Loren MazzaCane Connors
...Or Loren Connors, or Loren Mazzacane, or Guitar Roberts! There is only one word that comes to mind when I think of Connors' music: devastating! Whether an album leans towards the noisier side or the mellower side of his artistic persona, there is something about it that is simply overwhelming. It might hypnotize you or make the hairs on your neck raise, but on thing is for sure: it won't leave you indifferent; you'll either love it or hate it. A particular thing about Connors' records, and this has become his trademark sound, is that no matter what kind of album you're getting, there will always be hiss in the background, as if the records were made using a bargain bin tape recorder and using cheap discarded cassettes that were taped over many times. This was off-putting for me at first. The hiss can be bothersome at times as it often covers up the music like a thick blanket, muffling the sound. This soon becomes more charming than disturbing however, and you rapidly get used to it. I can't say I love all of this artists' albums on an equal level. The quality of his output varies quite a bit, but all are worth investigating.
I was first introduced to his music while in a music store in Montreal, someone suggested an album of his when I asked for something along the same vein as the works of Keiji Haino. I would later find out the two had collaborated on more than one occasion before. When I heard the name MazzaCane on this occasion, I mistook him for Throbbing Gristle muse Monte Cazazza (making a fool out of myself at the same time)! But then again, I didn't know any of these two artists back then. I passed on the album (In Twilight) because I was really out for some Haino material at that point but kept the name in mind. It was on emusic.com that I finally got my first taste of this man's music and boy was I stunned! It was the strangest and most beautiful music I had heard in a long time! When at his most gentle, the music sounds so fragile it feels as if it could break into millions of pieces at the slightest disturbance, but when he shifts into high gear and pulls out his distortion pedal, things can get quite ugly and earth-shattering. It is fascinating to hear these two sides and make a parallel with his life. It is known that Connors has went through some hard times during his life and he now suffers from Parkinson's disease; maybe it's just my imagination, but some of the turmoil comes through very brightly in his instrumental work, his choice of subject matter and even drawings (which sometimes grace his album covers). This is a man bearing his soul through sound, communicating with his beautifully melancholic guitar phrasings or wrathful feedback.

Unaccompanied Accoustic Guitar Improvisations Vol. 1-9 1979-1980
Label: Ecstatic Peace/Father Yod Release: 1979-1980 Format: 4CD Cat. no: E#101/FYCD#11-14 |
Song list: |
CD 1:- Vol. 1 (32:41)
- Vol. 2 (34:13)
CD 2:- Vol. 3 (Edited) (33:31)
- Vol. 4 (37:46)
CD 3:- Vol. 5 (32:40)
- Vol. 6 (35:06)
CD 4:- Vol. 7 (Edited) (13:24)
- Vol. 8 (34:54)
- Vol. 9 (Unissued) (24:51)
|
In Pittsburgh
Label: Dexter's Cigar Release: 1989 Format: CD Cat. no: DEX7 |
Song list: |
- Trouble In Mind (4:16)
- Prelude 1 (2:24)
- Trouble In Mind 2 (1:57)
- Prelude 2 (2:14)
- Wish Train (3:25)
- Child's Blues (3:58)
- Fallen Son (3:17)
- Blue Ghost Blues (6:12)
|
Rooms
Label: St. Joan Records Release: 1990 Format: CD Cat. no: ST.J.17 |
Song list: |
- Grip My Hand (3:04)
- Blues No. 25 (4:04)
- Blues No. 10 (Fallen Son) (3:14)
- Blues No. 12 (3:53)
- Blues No. 13 (1:08)
- Blues No. 15 (1:42)
- Blues No. 16 (2:17)
- Blues No. 19 (3:19)
- Blues No. 23 (4:14)
- Blues No. 24 (Midnight) (4:21)
- Blues No. 26 (The Cup) (2:35)
- Blues No. 27 (1:58)
- Blues No. 28 (2:07)
- Blues No. 29 (2:22)
- Blues No. 30 (Palms) (3:32)
- Can't Forget (2:43)
- Blues No. 31 (2:36)
|
Come Night
Label: St. Joan Records/Nonsequitur Foundation/¿What Next? Recordings Release: 1991 Format: CD Cat. no: WN 0004 |
Song list: |
- Take Me Up (2:19)
- Flames (2:20)
- The Dream Comes (3:53)
- Never The Blues (4:26)
- The Cave (1:39)
- In The Sunrise (3:09)
- Leaves (1:06)
- Almost You (1:04)
- Sure (2:19)
- Tell Me Where (1:57)
- No Words (2:30)
- Still Bound (2:24)
- Spectres (1:29)
- Willow (9:07)
- Cross Town (2:09)
- Too Late (2:21)
|
Hell's Kitchen Park
Label: Black Label Release: 1993 Format: CD Cat. no: BL9301 |
Song list: |
- Mother & Son (2:22)
- New Morning (1:30)
- Father's Dream (2:07)
- 10th Ave. (3:12)
- An Air (1:21)
- The McCaffrey Playground (5:28)
- Out Alone (3:19)
- Hell's Kitchen Park (2:21)
- Child (1:46)
- Death Avenue (2:11)
- Sorrow In The House (2:32)
- Brigid's Song (1:27)
|
Moonyean
Label: Road Cone Release: 1994 Format: CD Cat. no: ROCO 008 |
Song list: |
- Untitled (2:03)
- Untitled (2:32)
- Untitled (1:27)
- Untitled (1:29)
- Untitled (2:11)
- Untitled (1:09)
- Untitled (1:53)
- Untitled (1:39)
- Untitled (1:59)
- Untitled (4:55)
- Untitled (2:36)
- Untitled (2:53)
- Untitled (2:02)
|
9th Avenue
Label: Black Label Release: 1994 Format: CD Cat. no: BLACK 3 |
Song list: |
- Thunderbird (1:31)
- 9th Ave (6:10)
- Stilled Wind (1:45)
- Dawn On 47th (2:31)
- Shadows (3:12)
- In Cushman Row (3:29)
- Cardboard Pillow (1:07)
- O'Connor's Last Air (2:57)
- Prayer (2:02)
- Little Wind (1:35)
- Siren (2:53)
- Untitled (2:53)
|
Hell! Hell! Hell! Hell! Hell!
Label: The Lotus Sound Release: 1997 Format: CD Cat. no: TLS003 |
Song list: |
- Untitled (2:25)
- Untitled (1:55)
- Untitled (1:57)
- Untitled (3:10)
- Untitled (3:12)
- Untitled (1:43)
- Untitled (1:20)
- Untitled (2:24)
- Untitled (2:39)
- Untitled (2:19)
- Untitled (1:56)
- Untitled (2:17)
|
Calloden Harvest
Label: Road Cone Release: 1997 Format: CD Cat. no: ROCO 018 |
Song list: |
- Premonition (25:48)
- Enemy (2:13)
- Wild Night (3:41)
- Come Death, Lord Cromwell (7:14)
- First Light (3:46)
- A Calling (2:54)
- The Road To Drumassy (3:38)
- No Way Home (3:46)
- Calloden Harvest (3:37)
|
The Bridge
Label: Megalon Records Release: 1997 Format: CD Cat. no: MEG 03 |
Song list: |
- The Bridge (31:35)
|
The Carmelites
Label: P-Vine Records Release: 1997 Format: CD Cat. no: PCD-5139 |
Song list: |
- The Carmelites (2:43)
- Those Of Us (1:34)
- The Bell (2:40)
- Forever Gone (2:17)
- These Walls (1:36)
- Hidden Hands (2:29)
- A Breath, A Touch, A Stone (2:01)
- Succession Of Sins (2:36)
- Night Prayer (2:11)
- Body And Soul (3:04)
- Angel Of The Wall (2:07)
- Temptation (2:03)
- Tomorrow (1:01)
|
Evangeline
Label: Road Cone Release: 1998 Format: CD Cat. no: ROCO 021 |
Song list: |
- Evangeline (1:11)
- Dance Acadia (1:14)
- Ships (1:11)
- The Burning Of Grand Pre (1:30)
- Two Paths (3:01)
- The Bridegroom Of Snow (7:44)
- Voice Of The Ocean, "Despair Not!" (4:44)
- Once You Touched Me (2:14)
- Jesuits (1:33)
- Sister Of Mercy (1:37)
- His Room (In The Almshouse) (1:24)
- Oh, My Beloved (1:21)
- Gabriel Dies (2:01)
- Evangeline (1:05)
|
In Twilight
Label: Alien8 Recordings Release: 1999 Format: CD Cat. no: ALIENCD11 |
Song list: |
- Part 1 (29:11)
- Part 2 (19:42)
|
St. Vincent's Newsboy Home
Label: Item Recordings Release: 1999 Format: CD Cat. no: 9901D |
Song list: |
- Extra, Extra Read All About It! (1:25)
- Inside The Cruelty Of Day (2:32)
- Angels Of The Rooftops (1:48)
- O'Carolan's Air (2:47)
- Father Drumgoolle (2:52)
- Doorsteps (2:10)
- Frozen Star (1:50)
- Onora's Kid (3:10)
- Forgotten Shoe (1:16)
- Silent In The Soul (1:45)
- Oh, How It'd Be! (Without The Deaths Of The Innocents) (2:08)
- Empty Lights (1:59)
- Rumours (Of Something Grand) (1:33)
- More Than Faith (Throughout The Night) (2:26)
- Opening Day (2:18)
|
Airs
Label: Road Cone Release: 1999 Format: CD Cat. no: ROCO 023 |
Song list: |
- Untitled (Airs) (1:42)
- Untitled (Airs) (1:50)
- Untitled (Airs) (2:11)
- Untitled (Airs) (2:15)
- Untitled (Airs) (1:58)
- Untitled (Airs) (3:19)
- Untitled (Airs) (2:03)
- Untitled (Airs) (1:41)
- Untitled (Airs) (1:58)
- Untitled (Airs) (1:45)
- Untitled (Airs) (2:03)
- Untitled (Airs) (3:19)
- Untitled (Airs) (1:48)
- Untitled (Airs) (1:25)
- Untitled (Airs) (1:25)
- Untitled (Airs) (2:01)
- Untitled (Airs) (2:22)
- Untitled (Airs) (1:20)
- Untitled (Airs) (1:05)
- The Death Of Shelly (2:49)
|
In Bern
Label: Hat Noir Release: 1999 Format: CD Cat. no: HATNOIR 803 |
Song list: |
- Now Who Are These Guys? (5:20)
- Still Going
(19:37)
- Are They Going To Stop? (13:46)
- You Can Stay If You Want, But I'm Going Home (10:05)
|
Portrait Of A Soul
Label: FBWL Label Release: 2000 Format: CD Cat. no: FBWL 20 |
Song list: |
- Day (1:52)
- Day (2:37)
- Day (1:29)
- Day (2:35)
- Day (1:14)
- Day (2:21)
- Day (2:32)
- Day (1:44)
- Day (1:46)
- Day (1:47)
- Day (1:49)
- Day (1:15)
- Day (2:03)
- Day (2:19)
- Evening (1:46)
- Evening (1:58)
- Evening (1:50)
- Evening (1:51)
- Evening (2:05)
- Night (1:42)
- Night (2:01)
- Night (1:43)
- Night (1:32)
- Dawn (1:42)
- Dawn (1:48)
- Dawn (2:11)
|
The Little Match Girl
Label: Road Cone Release: 2001 Format: CD Cat. no: ROCO 029 |
Song list: |
- The Little Match Girl (1:24)
- Falling Snow (2:15)
- She Was Hungry And Very Very Cold (1:52)
- The Veil (1:08)
- Grandmother (1:53)
- Falling Star (Comets Light The Way) (3:03)
- The Dawn (6:48)
- The Art Of The Blues (2:31)
- The Art Of The Blues (2:27)
- The Art Of The Blues (3:23)
- The Art Of The Blues (2:16)
- The Art Of The Blues (1:32)
- The Art Of The Blues (2:47)
- The Art Of The Blues (3:58)
|
Lullaby
Label: Carbon Records Release: 2001 Format: CD-R Cat. no: CR45 |
Song list: |
- Lullaby (The 1st) (2:11)
- Whispers (1:54)
- Lullaby (The 2nd) (2:21)
- Lullaby (The 3rd) (1:32)
- Want Me To Tell You (Why I Cried?) (1:34)
- Lullaby (The 4th) (1:35)
- "Don't Leave" (3:22)
- I'm Scared (Of The Dark) (1:09)
- And The Shadows On The Wall (1:47)
- Lullaby (The Last) (2:16)
- ...Sleep... (2:50)
- The Kiss - A Moment At The Door (3:18)
- Woven Dreams (2:00)
- Through The Stars (1:36)
|
The Departing Of A Dream
Label: Family Vineyard Release: 2002 Format: CD Cat. no: FV11 |
Song list: |
- The Departing Of A Dream (9:44)
- The Departing Of A Dream (1:36)
- The Departing Of A Dream (4:55)
- The Departing Of A Dream (2:41)
- The Departing Of A Dream (4:19)
- The Departing Of A Dream (1:39)
- The Departing Of A Dream (1:48)
- The Departing Of A Dream (1:56)
- For NY 9/11/01 - The Silence (2:46)
- For NY 9/11/01 - And Sorrow (2:46)
|
The Departing Of A Dream II
Label: Family Vineyard Release: 2003 Format: CD Cat. no: FV22 |
Song list: |
- The Departing Of A Dream II (10:51)
- The Departing Of A Dream II (1:44)
- The Departing Of A Dream II (1:29)
- The Departing Of A Dream II (1:54)
- The Departing Of A Dream II (1:10)
- The Departing Of A Dream II (1:39)
- The Departing Of A Dream II (10:15)
- The Departing Of A Dream II (2:24)
|
The Departing Of A Dream III: Juliet
Label: Family Vineyard Release: 2004 Format: CD Cat. no: FV34 |
Song list: |
- Her Love (20:39)
- Her Fate (4:54)
- Her Death (1:46)
- Juliet... (1:26)
- In Lovers Eyes (1:45)
|
Arborvitae
Label: Häpna Records Release: 2005 Format: CD Cat. no: H.13 |
Song list: |
- Blossom Time (4:28)
- Arborvitae (10:07)
- The Ghost Of Exquisite (7:20)
- Hemlock Path (5:25)
- The Highest Point In Brooklyn (6:26)
|
Sails
Label: Table Of The Elements Release: 2006 Format: 2CD Cat. no: TOE-CD-89 |
Song list: |
CD 1:- Pretty As Ever (1:45)
- Pretty As Ever (3:14)
- Pretty As Ever (2:04)
- Pretty As Ever (1:23)
- Pretty As Ever (1:27)
- Pretty As Ever (1:07)
- Pretty As Ever (1:34)
- Pretty As Ever (1:25)
- Here, I'll Whisper It To You (2:56)
- Trinity (1:38)
- Trinity (4:38)
- Trinity (2:09)
- Portrait Of A Fool (2:30)
- Portrait Of A Fool (5:19)
- In The Night (4:59)
CD 2:- Dark Is The Night, Cold Is The Ground (with John Fahey) (6:49)
- Sails (36:07)
|
Night Through: Singles And Collected Works 1976-2004
Label: Family Vineyard Release: 2006 Format: 3CD Cat. no: FV36-3CD |
Song list: |
CD 1:- Come On In My Kitchen (1:49)
- Ribbon O' Blues (7:03)
- Pickin' It Up (1:23)
- Tight And Loose (3:53)
- Mother & Son (2:17)
- Many Miles More (2:54)
- When You Sleep (1:45)
- Along The Way (3:02)
- Home Again (1:20)
- No Goodbyes (2:30)
- Departure (2:57)
- The Five Points (1:51)
- Moonyean (2:12)
- Saoirse ("Freedom") (4:16)
- Little Shoes (2:28)
- Jesus Is Condemned To Death (1:24)
- Jesus Carries The Cross, The First Fall (2:05)
- Jesus Meets Mary (1:34)
- Simon Helps Carry The Cross, Veronica Wipes His Face, The Second Fall (1:26)
- Jesus Comforts The Women Of Jerusalem (1:17)
- The Third Fall, Jesus Is Stripped Of His Garments, The Crucifixion (0:58)
- Jesus Dies (1:22)
- The Deposition (1:33)
- Entombment (0:46)
- Deirdre Of The Sorrows - Part 1 (0:29)
- Deirdre Of The Sorrows - Part 2 (0:40)
- Deirdre Of The Sorrows - Part 3 (0:47)
- Deirdre Of The Sorrows - Part 4 (2:59)
- Battle Of Clontarf - Part 1 (1:44)
- Battle Of Clontarf - Part 2 (1:15)
- Battle Of Clontarf - Part 3 (3:28)
- Battle Of Clontarf - Part 4 (2:02)
- Battle Of Clontarf - Part 5 (1:57)
- Battle Of Clontarf - Part 6 (2:45)
CD 2:- Betty Mae (5:14)
- Night Through (1:54)
- Blight (2:04)
- Eviction (2:14)
- Exile (1:10)
- The End, The Afternoon, The Light (3:09)
- The End, The Afternoon, The Light - Part 2 (4:45)
- A Selke's Air (4:41)
- Adonais (4:11)
- Spirit (6:28)
- In A Street Full Of Rain (4:58)
- Air (4:41)
- Oh Bonny Doone (3:58)
- Woman Taken In Adultery (4:21)
- For NY 9/11/01 (4:08)
- Pretty As Ever (2:45)
- The Departing Of A Dream Vol. 4 (1:33)
- Moon Gone Down (9:57)
- Peace (1:15)
CD 3:- Why We Came Together (1:38)
- Suzanne's Rain (6:08)
- I've Had Trouble, I've Had Joy (5:14)
- Untitled (2:10)
- Haunted House (15:20)
- Shadows (3:29)
- Only When You Sleep (5:05)
- I Love You Porgy (3:40)
- Star Of Bethlehem - Part 1 (1:42)
- Star Of Bethlehem - Part 2 (1:35)
- Earth (3:15)
- Stars (2:23)
- Night In Vain (2:55)
- Untitled (1:49)
- Untitled (1:19)
- Untitled (1:48)
- For Miles Davis (6:54)
- For Miles - Part 2 (3;20)
|