Hand Of Glory (LP)

Format: LP  Label: Drag City  Year: 2015  Media Condition: New  Sleeve/Cover Condition: New  TRACKS: A) Domo Des Burros (Two Sticks) B) The Boxing Story -Electric Boxing Show -Four Kings -Golden Lament -Pots And Pansy -K-9 To The Core Originally released in 2002. PERSONNEL: Drum Machine, Organ – Anil Melnick Drums – Tom Rafferty Electric Guitar – Pat Johnson Flute – Jean Rhee Guitar – Gnarly Crack, Matt Ray Percussion – Tom Rafferty Vocals – John Lorenz Vocals, Drum Machine, Moog, Percussion, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Violin, Pump Organ, Piano, Bottles, Tape Machine, Radio, Record Player – Neil Hagerty Vocals, Harmonica, Electric Guitar, Tape Machine, Radio, Record Player – Jennifer Herrema Legend has it, the two sides of this 40-minute gem were recorded between 1985 and 1989. The resultant mountain of creativity from where they hail were inevitably left under a scuzzy sofa as life and a career that ebbed and flowed over nine albums. Royal Trux became an inspirational tipping point for everyone from Pavement & Sonic Youth to the Black Keys, Kurt Cobain, The Avalanches & Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor. ‘Hand Of Glory’ is not like their other albums but then again none of their albums are alike, it’s a two-faced masterpiece. Side one’s ‘Domo Des Burros’/‘Two Sticks’ is on par with Beefheart’s sprawling ‘Troutmask Replica’. It plays out in 19 minutes, sounding like it was laid down on Warhol’s sofa in The Factory; like Dylan’s sprawling ‘Desolation Row’ with, background squalls, interruptions and both Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema’s overlayed stream of consciousness peeping through a multi-layered backdrop. It’s just staggering. Side two’s ‘The Boxing Story’, a loose homage to William Burroughs, moulds and morphs from tape to tape, a multi-speed soundtrack, while the dynamic duo press pause, guitars ring, occasional melodic lines arrive and evaporate. Lou Reed’s pastoral ‘Metal Machine Music’ could perhaps be recognized as an older and perhaps less challenging sibling. A two-sided masterpiece featuring two wayward pieces of creative genius.