The results are in from Brainwashed’s annual readers poll. It should come as no surprise that Tim Hecker won the album of the year position with his excellent Ravedeath 1971 out on Kranky. For anyone who hasn’t heard it, do yourself a favor and go pick up this record of austere piano noise heaven.
The staff at Brainwashed this year have given the lifetime achievement award to David Tibet. Here is what I have to say about one of my own personal heros:
David Tibet expanded not only my musical universe but my literary life as well. When I started delving into the albums of Current 93, I looked up as many the references as I could find and read the books that he loved, from Russell Hoban’s Riddley Walker (a big influence on one of my favorite Current 93 albums, Of Ruine Or Some Blazing Star) to Lautreamont’s Maldoror and the dark joys of Thomas Ligotti. The same is true for his musical tastes. I can’t hardly imagine what my own musical life as a listener would be like if I hadn’t been turned on by Tibet to the wonders of Shirley and Dolly Collins, to Comus, the Incredible String Band, and so many others. Tibet simply has excellent taste.
Tibet has always pursued a very personal vision. In the course of sharing that vision though he has championed the work of so many other musicians and artists I can’t count them on my fingers and toes. In doing so he has alleviated much of the worlds audio poverty.
I also continue to be excited about his work. I’m very much looking forward to reading the collected works of Eric Count Stenbock which Tibet has poured so much energy into collecting and editing. I am also always eager to learn more about his Coptic studies and his contributions in that field. David’s hypnagogic visual art, all the tiny scribblings of many moons and thieves ascending from crosses, is also stunning. It is obvious that he works hard with no signs of slowing down.
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Read the rest of the Brainwashed writer’s comments and see the rest of the results of the 2011 Brainwashed Readers Poll.
