Article Number: 2072
Soft Cover, English, Thread Stitching, 115 Pages, 2009,
Bruce Russell

'Left-Handed Blows: Writing On Sound 1993 - 2009'

Bruce Russell is like, the granddaddy of new music. If you think the dings and tings you're hearing in low lit performance spaces are out of this world, imagine what he's been up to for the past few decades. From the Dead C to Handful of Dust, he's made his mark by refining (and redefining) sound art from his hometown in Dunedin.

To take a leaf from Walter Benjamin's book: "Strength lies in improvisation. All the decisive blows are struck left-handed." It's a poetic introduction to the massive collection of essays, catalogues and liner notes in Left-Handed Blows. From his entirely improvised gigs, to a critical review of sound's place in culture, the book gives a great picture of how much Russell has done for sound art.

In a genre that's constantly evolving, this is a wedge of time that's been perfectly captured, edited, printed and bound (beautifully, I might add) by fellow New Zealanders and art publishers Clouds. So the next time you're blown away by the boutique sounds being played around town, you'll know to thank Russell and his left-handed blows.