STACK #145 Nov 2016

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MUSIC NEWS

Q2/ Can you tell us a little bit about how the trautonium works? I watched Oskar Sala play it on YouTube; it also looks like he creates the tremolo himself, like the way a lapsteel player or violinist does. The trautonium is sort of an early modular synthesizer where you play on a metal wire. The model I have allows attachable keys made of leather that can help the player navigate scale notes by depressing the metal wire. Like you,

I have only seen Oskar Salsa play on YouTube, so my guess is as good as yours, but I agree, it looks like he makes the tremolo with his hands. I know Oskar Sala used a lot of effects like delays and reverbs on the output on the trautonium. Q3/ You have warped your voice very beautifully in various places across the album (especially Familiar ). Does it sound unfamiliar to you when you artificially alter the pitch or tone? I believe we all have different voices that allow us a large palette of expression. On this album I wanted to explore the extremes of my voice, however I could always recognise these different sides of myself.

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INTERVIEW

AGNES OBEL

Citizen Of Glass by Agnes Obel is out now via PIAS.

Q1/ The ‘citizen of glass’ concept is very fascinating; rather than transparency and lack of privacy, though, my first thought was of glass’s fragility. Do you think they’re connected? I think transparency and fragility are linked and therefore certainly a strength in artistic endeavours. The question of it being real or not is so difficult to answer. We all experience things so differently so even if you are completely honest, the people [listening] might experience it in wildly different ways. Also we are, I think, all mysteries to ourselves so even if you want to reveal everything it may not be possible, but you can be open with the investigation of yourself. In my opinion these are the most interesting pieces of art. with a flood of musical admirers; her music is tender, serene and completely disarming.We asked her about her latest album, the beautiful Citizen Of Glass . Agnes CarolineThaarup Obel is a Danish singer-wongwriter

Q4/ What is the set-up in your Berlin flat like? Do you have a piano there? My studio is in the centre of my flat, and I actually have two pianos, a celesta, the trautonium, a home-organ and a keyboard. It’s a very warm and inviting space with Turkish carpets; a space to get lost in work. Q5/ How do you write the vocal harmonies on something like Trojan Horses – is it a long experimental process or do you find the kinds of combinations you want slip out very quickly (or even while recording)? I would say I do all these things. Some songs are a long process where I re-do and rewrite lines and melodies again and again, whilst other songs are written and sometimes even recorded in one night. I have to say on this album I have changed and redone a lot of songs, much more than the other albums. I think I really wanted to make sure I got the right state of mind in each song.

FACTOID: Martha Wainwright appeared in all four episodes of HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge (starring Oscar winner Frances McDormand), as restaurant pianist Angela O'Meara.

B rothers Michael and Brian D'Addario (17 and 19 years old, respectively) are creating the kind of late '60s, lo-fi romance that makes gets you involuntarily engrossed. The tracks on Do Hollywood shasay between styles and time signatures and tempos, sometimes within the same song; one minute you're swaying to a do-wop ballad a la The Penguins, and the next Michael has flicked his drumsticks into a nimble fill and you're marching in Sgt. Pepper's parade. Despite the retro elements, this talented duo are fixing their starry eyes firmly forward. Greatly recommended. THE LEMON TWIGS

MARTHA WAINWRIGHT

G oodnight City is the fifth studio album from Martha Wainwright, on which the singer-songwriter has further crystallised her confessional style without losing any of her fearlessness. Lead single Around The Bend is swooping and intimate, the gorgeous Franci is a letter of love and advice to Wainwright's 2-year- old son Francis Valentine, and there are further co-writes with Beth Orton, Glen Hansard, and tUnE-yArDs' Merrill Garbus.

Do Hollywood by The Lemon Twigs is out now via Remote Control.

Goodnight City by Martha Wainwright is out November 11 via Inertia.

NOVEMBER 2016

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