FREE DIRT
is a collection of very early recordings in Neil's development as a musician
(and its' title conveys his sense of ongoing humor...The idea here is every
"free dirt" sign along the road would remind potential album buyers of this
musical product!) It covers the period between 13 years old up to college days.
Billed as "The World's First Autobigraphical Musical Audio Cassette
Book, FREE DIRT has Neil narrating a series of stories about growing
up "an unconventional
mind in a conventional cowtown (Denver)" Each
story traces his unusual, humorous and sometimes unbelievable evolution as a
artist apart from mainstream values and limitations. AND, after each story
is>>>>>>>THE MUSIC, actual recordings of the music he made on whatever tape
recorder he had at hand.
Although most of the recordings were made on simple portable cassette
recorders, and the fidelity is primitive, the invention, humor, and the overall
musical/creative message is extraordinary. True spontaneous creativity is well
captured here, perhaps unsurpassed by any recording by anyone, famous or not.
This is a fun recording by any standards, and it even
has Neil's mother screaming at him- (doesn't every
budding musical pioneer have his nemesis?) during high school years
practicing
in the basement, a very funny moment. By the time
Neil
was a senior in high school he had played
on the radio, and on open stages around town, playing
some of the
most sophisticated and intelligent music you might ever hear....
on the guitar and ukulele no less.
Invisible Music
is the first multitrack recording of Neil's career
and a quantum leap in technique, sophistication, and invention.. By 1980, Neil
had formed several
bands. The band on this recording, "Tammy and The Dinettes" (again a reaction
to the over-seriousness of commercial music), spent several months
doing a fusion/space jazz thing at Free Reelin' Recording Studio in Denver
Colorado.
The music of this early recording is timeless, and
holds up because of it's original and strong
melodic ideas. Slade borrows heavily from both the Frank Zappa school of
non-convention, but also equally from Stravinsky and John McLaughlin jazz veins.
This album is a wonderful contrast to the
identity-less character which presently permeates much of
current commercial music. It is quite awesome to behold.
FREE DIRT and Invisble Music are both extremely satisfying on many
levels, and are totally unique offerings which both professional musicians and regular
listeners will enjoy. Really. I am not kidding.