music reviews

Lord Litter ::: "Back to Basics"

(acoustic blues)

A legend of the global music undeground Lord Litter has been hosting radio shows in Germany and Europe for aeons, ran tape labels in the past as well as his many music projects such as "Litter & The Lazy Sleepers".

This cassette finds him, as the title states, going "back to the basics". Litter says this material was largely inspired by seeing Johnny Cash playing solo with just an acoustic guitar and that the pure honest emotional attack, not clouded in gimmick or glam, was overwhelming. And this is what Litter has set out to achieve and does achieve here. A collection of wonderfully straightforward tracks of uneffected vocals and guitar, straight from the heart.

This reminds me a lot of the early 1940s and 1950s blues artists I listened to when a teenager: honest uncluttered raw expression. I can certainly see myself being inspired to do something like this one day too - to run away from all the synths, samplers and gadgets, for just the raw acoustics and organics of guitar and voice. For as Litter suggests, this is the root of where everything else comes from. Highly recommended if you have it in your soul to hear great songs preformed with passion and depth on just acoustic guitars and voice.

Available for $6 from: Dittmar, Pariser Str. 63, 10719 Berlin, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.LordLitter.de

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I encourage all underground d.i.y. music projects to get in touch with Mr Litter about his Radioshow where he showcases material from a whole variety of genres. He's been wonderfully supportive of EYE - Hooray for people with such eclectic tastes! Also, check out these other two bastions of underground music, where you can buy Litter's music (prices listed), as well as much more including rare tapes by EYE and aya (before known as the ELF):

Lonely Whistle Music - tape label PO Box 9162, Santa Rosa, CA 95405, USA, [email protected] CD $8/ cassette or MD $5

Music and Elsewhere - tape release & CD distro label now known as "United World Underground� 6 Farm Court, Frimley, Surrey, GU16 5TJ, England web: http://music-elsewhere.hypermart.net mail: [email protected] 3.99 U.K. Pound