View basket “Sister” has been added to your basket. Proofs and Refutations John Fahey SKU: DC759 Barcode: 0781484075912 20.00 £20.00 Genre: Folk Label: Drag City Released Date: 8th September 2023 Buying Format: 1LP Proofs and Refutations quantity Add to basket Reserve Add to your Wishlist Description Product Info Recorded in 1995 and 1996, mostly in John Fahey’s room at a Salem, Oregon boarding house, the performances on ‘Proofs & Refutations’ prefigure the ornery turn of the page that marked Fahey’s final years, drawing another enigmatic rabbit from his seemingly bottomless musical hat. Cloaked in the language of dogma – what is he proving? refuting? – this is Fahey dancing a jig in the Duchampian gap, jester cap bells a-jingling. True believers? He’s got something for you: an uncompromising vision that you can sneer at (“guy can’t play anymore and refuses to concede!”) or embrace as evidence of his genius (“the reinventor does it again!”). Skeptics? He’s there with you, too: sending up the fallacy of certitudes altogether. Institutions, systems, accepted wisdoms. Heroes. Alternative facts, indeed. Right out the gate, Fahey re-materializes before us, somewhere between Oracle of Delphi and Clown Prince at Olympus. Mounting a thundering dialectic from on high, ‘All the Rains’ resembles nothing else in his extensive discography – betraying roots in everything from Dada to Episcopal liturgical chant – and contains nary a plucked guitar note. You can’t fool him! When the lap steel of yore appears on ‘F for Fake’, it serves more as soundbed for an extended sequence of vocal improvisations, running the gamut from wordless Bashoian caterwauling to free-form (but decidedly fake) Tuvan, even revealing a burnished falsetto in the process. Fahey takes on a different kind of provocation in the two acoustic guitar- based tracks closing Side 1 – ‘Morning’ parts 1 and 2 – the first of four recordings in this session that have him wrestling with the ghost of Skip James, perhaps Fahey’s effort to wrench the “bitter, hateful old creep” (his words) back into the grave. Anchoring Side 2 is the two-part ‘Evening, Not Night’, the second half of his extended cathexis on James (and the latter’s avowed castration complex – another story for another day, perhaps). Bit of a chill in the air – where’s the impish Fahey from earlier? Unmistakably working through some psychic wounds here, we might think: the unheimlich rendered in glistening viscera. Or is he playing with our notions of authenticity, of his reputation as troubadour of raw emotional states, a pilgrim of the ominous, the simmering unconscious? These cards are kept decidedly close to the vest. The opening and closing pieces again feature Fahey’s guitar as drone soundbed – employing distortion, oscillation, and an altogether absurd quotient of reverb to create texture and harmonics that are – if we want to go there – not dissimilar to the sustained tonic clusters of Tibetan singing bowls, the hurdy gurdy, Hindustani classical music, or La Monte freaking Young. Portions of this material appeared on obscure late 1990s vinyl in the 7” or double-78 rpm format, but as a ‘session’ it has lain dormant more than a quarter century now. Taken together, we can now see these tracks as secret blueprints to latter-day Fahey provocations, several years prior to records like 1997’s ‘City of Refuge’ and ‘Womblife’. Artist John Fahey Genre Folk Label Drag City Buying Options 1LP Format 1LP Condition New Country UK Track Listings All the Rains F for Fake Morning, pt 1 Morning, pt 2 For LMC2 Evening, Not Night, pt 1 Evening, Not Night, pt 2 Untitled (w/o Rain) Share this On Facebook On Twitter Via Email More from John Fahey View Product Quick View John Fahey The Yellow Princess Folk | Pure Pleasure | 180g, 1LP Released 13th September 2007 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey The Yellow Princess £34.00 Genre: Folk Label: Pure Pleasure SKU: VSD79293 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 13th September 2007 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View John Fahey Blind Joe Death Volume 1 Blues | 4 Men With Beards | 180g, 1LP Released 30th August 2016 £27.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey Blind Joe Death Volume 1 £27.00 Genre: Blues Label: 4 Men With Beards SKU: 4M201LP Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 30th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View John Fahey America Folk | 4 Men With Beards | 180g, 2LP Released 30th August 2016 £37.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey America £37.00 Genre: Folk Label: 4 Men With Beards SKU: 4M117DLP Formats: 180g, 2LP Released Date: 30th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View John Fahey The Voice Of The Turtle Folk | 4 Men With Beards | 180g, 1LP, Includes Insert Released 10th August 2016 £30.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey The Voice Of The Turtle £30.00 Genre: Folk Label: 4 Men With Beards SKU: 4M219LP Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Insert Released Date: 10th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View John Fahey The Transcendental Waterfall (1963-67 with T Shirt/Poster) Folk | 4 Men With Beards | 180g, 6LP, Box Set Released 10th August 2016 £150.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey The Transcendental Waterfall (1963-67 with T Shirt/Poster) £150.00 Genre: Folk Label: 4 Men With Beards SKU: 4M600SLP Formats: 180g, 6LP, Box Set Released Date: 10th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View John Fahey Yellow Princess Folk | Vanguard | Miscellaneous Released 22nd December 2005 £16.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey Yellow Princess £16.00 Genre: Folk Label: Vanguard SKU: VSD792931 Formats: Miscellaneous Released Date: 22nd December 2005 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders See more from John Fahey Start again More from Folk View Product Quick View First Aid Kit Lion’s Roar Folk | Wichita | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 20th January 2012 £22.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations First Aid Kit Lion’s Roar £22.00 Genre: Folk Label: Wichita SKU: WEBB320LP Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 20th January 2012 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Martyn Joseph 1960 Folk | Pipe Records | 1LP Released 2nd September 2022 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Martyn Joseph 1960 £23.00 Genre: Folk Label: Pipe Records SKU: PVR034 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 2nd September 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Chieftains, The Bear’s Sonic Journals: The Foxhunt, The Chieftains, San Francisco 1973 & 1976 Folk | Claddagh Records | 1LP Released 2nd September 2022 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Chieftains, The Bear’s Sonic Journals: The Foxhunt, The Chieftains, San Francisco 1973 & 1976 £26.00 Genre: Folk Label: Claddagh Records SKU: 4570742 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 2nd September 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Ralph McTell & Wizz Jones About Time and About Time Too Folk | Leola | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 11th January 2019 £37.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ralph McTell & Wizz Jones About Time and About Time Too £37.00 Genre: Folk Label: Leola SKU: TPGLP39 Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 11th January 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Lankum The Livelong Day Folk | Rough Trade | 2LP Released 19th January 2024 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Lankum The Livelong Day £23.00 Genre: Folk Label: Rough Trade SKU: RT0098LP Formats: 2LP Released Date: 19th January 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Kath Bloom & Loren Connors Moonlight Folk | Chapter Music | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 1st November 2019 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Kath Bloom & Loren Connors Moonlight £20.00 Genre: Folk Label: Chapter Music SKU: CH156LP Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 1st November 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Ralfe Band Son Be Wise Folk | Highline Records | 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 7th June 2013 £16.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ralfe Band Son Be Wise £16.00 Genre: Folk Label: Highline Records SKU: HL020LP Formats: 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 7th June 2013 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View King Creosote Astronaut Meets Appleman Folk | Domino | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 30th August 2016 £17.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders King Creosote Astronaut Meets Appleman £17.00 Genre: Folk Label: Domino SKU: WIGLP385 Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 30th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Judy Collins Live In Ireland Folk | Cleopatra Records | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 23rd June 2014 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Judy Collins Live In Ireland £20.00 Genre: Folk Label: Cleopatra Records SKU: CLPLP1787 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 23rd June 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Mary Black Stories from the Steeples Folk | Pure Pleasure | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 1st February 2013 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Mary Black Stories from the Steeples £34.00 Genre: Folk Label: Pure Pleasure SKU: PPAN015 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 1st February 2013 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders See more in Folk Start again
View Product Quick View John Fahey The Yellow Princess Folk | Pure Pleasure | 180g, 1LP Released 13th September 2007 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey The Yellow Princess £34.00 Genre: Folk Label: Pure Pleasure SKU: VSD79293 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 13th September 2007 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View John Fahey Blind Joe Death Volume 1 Blues | 4 Men With Beards | 180g, 1LP Released 30th August 2016 £27.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey Blind Joe Death Volume 1 £27.00 Genre: Blues Label: 4 Men With Beards SKU: 4M201LP Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 30th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View John Fahey America Folk | 4 Men With Beards | 180g, 2LP Released 30th August 2016 £37.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey America £37.00 Genre: Folk Label: 4 Men With Beards SKU: 4M117DLP Formats: 180g, 2LP Released Date: 30th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View John Fahey The Voice Of The Turtle Folk | 4 Men With Beards | 180g, 1LP, Includes Insert Released 10th August 2016 £30.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey The Voice Of The Turtle £30.00 Genre: Folk Label: 4 Men With Beards SKU: 4M219LP Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Insert Released Date: 10th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View John Fahey The Transcendental Waterfall (1963-67 with T Shirt/Poster) Folk | 4 Men With Beards | 180g, 6LP, Box Set Released 10th August 2016 £150.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey The Transcendental Waterfall (1963-67 with T Shirt/Poster) £150.00 Genre: Folk Label: 4 Men With Beards SKU: 4M600SLP Formats: 180g, 6LP, Box Set Released Date: 10th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View John Fahey Yellow Princess Folk | Vanguard | Miscellaneous Released 22nd December 2005 £16.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Fahey Yellow Princess £16.00 Genre: Folk Label: Vanguard SKU: VSD792931 Formats: Miscellaneous Released Date: 22nd December 2005 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View First Aid Kit Lion’s Roar Folk | Wichita | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 20th January 2012 £22.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations First Aid Kit Lion’s Roar £22.00 Genre: Folk Label: Wichita SKU: WEBB320LP Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 20th January 2012 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Martyn Joseph 1960 Folk | Pipe Records | 1LP Released 2nd September 2022 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Martyn Joseph 1960 £23.00 Genre: Folk Label: Pipe Records SKU: PVR034 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 2nd September 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Chieftains, The Bear’s Sonic Journals: The Foxhunt, The Chieftains, San Francisco 1973 & 1976 Folk | Claddagh Records | 1LP Released 2nd September 2022 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Chieftains, The Bear’s Sonic Journals: The Foxhunt, The Chieftains, San Francisco 1973 & 1976 £26.00 Genre: Folk Label: Claddagh Records SKU: 4570742 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 2nd September 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Ralph McTell & Wizz Jones About Time and About Time Too Folk | Leola | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 11th January 2019 £37.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ralph McTell & Wizz Jones About Time and About Time Too £37.00 Genre: Folk Label: Leola SKU: TPGLP39 Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 11th January 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Lankum The Livelong Day Folk | Rough Trade | 2LP Released 19th January 2024 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Lankum The Livelong Day £23.00 Genre: Folk Label: Rough Trade SKU: RT0098LP Formats: 2LP Released Date: 19th January 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Kath Bloom & Loren Connors Moonlight Folk | Chapter Music | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 1st November 2019 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Kath Bloom & Loren Connors Moonlight £20.00 Genre: Folk Label: Chapter Music SKU: CH156LP Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 1st November 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Ralfe Band Son Be Wise Folk | Highline Records | 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 7th June 2013 £16.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ralfe Band Son Be Wise £16.00 Genre: Folk Label: Highline Records SKU: HL020LP Formats: 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 7th June 2013 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View King Creosote Astronaut Meets Appleman Folk | Domino | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 30th August 2016 £17.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders King Creosote Astronaut Meets Appleman £17.00 Genre: Folk Label: Domino SKU: WIGLP385 Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 30th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Judy Collins Live In Ireland Folk | Cleopatra Records | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 23rd June 2014 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Judy Collins Live In Ireland £20.00 Genre: Folk Label: Cleopatra Records SKU: CLPLP1787 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 23rd June 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Mary Black Stories from the Steeples Folk | Pure Pleasure | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 1st February 2013 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Mary Black Stories from the Steeples £34.00 Genre: Folk Label: Pure Pleasure SKU: PPAN015 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 1st February 2013 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders