PAPERBACK 6" X 9" 326pp
ISBN
978-0-244-31144-5
From the much praised author of Easy
Verses
for Difficult
Times (PPP,2017), a critical and
creative compendium for and about the furthermost reaches of
contemporary practise.
'David Erdos is the good
detective, out there, on the move, on the case. He is a positive energy, a
sympathetic reporter and recorder. Follow him.'
Iain
Sinclair
Acclaimed by writers, artists, musicians and film makers as diverse as
Heathcote
Williams,
Alan Moore,
Chris
Petit, Pete
Brown,
Steve Hackett,
Youth,
Tony Palmer,
Jan Herman and a host of others,
this unique collection of reviews, essays, interviews, poems and performance
pieces seeks to redefine new limits for artistic enterprise in an age of
threat. Originating in his work as co-ordinator and lead reviewer for
The
International Times,
David Erdos celebrates a range of new and established heroes, while
continuing to forge the links between creative and critical forces. The book
asks its potential readers to look for new standards in the art and culture
that surrounds and represents them, by pouring the oil of criticism onto the
waters of the work of others in order to fuse a combined act of silver. This
alchemic analogy achieves relevance as many of these essays take on poetic
form, leading to the books inclusion of examples of Erdos’ own creative
output. To critique others means that he too must be open, and so a
collaboration begins.
From book, gig, theatre and album reviews of both leading and emerging
artists to overviews and memorialisatons of the playwrights
Arnold
Wesker and Snoo
Wilson,
Oil On
Silver contains a revealing
interview with seminal progressive musician
Steve Hackett and a major 32 page
interview with Alan Moore on the nature of Eternalism and his new work, described
by Moore as ‘his
favourite interview
of
recent
times.’ A consistent theme
throughout the book and the subject of many of its pieces is the work and
career of Erdos’ friend and mentor, the much missed
Heathcote
Williams, one of modern culture’s
greatest voices. Oil
On
Silver becomes a testament to him
and the vast scope of his work, some of which, while still buried treasure
will go on to define culture’s gold.
OIL ON SILVER seeks to restore ground to celebrity drenched cultural
dry-spot. Its range and diversity echo the contradiction we are all
currently facing: how in an ignorant age can we measure true value?
Finding the right cultures becomes crucial. This book is a small
stone throne in the face of an illiterate giant. Read as Erdos spits oil in
its eye.
Counterculture becomes even more
important in these times of no cultural margins and constant erasure, making
its dwindling list of commentators all the more crucial.
There is no questioning the importance
of David Erdos’ contribution. Quite possibly the greatest living cultural
commentator since Cyril Connolly!
Chris Petit
For PR enquiries and information please contact
david.erdos@sky.com