Leimer, K.

Land Of Look Behind

Palace Of Lights

LP $16.00

01/27/2017 700261447155

POL 09V

CD $12.00

01/27/2017 885767499881

POL 10 2013

MP3 $9.90

01/27/2017 700261447155

FLAC $11.99

01/27/2017 700261447155

BACK IN STOCK!!! Received an 8.2 rating from Pitchfork.
Alan Greenberg, who wrote and directed this film documenting the funeral of Bob Marley, provided K. Leimer with location tapes which were used to originate many of the rhythmic patterns for Land of Look Behind. Originally released in 1982, this album was remastered and reissued on CD in 2013, and on LP in 2017. Loops of the monologues and phrases that exhibited more distinctive cadences and pacing, the words, glottal stops, clicks and coughs of witnesses were used as cues for the percussion instruments. In effect, speech became the organizing principle of the musical score. By eliminating the accuracy of click tracks, musicians were prompted to rove through the inconsistent intervals of the voice-derived patterns. Also included is a four-page insert featuring an essay by Paul Dickow. An excerpt:

“While acknowledging that the film and the album might have divergent paths, it's interesting to note what remains similar between them: the contemplation on mystery and the meditative nature of Rastafarian ritual. Both the album and film seek to honor deeply contemplative, musical traditions of the people who live at the frontier of Cockpit Country. If this album were made today, the sonic material of reggae itself might become the focus. But for both Greenberg and Leimer, it’s meditative practice itself that becomes the inspiration.”
– Paul Dickow

K. Leimer founded Palace of Lights in 1979. Leimer’s early work has recently been reissued by Autumn and RVNG, and his early cassette work is in the critically acclaimed VOD box set American Cassette Culture. Leimer has been actively producing music since the mid 1970s — his current catalog includes seventeen albums plus two collaborative albums with Marc Barreca.

Leimer’s work is included in the collection of The British Library.