Here are some reviews and media mentions for Red, Like Our Room Used To Feel.
First, a 5 Star review in the Skinny. Thanks Steven!
Red, Like Our Room Used To Feel is an intimate performance by poet Ryan Van Winkle. Part installation, part one to one poetry reading, the audience is taken to the basement of Summerhall and into a small unassuming red room. The room is decorated with books, artwork and photographs. These images could be visual memories or perhaps snapshots taken by our performer. A small CD player in the corner discretely trickles ambient electro music into the room, which adds to the intimacy of the room.
As Ryan prepares a tea, coffee or a glass of port the participant chooses one of four envelopes. Inside we uncover four poems, which Ryan reads out with passion and integrity. The poems vary in nature, with the highlight being an untitled poem that begins with a David Lynch quote.
After the reading the poet departs the room, leaving the CD player to continue. Here we are left to explore the trinkets on the shelf, the typewriter against the wall, the photographic contact sheets, the Daredevil comic books on the floor and a copy of Robert Frank’s seminal photo-book The Americans. The performer’s voice re-enters the room via the CD to give us another absorbing poem. As quietness ensues it is our time to exit, however we are left with a memorable performance as visceral as the photographs on the wall and curiosities on the shelf.
Here’s one more review, this time 4 stars, from Across The Arts. Thank you Michael:
How to describe Red, Like Our Room Used to Feel (****)? This intimate one-to-one piece is about discovery, so I feel that anything said by me is saying too much. All I will say is that this rather charming piece works as both installation and poetry reading, and that poet Ryan Van Winkle’s 15-minute mixture of art, music, poetry and tea (or port) works wonderfully. I’ve taken part in many one-to-one pieces, and this is certainly one of the most pleasant and least threatening I’ve encountered. Short in length but deep in soul, Red is a welcome oasis from the clatter of Summerhall.
Red, Like Our Room Used To Feel will be playing at this year’s Edinburgh Festival from 4th to 24th August. An intimate poetry performance with Ryan Van Winkle, it features ambient melodies from Ragland. There will be 12 performances daily at the Summerhall venue – tickets can be booked at the box office: 0845 874 3001. Listen and download the album for free here:
Volume Two of the Ragland Songbook is now finally complete and ready to download. You can find out more on the page here or just click on the album cover to download the whole album for free.
The latest issue of Fuselit literary arts magazine – “Jack” – features the track “A Raincoat” by Ryan Van Winkle and Ragland. This edition looks fantastic! Copies are available on their website…
Here’s another review. This time from by Chris Watson at http://www.unpeeled.net/ Thanks Chris!
RYAN VAN WINKLE & RAGLAND “Red, Like Our Room Used To Feel” (Forest Records)
RELEASED? Out now.
SOUNDS LIKE? An electronic composer and a spoken word artist getting down together to take you on a softly spoken journey. Beeps, bleeps, voice loops, mechanical beats and tender imagery create world to get lost in.
IS IT ANY GOOD? This is not a release for the casual listener as each song is part of a whole and in order to understand what is going on you have to listen to each word, each poem and mood as a whole. Ryan Van Winkle reminds me of Billy Collins, using simple language and everyday situations and objects to create a world recognisable yet personal. He speaks softly and without a forced rhythm, letting the words sit over the music naturally, almost hypnotically. There are moments and songs where the use of effects on the voice and looping the voice seems more to detract from the poems themselves; these effects often feel like someone going “we have these toys so we might as well use them” rather than reinforcing or adding to the general feel of the music. The music itself is often ethereal and otherworldly, more soundscapes than bona fide songs that add great atmosphere to the vocals, complimenting the imagery and visions declared in Ryan’s words. This release isn’t overly ambitious and doesn’t try to grab your attention with arrogance or swagger, in this sense it is more like an audio book that you can sit back and enjoy yet tune out if a phone call breaks the meditation. This release won’t be for everybody, and I’m hoping that the actual release has the poems in the cover booklet as they sound as if reading them would give just as much pleasure as listening.
WHERE IS IT? http://www.forestrecords.org
A little mention of “Red, Like Our Room Used To Feel” on this blog by Scott Pack… Thanks Scott!
“Check out this neat poetry and music collaboration between Ryan Van Winkle (surely not his real name?) and Ragland (definitely not his real name). Red Like Our Room Used To Feel is available to steam or download for free. There is an optional donation of £3 which isn’t very much. The music is the soundtrack to a performance piece. I have given it a few listens and it is quite soothing and hypnotic stuff. Just thought I’d mention it.”
I have been working on this new compilation CD for the past few months – and it is now out! It features 22 tracks – brand new, unreleased or recent classics from members of the Forest Records Collective and a selection of special guests. The album features two Ragland tracks; “The Duke and Pines” from “Red, Like Our Room Used To Feel” and “Going Down” a brand new track from the forthcoming album “Volume Two”. You can listen to the album below and buy a copy from the website.
Suite Shop is a new musical project from Ragland. It is an album of instrumental pieces, each one named after a sweetshop favourite, each one leaving a tingly taste on the tongue. Click on the album cover to download the whole album for free.
