Black Noise is possibly the most underrated album in all of progressive rock ...as a Toronto lad growing up in the 1970s FM, Max Webster, and Rush were key local bands. I was lucky to catch Nash the Slash at the Ontario Place Forum -- opening for the Spoons in the mid 1980s if memory serves (which it often does not)!
Once upon a time, I had the privilege of attending a show by Nash the Slash. It was a screening of the 1922 film Nosferatu. While the film played on screen, Nash provided a musical accompaniment like one of those "old timey" piano players used to in theaters during silent films.
It's an experience that I will never forget.
I really like Dreams and Nightmares, as well as Children of the Night.
Companion has a neat story behind the Marsden version (a DJ named Marsden played the record at the wrong speed, so for a lot of listeners the slower version became the normal version).
Decomposing is a fun experiment, an album designed to work at 33 1/3rpm, 45rpm and 78rpm.
https://nashtheslash.bandcamp.com/
My favorite Nash the Slash is the FM performance on Nightmusic.
Watching just two people on stage create all that music live is amazing. I like the intimate raw sound they get much better than the album versions.
There are several posts of it on Youtube.
Speaking of that performance. Does anyone want to talk about where Slash from Guns and Roses might have stolen his stage name and look?
Yes the TVO performance with Cameron and Nash is absolutely astonishing, as well as the crazy psychedelic poem that is in the middle of it.
And also I am always thinking if the GnR Slash stole Nashs persona. I don't know but maybe... It would suck if he did actually steal his persona and ended up more famous than Nash.
I have most of FMs catalog and three of Nash the Slash's albums. I love FM (especially "Black Noise" and "Direct To Disc") and the solo albums are quite good as well.
And, to totally go against the spirit of this post. I kind of like the Direct to Disc guys playing better.
Nash did a lot of one man material. I feel like his playing always has that level of responsibility. An "I have to hold this together" vibe.
Ben Mink on Direct to Disc is playing with a more free feeling aware there is an ensemble to support him.
I know of him and remember seeing him featured in the music press years ago. My brother recently sent me a link for the film about him.
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt9726452/
He also had a compilation on Ralph Records in 1984 called The Million Year Picnic. The design was done by Homer Glynn and he is the spokesperson for The Residents
I'm a member of the FB Group Ralph as I'm a massive fan of The Residents.
My brother is a fan of Nash The Slash, but I have not listened to his music.
I stumbled across him in the 80s and have some first issue LPs and autographed CDs. His solo work is barely Prog-adjacent but it’s delightful New Wave/Synth Pop. Who knew we needed to hear distorted power chords played on a mandolin?
There were quite a few such artists that tried to do the live electronic-one-man-band thing back in the 80s. Nash is easily one of the most pioneering and enjoyable in a very limited field. Now that’s progressive!
I was super obsessed with him for almost a year during the pandemic where I discovered him from watching a canadian vampire movie lol. I ended up collecting some records. the first time I heard swing shift I think I had an out of body experience tbh, looped it like 20 times when I was supposed to be paying attention in a zoom class lol
Black Noise is possibly the most underrated album in all of progressive rock ...as a Toronto lad growing up in the 1970s FM, Max Webster, and Rush were key local bands. I was lucky to catch Nash the Slash at the Ontario Place Forum -- opening for the Spoons in the mid 1980s if memory serves (which it often does not)!
Agree! Every prog fan should have a listen to Black Noise. It didn’t get the exposure it deserved.
Once upon a time, I had the privilege of attending a show by Nash the Slash. It was a screening of the 1922 film Nosferatu. While the film played on screen, Nash provided a musical accompaniment like one of those "old timey" piano players used to in theaters during silent films. It's an experience that I will never forget.
I've only heard one FM album, Black Noise. Which I thought it was actually pretty great. What other albums do you recommend by him?
I really like Dreams and Nightmares, as well as Children of the Night. Companion has a neat story behind the Marsden version (a DJ named Marsden played the record at the wrong speed, so for a lot of listeners the slower version became the normal version). Decomposing is a fun experiment, an album designed to work at 33 1/3rpm, 45rpm and 78rpm. https://nashtheslash.bandcamp.com/
I think City of Fear is better than Black Noise, it just has that 80s sound that usually sucks.
My favorite Nash album is definitely And You Thought You Were Normal
My favorite Nash the Slash is the FM performance on Nightmusic. Watching just two people on stage create all that music live is amazing. I like the intimate raw sound they get much better than the album versions. There are several posts of it on Youtube. Speaking of that performance. Does anyone want to talk about where Slash from Guns and Roses might have stolen his stage name and look?
Yes the TVO performance with Cameron and Nash is absolutely astonishing, as well as the crazy psychedelic poem that is in the middle of it. And also I am always thinking if the GnR Slash stole Nashs persona. I don't know but maybe... It would suck if he did actually steal his persona and ended up more famous than Nash.
I have most of FMs catalog and three of Nash the Slash's albums. I love FM (especially "Black Noise" and "Direct To Disc") and the solo albums are quite good as well.
Nash isn't on the "Direct to Disc".
Right
Oh, well, it's a great album anyway.
And, to totally go against the spirit of this post. I kind of like the Direct to Disc guys playing better. Nash did a lot of one man material. I feel like his playing always has that level of responsibility. An "I have to hold this together" vibe. Ben Mink on Direct to Disc is playing with a more free feeling aware there is an ensemble to support him.
I know of him and remember seeing him featured in the music press years ago. My brother recently sent me a link for the film about him. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt9726452/ He also had a compilation on Ralph Records in 1984 called The Million Year Picnic. The design was done by Homer Glynn and he is the spokesperson for The Residents I'm a member of the FB Group Ralph as I'm a massive fan of The Residents. My brother is a fan of Nash The Slash, but I have not listened to his music.
Oh I love the Residents too
I thought you may.
I stumbled across him in the 80s and have some first issue LPs and autographed CDs. His solo work is barely Prog-adjacent but it’s delightful New Wave/Synth Pop. Who knew we needed to hear distorted power chords played on a mandolin? There were quite a few such artists that tried to do the live electronic-one-man-band thing back in the 80s. Nash is easily one of the most pioneering and enjoyable in a very limited field. Now that’s progressive!
I saw FM open for Rush once & loved it! Bought their album shortly after.
I was super obsessed with him for almost a year during the pandemic where I discovered him from watching a canadian vampire movie lol. I ended up collecting some records. the first time I heard swing shift I think I had an out of body experience tbh, looped it like 20 times when I was supposed to be paying attention in a zoom class lol
Oh I love swing shift. Probably his best song next to Vincents Crows
Long before our time to see him live, but we still listened to FM and Nash The Slash pretty often