Charcoal Sketches

Following on the recent success of the Kirchin recording “Quantum”, Trunk is pleased to release these two superb lost and unreleased “mini albums” by the great man. Both are very different recordings, but are important missing parts of the mysterious musical life of Basil Kirchin. The first part - “Charcoal Sketches” were tracks recorded before “Quantum”. They represent the initial musical jottings made by Basil before he built up his ideas into the magnificent avant garde opus we all know and love (and if you don;t know it you really should. Buy Quantum right here right now). Anyway, the music here is far gentler than “Quantum”, at the time Basil knew where he was headed musically - these were the first tentative steps into a new sonic world. The session dates from about 1970, just before the main avant garde sessions commenced. It’s difficult to be more precise but the main thing is it’s here now and very beautiful it is too. You’ll hear some fine and very different instrumentation, which includes sublime piano and even the early use of slightly manipulated birdsong. This trio of “Sketches” is truly delightful and very different to anything you may have heard before. The Second part - “States Of Mind” was a recording made by Basil in the late 60s for a medical documentary about mental disorders. The film was only shown at the medical conference in Earls Court (circa 1968) and has since been lost, as have all the cue sheets and notation. As a result, Trunk has employed Dr Rachel Genn, a London based brain specialist, to write the sleevenotes and title all the tracks based on the disorders they represent. The results are both touching and weird. The music itself explores the sound of paranoia, the frustration of Parkinsons Disease, the struggling damaged mind and more besides. It’s important to note that this recording represents an early collaboration between Kirchin and the avant garde “God” Evan Parker, and this has to be one of the first times Parker is captured blowing in his new, “free” style.

Both LP and CD versions are out of stock, and it's unlikely will be repressed. Digital is available.