Between Albums and Printers
Let Michelangelo Tip Toe Around in His Dog Skin Boots
Mark Rushton’s Abundant Spare Time is a weekly email on Substack where I talk about my ongoing work as a recording artist and visual artist.
This 152nd weekly email is brought to you by the Mark Rushton Gallery, for printed and original artworks. License my music, sound fx, and illustrations at Pond 5 for your creative project. I’m on Bandcamp and all the usual streaming services.
This week’s topics:
Between Albums and Printers
Scott Walker - “Epizootics!”
Between Albums and Printers
Had to order a new thermal ribbon printer from CHY-NAH this week. A tiny plastic bit broke off from inside my current one, and that makes the printer malfunction because it thinks the cover is open. I couldn’t figure out a repair, but they’re inexpensive. The next printer will be here next week.
I have a new album coming out on Friday, August 15th - next week from the time of writing this. It’s an electronics + piano collaboration with another composer. I’ll spring that on everybody next week and then never stop talking about it because the music is totally beautiful.
Another album I’ve been readying is 10 pieces of music composed on my Suzuki Omnichord with my electronic effects rig. That might get released in September or early October. I have a ton of Omnichord-based music being edited. Some of it sounds like slow, dub-inspired, chill electronica. And I have a few faster recordings.
Other than that, wonky weather around here. Early morning thunderstorms had me going into work very early one day this week and capturing this photo. Ridiculous pollen count most other days thanks to grass growing because of all the rain. Ragweed is right around the corner.
Scott Walker - “Epizootics!”
Other than the title of this song, which is not used in the lyrics, the only person I’ve ever heard use this word is my mother when she’s under the weather (“I have the Epizootics!”). She’s 91. Almost 92.
After the first verse, most of the lyrical content of “Epizootics!” is hipster slang from the 50s.
I like how Walker embraced the avant-garde as he got older. I can handle any period of his career. Most of his catalog from 1995, until he died in 2019, is “uneasy listening”.
Epizootics! starts with the rare use of a “tubax”, a hybrid tuba and saxophone. There is a quiet, really weird section in the middle. Ukulele at the end.
The “tortured lap steel” in the beginning is similar to how I play. And the “synth washes” in the beginning are like a wave going from ear to ear.
Please wear good headphones if you listen to this. Hope you can make it to the end of this 10 minute movie.