The lantern, the lotion, the wind that wakes the ocean

I suggest that my desire to purchase the Welcome Wagon long player (mentioned last time) could be traced to my growing impatience that no new material from the young prince of popular music, Sufjan Stevens, appears to be forthcoming. I am hoping that the fellow’s arrangements and skilful playing of instruments will compensate for the lack of product. There is, however, a long player available online that may appeal to Stevens fanatics. The Montreal producer who bears the name ‘Tor’ has created a seven track hop-hip album called Illinoize on which rapping types confabulate riddimically o’er mixed-up and mashed-up Sufjan Stevens instrumentations. It’s worth a listen. One can either download (for free) or stream the blighter when visiting Mr Tor’s website. I approve of the venture. It indicates how highly Stevens’s musicianship is regarded that a hop-hip gentleman is keen to utilise his work in this way. Despite the title, only three tracks are based on songs from the remarkable Illinois album. A brace of tunes from A Sun Came are subtly arranged plus one each from the peerless Seven Swans and the eclectic Christmas Boxed Set.

I purchased a pair of tickets to see veteran Indie mockneys Athlete who are appearing at Gloucester’s Guildhall in the merry month of June. I used to appreciate this band greatly and earnestly reflect that I regarded their 2004 debut offering, Vehicles and Animals, to be the sixth best album of that year. I confess I have hardly played it since. I caught the affable A this morning as I exited the National Westminster Bank in Gloucester’s ‘istoric Eastgate Street and the kindly fellow, clad modishly in scarf and fleece to escape the draughtiness of an early spring morn, solemnly echoed my views on this combo. Perhaps it is time to revisit and reappraise the Deptford collective?