STEVE HILLAGE – HURDY GURDY MAN [L, 1976]

Ο Steve Hillage εκτοξεύει το τραγούδι του Donovan στο υπερδιάστημα.
Η πορεία του κιθαρίστα – συνθέτη, από τo blues ξεκίνημα και τη σκηνή του Canterbury, μέχρι τη δουλειά του ως παραγωγού στα ’80s [έξοχο δείγμα της το άλμπουμ New Gold Dream των Simple Minds] και την εμπλοκή του με τη rave σκηνή των ’90s και εντεύθεν [System 7] τον καθιστά ζωντανή ιστορία της εναλλακτικής ποπ κουλτούρας. Total respect.

Steve Hillage sends Donovan‘s song to hyper-space. The guitarist-songwriter’s career, from the blues beginnings and the Canterbury scene, to his work as a producer in the ’80s [exquisite sample of which is Simple Minds’ New Gold Dream album] and his involvement with the rave scene of the’ 90s [System 7] makes him a living history of alternative pop culture. Total respect.


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13 Comments

  1. Earthpages.org December 5, 2019 at 7:02 pm

    I had Donovan’s greatest hits on vinyl and gave it away b4 one of my many moves. If only I had known that vinyl is one thing, cd and streaming quite another! Oh well, we learn… We learn… ?

    Reply
    1. Oannes December 7, 2019 at 9:54 am

      Well, music is music, no matter what form is distributed in. I’m no big fun of hi-fidelity myself, to tell you the truth, although I know a thing or two about it. I had my first stereo system at 15, but some of my best auditions were before that, on a mono tape recorder, and even before that …on the radio.
      Thanks for the comment!

      Reply
      1. Earthpages.org December 7, 2019 at 11:39 am

        Actually I totally agree with you. But vinyl at lower to medium volumes has a fullness that digital just cannot capture. I guess I am or was a bit of an audio nerd. ? But in keeping with what you are saying, sometimes I intentionally listen on inferior machines or small speakers just because I feel like hearing through that medium. I always change it up to keep things fresh…

        Reply
        1. Oannes December 9, 2019 at 7:04 am

          Yeah, you learn to love some lo fi “qualities” unmatchable by the hi end standards… That’s how it works with me anyway.

          Reply
          1. Earthpages.org December 9, 2019 at 7:57 am

            I’ve heard that a digital signal is like window blinds… discontinuous packets thru the freq. range.. whereas vinyl is continuous… When I think of a great vinyl record this one always comes to mind.. https://youtu.be/sw3TdX4KaOA but of course some records had cheap pressings, which made them less than great! ?

            Reply
            1. Oannes December 10, 2019 at 7:46 am

              Yeah, like some old Genesis stuff, I remember Foxtrot in particular… the sound didn’t do it justice at all. I adored it though…

              Reply
              1. Earthpages.org December 10, 2019 at 8:05 am

                Genesis did really well in Canada… not sure if the average Yankee really got them. 🙂 To me, they’re equals to YES… different but at the same kind of level.

                Reply
                1. Oannes December 13, 2019 at 8:06 am

                  Genesis & YES are among the best things ever happened to me as a fan of “rock music”. Genesis has been always No 1 in my book. The day I had an interview with Tony Banks is a day I’ll never forget. Thanks a lot!

                  Reply
                  1. Earthpages.org December 13, 2019 at 4:02 pm

                    Must have been interesting. So are you coming from a journalism background? I saw something about law school in your bio a while back but can’t remember the details.?

                    Btw, when I say “Genesis” I mean with Gabriel. Post-Gabriel for me is just not the same thing. I got in a huge heated debate over this once with a German guy at the REAPER.FM forum. He almost took my head off because for him, everything Genesis was fab. ?

                    Reply
                    1. Oannes December 13, 2019 at 5:59 pm

                      I just studied the law with no particular interest in it. My main occupation is composing. Journalism is something I chose for financial reasons, instead of working as session musician [in this country you can’t make money from the music you write, but you can make money writing …about music – heheh].
                      Of course post Gabriel Genesis is not the same thing. Nothing comes near what these people did from ’69 to ’75. But even the first 4 albums with Phil are great, especially A Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering. From Abacab onwards, it’s plain bullshit music.
                      Thanks!

  2. Resa December 6, 2019 at 11:31 pm

    This is definitely a fab version.
    I adore all of Donovan’s songs. What a trove he created in a few years.
    Last I saw him was almost a decade ago. He was honoured at the Grammy Awards and did an amazing medley.

    Reply
  3. Oannes December 7, 2019 at 9:57 am

    I totally agree, needless to say. Thank you Resa!

    Reply
  4. Earthpages.org December 13, 2019 at 6:13 pm

    You must be quite talented to make cash from writing. I have yet to find the key… still a hapless blogger with a perennial chip on his shoulder. 🙂 I will give those Genesis albums you mention another chance at Spotify. Still, for me, the magic of the maniac (Gabriel) means everything.
    Cheers!

    Reply

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