Bartleby
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All That Shines

Posted about 4 years ago

[Au - All Myself / 5:40]

On the periodic table of elements you will find "Au" (aurum Latin for gold) in group number 11 and period 6. Its atomic number 79 (i.e. each gold atom has 79 protons).

On MOG/Rhapsody tags, you will find them as "AU" (see here). On my SteveJobsian turntable, you will find "Au" — pronounce ay-you — under the label "magnetic Melopoeia."

On a map you will find Au in Portland, Oregon (USofA), centred around Luke Wyland. As a matter of fact, it is a collaborative vehicle of trundling troubadours who have created an intoxicating album called "Verbs."

The first leaf I will present to you is a mini concerto for voice and wind instruments entitled "All Myself." It opens with a placid piano providing the bearings for a shaman's voice calling forth the wind of the clarinet at approximately 1'10"... Then ever so gently, the incantation rises and the oboe and tuba enter....

But let me be silent and leave you to listen to the fields of gold of Au.

1

Comments (31)

  1. Bartleby
    Bartleby says This is what Zac Pennington has to say about the album: ""Verbs" is the elated realization of those many asymmetrical pop diamonds that shone so brightly throughout Au's artful debut (whose warm, Appalachia-informed gems found many favorable comparisons to the far-reaching likes of Arnold Dreyblatt, Animal Collective, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Grizzly Bear)—its many swift and unexpected evolutions shepherded confidently by Wyland's competent, classically-trained hand. As surprising as it is immediate, Verbs is infused with all of the earnest and palpable joy of its creation—the delightfully enveloping whole of which demands to be heard." [Taken from the press release] Here's another excerpt from "Verbs" which you can download from Agoo Records [Au - rr vs. d / 3:48] ~9oer2kkm2VN.mp3~
    Do not however make hasted conclusions from these snippets, Au can be quite plucky and spry as "Are Animals" prove. [Au - Are Animals / 3:41] ~049HUMAb4Db.mp3~
    PS: You can find "Are Animals" plus four other tracks from Stereogum here
    Permalink posted 05/25/2008
  2. satisfiedmind2
    satisfiedmind2 says Beautiful stuff...a stellar Spring soundtrack
    Permalink posted 05/25/2008
  3. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Glad you like it, B -- if I ever feel brave enough I might try and share it on the other M-thing.
    Permalink posted 05/25/2008
  4. wassonii
    wassonii says nice and all over the place, but tied together, for sure. I would love to see them live. Thank you!
    Permalink posted 05/25/2008
  5. deadmandeadman
    deadmandeadman says I don't know, you know? I'm not sure what I think yet. Can I get back to you on this? Remind me. Have your people call my people, we'll set up a sit down. You **??DO??** have people, right? 'cause I got people. Yeah, lots of 'em. Wait a minute.....??bonnnnnngg?? what was I saying? Yeah, hypnotic,
    Permalink posted 05/25/2008
  6. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says According to what I just saw when I clicked on the Mog lounge link their correctly titled as Au. They have a kind of a Sigur Ros vibe to them judging from the first song. Gorgeous music. Not heard of them before either.
    Permalink posted 05/25/2008
  7. Lizziegreeneyes
    Lizziegreeneyes says You better feel brave enough darlin... this is some sonic gold to be certain !!!
    Permalink posted 05/25/2008
  8. scotfree
    scotfree says astonishinly intoxicating, I particularly found "Verbs" a bit of genius, laying out under the late spring clear sky. don't you quit mining this stuff Michael, these are the good times people!
    Permalink posted 05/25/2008
  9. Bartleby
    Bartleby says *wassonii*: Thanks for popping in. I think it's MOG that put Au all over the place. No line breaks or paragraphs but at least the music works. *DMDM*: Good sir, you must think I'm an aristocrat of some sort. I'm afraid I've given up fox hunting a long time ago. ;) -- It's nice to have around this humble abode. *August*: If you type the band's name in the "Find your favorite music" window up there, you'll find that they're listed as "AU" -- Happy to be able to share with you and MOG after my "music's block." *LGE*: How can I say no to TOO? I'll give it a try even if my connection is a nightmare for uploads. *Scot*: I must say I kind of lost inspiration for posts but Au was so exciting that I had to improvise a little something. I'm really glad you and the gang like it.
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  10. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Erratum: The correct name of Au's label is Aagoo Records (not Agoo as mentioned above)
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  11. scotfree
    scotfree says Michael, unlike the burner on full boil, most dishes come out best when they're left to simmer for some time. After you've shared your most passionately-held, it's bound to be a bit fewer and farther between. We'll wait...
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  12. Cody B
    Cody B says Refined and Primitive within individual atoms. Most definitely not Boron (B). Group 13, Period 2, Element 5. Thank you for the introduction.
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  13. poebegone
    poebegone says an alchemical thing of beauty. i am transmuted. thanks for the panacea. (:
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  14. Anna
    Anna says I can see the video for this. It involves flower pedals dancing their way to the ground. "Hypnotic" from me as well.
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  15. Bartleby
    Bartleby says *Scot*: Thanks for your comment. I really like your analogy. Let's hope there's still some gas to keep the burner going ;) *Cody*: Au is the opposite of boredom -- really glad that you enjoy this. You can now find it on x me *Poe*: I'm far from being an alchemist. If anyone can find the philosopher's stone this person is you. (I've just finished adding "Verbs" to my multiplication table) *Anna*: Hallo dear, thanks for popping in. I too can see your visual grammar for "Verbs" -- lovely sight indeed.
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  16. ivylander
    ivylander says Such an odd and interesting combination of ambitions - they remind me of a rustic Stereolab....
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  17. wassonii
    wassonii says i just meant style-wise, within the context of the posted tracks. I will be perordering this, thanks to you:)
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  18. amber
    amber says I like it. Reminds me of that other Portland gold nugget, Menomena. I will have to track down these guys and give them a gander as well as a listen. Thanks, Michael!
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  19. vannatta
    vannatta says ...dude... awesome - thank you!
    View my page on mogpeeps
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  20. Elton Noon
    Elton Noon says Beautiful words for beautiful tunes.
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  21. Bartleby
    Bartleby says *Ivy*: Don't you like it when a band sort of upsets your musical bearings? Ambitious but not rubbish. *wassonii*: Sorry for the misunderstanding and my mad ramblings. It happens sometimes when I get overexcited about a new band. *Amber*: A "I like it" coming from you means a lot to me. Au have got a particularly magnetic aesthetic not unlike some Philip Glass compositions. *Van*: Thanks for popping in. I'm only happy to get more people to listen to Au. I think their music is worth more than a listen. -- Thanks also for the Mogpeeps *Elton Noon*: Thanks for your kind comments and also for opening the ball of Au here on MOG.
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  22. mktackabery
    mktackabery says excellent find B, diggin' it and will buy it,
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  23. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Glad you like it, Tack. It's on the other infamous M too if you care to listen to more Verbs
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  24. mktackabery
    mktackabery says sweet! I found their 07 album on emusic and it looks like they plan on having the new one when it drops.
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  25. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Their first LP is excellent too. But "Verbs" surpasses it IMHO.
    Permalink posted 05/26/2008
  26. TylerDurden
    TylerDurden says Why did I suddenly feel a reminder of butt-naked swimming in the river while suffering (aka enjoying) an ecstacy induced fever -> drugs and music go together for me, and this song almost made me go crazy, but it was very beautiful, in a trippy kind of way -> I must be psychotic or something, was this in clockwork orange? silence of the lambs? or Napolean Dynamite?
    Permalink posted 05/27/2008
  27. goodmusiconly
    goodmusiconly says Golden fields, drunken calliope-esque jangles and frenetic tribal/tropical mayhem ... a feast for the ears, Bartles ... nice! Thanks for the intro. :)
    Permalink posted 05/29/2008
  28. Bartleby
    Bartleby says *Tyler*: I'm not sure about the drugs especially when skin-dipping... Can't confirm the presence of Au on any of the films you mentioned either. The drugs are kicking in, as you've probably guessed. -- Thanks for popping in. *GMO*: Oh, I love the drunken Calliope image. I wish it'd been you who'd introduced Au instead of me. -- "Verbs" are on my other M-page if you care to join in the sylvan banquet.
    Permalink posted 05/29/2008
  29. Groon
    Groon says Hmmm . . .this is the sort of thing you really need to hear the whole thing to really get, I feel. I like what I'm hearing, though, so I might purchase so I can do just that.
    Permalink posted 06/01/2008
  30. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Hi Groon. The whole is indeed even more beautiful that than its parts. If you're only the other M thing, you can listen to the entire "Verbs" on my page.
    Permalink posted 06/02/2008
  31. Groon
    Groon says Cool! I'll check that out. I haven't been over there in a while, anyway . . .
    Permalink posted 06/02/2008

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