Pages

June 12, 2012

1. Chelsea Girl - Nico [1967]





Consider.

The years spent modelling and vamping around Europe in the rubble of WWII, tail-gating auteurs, lead nowhere.

The cameo in Fellini's Dolce Vita fails to parlay into an acting career.

Strip Tease, an early recording with arch diddler et trĂ©sor national Serge Gainsbourg, is passed over for Juliette Greco. (Nico's voice is not to the old rogue's breathy and infantile taste.)

A spell in London with manipulator a la mod Andrew Loog Oldham fails to generate pop magic.

And so....

Nico washes up in New York to be taken up by Andy Warhol (as in "Hols") as his latest superstar and touted as such to the VU crew. She and Andy are briefly inseparable.

Chelsea Girl is the perfect album created for a model. Nine of the ten tracks are written by ex-lovers, including co-writes by Reed and Cale. Subsequent albums, Marble Index and Desertshore are superior because they reflect her vision, her songs presented on the instrument she makes her own, the baby harmonium.

For now, enjoy the debut Nico hated. It works close up magic. Conjures washed out regret, degradation and loss. Worlds of beauty and decay in miniature. 





Oddi wrth y brawd

13 comments:

Y Brawd said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MoonRisk7 said...

So, is this really the end?

sunday said...

Stay with us!

Sage said...

If you can't or don't want to carry on - thanks for putting out the best blog I've come across and turning me on to some great music.

Nik

PM Summer said...

I guess it's sadly ironic that the last set of files gets deleted before I can download them.

Regardless of the end, it's been a great trip that has expanded my listening considerably.

Adios, mi amigo.

scott said...

Thank you for everything. Byddwch yn ei golli

lizard johnny jewel said...

A fitting number one. Would also be a fitting last post, but I sure as hell hope it ain't. Thanks for all the insightful posts.

Singersinging said...

Thanks or the files. You have been a star. I shall miss the joy of finding a new delight on your blog. Diolch.

Holly said...

Thank you for everything. I do wish you'd stay. :-(

Y Brawd said...

Diolch i chi...

re-upped this puppy here:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/l5y82q

Greg said...

I went to a store today and bought this album. Blogs like this is how I have found music that I love... music that I have paid full price for. Weird brother was a great place to visit. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Documentary about Nico's 1986 concert in West Berlin http://www.realeyz.tv/en/nico-in-memoriam.html

exterior veneer said...

Hello Brawd, please resume posting . we miss your latest updates. xo
- Vinnie