Life is a mess punctuated by miniature perfections&glimdash;nts of light in dark and deep midnight pools. Many artists have devoted themselves to exploring those waters, but few have been successful in illustrating the suspension and weightless other-ness of them the way that Arthur Russell did.

It is probably unfair to try for a biopic in this format (there are plenty of great articles to choose from). But it does seem fitting that we continue this unofficial queer-musicians-week at Trrill with arguably the most inspired gay composer of the past thirty years. Arthur Russell has been heralded as an accidental innovator and (posthumous) influence. He himself felt torn between the desire to be a recognized figure in late 70's and early 80's New York club scene, and his innate tethering to a more cloistered life of effusive and private creation. What came out of that struggle was a rich library of over 1,000 hours of tape?often sketches and rough mixes for half-finished ideas, with Russell singing and mumbling abstract lyrics along with his playing the cello. He did manage to release several successful 12" records and an LP, World of Echo (recently re-released on Audika). But perhaps the most revealing work was that which was never released in his lifetime; he refused to let go of most of his material even in the last years of his life (he died alone in 1992, of AIDS-related complications).

In this recently unearthed sketch material, we find Arthur Russell when he was his most free—drifting about from surface to shadow in the space created by the folksy, disembodied head-voice of his Iowa-born baritone. His lyrics, loosely needled together by repeated mantras, are gossamer-like in their delicacy. "Get Around to It" darts innocently—playfully, evenmdash;&around the childlike simplicity and the purity of pleasure in the physical touch of a lover. Around this jellied ghost of melody and echo turns the refracted chords of a synth and the gently surging current of Arthur Russell's cello.


MP3 Arthur Russell - Get Around to It

Show me what the girl does to the boy
If you can get around to it.
Show me what the girl does.

Show me what the girl does to the boy
If you can get around to it.

Show me what d-do you most enjoy
If you can get around to it.

Learnin' more about you…
I hope it's never ever finished!
What it's like when I am
Your new toy,
If you can get around to it.

I get excited.
You get excited.
Why should you fight it?

Sex with you—
Bein' right next you—
Won't do it.
Bein' right next to you—
The two of us—
Won't do it.
Bein' so kind to me.