Out Of The Blue
BJ Cole
Pedal Steel – Part I
Following the joys of my little barbeque three-parter i’ve decided to do more of the same, although this time the common theme is based around the Pedal Steel guitar rather than burning meat and warm lager, a lot more sensible I think you’ll agree.
BJ Cole is an official pedal steel session legend, having worked with nearly everyone who ever recorded an album. Check out the list from his own site here to get an idea of how prolific he has been (I mean, come on… Ken Dodd and Jimmy Nail!) but the steps he taken away from the world of pop are where you’ll find his best work.
I first saw him playing with Luke Vibert after the cracking Hip-Hop/Hawaiian/Lounge/Acid album they made together called ‘Stop the Panic’ and it made me wonder at the time why the instrument isn’t played more often in the way Cole does, bearing in mind its seemingly obvious ability to create everything from swooping psychedelia to metallic screeches and shimmering resonance.
The track included here was taken from his website. It’s a piece of music written by current collaborator and cellist Emily Burridge from their album ‘Duets for Pedal Steel Guitar & Cello’ and its about five and half minutes long… making it roughly ten times longer than it took to think up that album title.