The name Erik Lindgren was not familiar to me at first glance (nor, for that matter, was the name of the currently-more-famous celebrity poker player Erick Lindgren), but it turns out I have heard his work before - and even covered it on this blog. Lindgren has lived all over and been affiliated with many different groups over the past few decades (including the unfortunately named Space Negros), but at one time he lived in Boston (my hometown) and was a founding member of Birdsongs of the Mesozoic, one of my early experimental music loves. (Who just played for the last time at Johnny D's in Somerville last month! Dang it.)
Polar Yet Tropical was Lindgren's solo debut, and its bizarre mix of blown-out covers and original instrumental tracks seems to have really scratched an itch at KCMU, along with much of the rest of the output of Lindgren's Arf Arf label. I wish I'd picked up a copy in my days flipping through the bins at Mystery Train or Cheapo Records in Cambridge, but for now this youtube clip of Lindgren's take on the Stooges classic "I Wanna Be Your Dog" will have to suffice.
"Recognize this name? I think he's pals with Roger MIller. He is also the driving force behind this label, which currently has 3 discs in rotation. BRILLIANT!! Side one is garage rock re-revisited and re-garaged. Side two is original instrumental music. 1.4 has appeared on a Glass Records' compilation and was credited to the Space Negroes [sic], another Arf Arf outfit.""Hey Jon W. It's Martin Swope on a couple songs."
"'Iron Man' is kinda different than the version I heard on Mr. Ang's school bus when I was in 7th grade. It's almost too scary now."
"Oh my FUCKING GOD."
"Grow up, Phil."
"He's right!"
"Side 2 has lots of possibilities for music mixing & variety. Side 1?"
"Brian who? Why is this in H? Put 'Any Day Now' in here instead."
"It's in H because the two cool dogs on the label deemed it so, goob."
"Erik also plays on the Space Negros record."
"I love cover songs! Move it up pull-eeze!"
How appropriate that I should be blogging about this album on the very week KEXP (formerly KCMU)'s vinyl library is being disintegrated, the records removed from their dusty shelves and boxed up to be transported to the shiny, sexy new home. (I hope you guys are careful with those little paper labe…
