Inside No. 9, Season 3, Episode #30: Forever Dreaming of Loren
I start and end this mix with my two favourite miniatures from Loren. I discovered his music in the early 2000s in my 20s and I’ve followed his output ever since. He is one of those rare artists that you can identify by hearing just a few seconds of him play. No one sounds like Loren. I had seen his name on various records as I explored more experimental music as a teenager from both Thurston Moore and Jim O’Rourke; artists who guided my ears to other creatives like Keiji Haino, Alan Licht and Robert Crotty.
I never did a binged deep dive into Loren’s work, but every year I stumbled across a new record and gave it my all, finding comfort in the beauty of his ‘Airs’ and wonder in the experimental majesty and scope of his ‘Departing’ series. He has collaborated with so many incredible artists over the years and it’s rare to find someone that has kept making such deeply personal music for such a long time, especially with the difficulties he faces with Parkinson’s disease and age. Watching him live you can feel the audience hanging onto every note as he uses his masterful knowledge of the guitar to paint pictures in real time. The way he describes Robert Crotty’s music really sums up the way I feel about him.
“In my mind, he was the finest blues musician of the post-World War II generation.” LC
Whether puzzling the motions in his more dissonant works or wiping the tears away from the beauty of his ‘Airs’, one can thank the universe for creating such a unique and fiercely unique voice in music. Loren was born in 1949 in New Haven. His musical journey began in the late 1960s when he first picked up the guitar. Influenced by blues and avant-garde music, he developed a deeply personal style characterized by haunting melodies, sparse arrangements, and ethereal textures. His early works often featured improvisational techniques and a penchant for exploring the sonic possibilities of the guitar.
In the 1980s, Connors gained wider recognition with his series of albums released under the name “Loren Mazzacane.” These recordings showcased his unique blend of American Primitive guitar stylings, free improvisation, and ambient soundscapes. One of my favourite collaborations, not just for its wonderfully psychedelic artwork is his record “Meditations On The Ascension Of Blind Joe Death Vol. One” with the one and only Christina Carter. This doesn’t appear on this mix, but I implore you to go check it out. The LP often sits on my wall and spins on my turntable. But the two greatest collections of his work with others are definitely his playing with Jim O’Rourke and Robert Crotty. Both so different, yet breathtaking.
Loren’s battle with Parkinson’s has undoubtedly presented significant challenges for him personally and professionally. The disease can impact one’s ability to play musical instruments. Yet, I feel it has only helped shape his singular sounds and left him unmatched by many of his contemporaries.
If you are wondering why I refer to him by his first name it is purely arrogance on my part. I feel like he has been part of my life for half of my time on this planet and to me he is a friend; although we’ve never met. If this mix is your first time with his music I hope you fall in love as I have. If you are familiar with his work I hope this suite of music acts as a monograph to his artistic legacy. Try not to cry. I failed and I’m better for it.
If ever I was to meet the man all I would say is “Thank you”.
Outside My Window
Loren Connors
Innature
Various artists comp CD on Barge Recordings
2006
Golden Ring
Robert Crotty & Loren Connors
Robert Crotty with Me: Loren’s Collection (1979-1987)
CD on Family Vineyard
2017
You Can Stay If You Want, But I’m Going Home
Loren MazzaCane Connors & Jim O’Rourke
In Bern
CD on hatNOIR
1999
Beautiful Dreamer Part 1
Loren Connors
Beautiful Dreamer
10” LP on Family Vineyard
2020
Moonyean No. 7
Loren Mazza Cane
Moonyean
CD on Road Cone
1994
Part 1
Loren Connors & Daniel Carter
The Departing Of A Dream, Vol. VII
LP on Family Vineyard
2019
Airs No. 6
Loren Connors
Airs
LP on Recital
2015
Part 5
Darin Gray & Loren Connors
The Lost Mariner
LP on Family Vineyard
2010
Child
Loren Connors
Hell’s Kitchen Park
LP on Enabling Works
2010
Inside No. 9 is an attempt to share unique narratives through the mixing of 9 songs. Every episode will showcase a new theme, opening up new tributaries of discovery. Inside No. 9 is presented by Peter Taylor, a former features writer for Foxy Digitalis from back in the late 2000s. Peter is a visual artist and musician and has been creating music as MAbH since 2008.
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