This week of sharing my favorite live sessions recorded for WFMU continues with Rachel’s. One would hope you are all hip to Rachel Grimes and Co. already, but if not, here’s a brief primer: Louisville-based modern classical/chamber rock group featuring the aforementioned Ms. Grimes on piano accompanied by Jason Noble (Rodan, Shipping News), Kyle Crabtree (Endpoint, Shipping News), Christian Fredrickson, Eve Miller and Edward Grimes. Others would fill in and assist and contribute from time to time. Bob Weston engineered most of their studio recordings. Honestly, if you haven’t ever heard The Sea And The Bells or Handwriting you would be wise to pretty much drop what you’re doing and find those albums. While every band in post-Slint Louisville in the ’90s was moving in one direction, Rachel’s forged their own route and went with a minimalist approach that was wholly unique. And beautiful. And haunting. And perfect.
The session for WFMU (which I think was engineered by Weston as well) was recorded on October 20th, of 1996. That was a very productive year for the group, as they released Music For Egon Schiele in April (I think?) and then The Sea And The Bells in October. I own both LPs, but I think I prefer the latter. It’s a little darker and if my opinion counts for anything I think it is their best studio album.
The quality here isn’t great but it’s from the only source I know exists of this show. If anyone else out there has a better (and fuller) version of this show, by all means let me know. I think some of the interviews are clipped and/or missing from between songs, and I know they also played cuts from different CDs between the performances as well. Still, this has most (or all?) of the musical performance, but the sound quality wavers a bit as it’s a radio broadcast from the mid-90s. The lineup, in case you are wondering:
Rachel Grimes – keyboard
Jason Noble – guitar / banter between songs
Christian Frederickson – viola
Eve Miller – cello
John Upchurch – bass clarinet / clarinet
Bob Weston – bass / ebow / trumpet
Edward Grimes – percussion
Rachel’s
Live On WFMU
October 20th, 1996
MediaFire DL Link
01. Introduction
02. Promenade [MP3]
03. Rhine & Courtesan
04. Mime Van Osen
05. Lloyd’s Register / Cypress Branches
06. Interview
07. A French Galleasse / Second Self-Portrait Series
08. M. Daguerre
09. Interview
10. Full On Night
11. Those Pearls
12. Interview
