Bill Orcutt - A New Way To Pay Old Debts

Ex-Harry Pussy man goes primal primitive

A New Way To Pay Old Debts sees Bill Orcutt, co-founder of Miami’s noise-rockers Harry Pussy, wrench some unholy primitive rawness from the four remaining strings of his vintage Kay acoustic. Frenetic bursts, reminiscent of Derek Bailey at his most chaotic and kinetic, peel away from foundations laid by the delta blues of Charley Patton and Blind Willie Johnson to bathe in the primitivist shadow of the late John Fahey.

Seemingly tumbling beyond control, ready to thwart the bidding of their old master, this series of high-end string bends and vigorous percussive flurries are like a Djinn pack released by Orcutt from a prison of wood and string. His occasional tourettes-like vocal outbursts (yelps and howls which can clearly be heard on My Reckless Parts) – drawing comparisons to the performance style of maverick classical pianist Glenn Gould – are like barked orders, a last-gasp clutch at bringing the marauding blues daemons to heel. By its conclusion, there’s little doubt that A New Way To Pay Old Debts carries too much primal racket to tame.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

Palilalia | PAL 002 LP

Reviewed by Spencer Grady
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