We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

La chanson de Bladud

by Jonathan Adjemian

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 CAD  or more

     

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

about

In a fitful attempt to connect positively with my Anglo-Saxon heritage, I came across Bladud / Baldudus, the legendary king who built wings to fly and who created the steam baths at Bath (after having caught leprosy while studying in Athens, leaving society and then watching the pigs he was herding heal themselves by rolling in the mud. At first, I thought his flying escapade had been successful - unlike Icarus - but it turns out he also crashed and died. The Roman name Baldudus also sounds like a good name for a bald little dude, so it became (one of) the in utero names for a baby on the way.

The baby turned out to have quite a bit of hair, for what it’s worth. These pieces are piano improvisations from early parenting -- something like 5-6 months in -- recorded in moments home alone on a zoom recorder. There’s plenty of noise from me kicking things, leaving glasses on top of the piano, forgetting to turn off the fan, and so on. Matt Smith made it all sound much better than I thought possible, thank you very much. Tracks 3 and 6 are outtakes from a collaboration with LAL for their phenomenal record “Spectacular.” They were very gentle and understanding with the weird energy and rhythm of that time, thank you. Track 3 appeared originally as a Hover Puffin song on a Healing Power Records comp; thanks to the HPR fam for endless support over the years. And huge thanks to Wolf for again letting me use his beautiful artwork to accompany the music. Thanks especially to Hadar and Rafi for making space and life and beauty and stuff like that.

Once upon a time I deeply disappointed my parents by encouraging my peers to emulate Icarus. I offer these wee jams in recognition. Music is a great source of healing, of course, but also generally just a way of passing time. Ideally this would be music for watching the barley sway gently in the fields, the surf spray up on jagged rocks, and swallows wheeling in a cloudy sunset sky. But things being as they are, it's also appropriate for late-night device-watching in some stricken basement apartment, staving off doom at the edge of consciousness. May we all end up somewhere more consoling.

credits

released August 4, 2023

mix and mastering - Matt Smith
cover painting - Ron Wolf

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jonathan Adjemian Toronto, Ontario

Toronto-based keyboardist, composer and sound designer, frequent collaborator in music & dance. Also fond of education, food, municipal parks.

electronic work at hooverparty.bandcamp.com

contact / help

Contact Jonathan Adjemian

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Jonathan Adjemian, you may also like: