As Takuroku hits the milestone of 100 releases over the past 6 months, we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than a debut solo release (yes, the first ever!) by Maggie Nicols.
1) TRILOGY
a) Hiding & Opening musical improvisation to a poem I wrote a year ago
b) Gush & Flow “ “ “ “ “ “ I wrote in the eighties
c) Rain: a song I wrote recently (inspired by mindfulness teacher Tara Brach who uses the letters R.A.I.N to mean Recognise, Allow, Investigate and Nurture for dealing with difficult emotions).
2) IMPERMANENCE - an improvisation
3) THE GUEST HOUSE a poem by RUMI with layers of improvised music as a setting.
4) NOTICING - an improvisation
5) DYNAMITE DREAM a song I wrote in the seventies from an improvisation
6) QUESTIONING
a) Moods improvisation
b) "Was It?" - A song I wrote in the eighties.
7) AUG 5TH 2020 - an improvsation
8) HECATE’S HOUSEHOLD - an improvisation and poem ‘For Hecate’ (written by me in the nineties) featuring the lockdown trio & household cat
Maggie Nicols, voice
Katerina Koblizek, voice and ‘Olitar'
Ludek Salac, guitar
Kyna, feline being
9) A TRUE GIFT - an improvisation
10) SHADOW AND LIGHT SOURCE BOTH Poem by Rumi, music by Maggie Nicols
11) MUSINGS ON THE BREATH - a multi layered improvisation
12) VIVID BLACK - a song I wrote around 2002
13) AU REVOIR
a) Reprise
b) Open & Protected
Maggie Nicols joined London's legendary Spontaneous Music Ensemble in 1968 as a free improvisation vocalist. She then became active running voice workshops with an involvement in local experimental theatre. She later joined the group Centipede, led by Keith Tippets and in 1977, with musician/composer Lindsay Cooper, formed the remarkable Feminist Improvising Group. She continues performing and recording challenging and beautiful work, in music and theatre, either in collaborations with a range of artists (Irene Schweitzer, Joelle Leandre, Ken Hyder, Caroline Kraabel) as well as solo.
