“Vertical structures are about power, after all. Horizontal ones are about community.”
Meticulously researched, "A Really Strange and Wonderful Time" evokes a memorable creative era in Chapel Hill and the Triangle. Tom Maxwell -- part of the "scenius" himself -- relied on extensive interviews, a fabulous memory, and first-person accounts to bring this momentous time to life.
Chock full of tales of short-lived bands and collaborations and the steady presence of Cat's Cradle, Merge Records, and other community pillars, this book leans hard on nostalgia and what-ifs -- but a resounding lack of regret. Music is eternal, and Maxwell's account is a welcome reminder in a time of cultural upheaval.
“‘The artist-as-midwife idea is very simple and useful if you want to make art versus being an artist,’ John [Enisslin] said. ‘Every work is a compromise between intention and medium. The less important component is the intention. It is completely disposable at the point the material comes to life. Then, all the practice in the medium and the experience with intuition is there to help as you plop this thing into the world as smoothly as possible, whatever is it, itself. No artist should ask, ‘What am I trying to say here?’ That’s useless and profane. It’s not a code to be figured out. It’s a thing already. Get out of the way. It’s not about you.’”
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