Anthony & The Johnsons

[zaffra]

I Am A Bird Now.

Should this be in Camden?

I've been reading a lot of interesting things about this caberet art rock trans-sexual collaboration.

Featuring Boy George, Lou Reed and Devendra Banhart it sounds very intriguing.

People keep discribing it as remarkable, but in what way? By all accounts his vibrato singing is supposed to be unusual - but in a good way?

Can anyone tell me more?

+ he was inspired by Kate Bushs' cartwheel antics during Wuthering Heights, so I do feel some sort of kinship.

[nnnumb]

I'm just about to order the album, having heard such good things about it.

If you've got "Want Two", then the strange androgynous, Nina Simone-ish voice featured on that is Antony. It certainly is an unusual voice!

[xolondon]

I have this record and it's very good, but yes this is more of a Camden thread. Antony does not belong next to Javine! He is an acquired taste.

[LaLaLaBridgetta]

The voice is so appropriate for the Weill/Brecht-style tracks on the album.

Bridgey xxx

[richie]

Ladysmith Black Mambazo innit?

[xolondon]

I am selling my copy - I burned a few tracks. It's intriguing stuff but I will never play the full CD.

[LoverTits]

Oooh I'll buy it.

I was wondering what this was like.

PM me of you still have it for sale.

[LoverTits]

Cancel the above; the lovely Beautiful Freak gave me a copy of both A&the J's albums.

Can I just *RANT AND RAVE* about how good "I Am A Bird Now" is?

Well, I'm going to anyway.

"Hope there's someone who'll take care of me when I die" is the opening line, and sets the scene for the whole album. It's like being plunged into someone's low budget afternoon matinee "Disease of the Day" TV film.

I listened to it while travelling at night through Hackney by bus, watching people bumping into each other and cursing, while Mr Anthony sang his sad, torchy pianola
soul songs in a wibbly voice that sounds like Nina Simone after therapy.

I've just been playing it over and over again.

Even the hysterically sobbing crack lady who jumped on the bus asking everyone for fifty pence just added to the whole thing. Especially when another passenger told her to fuck off if she couldn't pay the fare.

The compassion, the humanity!

Piled up delicate misery.

You can't beat it.

Especially if it's genderfucked.

Hurrah!

[xolondon]

Sorry I didn't see your note until it was too late LoverTits!

[BeautifulFreak]

LoverTits said:

Can I just *RANT AND RAVE* about how good "I Am A Bird Now" is?

But the first album is just that little bit better, right?

[marknyc]

BeautifulFreak said:

But the first album is just that little bit better, right?

I always found the first album a bit redundant and cold and I slipped it away over a year back. I didn't think it captured the eerie quality of the cabaret show Antony was doing at the time.

I find the newer album much more interesting and enthralling. I think the guest vocalists add to this. It is much more theatrical (and cinematic!) and melodic. I'll have to report back on how enduring it is. It was looping for a month back in January and has since taken a back seat but the first quarter of this year was so strong on new music it is a testament that it ever made it into the playlist at all.

Also, it is nice hearing Lou Reed singing gentle again. He does it really well. His old lullabies are a huge influence on Antony's style. After two decades of being a complete prick, it is nice to hear him back on the ludes.

[LoverTits]

I know I got to this one a little late, and also missed the opportunity to see Liz Fraser in the bar at Queen Elizabeth Hall, but what can I do?

I am *very* excited about going to see A &the J's in London when they finally announce the date.*

I like the first album esp. Cripple/Starfish and Blue Angel, but agree with Mr NYC that the arrangements on the current album are more adventurous and THAT opening track just gets in my head and jumps up and down on my ventral tegmental area.

The vocals on "Bird" are also more controlled and somehow more damaged than on the first album. It's altogether a more intense and spooky ride. I mean, any song about breast amputation's gotta be a good thing right? That and the whole boy/girl thing too.

Let's hear it for Devendra Banhart on "Spiralling" too, although Boy George sounds like a drunken pub singer on "You Are My Sister".






_{* Oooh it's the QEH June 25th}

[marknyc]

LoverTits said:

, although Boy George sounds like a drunken pub singer on "You Are My Sister".

I was under the assumption that it was intentional. I like it!

[LoverTits]

marknyc said:

I was under the assumption that it was intentional. I like it!

Mr George's voice conjures up bad mind-pictures of swaying smocks and running neck mascara. But if it's intentional, it throws a whole different light on things.

I will now re-listen and re-evaluate....

[xolondon]

No, I think Boy has actually pretty much LOST his voice. There were signs of it on other recent work. It's sad.

[nnnumb]

I thought he sounded better than I've heard him in years on 'You Are My Sister', but then again, I do generally like people who can't sing. I presume the recent work you're mentioning is the Twin album? Is it that bad? I can't quite bring myself to buy a copy.

[xolondon]

what I have heard of the Twin is UNBEARABLE.

[Storm]

OK, so I'm extremely late with this, but how fucking great is 'I AM A Bird Now'??

Just an amazing, truly touching record.

Love it.

[zaffra]

Is anyone going to the gig at the QE hall on Friday?

[Kittens-In-A-Hoodie]

zaffra said:

Is anyone going to the gig at the QE hall on Friday?

Retrospectively, yes.

and, ohmyfuckingjesusgod, weren't they just extraordinary.

We were sitting in the 4th row, so got a marvellous, close-up view of proceedings, and frankly, the whole thing was utterly mesmerising. Right now, I'd have to say that this could well have been the best concert I've ever seen.

The level of musicianship, attention to detail and the beauty of the lush rearrangements of the songs was stunning, hugely better than the already great album versions - the increased budget was highly evident. Couple that with Anthony's magnetic, intense performing style and you have a quite wonderful, unique experience.

I'm still reeling

[PP]

It was beautiful! I don't know what else to say. I'm just glad I couldn't see his face and all the expressions he makes while singing, from where we were sat, as I would have cried all the way through.

[jud]

lovertits said:

"Hope there's someone who'll take care of me when I die" is the opening line, and sets the scene for the whole album. It's like being plunged into someone's low budget afternoon matinee "Disease of the Day" TV film.

Thought 'Hope There's Someone' was amazing - sent shivers down my spine and in fact I'm tempted to get the album just for that one!

[klee]

I've just managed to get hold of a last-minute ticket for his gig in Manchester tomorrow. I never go to gigs on my own, but will make an exception for Antony.

For those of you who couldn't get tickets this time round, he's confirmed for another UK tour but they haven't released the dates yet. The next one's for the posher end of the venue market, mind, so it'll be a sit down deal. N

[klee]

Bloody hell!

That was amazing! What a beautiful, accomplished, touching and, surprisingly enough, funny experience that was.

To set the scene, Antony and the Johnsons played Academy 3 in Manchester last night. It was sold out and sweltering - Antony kept breaking off to ask whether we were okay. It had the best atmosphere of any gig I've ever been to.

- Antony introduced it as "a season in hell with slow songs by Antony and the Johnsons". It couldn't have been any further from the truth.
- He started with My Lady Story and Cripple And The Starfish. Utterly bewitching.
- He cracked jokes, bantered with the audience and talked about gay bars.
- He made us boo his cover of a Leonard Cohen song.
- He made us sing backing vocals to Dust And Water.
- He sang Afraid by Nico and did an impression of her.
- He joked about being the reincarnation of a cavewoman and flirted with his bassist.
- He finished with Hope There's Someone and did Candy Says by The Velvet Underground as an encore.

Roll on his next gig at The Bridgewater Hall later in the year.

[PP]

Are the next lot of dates listed anywhere?

[puffpower]

I've only listened to this once or twice but I like it a lot at the moment- I certainly like his voice, it's very expressive in every syllable

[seafood]

Antony has been the love of my life in the last few months. I envy you people who can go to proper gigs, and hear Antony sing Strange Fruit. It must be the most wonderful thing in the world.
I'm actually looking for a new love right now, I mean, how much can you listen to Antony and Patrick Wolf. Does anybody know of other beautiful boys (or girls) who can send shivers down my spine?

[ScissorSister]

seafood said:

Antony has been the love of my life in the last few months. I envy you people who can go to proper gigs, and hear Antony sing Strange Fruit. It must be the most wonderful thing in the world.
I'm actually looking for a new love right now, I mean, how much can you listen to Antony and Patrick Wolf. Does anybody know of other beautiful boys (or girls) who can send shivers down my spine?

Rufus? He's always a good bet. He's my favourite singer at the moment and probably will be for a long time. Martha's always a good bet too, she's great.

[seafood]

cremeegg said:

Rufus? He's always a good bet. He's my favourite singer at the moment and probably will be for a long time. Martha's always a good bet too, she's great.

Nuh, I'm kinda fed up with Rufus too. Actually, some evil force scratched my Want Two record, and now the most wonderful song, which is The One You Love, is played in a weird fast way. Why is it always my favourite track that's getting all the scratches?
Martha might be nice. Too bad the new Cocorosie record isn't good.

Anyway, did anyone see the lovely Hope There's Someone video, that can be seen on pitchfork, as well as other places, probably? With the suffering lady who likes to stay in bed? Very avantgarde!

[klee]

Try a bit of Jose Gonzalez. He's a marvellous acousticy woozy singer-songwriter from Sweden. His new album, Veneer is out very soon and he's on tour in the UK as well.

www.jose-gonzalez.com

He does a wonderful line in covers as well: so far Heartbeats by The Knife, Teardrop by Massive Attack and Kylie's very own Hand On Your Heart. They might seem like odd choices, but they're all ace.