Inside No. 9, Season 4, Episode #45: How to Rescue Things
I will keep this short and sweet this month as it’s the summer holidays and I have dedicated my time to family. This mix was created amidst a heatwave and it felt right to weave together some of my favourite guitar songs in an emotionally charged, bittersweet 35 minutes. I have included some of my long-time musical loves including David Pajo, Sir Richard Bishop, James Blackshaw and Bill Orcutt. Many of these tracks are connected to special moments in my life; including the good, the bad, and the ugly.
A version of this mix popped into my head while I was walking and Pajo’s Skateboarding Saves Lives came on shuffle. As I listened I planned the audio journey, bringing to mind Joseph Allred, Jack Rose and having to definitely finish on SMOG, which I didn’t end up doing! Soon after this musical revelation I scoured my record collection and moved things around until I found the perfect order. It ends on a scene that always sends tingles up my spine, from a fantastic film by Roy Andersson; You, The Living. The scene takes place in a large concrete compartment with two newlyweds gathered in a basic kitchen. People from the city arrive outside their window to share in the couple’s celebrations. Without pomp or ceremony the apartment block starts to move like a train departing a long platform, as the townsfolk wave them off. It’s surreal and utterly beautiful. All this happens while Eric Bäckman (Deathstars) plays an incredible guitar solo. Insane.
I hope everyone has had a good summer and has been able to find some joy amidst the horror that unfolds daily around us all. I suggest popping this mix on, cracking open a cold one and escaping for half an hour in the last of the summer light.
Skateboarding Saves Lives
David Pajo
Skateboarding In Pine Ridge
2016
DL on Blazebirth Records
Holy Blue Window (for Daniel)
Joseph Allred
Fire and Earth
2016
LP on Scissor Tail
Sanctuary
Bill Orcutt
How to Rescue Things
2024
LP on Palilalia
Road
Jack Rose
Raag Manifestos
2004
LP on Eclipse Records
Space Prophet Dogon
Sir Richard Bishop
Plays Sun City Girls
2006
7″ on No-Fi
Why Keep Still?
James Blackshaw
Unraveling in Your Hands
2025
LP on Amish Records
Missy Christa
Rick Deitrick
Gentle Wilderness
1978
LP on Niodrara Records
Palimpsest
SMOG
A River Ain’t Too Much To Love
2005
LP on Domino Records
‘You, The Living’ closing scene
Eric Bäckman
You, The Living
2007
DVD on Artificial Eye
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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