number one hit song: When you think like a hermit you forget what you know

February 27, 2004

When you think like a hermit you forget what you know

My friend John just interviewed Will Oldham.

Then Mark was like, "what would you think if we put a cello on this one song?" Looked in the Yellow Pages, found a cello player, he came over like 40 minutes later, he was wearing his tennis outfit. You know, brought his cello, and played his part, and 20 minutes later he was gone. I was like "Wow, it would be so awesome to make a record like that," and Mark said, "Well, we could do that." And also just talking about his history with the country music industry, cause that's where he started, and all the musicians and how sessions are done and so it was wanting to be in a situation for experience as much as anything, where everybody played like that.

A shorter version of this interview appears in next month's for Tape Op magazine, which is why it's a bit technical in nature. Still, I think it's a fascinating read, particularly given the insight that even "lo-fi" artists put a lot of thought into their recordings. Plus, BPB holds forth on Pink Floyd and bourbon. So go check it out. (And while you're at it, go listen to some of John's own compositions. He may be the first musician [well, he's certainly the first *drummer*] who can also read AND write.)(I kid because I love.)

And speaking of recordings, tangmonkey's got an mp3 of "New Partner," off the new "Bonny Prince Billy Sings Greatest Palace Songs." (Via Dust Congress.)

Posted by Dana at 01:30 PM