Description:	LP on Dancing Wayang, DWR002
	Format:	LP (vinyl)
	Genre(s):	Folk/Folk Rock
	Label:	Dancing Wayang
	Price:	£9.49
	Availability:	Sold out / currently unavailable. Sorry!

4
...according to our Mingus on 24 April 2008.

Directing Hand: What Put The Blood (Dancing Wayang) Is a collaboration between Alex Neilson and Lavinia Blackwall who play drums, vocals, harmonium wines glassses and cello. Fusing a rather out there collection of raw a capella vocal meanderings based on, re-interpretations of British folk songs and free-jazzist experiments through solo drums, harp and drone/noise cocophonies. Yes, it veers from the totally un-listenable (to some ears maybe), to the traditional (acceptable to some maybe) folk forms. Parts of this should be familiar to lovers of all things unadorned of the trappings of so-called modern musics. Some of the vocals are often full of humour, as it goes from high pitch falsetto to almost guttural yelps and moans-freeform indeed. The drums, which form a bedrock to some of tracks are as jazz as you like, so there's something here for traditionalists and outer realm travellers.On limited edition vinyl. Definetley worth a listen...ear cleansing.

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What their label says...

DIRECTING HAND have recorded an exciting and chilling record of folk and fire tunes. Placing equal emphasis on experimental free drum and wordless vocal improvisations and reinterpretations of traditional English folk songs, “What Put The Blood” is beautiful, ugly, loud and quiet all at once. “And just as the traditional readings are illuminated by the advanced application of vanguard, modernist aesthetics, the improvisations feel intuitively authentic and deeply volk-ish. For a tradition to go on living, sometimes it is necessary to kill it off completely.” (from the liner notes). Now consisting of Alex Neilson on drums and vocals and soprano Lavinia Blackwall who also plays harp, cello and harmonium, DIRECTING HAND have truly zoned in on the essence of their craft. The LP comes housed in a hand screenprinted wrap-around sleeve designed by Lavinia Blackwall. ALEX NEILSON has been drumming up a storm in the last few years playing with some of the UK’s finest innovators like Richard Youngs, Ashtray Navigations, Taurpis Tula and Scatter as well as
collaborating with Ben Reynolds as MOTOR GHOST (Dancing Wayang Records). He accompanied Jandek on his first ever and subsequent UK live shows. More recently Alex has been playing internationally with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Baby Dee. On “What Put The Blood”, Alex is clearly at the helm exploring his personal interest in uncovering the parallels between improvised, experimental
and more traditional folk music. LAVINIA BLACKWALL is a classically trained singer in Early Music. A member of Glasgow based band Pendulums she also plays piano and organs, guitars, bass and psaltry. Versed in the interpretations of traditional folk and classical songs she is also unafraid to let the ugliest sounds arise from her lungs. This is her debut with Directing Hand.