Thanks Stan Denski for the reminder. The backing arrangement is astounding. Coupled with the earnest if lugubrious vocal performance you have a piece of art that I couldnt have conceived of, even with half of Colombias finest export products in.me. --David.Bowie (on the Langley students rendition of Space.Oddity) The Angels love enthusiasm far more than perfection. --anonymous The Langley Schools Music Project is a 60-voice chorus of rural school children from western Canada, untrained but captivated by melodic magic, singing tunes by the Beach Boys, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, The Bay City Rollers, and others. The students accompany themselves with the shimmering gamelan chimes of Orff percussion, and elemental rock trimmings arranged by their itinerant music teacher, Hans.Fenger. These 1976-77 recordings, captured on a 2-track tape deck in a school gymnasium, werent staged to achieve money or fame, to sell albums or land a record contract. These kids played music because they loved it. Innocent, flawed and bittersweet, guided by Fengers unsuspecting genius, these recordings deserve to be heard and preserved. They brim with charm and youthful élan, sparked by flashes of lo-fi Spectorian majesty and Pet Sounds subtlety. Call it folk art, outsider, or campfire rock -- the labels dont matter. These are gorgeous, heavenly artifacts. Period. These recordings were originally contained on two 12 LPs, pressed exclusively for the students, their classmates, teachers, and parents. They were never intended for exposure outside the provincial Langley region. But after they came to the attention of Irwin Chusid, the Songs in the Key of Z author and record producer vowed to make these recordings commercially available. He forged a licensing/trustee agreement with the Langley School administrators, and with the blessings of Hans Fenger and several former student soloists who were located, these priceless recordings have now been introduced to the rest of the planet. The recordings were newly remastered and CEDAR-cleaned, and reverberate with an astonishing range of.fidelity. The package includes a 16-page full-color booklet chronicling the development of the recordings; personal reminiscences from Hans Fenger; photos from the original LP covers; and colorful.sidelights.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 15:34:12 +0000