Beulah Land

Arthur Russell-Love is Overtaking Me (Part 1) *Link Fixed*




Arthur Russell-Love is Overtaking Me (Part 2)



Most of you who are familiar with Arthur Russell are almost certainly more aware of his work as an innovative disco producer than of the work compiled on Love is Overtaking Me. Audika's fifth installment in a series of re-issues of Arthur Russell's still under-appreciated body of work, Love is Overtaking Me is comprised of 21 demos and home recordings of unreleased pop, country, and folk. In keeping with the majority of Russell's work the songs here are intensely personal. Deeply affecting without being obtrusive, heartfelt without becoming overbearing. However, having been stripped of the more existential tendencies of much of his previous work to evolve endlessly, a testament to his near legendary penchant for constant revision (it's been stated that since his death from aids in 1992 there have been discovered over 1,000 tapes of unreleased material, 40 of which are re-workings of one piece), these songs become arguably some of his most accessible. There is familiarity coded in the dna of this record. In the dethawed chorus of 'Oh Fernanda Why' and the plinking metronomic meditation 'Love Comes Back'. In the post adolescent monotone of 'Time Away', vaguely reminiscent of Jonathan Richmann's crooning for The Modern Lovers. Coincidentally, Arthur recruited Ernie Brooks of the Modern Lovers for his band The Flying Hearts from '75 to '79. One of many cultural figures influenced by Arthur's music, including John Cage, Allen Ginsberg, John Hammond, David Byrne, and Rhys Chatham. Love is Overtaking Me's tracks were selected by Audika's Steve Knutson, Ernie Brooks, and Russell's partner/holder of estate Tom Lee. who has also provided extensive liner notes illustrating unparalleled perspective of Russell's work. Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear contributed to mixing, restoration, and editing of the album.

Love is Overtaking Me, being as a whole, a powerfully intimate portrait of a musical personality as unique and vital as Arthur Russell stands to defend a statement written about Russell at the time of his death: "his songs were so personal, that it seems as though he simply vanished into his music."


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