09.02.2020
ELVIS COSTELLO’S AUGUST SURPRISE
“At Least The Emperor Nero Had An Ear For Music
But That’s History”
August 28th sees the surprise delivery of Elvis Costello’s “Phonographic
Memory”, described as “the B-Side of the recently released, “We Are All
Cowards Now””. This new release will be available due entirely to the
miracle of digital download or streaming.
“Phonographic Memory” imagines a post-war ceremony involving an archive
recording of the voice of Orson Welles and someone identified only as,
“President Swift”.
Here is an extract from this futuristic tale:
“After the peace was negotiated and the internet switched off, knowledge
returned to its medieval cloister, in this and that illuminated volume,
the jealous possession of the pious and the superstitious, who might
once again wield ignorance like a scythe.”
The recording takes the form of a short story recited over an open-tuned
acoustic guitar soundtrack and as such is unique in Costello’s recorded
catalogue.
“Phonographic Memory” will only be available in this “B-Side” edition,
in the tradition of “My Funny Valentine”, “Big Tears” and “Hoover
Factory” just a few of Costello’s acclaimed B-sides of yesteryear.
“They’re draping stones with colours and a roll of stolen names except
those we never cared about and those we need to blame”
These lines come from “We Are All Cowards Now”, the last of three
Helsinki Sound recordings that will be found on Costello’s forthcoming
album “Hey Clockface”, which will be released on October 30th.
‘Phonographic Memory’ Available Now
Look out for the next installment of this intriguing story on September
11th.
Listen To ‘Phonographic Memory’