The Dirty Three‘s Jim White has played with just about everyone over the years, from PJ Harvey to Nick Cave, Cat Power, Courtney Barnett and more, but he’s never made a solo album. Until now: All Hits: Memories will be out March 29 via Drag City. He co-produced the album with Guy Picciotto (Fugazi / Rites of Spring), who also co-wrote six of the 13 songs.
Bill Callahan wrote the album notes for All Hits: Memories, which read in part: “The trap kit—so straightforward, so mysterious. What’s inside those things? Air and light—from which century? Which continent? Depending on how and when you hit them, it can be a vibration sent through a prehistoric breath… the dead, wet leaves you walked through on the way to the first day of school. These are the memories of the drums on this record. Infinite and personal. Editing each other as they muscle to the front or soft shoe to the shadow. Drums are the instrument where you can feel the presence of the player the most—the full body—and sense the thoughts of the player the most. The instrument with the most choices to be made sends out the most brainwaves. A bouquet of brainwaves is on this LP.”
White has shared “Name Makes the Name,” which sets his unique drumming style against low, ominous drones. Listen to that and read the rest of Bill Callahan’s album notes below.
This is long overdue. I mean, looooooonnnnnng overdue. A solo album by Jim.
The trap kit—so straightforward, so mysterious. What’s inside those things? Air and light—from which century? Which continent? Depending on how and when you hit them, it can be a vibration sent through a prehistoric breath… the dead, wet leaves you walked through on the way to the first day of school. These are the memories of the drums on this record. Infinite and personal. Editing each other as they muscle to the front or soft shoe to the shadow. Drums are the instrument where you can feel the presence of the player the most—the full body—and sense the thoughts of the player the most. The instrument with the most choices to be made sends out the most brainwaves. A bouquet of brainwaves is on this LP.
Jim oversees it all, surveys from the lost place we’re in, the void – the drumless song. We trust. We trust, Jim. His big green eyes search for the right tool (mallet, brush, etc), eyes that search you like you’re a song he wants to join, wants to see if he can add to or understand.
Before humans, drums were playing–these drums. Genesis was a solo drum piece. After humans, these drums, this album. Someone–the last man–is out in a spaceship at the edge of space. He plays a single chord on a synth to set time free from its bind and then lets go. This album sets time free, lets it frolic, lets it graze, lets it remember.
This is a record of thoughts, memories, surgery. A deft surgical operation you may not even realize is happening as it’s happening but you’re back on your feet when it’s over. Memories refreshed.
-Bill Callahan
All Hits: Memories
1. Curtains
2. Percussion Build
3. Marketplace
4. Soft Material
5. St. Francis Place Set Up
6. Uncoverup
7. Walking the Block
8. Jully
9. Long Assemblage
10. Names Make the Name
11. No/Know Now
12. Stationary Figure
13. Here Comes