Entertainment For Lively Minds
Less is more? The single is dead... Long Live the E.P.
Posted by craig42blue on 6 August 2010 - 3:55pm.
Following on from the great blog about all those fantastic albums that were a maximum of 40 minutes long - I remember Robert Wyatt saying something about the E.P. being the perfect format or length...
3 or 4 tracks with a max of 20 minutes seems an excellent way for an artist to let you know what they are currently up to...
Via Amazon (other mp3 sites are available) I have recently downloaded the excellent Beth Orton's "Concrete Sky" e.p. and Blue Aeroplanes "Outdoor Miner" e.p....
ALSO has anyone tried the excellent value Rhino Hi-Five series these seem a great way to get to know a long forgotten or well establised artist...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-musi...
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The Robert Wyatt quote was about his "Work In Progress" e.p.
"I've always loved the EP format, and this was conceived as an EP. The songs are mostly secular hymns, in a way, simple tributes to attempts to build a little heaven on earth, south of the border."
Robert's boxed set of 5 eps is one of my most treasured items..
Thank you Craig!
You just alerted me to Outdoor Miner by Blue Aeroplanes, that release had completely passed me by so I'm very happy!
Funnily enough, I noticed the other day a video for a new Blue Aeroplanes song on YouTube and was checking around if they had a new album yet but didn't pick up on the EP at all.
One of my favourite EPs was The Damned's Friday 13th EP with a great lead track "Disco Man".
Harvester
I think "Outdoor Miner" is the only track on the ep from the Harvest label covers album - tend not to think of Wire being a Harvest group - still think of Floyd, Be Bop Deluxe, Roy Harper and the like..
Cool, you mean there's an album too!?
I'm chuffed, I see Blue Aeroplanes live whenever I can and try to keep updated on their various line-ups but they don't have a decent web-site as far as I can see.
It's a great feeling to discover something new from one of your favourite bands, so thanks again!
Not a bad idea
Most Albums only have 3 or 4 good songs anyway, this format forces artists to put out just their best material!
Can anyone come up with examples
of an album that would be improved by being shortened to an ep?
Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits - 4 track ep
1. So Far Away
4. Your Latest Trick
6. Ride Across The River
7. Man's Too Strong