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The nights are drawing in - there's no getting around it, 2026 is winding down. It feels like only a couple of months have passed since we reduced and sold off the last of the 2025 Christmas Puds at work, yet in the middle of September I found myself making room on the shelves for the first of this year's stock. Time flies when you're having fun.
Within a few short weeks, retrospective blogposts will begin to pop up round this neck of the woods, reminding me of all the great music I missed over the past 12 months and causing a serious dent my wallet as I attempt to catch up. I'll be deep in the retail trenches by that point, so if you'll forgive me, I'm going to start early, dropping the odd post about memorable gigs I've attended and notable LPs I've tucked under my arm throughout 2026.
Take Shane Parish's most recent offering for instance. Already a well established guitarist in the trad/arr arena, Parish's 'Autechre Guitar', improbably, does what it says on the tin. He took a bunch of tunes from the first four Autechre records and literally, painstakingly, transcribed them for solo acoustic guitar, with no additional effects or overdubbing. Now I can't claim to be an expert on Autechre's oeuvre, but I do know that reinterpreting their stuff for a single unaccompanied acoustic instrument can't be a walk in the park, yet despite the tight compositional structure and minimal approach, 'Autechre Guitar' is an intimate, riveting listen that I've returned to consistently since its release in February.
Christmas and end of year lists get earlier every year, although obviously in your case the two are connected.
ReplyDeleteI was blissfully unaware of both Steve Parish and Autrechre until reading your post. However, I've spent all morning not just listening to Steve's album but also dipping into Autechre's back catalogue to listen to the source material too. And I'm glad I did. Thank you so much for the steer, TS.
ReplyDeleteJM
DeleteI didn't think I had heard of Shane Parish either but then discovered I have his 2022 album "Liverpool" on my hard drive. Obviously didn't make much of an impression on me first time round but I will have to listen again armed with this new information.
DeleteI'm well aware of Autechre but haven't heard of this album and I like what you've shared and as you say, not an undertaking to be taken lightly
ReplyDeleteD’oh! Shane not Steve.
ReplyDeleteJM
One thing I forgot to mention is the quality of the vinyl pressing - it's fairly astounding. Even on my mid-range turntable, with my tinnitus ravaged lugholes, the music is as clear as a bell and sounds as if he's sitting across the room.
ReplyDeleteFascinating, I didn't know of either Autechre or Shane Parish but have just played both versions and like them each in their own way. As said above, must be quite the undertaking. Great to know you'll be appearing here regularly in the coming weeks too!
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