Proto-Sleeves

Music we like, news, plus a (secret) song

Jack —

31 VII 69 10:26 - 10:49 PM - La Monte Young & Marian Zazeela

I listen to this a lot. It stopped me dead when I first heard it and I want to hear it often. Fearless use of the voice; open, honest, stark, yes. There are notes so long you forget when they started or what was happening before. A representation of everything and nothing. Some seed of the Sleeves is here. It feels good to be out on such a precarious limb with my friend.

Songs - Minami Saeki & Taku Sugimoto

I was introduced to Minami Saeki’s music by a journalist and now friend Jon Dale. Jon had made a comparison with some music I’d been involved with and the guitarist Taku Sugimoto. I was intrigued and listened to everything I could but his collaborations with Minami Saeki became all time favourites. When Tara and I started playing together and that morphed into us singing as well, I sent her this because I knew it would resonate… and it did. Minami/Taku are a really big inspiration to the Sleeves… just going to crow bar this in here… Minami will be performing with us at Cafe too on July 9th.

Echoes - Pink Floyd

I can’t get enough of the magic that happens when David Gilmour’s voice meets Richard Wright’s. They’re so similar in tone and the harmonies so subtle and close, it’s difficult to distinguish between them. But the world that exists between them feels alive. Evergreen footage of them in Pompeii (topless DG added bonus) - skip to 3:15 for the vocals if you’re in a rush

Tara —

I’m so close to it, that it’s difficult to think now of which other music the music of The Sleeves conjures … something different pops up every time I listen in a way I can’t predict, because the music is so loose, a new facet will present itself dependent on my mood or where I am, or what time of day etc. I like that

Listening today - here’s what comes to mind —

Asa-Chang and Junray - Nigatsu

I love with this duo that the voices sound like another instrument, as opposed to being at the fore. The fact that I can’t understand what they’re saying plays a part too - me and Jack lean into the way that the words we are singing can feel quite separate and detached, sometimes repeating them until they lose their meaning altogether

Derek Bailey and Henry Kaiser - Quick Match

The interaction, and the utilisation of space, between these two guitars throughout the whole of this album is inspiring. Zoomed in and zoomed out simultaneously

In other news —

Our self-titled album is out today via 12XU, go go go! Very excited. Special thanks to Jim Wallis for mixing and to Natal Zaks for the artwork

Some lovely press

Interview with Cath Roberts of God is in the TV

Album review from Killian Laher of No More Workhorse

Album review number 2 from Rosy Overdrive

We also had the pleasure of doing a live session for Time is Away (Jack Rollo)’s ‘Early Bird Show’ on NTS which aired this morning. Featuring versions of ‘A Door Swings’, ‘Empty Thoughts’ and ‘You, Now Again’

And finally, a gift from us to you - attached is a live version of ‘Rip It Up’, 7th track on the album. Enjoy..!

Lots of love,

The Sleeves