Pynchon and me

My relationship with Pynchon books has always been funny. I bought my first one in Barcelona, I was there on holidays with a friend and there was one of this street book fairs, it was 1992, Barcelona was just refurbished after the Olympics. I bought "V" because of the portrait caught my eye, it took me a good few years to read it. I did start it several times but I never seemed to pass from page 100, then suddenly, a few years later I read it twice in nearly a week.

"There is more behind and inside V. than any of us had suspected. Not who, but what: what is she. God grant that I may never be called upon to write the answer, either here or in any official report." (Thomas Pynchon, V)

My second Pynchon was "Gravity Rainbow", I bought the two volumes for 100 pesetas in Valladolid, from a store shop that was being closed (Galerias Preciados 1995). It also took me a couple of years to read it.

"But it is a curve each of them feels, unmistakably. It is the parabola. They must have guessed, once or twice — guessed and refused to believe — that everything, always, collectively, had been moving toward that purified shape latent in the sky, that shape of no surprise, no second chance, no return. Yet they do move forever under it, reserved for its own black-and-white bad news certainly as if it were the rainbow, and they its children." (Thomas Pynchon, "Gravity Rainbow")

The next one I bought, I have not started it yet, was "Slow Learner", I was in La Crosse, WI visiting a friend and she showed me this second hand library, I got an almost new copy of the book for 25 cents. This was 1996. Early in 2000 I was preparing to move to Ireland, I bought "Mason and Dixon" almost fresh from the print, I though that a such thick book would keep me busy during the rainy Dublin evenings. I started this book several times, but it was not until this year (now living in Germany) that I have really got into reading it. I have already read 700 of its nearly 1000 pages, and I was waiting to finish the book before writing this post, but...

"It is usually not wise to discuss matters of costume with people like this, — politics or religion being far safer topics." (Thomas Pynchon, "Mason & Dixon")

There is another Pynchon in my bag, "Vineland" I bought it in Dallas in 2007 and managed to read it nearly the very same year I bought it. Quite atypical from me.

"You don't die for no motherfuckin' shadows" (Thomas Pynchon, "Vineland")

Stolen From Strangers

Long time has passed since Miyake was originally recognized as a world class Jazz trumpeter, he was back in Tokyo after a few years of study in Boston and New York. Back then he recorded a few solo albums with musicians such as Michael Brecket or Ron Carter. Soon he started writing music for commercials and movies (Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday"). His work became so popular that he was writing over 300 jingles per year. He has not stopped working since then.

Stolen from Strangers is his 21st album. As Hal Willner, former co-producer of Miyake's work, puts it in the foreword to the record "...another audio road movie, this time directed by Pedro Almodovar". Recorded between Tokyo and Paris, the place where Jun has been living for the last few years. With collaborations in vocals from Arto Lindsay, Sanseverino, the "Cosmic Voice of" Bulgaria Choir, Arthur H., Lisa Papimeau and with the subtle but precious guitar of Vinicius Catania. What catches the ear of anyone listening to Jun's music is his capacity to blend seamlessly different styles of music while at the same being able to maintain a consistent line. This is one of these albums that can be listened from beginning to end without temptations to alter the order or to skip one song. It just flows.