Moore, R. Stevie - Phonography CD
SKU
21-RER RSM1
Kind of different from typical ReR fare, but then again, don't forget that the first Cuneiform release was a (very good, if I must say so myself) compilation of Stevie's work. His work is a precursor to things like lo-fi and indie pop, but it is really just R. Stevie Moore.
"Phonography was Stevie’s first LP release, and an out-of-the-blue masterpiece: terminally idiosyncratic but with all the compositional qualities of great pop. A gifted songwriter, R Stevie (son of Bob Moore, Elvis’ bassist) grew up and was steeped in Nashville’s countrypolitanism; but, as a recidivist rebel, he inevitably slipped into strange byways, following his own, unique path into celebrated obscurity - as this strange and compelling record attests. Hans Arp said, ‘My paintings are like fingernails: they keep growing and I keep cutting them off’. R Stevie’s songs seem to follow the same rule. They create worlds, tell stories, trifle wantonly with form, harmony, structure and execution, and throw off passages of casual brilliance on the way. Lo-fi is integral to its purpose. You can’t pay to get a sound like that. So, when nobody seemed to want to keep Phonography in print, ReR Megacorp were happy to oblige - it’s history. We took the opportunity to carefully re-master it and restore it to its original form."-Chris Cutler