The Sodic Meadow by Jesse S. Dewlow

Mix compiled by Jesse S. Dewlow for Cashmere Radio.

“cover” image from the Alfred P. Sebastian Photography Archives 1969 ñ 1995.

more info at www.heresymuseum.com

Text from “The Sodic Meadow Introduction” written 4/21/2020 under quarantine in Philadelphia, Pa as pandemic intensifies within the city:

Hello, my name is Jesse Dewlow. I record and sometimes release music under the moniker People Skills.

I’d like to send a warm and beleaguered greeting through earths momentarily recuperating atmosphere during this strange moment.

Are we on the verge? I dont know. But i’m ready to admit that i’d rather encourage apocalypse over the myopic totalitarian rule that may be encroaching. 

Not for what it’d mean for the indigent majority of the world over the next 5 – 10 years, or because i’m particularly prepared to drink the condiments of my fridge to survive,

but for the chance that humanity could finally recognize how our complicity enables this version of the world.

I get the feeling that a resigned return to the already horrifying “normal” is more than likely. 

Which has me pushing through my usual malaise to suggest we use this moment of amplified terror to re-evaluate our priorities and the values that organize our lives. 

I’m not sure i need to apologize anymore that i’d delightfully watch all our entrepreneurial-isms fall to the wayside, our record releases flop, our openings be cancelled, all our performative productivity end if it meant we’d all finally learn to be a bit less entrenched in capital exchange. 

A bit more deliberate with our ways of existing and relating to one another. A bit more resourceful.

Encouraging insular artist communities that replicate the same stale models falls short. 

Clinging to media (such as music and art) as inherently important has always felt partially disingenuous. 

I sense a lot of us understand the injustices the system upholds, but how do we move away from the distractions and towards explicit discourse about how we already are, and could further be subverting it? 

It shouldn’t require too much imagination from this point of reference to envision the impact that unified opposition, and vigorous extraction of resources from the ruling class could have.

At least that’s what i’m spending my time daydreaming about right now.

With this on the table releasing physical music during economic collapse is just about the greatest irony i’ve achieved. 

Today my third lp People Skills – Former January Ending Through 52 Weeks is available, encouraging you to buy it would be absurd.† 

So to celebrate poor timing, impending paradigm shift, your next tv dinner, or cataclysmic dystopia, whichever you choose to brace yourself for, i’ve collected some music i feel speaks to the moment.

Some, less persona based sounds, that in some ways stand against The Spectacle. 

Music with the same awkward, minimal, woefully surrealistic atmosphere you might find in some of my releases.

It’s mostly free, sourced from the wonderful archive.org to harken a time i get rosy dreaming about. 

A time when finance was much less a part of homespun music, before there was fierce disillusionment. Call it the hey day. 

Enthusiastic micro-communities like early mail-art or the cassette trading culture of the 80’s can perhaps offer some inspiration through these recent shifts. 

If not sonicly for you then perhaps in its commitment to undermine its “value” by not directly monetizing it. 

Brace yourself and enjoy. As always, It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

Thanks for listening.