David Long is one of Aotearoa’s most versatile and adventurous musicians, composers, and producers. He started his musical career performing in the Braille Collective in bands such as Six Volts and Jungle Suite in the late 1980s. In 1990 he started The Mutton Birds with Don McGlashan.
After touring extensively he began to compose for contemporary dance and film, including working on Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy and the soundtrack to The Lovely bones with Brian Eno. In addition to these projects David has composed for many TV series, including The Luminaries.
David has also won several Apra silver scrolls and produced for numerous bands. He also has made numerous albums with bands such as The Labcoats and Teeth not to mention a number of his own works.
In 2017 he collaborated with Natalia Mann and Richard Nunns on what would be Richard Nunn’s last recording, the beautifully delicate Utterance. Just last year he released Ash and Bone, a gorgeously suite of pieces that defy easy generic categorisation, which David described as a work that makes “a constellation of musical styles but never quite rests in any one of them”. The same holds true for I’ll Hum the First Few Bars, a recording as texturally rich and sonically expressive as we have come to expect from this bold and inventive composer.
So, when David offered us a chance to interview him about his latest project we jumped at it!
We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to David for taking the time to answer our questions, for providing such an illuminating insight into his world and work, and also for giving us permission to use I’ll Hum the First Few Bars in the interview (you can hear the whole piece at the end). All music is copyright David Long and Rattle Records and used with kind permission.
This interview was done in conjunction with Caffeine and Aspirin, the arts and entertainment review show on Radioactive FM.
For more information on Rattle records, visit their website.
You can watch David Downes’s superb, animated film created to run alongside the work here.
And to borrow just a few of the musical projects David has been involved with click below.
Envy of angels [1 CD] / Mutton Birds
“Envy of Angels could have been recorded ten years earlier considering its invocation of the new south — in particular the moodiness of Dumptruck — not to mention similarities to more commercial guitar rock of the same period […] Perhaps it isn’t a coincidence that Hugh Jones, who also worked with Dumptruck, produced Envy of Angels. He renders the Mutton Birds’ guitar strum and jangle in more solemn than bright tones, which suits the sometimes poetic lyrics and unusual chord progressions. ~ Greg Adams” ( Adapted from Catalogue)
Ash and bone. / Long, David
“Musicians David Long, synthesisers, banjo, electronics, electric guitar ; Carolyn Mills, harp ; Andrew Jarvis, tuba ; Mark Carter, trumpet ; Rachel Vernon, bass clarinet ; Pat Barry, clarinet ; Bridget Douglas, flute ; Riki Gooch, percussion, electronics. Contents Underground — Ash and bone — I follow it — You want to fight everything — The long long walk — A second glance — Wash your mouth out — Water the earth.” ( Adapted from Catalogue.)
Utterance / Long, David
“Musicians …David Long, banjo, theremin, bowed guitar ; Richard Nunns, taonga pūoro ; Natalia Mann, harp, prepared harp, zither, gongs, voice. Tracks Perilous knowledge — Old shadows — Spider shell — Upper circle, lower case — Celestial dog — Mercury — The nearest clear liquid — We died once — City of green — Hidden cameras — Begin again.” ( Adapted from Catalogue)
Flock : the best of The Mutton Birds / Mutton Birds
” Other Title Best of The Mutton Birds. Contents …Dominion Road — Nature — The heater — A thing well made — White Valiant — In my room — Anchor me — Wellington — Queen’s English — Don’t fear the reaper — While you sleep — She’s been talking — Come around — Envy of angels — As close as this — Last year’s shoes — Pulled along by love — Not to take sides.” ( Adapted from Catalogue)
The Mutton Birds. / Mutton Birds
” Dominion Road (3:55) — Your window (4:39) — A thing well made (4:39) — She’s like a city (3:56) — Before the breakthrough (4:52) — White Valiant (5:12) — Giant friend (3:15) — Big fish (4:33) — No plans for later (2:31) — Nature (3:39).” ( Adapted from Catalogue)
Salty / Mutton Birds
” The heater — Ngaire — You will return — Wellington — In my room — When the wind comes round — Queen’s English — Salty my dear — There’s a limit — Esther — No telling when — Anchor me — Too close to the sun — Don’t fight it, Marsha, it’s bigger than both of us. ” ( Adapted from Catalogue)
