"Glen Johnson of Piano Magic fame is pictured on the insert of his debut solo outing with his face wrapped in bandages in a room that looks very much like my own with a lovely selection of animal toys and masks. The playful looking room Mr. Johnson is pictured in suggests an upbeat, outgoing kind of guy, which is in relative contrast to the eerie, atmospheric music contained within 'Details Not Recorded'. Glen Johnson isn't particularly chipper but he is an immensely talented artist as anyone who has heard Piano Magic will already know. 'Details Not Recorded' doesn't deviate wildly from the output of Piano Magic but it does present a fresh angle at which to relax and enjoy the view. The majority of 'Details not recorded' are sparse, haunting efforts full of subtle ambient bass, synths, whistles, bells and flutes commonly accompanied by a single acoustic guitar and warm effecting vocal delivery. He totally knows how to do that Leonard Cohen thing of weaving a honest direct lyric and integrating it into the atmosphere of each track and for that Mr. Johnson should be applauded. He does deviate from the lo-fi route on songs like the title track 'Details not recorded' where we hear Glen and the band (a notable bunch of characters including Leaf recording artists David Shepard and Keiron Phelan as well as Piano Magic sticks man Jerome Tcherneyan) tackle electronic pop with full balladering bravado invoking later Joy Division and early New Order stuff. 'I know you know my name' is a firm favorite for me with its combination of folksy electronica and improv noise that brings the track to a chaotic ending. So yes, an awesome record to add to the ever-expanding output of excellent records by Glen Johnson. The melding of sparse folk, electronic pop and carnival waltz's are a pleasure to the ear. Enjoy. - Norman Records Mail Order
"Followers of past Piano Magic spell-casting should be pleased with this diagonal step out from the discography, whilst the previously unhypnotised may find a new route into an infatuation with a continuously impressive songwriter still content to skulk around in his own mercurial shadow." - Delusions Of Adequacy
'INSTITUTIONALIZED EP'
SOLD OUT!!!! 5 track cassette on Italian label, Secret Furry Hole, strictly limited to 100 copies.
Features cover of Sonic Youth's 'Secret Girl.'
More information here : http://secretfurryhole.blogspot.com/
Video for 'Brilliant Ships' by Aaron Munson. Watch in HD.
The album, 'Details Not Recorded,' is out now on Make Mine Music.
Cover painting, 'The Headless Surgeon,' by Julia Haw (http://juliahaw.com/home.html)
Graphic design by Gérald Tournier (www.lowlightsanddecibels.com)
Expo "Playtime" by Mamzelle Mamath ASCA Beauvais /// Fr >>> 12.06 - 31.10.09 " Enfantin, «trash» et sophistiqué à la fois, l’espace d’un trimestre, l’univers de Mamzelle Mamath devient aussi le décor idéal pour les soirées de concert au BarASCA."
hello glen ! i've been following you for years with the PIANO MAGIC and was very pleased when i found your solo album at rough trade, during my first trip to london around eastern this year. super artwork and gorgeous music. special mention to "i know you know my name" which will haunt me til the end of days, i guess. cheers from lausanne, switzerland ! keep up / safe & sound - =f=
tape arrived safe and sound, thank you so very much!! looks beautiful. up to now i can only trust it's looks, as it made me notice i left my tape deck in cologne before moving. will have to ask around..
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