la monte young

Press release for TWTP presumably employing reverse psychology / 'negging' avant-heads.

The music itself, to the extent that one can dissociate it from the theory involved, is where things get a bit chancy. The themes tend to alternate between idyllic ruminations and rumbling, pulsating passages, each of which more than a bit reminiscent of the often overindulgent solo work of Keith Jarrett. The titles to the sections may impart an idea of the new age-y drift that sometimes occurs here. There's simply not a great deal of meat to it, as though Young expects that the sheer beauty of the tuning system is enough. Once one gets acclimated to it and accepts it as an alternative (and quite attractive) way to tune a piano, inevitably one comes back listening for deeper meaning and structure.

And there's not much there. Indeed, there's more than a whiff of arrogance to the project

Can't these avant-heads take some time out and listen to Hindustani classical instead?

Hours of ragas at their fingertips. Fuck a velvet underground.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06ttrxp

Just received the following from Norman Records:

We've just found out the La Monte Young LPs aren't being pressed. Initially the label received permission to press them from Gramavision but La Monte's lawyers stepped in and have stopped the records from being pressed. Here's what we received from the distributor:

It is with regret, that these two important titles have now been cancelled. Whilst a provisional yes was received from the licensor, after a month of going through the relevant departments they have now been declined for the following reason…

“Unfortunately your request has now been refused due to publishing issues. Apologies for any inconvenience caused”

There is also another one being advertised on a different label:

http://aguirrecords.com/Shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=441

but I guess that one might end up being nixed as well.

Think Aguirre have legitimately acquired the rights to all the Shandar albs, not sure that La Monte can block that one so easily

grrrr

Genuinely don't get what Young's game is. Why does he want to keep his music off the market?

perfectionism iirc

I mean, from a sound quality perspective, I get it - vinyl blows. But from a getting-your-art-in-people's-hands/ears angle, he's fucking it all up.

I think he also sees himself as part of the 'art world' as much as the 'music world' and so believes his CDs/albums should be treated as 'art objects' - and priced accordingly. He's therefore always resisted overtures from record labels that want to issue his music as 'ordinary' albums for sale at 'ordinary' prices.

The cynical view is that so long as his music remains elusive and legendary, it will maintain a holy grail status that would evaporate, along w/ his exalted reputation, as soon as it becomes widely available. Having of course acquired most of his music from illegal sources, I don't share this view, and genuinely believe that a properly organised and promoted reissue program would only enhance his reputation.

But the simple truth is probably that he is a deeply deeply eccentric figure who operates on a different plain from us mere mortals - and that he can do whatever the fuck he wants to do.

Dead? No? OK, can't be too careful these days.

Twelve days left to "listen again" to TWTP on the BBC.

impressive that a dude who's been high for like 60 years can be so business minded!

Thought this was what hippies were like.

So what's the story with TWTP being available on the BBC. Thought Young could stop it all.

i uploaded 'tamburas of pandit pran nath' to youtube and it got taken down based on LMY's request. honestly just wanted people to hear it...

Er, yeah, I don't think a guy who's committed to a 33 hour sleep wake pattern gives a shit about what makes business sense.

Thought this was what hippies were like.

Never trust etc etc.

what the hell is going on here, now it is back on?

http://aguirrecords.com/Shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=441

http://brainwashed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10781:la-monte-young-a-marian-zazeela-qdream-house-7817qq&catid=13:albums-and-singles&Itemid=133

That one was never in doubt aiui, it was the Pure Pleasure ones that were nixed. As Ward noted upthread, Aguirre have the rights to 'Dream House'.

damn like $40 shipped. pricing to do the mela foundation proud.

xp thanks, that makes much more sense

and almost 40 minutes of music on each side of vinyl?

this needs to be on CD tho

agreed

Tyler, yes:

For the maximum fidelity on Side 2, reduce the treble controls on your pre-amplifier to minimum. Since the sine waves have no harmonic content, and all are below 202.5 Hertz, this will reduce the surface noise which is normal on most discs. Note: Be sure to keep the treble controls normal on Side 1.

from Discogs review:

With each side being so long the fidelity was never going to be good on this record. Shandar pressings were a bit dodgy at the best of times. It doesn't really bother me but if you're a hi-fi nut or a cd fan craving absolute purity then don't get this record.

iow Whiney OTM

It comes with a download code - someone should buy it and if there's a WAV option available, slap together a bootleg CD version and sell it for like $5.

oh that's cool! I think I have this pre-ordered through Wall Of Sound, need to double check.

Of course, the download code could just get you needle-drop MP3s, which would be one of the grand and glorious perverse gestures of all time.

or download code could be 128kbps mp3s. just ordered this but also have a sneaking suspicion i pre-orderd this somewhere too.

Has anybody seen/received a copy of the Aguirre reissue yet? Their website says that the release date was 24th Feb, but that the album is now out of stock (the simultaneous Reich reissue is still in stock) - I reserved a copy at my LRS, but they've not contacted me about it yet. Hmmm...

yes, my copy arrived yesterday.

TY, good to know it actually exists...

Heh, Monorail just rang me to say my copy has arrived.

just got an email from FE confirming my order :)

(I double bought this sucker from both FE and Wall Of Sound, would rather have two copies than zero)

No wonder it's sold out at source :-)

a thousand wasn't enough, for sure

The Well-Tuned Piano has been reissued on DVD. $89 for the standard edition (admittedly, it comes with a 52-page booklet); $307 for a signed copy.

http://www.melafoundation.org/store.html

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DifeWj8VQAAiedv.jpg

!!!

hey, so, they (La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela) need some money to keep the dreamhouse open. and the NYC arts community seems useless.

https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/save-the-dream-house-keep-our-dream-alive/melafoundationincdreamhouse?utm_campaign=ocdonate&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=crowdrise&fbclid=IwAR2hA8LF6DemHCSsHy89tjsS5kIWc2EX2sXVedPEQgWxazr9qaK2_dXJz9w

Oh wow---how are any of those other CDs and DVDs?

hey la monte, here's an idea, RELEASE THE FUCKING DREAM SYNDICATE TAPES. YOU'D PROBABLY BE GOOD

do u seriously think an artist could net $150K from *any* reissue campaign. sheesh. just donate or share.

why not both

A reissue campaign could raise decent money. I sold my Well-Tuned Piano box for $600 back in 2011. There’s so much that isn’t available.

xp lol sorry, yes both

How does that place not have a major grant by this point? I donated but it feels like some serious mismanagement that they aren't more stable.

https://www.discogs.com/La-Monte-Young-Draw-A-Straight-Line-And-Follow-It/release/6290435
https://www.discogs.com/La-Monte-Young-Draw-A-Straight-Line-And-Follow-It-II/release/9812249
https://www.discogs.com/La-Monte-Young-Draw-A-Straight-Line-And-Follow-It-III/release/14667006
https://www.discogs.com/La-Monte-Young-Draw-A-Straight-Line-Follow-It-IV/release/14667041