Horizons Touched: The Music of ECM - Steve Lake and Paul Griffiths, eds.

[BrianL1]

In case anyone has not heard about this upcoming book on ECM....

http://www.granta.com/shop/product?u...roduct_id=3278

[Morthrablethrockmorten]

Some one someplaced mentioned that there is a new book out about ECM records but I lost track. Anyone have any more information?

Thanks

[Morthrablethrockmorten]

Thank you.

So it's not out yet. I'll mark the page in Amazon.

Have you noticed how much used copies of "Sleeves of Desire" is listed for these days? I doubt people are paying that much. Copies on Ebay list for $50 and up.

[BrianL1]

Originally Posted by Morthrablethrockmorten

Thank you.

So it's not out yet. I'll mark the page in Amazon.

Have you noticed how much used copies of "Sleeves of Desire" is listed for these days? I doubt people are pay that much. Copies on Ebay list for $50 and up.

You should be able to get it now from an Amazon site over in Europe... of course it could be pricier.

[andybleaden]

I was lucky enough to spot a copy going cheap via Play.com's market place thingie. It is a gorgeious book and huge! Comes in its own slip cover and after reading the the first 20-30 pages last night I was entranced. Had to slip on a litt le early Garbarek just to put me put me in the mood as I was reading about the start up of the company. I also have the Sleeves of Desire book which was a book about the artwork. This is much more about the music and the musicians. I managed to snatch a copy for about £30 which is lots less than the £45 retail but it is well worth it.

I am also new to this forum and would like to us this post to say to all other like minded individuals who are keen on ECM. I have a wide range of the records ranging from the very first to the very latest and have over 500 which I thought was large until I read that they have just made their 1000th

[BrianL1]

Originally Posted by andybleaden

I was lucky enough to spot a copy going cheap via Play.com's market place thingie. It is a gorgeious book and huge! Comes in its own slip cover and after reading the the first 20-30 pages last night I was entranced. Had to slip on a litt le early Garbarek just to put me put me in the mood as I was reading about the start up of the company. I also have the Sleeves of Desire book which was a book about the artwork. This is much more about the music and the musicians. I managed to snatch a copy for about £30 which is lots less than the £45 retail but it is well worth it.

I am also new to this forum and would like to us this post to say to all other like minded individuals who are keen on ECM. I have a wide range of the records ranging from the very first to the very latest and have over 500 which I thought was large until I read that they have just made their 1000th

Well, that's a fair chunk. I'm down in the paltry 200 range.

Has anyone heard what the 1000th recording will be?

[BrianL1]

I received my copy of the book this week.

In terms of organization, the book largely consists of essays/overviews of different aspects of the ECM story, each of which is supplemented by a page or two of words from various musicians, along with great studio shots and a few album covers of the artist's work. There's also a chaper each devoted to the engineers and graphic artists.

I think it is the artists words that most people will immediately gravitate to and find interesting. Certainly that's where I first zeroed in on, although I'm sure I'll absorb the rest with time.

Some minor frustrations: a few musicians seemed to not have a lot to say. That's ok, they're musicians after all, but in some cases I was hoping for something of more breadth from them. It sometimes seems we are given one small angle from one artist and you really need to read more to see the whole context.

There are some notable artist omissions (no words from Dave Holland? Well, he's off on his own, but could have been interesting).

But these seem quibbles. I think most fans of the label will find this satisfying.

[Sand]

I started on this at 0200 pm a couple of nights ago just to get a 2 minute overview. Unfortunately it ruined my sleep that night.

[Simon Fay]

Originally Posted by BrianL1

but in some cases I was hoping for something of more breadth from them. It sometimes seems we are given one small angle from one artist and you really need to read more to see the whole context.

But these seem quibbles. I think most fans of the label will find this satisfying.

My local library got this for me and I'm glad I didn't have to shell out the big bucks it commands at retail. Very disappointing. Great to look at (as expected) but it's really a big ad/puff-piece for the increasingly-up-its-own-arse label, in the guise of a very refined coffee-table book

SF

[David Gitin]

I found it fascinating, cover to cover.

[BrianL1]

Originally Posted by Simon Fay

My local library got this for me and I'm glad I didn't have to shell out the big bucks it commands at retail. Very disappointing. Great to look at (as expected) but it's really a big ad/puff-piece for the increasingly-up-its-own-arse label, in the guise of a very refined coffee-table book

SF

Well, you may not like the book, but why do you think ECM is "increasingly-up-its-own-arse"?

[Ron Thorne]

For many reasons, I think I'm inclined to go with David Gitin's response.

[Lois Gilbert]

Originally Posted by Simon Fay

My local library got this for me and I'm glad I didn't have to shell out the big bucks it commands at retail. Very disappointing. Great to look at (as expected) but it's really a big ad/puff-piece for the increasingly-up-its-own-arse label, in the guise of a very refined coffee-table book

SF

The claim that this book *is* an advert has no basis in fact. An ad by definition is publicity material paid for by an advertiser. This is a book issued by an independent publisher who approached ECM, not the other way around. Not only that: more than a hundred musicians, engineers, photographers, film makers and other artists freely contributed to the book out of enthusiasm for the company’s achievement over four decades.

Debate is one thing, but your blatant negative comments are not needed on this forum.

ECM in general and Steve Lake in particular have provided you a space to discuss and get response regarding this label. If you want to tear it apart, please spare us and go somewhere else to digress.

Thanks Lois

[Nim Chimpsky]

Simon Fay caught on camera holding a copy of Horizons Touched

[Chris D]

Don't tase me, dude!

[crawjo]

I picked up this book on sale a couple weeks ago. It is a very beautiful book, and some of the essays are nice reads. Overall it is a good retrospective on the label's activities over the course of its history, although at times the presentation can become a bit pretentious. But I'd still recommend it to people who dig ECM.

[orangefunk]

I have to confess, I was amazed how beautiful this book was, but I found it a little scant on information and feels its more aesthetic... perhaps I expected too much... I still reckon there is scope for a regular book...

[Steve Lake]

Originally Posted by orangefunk

I still reckon there is scope for a regular book...

There is indeed scope for any number of conventional books on any aspect of the label’s work as well as a critical history or a straight chronology. The modest aim of HT, however, was simply to sketch out a map of the territory and allow the artists who inhabit it – and the critics who monitor it - to say a few words. ECM’s horizons are very broad meanwhile and the aspects that tend to get discussed in a ‘jazz corner’ are only part of what the label is about. While jazz and improvisation remain important there’s also the classical tradition from the pre-baroque to the post-post-modern, folk music from everywhere, influences from film, theatre, literature, photography, graphic arts etc. The proximity and intermingling and cross-referencing of those elements – as well as the depth and clarity of the sound(s) – contribute to the specific character of the label. ‘Horizons Touched’ was a first attempt to talk about all those aspects between two covers. Hadn’t been done before. But I’d agree that much more could be said about any of those elements.
On a related note, publisher Lars Müller, who brought out the “Sleeves of Desire” book in 1996, was at the office last week to discuss a new and updated volume of ECM cover art. Tentative plan is to realize this by the end of next year.

Best, Steve

[Steve Lake]

A couple of HT-related Dutch and Spanish events that may be of interest to travelers or local inhabitants:

Next Tuesday at 8 pm in the Goethe-Institut in Amsterdam (address Herrengracht 470) there is a book presentation and talk about the ECM label, with live music by the Marcin Wasilewski Trio. Admission is free. There is some more info on the Goethe-Institut's web site...

*

In April, the Spanish language edition of “Horizons Touched” is issued as “Tocando el horizonte” by Global Rhythm Press, with launch events at the FNAC Forums of Barcelona on April 16 and Madrid on April 17, including panel discussions and more - also open to the public. Again, all are welcome.

best


Steve

[Nakajima]

Hello Steve,

Is there a plan for a paperback edition of Horizons Touched?
I have a hardcover, but the book itself looks so georgous that I hesitate to
make underlines and notes in it.

I wish there would be a reasonable paperback edition, in which I feel free to
make notes and underlines.

Regards,

Nakajima

[Steve Lake]

Originally Posted by Nakajima

Hello Steve,

Is there a plan for a paperback edition of Horizons Touched?
I have a hardcover, but the book itself looks so georgous that I hesitate to
make underlines and notes in it.

I wish there would be a reasonable paperback edition, in which I feel free to
make notes and underlines.

Regards,

Nakajima

No plans, as far as I'm aware. I'd welcome a cheap edition also, but such decisions rest with the publisher, Granta Books.

best, Steve