Jim O'Rourke
Insignificance

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A quick glance across the immaculate back catalogue of Jim O’Rourke reveals the signature of the radical non-sleeper, the tell-tale trail of a wired workaholic whose Gaelic complexion should by now be fried by artificial lighting into a permanent studio tan.

Whether functioning as producer, arranger, remixer or performer, this multi-tasking magus’ unclassifiable career is modern music in microcosm, from his membership of groups like Gastr Del Sol and The Red Krayola to his current roles mixing it with Viennese laptop whizzes Pita and Fennesz and holding down the low end for evergreen NY pioneers Sonic Youth. Then there’s his garlanded production and remix work to surface-scratch before we even get to Jim’s solo work, a cannon spanning electroacoustic composition and needlepoint electronica, blistering rock and saccharine pop.

But it's his Bad Timing, Eureka and Insignificance albums brought O’Rourke the closest scrutiny, a loose trilogy of Nic Roeg-referencing roadtrips into arcane Americana that hit pop culture paydirt in a way that only the avant garde’s foremost Cyndi Lauper fan could conjure.
© Nathan Webb 2002

• A-1 - All Downhill From Here
• A-2 - Insignificance
• A-3 - Therefore, I Am
• A-4 - Memory Lame
• B-1 - Good Times
• B-2 - Get A Room
• B-3 - Life Goes Off

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