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(return
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National Antiseptic
was compiled from years' worth of recordings. "I had done
demos since Songs for Rosetta. Every time I got three
or four songs, I'd get a band together in a studio somewhere
and cut them. I sent Mammoth a collection of 30 or 40 [cut since
1997], and these were the ones they picked." The album's
noncommercial sound is due in part to the lack of any postproduction
sweetening. "Some of the tracks are just me and the drummer
in my attic," says Mathus. "They just stayed as they
were."
Not surprisingly, Mathus tackles a Charley
Patton composition, nailing one of his best-known tracks, "Shake
It and Break It." But he finds rearranging these tunes difficult.
"His songs are hard. I'll work on one for a year before
I'll even try to put something down. The songs aren't easy to
internalize. I could copy them verbatim, but I want to add something.
I still struggle with trying to bring more of his material out
because it is already pretty complete."
The uncut blues, gospel, hillbilly, and rockabilly
of Antiseptic is light years removed from the good-timey
Zippers, and those who come to see Mathus live aren't anticipating
a solo version of "Hell." "The response has been
real good," he states matter-of-factly in an easygoing drawl.
"Nobody that comes to see me is expecting something that
I'm not doing. They've heard the record and know it's a different
group with a different sound."
At least some of the inspiration for Antiseptic
came from the Sweet Tea sessions, a turning point in Mathus'
career. "That came about through Ethan Allen, a producer
out of New Orleans I worked with in the Squirrel Nut Zippers.
Dennis Herring, who produced the Buddy Guy record, called friends
looking for a second guitarist. Allen knew what I was into and
it ended up that I was the right man for the job."
(continue
to part 3)
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