OUW012 : John Americus Witt / Pangloss

 

Cover art by Silas Plum

OUW012 : John Americus Witt / Pangloss

The new album from John Americus Witt (see also ODG115 and OUC026) is very much of its time. Long, ponderous soundscapes, with samples, which he has rarely used.

The 4 tracks contain all some important messages from different times but still sounding so important today:
1.  The Warning - Mostly a walk into the musical space. Peaceful, but with a small warning at the end.
2.  The Promise - Contains a small speech by William Jennings Bryan in 1908. He was a liberal statesman, with a vision of a progressive future.  Short and sweet.
3.  The Broken Dream - Contains a long speech by Mario Cuomo in 1984. Another liberal statesman.  Speaking against Reagan.  Same ideas, generations later.  it's hard not to be discouraged.  The music is rougher, more crack and gain, and sometimes drowns out the pretty words, as they seem hollow after all this time.  But there is some hope in the darkness.
4.  The Plain Truth - Contains a small speech given by Will Rogers in 1924.  He was a humorist, and cowboy, and general friend of the common man.  His speech is delivered to a group of bankers, and is mostly calling them out for being mendacious hyper capitalists.
Pangloss is a word taken from Voltaire's "Candide".  Means "Unjustified Optimism".  Call me a pessimist, but it's hard to imagine this all turns around without some hard, hard times.

John Americus Witt

Pangloss is a word taken from Voltaire's "Candide".  Means "Unjustified Optimism".  Call me a pessimist, but it's hard to imagine this all turns around without some hard, hard times.

The album is released just in time for the US elections! You can change the world! Don't forget to vote!!!

Digital release on the 2nd of November 2020.

And on Bandcamp: