2017 blue vinyl repress. 2013 RSD release. Paean To Wilson is arguably Vini Reilly and the Durutti Column's most important and consistent piece of work since the demise of the original and seminal Factory Records in the early 1990s.
It was commissioned by the MIF (Manchester International Festival of Music), in July of 2009. Vini had already composed pieces for Tony to listen to while he was ill in the hospital and it was from here that the project developed. The bonus disc first appeared in 2005 via Wilson's project F4, the fourth version of Factory Records. Originally it was a download-only release, Heaven Sent (It Was Called Digital, It Was Heaven Sent), then was issued on CD in 2010.
Chronicle, by The Durutti Column, is released on Kooky as a very limited, special and expanded version to acknowledge Vini Reilly's 60th year of his life; thus Chronicle LX XL. The partly autobiographical album was first commissioned for a performance in April 2011 at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. During this period, Vini and Poppy (his girlfriend of 9 years) parted company and it was a heartbroken Vini that went on to complete the production. Despite the breakup, Poppy had agreed to perform on piano that evening for two of the songs that she had written with Vini accompanying on guitar. Over the following three years, the artist has battled serious illness and has not played a full show since.
It was - and still is - a very difficult time physically, mentally and emotionally for Vini Reilly. The compositions reflect a particular stage in Vini's recent life.
At the Bridgewater Hall show, a pre-release limited edition CD was available for that evening only, with a note by Vini explaining the background to the new work. Chronicle began as an autobiographical project, marking particular moments in Vini's past. Although elements of this surfaced in the original Chronicle, events in his life while recording the album brought a new twist to the project. Bruce Mitchell (drums and percussion): 'So there are two versions of Chronicle.
We did a special edition for the gig at the Bridgewater Hall, where people could get the album as part of a premium ticket deal. In 2011, we premiered the music there, with all Vini's photographs up on the screen. That was the last gig, really.
The following day, Phil Cleaver from Kooky said he'd got back home to find his emails full of requests from the audience to buy one. So they all sold out, immediately. But soon afterwards Vin became really ill.' 'It was a big, expensive recording, Chronicle. And Vin, despite being ill, did this further version. So there's Chronicle 1 and Chronicle 2.
What I wanted Vini to do as a composer was something similar to Elgar's 'Enigma Variations' - a piece of music about certain people in a life. I wanted him to do this and link the music to photographs he'd taken over the years.
Durutti Column The Return Of The Durutti Column Rare
Vin's a great photographer.' However, Reilly remains The Durutti Column's indisputable leader, and had the last say. Bruce continues: 'I didn't quite get what I wanted, because in the end, Vini wanted the album to be about his life at this point in time. We couldn't finish it for a while because Vin was in such a bad way. But now it's there. And we've got some very interesting, very powerful music on this.'
In a package that continues The Durutti Column's tradition of innovation, this record is only available in special packaging containing personal images from the artist's camera and photographic collection. Continuing the autobiographical theme, the packaging acknowledges previous releases through parts of its design. A foil blocked burgundy textured clamshell box will contain: a full-color saddle-stitched booklet with an introduction by Bruce Mitchell and a collage of photographs from Vini's own personal collection. It also includes a printed sandpaper insert, a map (randomly selected one of six) redrawn in 'Obey the Time purple and yellow' showing a place of importance to the artist, a grey card certificate in a custom envelope, and two CDs in pochettes. Each box set will have a map and grey card certificate.
There are no plans to release this in any other format at present and this will be strictly limited to 1,000 copies only; worldwide. Features: Caoilfhionn Rose Birley (piano & vocals), Jill Taylor (vocals), Billy Rance (vocals), Keir Stewart (guitar, piano, harmonica), Vin Reilly (vocals, guitar), and Bruce Mitchell (drums). 2013 repress, originally issued 2010. A Paean to Wilson was arguably The Durutti Column's most important and consistent piece of work since the demise of Factory Records in the early 1990s. Manchester International Festival of Music commissioned it for their festival in July 2009. Vini Reilly had already composed pieces for Tony Wilson to listen to while he was ill in the hospital and it was from here that the project developed.
Durutti Column Pitchfork
With Reilly and drummer Bruce Mitchell augmented by bass, keyboard, violin, electric piano, drum machine, and trumpet, the band's beautiful pieces reflected Wilson's love of rock and classical. Reilly's plangent guitar work showed grief's emotional spectrum, from sadness to overdriven anger. As in life, Wilson had the last word, his recorded voice expounding thoughts on Socialism with an eerie echo. Ever-critical of Vini's voice, but ever a fierce champion of his talent, the late Tony Wilson would surely appreciate this instrumental tribute by The Durutti Column.
Durutti Column Discogs
2013 repress. Arguably the seminal Durutti Column album, the ironically-titled Vini Reilly is now available remastered and expanded into a two-disc set.
First released in 1989, Vini Reilly features the extensive use of sampling, with looped vocals employed as the basis for several tracks. Disc two was curated from a TDK tape which was found in a storage box. It was marked 'sampler tunes' and contained all the material released. Much of this has not been heard for several years, being the demos and sketches which were used by Vini during the making of the record in London. 2013 release. 'After debut album The Return of the Durutti Column was released, Vini Reilly decided to record its follow-up himself on a four-track cassette deck at home.
Teaming up with drummer and fellow Manchester native Bruce Mitchell, the second Durutti Column album LC (named after Lotta Continua, a far-left radical Italian group) was another inspired musical collaboration. Though self-produced, the album retained traces of Reilly's earlier work with Martin Hannett. This second set of evocative electric guitar compositions features a melding of Reilly's urbane, contemplative style with Mitchell's crisp, deliberate drumming. LC opens with 'Sketch for Dawn (1)', incorporating Reilly's unadorned spoken / sung vocals. The duo syncs up perfectly on album highlights such as the up-tempo 'Jacqueline,' the intimate 'Messidor,' and 'The Missing Boy,' a tribute to Reilly's friend Ian Curtis of Joy Division.'
2013 repress. 'The second Durutti Column album, originally released on Factory Records in 1981, marked the departure of producer Martin Hannett (Joy Division, Buzzcocks) and the addition of drummer Bruce Mitchell, who would remain a longtime collaborator with chief member, guitarist Vini Reilly. LC is as powerful as the debut, a fantastic collection of guitar excursions that transcend genre.
This is also the first album to feature Reilly's speak-sing vocal style on a number of songs (including 'The Missing Boy' a tribute to the recently deceased leader of Joy Division, Ian Curtis). Another stellar album.' 1998 CD reissue of the 5th Durutti Column album, originally issued by Factory in 1985. Live recording from Tokyo, April, 1985. Line up of: Vini Reilly (vocals, guitar, piano), Bruce Mitchell (perc., xylophone, DMX), Tim Kellett (trumpet), John Metcalfe (viola). CD includes 3 bonus tracks: 'Our Lady Of The Angles' & 'White Rabbit' (from the 1987 The City Of Our Lady 12' on Factory) & 'When The World' from the 1987 Our Lady Of The Angels CD EP.
'The airy and alluring 70-minute-long Domo Arigato CD, recorded live at a 1985 Tokyo concert appearance by Reilly (singing and playing a bit of piano), drummer Mitchell (doubling on xylophone), John Metcalfe (viola) and Tim Kellett (trumpet), draws its material from all of DC's prior releases and has beautifully clear sound.'