All Things Considered
Online journal by St. Jude's – British printmaking and textiles designed by printmaker Angie Lewin, painter printmaker Mark Hearld, British workwear designers Old Town and others.
Ultramarine
Posted by Simon Lewin
This is the first in a no doubt irregular series of posts about albums that seem to get more plays than others on my iPod.
"Every Man and Woman is a Star" was Ultramarine's second album, released in 1991. Simon Reynolds describes the album perfectly in his 'Energy Flash' book:
"Perhaps the first and best stab at that seeming contradiction-in-terms, pastoral techno... all sun-ripened, meandering lassitude and undulant dub-sway tempos... like acid-house suffused with the folky-jazzy ambience of the Canterbury scene."
The duo (Paul Hammond and Ian Cooper) were inspired by early UK House and long standing crushes on A Certain Ratio, 23 Skidoo and Cabaret Voltaire and collaborated with various musicians including Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers and David McAlmont.
Very much recommended and enjoyed by St. Jude's, "Every Man..." is still available from the gem that is LTM. Paul Hammond now records as Further Details and runs Real Soon.
Posted by Simon Lewin on October 2nd, 2008
Chris Watson