SECURE ON THE LOOSE RIM (1991)

PROGRESS REPORT: OF THE ASSEMBLED AND KNOWN DISCOGRAPHY OF JIM O'ROURKE I ESTIMATE WE ARE ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH IT IF WE DISCOUNT SINGLES AND STUFF WHERE HE WAS MOSTLY A PERFORMER (STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL DO ABOUT THE WILCO RELEASES) THOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE TO FILL OUT THE SENSE OF JOURNEY.

OF COURSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT CROP UP SUCH AS HEARING O'ROURKE PLAYED ON DAVID JACKMAN'S ORGANUM RELEASES, OR THE EARLY PERFORMANCE GROUP THE ELVIS MESSIAHS. BUT THERE ARE ALSO THINGS IN THE MAIN DISCOGRAPHY THAT I CAN'T FIND JUST NOW, SO MAYBE IT WILL ALL EVEN OUT AND ROLL TO A NATURAL STOP.

SECURE TAKES US TO JIM'S COLLEGE DAYS IN 1990 AND THE CONDENSING OF TWO PERFORMANCES GIVEN IN THE JANUARY OF THAT NEW DECADE. IT'S KEYBOARD/DRONE/AMBIENT WITH A SLIGHTLY DILAPIDATED FEEL BECAUSE OF THE TRANSFER FROM CASSETTE TO DIGITAL AUDIO. I DIG IT THOUGH: SOMETHING ABOUT AMBIENT (WE WILL UNPACK THIS ONE DAY, I SWEAR) MUSIC DONE LIVE AND THEN ALSO ANALOGUE TO DIGITAL TRANSFER IS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY.

CLOSING TRACK SOMETIMES HAS A NICELY BROODING AND DISTORTED FEEL AND ROUNDS OFF A SATISFYING ALBUM (THOUGH LISTED ON DISCOGS AS A COMPILATION?) WELL. TEMPTED TO GO CERTIFIED: GOOD ON THIS. IT MIGHT NOT BE JIM'S MOST CONSIDERED OR MATURE WORK, BUT IF YOU ENJOY IT ALL THEN SURELY THAT'S THE POINT?

CERTIFIED: GOOD

HENCE (2018)

ANOTHER THREE-WAY COLLAB FEATURING OREN AMBARCHI (EXPECT MORE) BUT THIS TIME KEIJI HAINO IS ON HIS LUNCHBREAK AND JAPANESE TABLA MASTER U-ZHAAN STEPS UP.

THIS TIME JIM GOES ALL NEW AGE FANTASY SURVEYS ON A SYNTH (APPARENTLY HE'S A MODULAR GUY NOW) WHILE OREN WIELDS A GUITAR JUDICIOUSLY. U-ZHAAN TAPS ALONG HAPPILY. 

IT IS TOTALLY PLEASANT AND HAPPY NOT TO PUSH ANY REAL BUTTONS. 40 MINUTES JUST DRIFT BY; YOU COULD WORK TO THIS, DO THE DISHES, WALK TO THE SHOPS, DO YOGA. IS IT PARTICULARLY INTERESTING? BY THE STANDARDS OF A LOT OF INDIE AND POP MUSIC OF 2020, I GUESS? BY THE STANDARDS OF JIM O'ROURKE'S BETTER MUSIC? I'D HAVE TO SAY NOT REALLY.