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This is the second in our new playlist series, where we ask artists to share music that has inspired them or personal favourites. Much like our Off the Shelf feature, the choices can be pretty revealing, fascinating, and often unexpected.
Jim White and Marisa Anderson have just released their new duo album Swallowtail on Thrill Jockey, reviewed here.
Further on, although the above suite occupies the trunk of the set, Peregrine feels like the key track. Running at over ten minutes, this one has plenty of time to establish itself and does so with sparse playing, Anderson picking lines at leisure, creating cyclical clusters of mesmerising notes that White’s drums dance around in places, step away from in others and then return to with more fire. The freedom the duo have is best demonstrated here, with each seemingly comfortable to play in their own way, while knowing the other is sympathetic to the music and will adjust to fit. It’s a song that encapsulates everything I love about improvised instrumental music and it defines an album of quiet assurance and power.
Glenn Kimpton on Swallowtail
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music
Marisa Anderson’s Picks
Rydvall Mjelva – Akademipolska
A bunch of years ago, I fell in love with the sound of the Hardanger fiddle. I was artist in residence for the Fanø Free Folk Festival on a small island off the coast of Denmark and when the thrift store owner of the village found out why I was there, he handed me a tall stack of CDs of traditional Scandinavian music which sent me on the path towards learning more about these and other traditional instruments from the north of Europe that are not so well known in the US. This song is a duet between the Hardanger fiddle and the keyed fiddle.
Zacamandú – La Guanabana
I have been lucky to travel several times to southern Veracruz during the winter when people gather every night for the all-night son jarocho parties called fandangos. This song is a classic, and it always makes me happy to hear it.
Anouar Brahem Trio – Nihawend Lunga
I don’t remember how I first heard of Anouar Brahem. I’ve been listening to him for years and I love everything he’s done.
Lankum – Hunting the Wren
What I especially like about this song is how the melody and lyric sound so traditional, like how have we not all been singing this for a hundred years?
Fela Kuti – Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am
It took me years to source this song. I had heard it on the local jazz radio station and knew it was Fela Kuti, but didn’t catch the name of the song and nobody I asked seemed to know about this slow, sad Fela song. I love the beauty and melancholy.
Jim White’s Picks
Freakwater – My Old Drunk Friend
I love the two voices together and the held feeling of the rhythm.
Cheap Trick – Mandocello
Originally heard on the same mix tape as the Freakwater track from a Dirty Three tour in the 90s, it also has that same “held” rhythm feeling here that I love.
Leonard Cohen – Sisters of Mercy
A poised and gentle version of that same rhythmic feeling.
Charlie Feathers – I Forgot To Remember To Forget
This one has something of a faster feel to it, but exploring a similar rhythmic space to the others.
Ornette Coleman – What Reason Could I Give
This one has a particular flowing feel, but still with something similar to the other songs here.
Jim White and Marisa Anderson’s Swallowtail is out now on Thrill Jockey
Order: Bandcamp | Thrill Jockey
Jim White and Marisa Anderson dates
May 3 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue #
May 4 – Fargo, ND – The Hall at Fargo Brewing #
May 9 – Philadelphia, PA – Solar Myth
May 11 – Yellow Springs, OH – The Foundry Theater
May 12 – Detroit, MI – Trinosophes
May 13 – Chicago, IL – Constellation
May 16 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge ^
May 17 – Keene, NH – Thing in the Spring ^
May 18 – Montreal, QC – Lion D’or ^
May 20 – Portland, OR – Holocene ^
May 22 – Seattle, WA – Rabbit Box ^
May 23 – Vancouver, BC – Coastal Jazz @ St James Hall ^
May 24 – San Diego, CA – The Loft ^
May 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon ^
May 26 – Mill Valley, CA – Sweetwater Music Hall ^
Jun. 4 – Kingston, NY – Tubby’s *
Jun. 5 – Washington, DC – Rhizome*
Jun. 6 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall *
Jun. 9 – Durham, NC – The Pinhook *
Jun. 11 – Athens, GA – Flicker Theater *
Jun. 15 – Nashville, TN – The Blue Room *
Jun. 23 -Paonia CO – Bross Hotel *
* Marisa Anderson solo
# Marisa Anderson solo w/ Charlie Parr
^ co-headline w/ Myriam Gendron
