joining for specific recordings and live shows. The collective also work together on side projects which will become part of the Arthur’s Landing umbrella, including Steven Hall & Joyce Bowden’s Recent Memory acoustic duo.

The Arthur’s Landing album will entirely comprise new versions of Arthur Russell songs, some known, some never previously heard, and will be produced by the band’s Peter Zummo, himself a legend on New York’s experimental music circuit. The album will be mixed by New York producer / DJs Brennan Green and Pocketknife. Tracks include a new update of the Loose Joints anthem ‘Is It All Over My Face’, ‘Your Motion Says (featured on the Russell compilation ‘Love Is Overtaking Me’) and the ver-popular ‘In The Light Of The Miracle’ featuring original co-composer Elodie Lauten.

There ware plans to release regular Arthur’s Landing albums highlighting different strands of the collective. These will include a remix album, a live album and an acoustic album featuring various Arthur’s Landing side projects.

Since his death in 1992, Interest in Arthur Russell has steadily grown with a number of other projects celebrating his life and music. The biographical documentary Wild Combination’ is now available on DVD, Electric Minds have released a Russell covers album, ‘Go Bang!’ featuring new versions by Yam Who, Faze Action and more, and Tim Lawrence is releasing his long-awaited Russell biography ‘Hold On To Your Dreams’ in February 2010.

Arthur’s Landing are: Ernie Brooks – bass /& vocals / Steven Hall – guitar & vocals / Peter Zummo – trombone / Bill Ruyle – drums / Mustafa Ahmed – percussion / Joyce Bowden – vocals, clarinet & guitar. Regular guests: John Scherman – guitar / Elodie Lauten – keyboards / Larry Saltzman – guitar

TRACKLISTING:

CD:

1. YOUR MOTION SAYS 2. LOVE DANCING (IS IT ALL OVER MY FACE) 3. BOBBY 4. GO FOR THE NIGHT 5. IN THE LIGHT OF THE MIRACLE 6. I’LL BE FENCING 7. KISSED THE GIRL FROM OUTER SPACE 8. I WANT TO CHANGE MY LIFE 9. KISS ME AGAIN

LP:

A1. YOUR MOTION SAYS (7.36)
A2. MIRACLE 2 (6.30)
A3. SINGING TRACTORS 64 (3.57)
B1. YOU CAN’T GO BACK (4.00)
B2. THIS IS HOW WE WALK ON THE MOON: The Way Things Happen (5.59)
B3. BOBBY (3.39)
C1. LOVE DANCING (6.34)
C2. SINGING TRACTORS 12 (4.24)
C3. IT’S A BOY (5.47)
D1. I’LL BE FENCING (5.1)1
D2. I WANT TO CHANGE MY LIFE (8.30)
D3. SINGING TRACTORS 323 (2.41)