Robert "Bob" Rutman (1931-2021), Prophet yesterday, Prophet today.
Dorothy Carter performing “The Squirrel is a Funny Thing…”, opening track of 𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒆 (1978), at Green Street Grill in 1989. Filmed by Thomas "Blue" Newell.
𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒆 LP/CD reissue out and available now via Palto Flats (US) / Putojefe Records (EU).
“One of the standout archival editions of 2023, a first time reissue of an obscure 1978 LP from master dulcimerist and avant-folk innovator Dorothy Carter, providing a missing link between Celtic an Appalachian folk traditions, the melted vocals of Karen Dalton, and into the kind of spiralling zither you’d find on records by Laraaji or Michael O’Shea. Just stunning.”
—Boomkat
Alexander Hacke of Einstürzende Neubauten and multimedia artist Danielle de Picciotto are hackedepicciotto. On their upcoming winter 2023-24 tour, which hopscotches between Central Europe, Italy and the U.K. over the next four months, they will present their latest album Keepsakes on UK label Mute. The first song on this record, “Troubadour”, is dedicated to their friend Dorothy Carter.
Not only have they both contributed liner notes to the LP/CD reissue of Dorothy’s Waillee Waillee, but they also helped her while living in Berlin in the nineties.
Mr Hacke introduced her to Berlin's underground music scene starting at the legendary Ex’n Pop.
Danielle details her time with Dorothy in a chapter of her book The Beauty of Transgression: A Berlin Memoir, which I absolutely recommend.
Dorothy Carter performs “Along the River” at Green St Grill in Cambridge, MA. Shot by Thomas Newell in 1989. Pre-order 𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘦 LP/CD via Putojefe Records (EU) or Palto Flats (US).
Matt Hensley et al. skating in Vista to Sub Society's “A Lot Less” is one of the most celebrated skate video sections of all time. Do you agree?
SUB SOCIETY – No Legs To Stand On CS reissue now available at Putojefe Records. US residents order thru Skaterock Records for a more reasonable shipping rate.
Who can remember Sub Society?
Flavio Bonometti's 𝘝𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘰 turns two years old today! 🌀🔴🎂🎈
“Bonometti is a maximalist, at a time when everyone wants to be taken for a minimalist, and as such he gives you more harmony, melody, rhythm, tonal richness and sheer notes per pound than you can handle. Keep up if you can. He wants his music to be accessible and approachable, even as he himself knows the full complexity of it, and the sweat and effort that lies behind each bar. He is not afraid to embrace popular elements, and indeed parts of this album could feasibly work as soundtrack music – although he himself would also like us to note its resemblance to ballet scores, devotional / religious music, and even children’s songs.” —𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳
Physical copies of the CD can be purchased from Putojefe Records, White Centipede Noise, Fragment Factory, Juno Records (UK), Scream And Writhe (North America).
To stream the whole album for free: https://flaviobonometti.bandcamp.com/
The one and only Bob Rutman (1931–2021)
Festival Imaginäre Musik
Musik für präparierte und selbstgebaute Instrumente
Uferstudio 14, Berlin-Wedding
5 September, 2018
📹 Ira Schneider
Review from US Steel Cello Ensemble’s live performances circa late 80s / early 90s:
“Mr. Rutman’s instruments can be as mellow as French horns, as deeply resonant as the long ritual horns associated with Tibetan Buddhism, or as metallic and menacing as the sound of an approaching bomber squad… These performances were romantic in their lyricism and delicate play of shadings, and at the same time… satisfyingly concise.”
— 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴
#bobrutman #robertrutman #ussteelcelloensemble #putojeferecords #passionskirche #soundsculpture #thenewyorktimes #newyorktimes #thenytimes