Answer for: Who Is Your Favorite Outsider Musician?
#4 Tom Fahy
by ivor 9 months ago
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6 Comments
Prolific, seclusive, multi-instrumentalists, Tom Fahy and his so-called Hemloch Quintet have recorded over 80 albums. Oddly enough, it is largely accessible music, but virtually undiscovered, nevertheless. Doubtless, this is due to the fact that Fahy and his people do not grant interviews, release group photos, provide useful biographical information or perform live. Definitely worth exploring. Every album is posted on the following site: http://www.tomfahy.org
Fahy doesn't appear to be associated with a Hemloch Quintet. Sorry. And if someone locates an email address for this artist, please let me know. Thanks.
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Interesting, although I wouldn't call 'Tom Fahy' an outsider, per-se, as the band of that name does not appear to produce music in complete isolation. Moreover, they appear to have an extensive catalogue (70, not 50 albums), all of which demonstrate a certain mastery of their instruments. Neverthless, Ivor, you make an interesting point: prolific (!) but undiscovered. Maybe 'they' (Tom Fahy is a collective of musicians), possess prohibitive dispositions. If so, they aren't talking.
It is a collective, or was, I should say. According to sources on the web, Fahy died on June 19, 2008 from complications arising from a long battle with a rare form of Tay-Sachs. I thought he was Irish, but it sounds like he was Jewish, too. But the music...I've beeen digging around on the internet and it strikes me as odd that this is the site on which he is discussed. I mean, this guy and his collective created some of the most unusual and engaging music I have ever heard. A very short life but a very productive life. I'd say he's an outsider because nothing was released through a major label, and it's aggravating to see a composer like this lumped in with heavy-breathers and kazzoo virtuosos. Anyway, I'm voting 'yea' because I think Fahy will be thought of as one of the greatest composers of the early 21st century that you never heard of. Also, I hope he's found a little peace in the afterlife.
That's a dead link. But the Tom Fahy story is actually more interesting upon closer inspection and it suggests that our ideas about what 'outsider music' is might better be reevaluated. At first I thought it was strange that he was included on here because his music isn't 'difficult' or tough to assimilate. This is an artist that has made an enormous amount of music but has never charged a penny or made a single public appearance. There are so called 'live' albums but the hosts of the venues claim Fahy never advertised or invited an audience--he just used the venue as a novel recording environment. On another note, I've never seen a reference to a Hemloch Quintet, so I'm not sure that's accurate. Anyway, his is some of the most exciting guitar wizardry I have ever heard and the piano-work is like detuned Gould, if Gould had decided to compose beyond The Idea of North. Fahy's definitely an outsider of some sort and I don't know if he has hard-wiring issues, but it definitely makes you wonder why some sounds get noticed and others don't.
Good point. Sorry for the dead link. Try http://www.tomfahy.org. Neat site, but no email address.
I never considered Tom Fahy in the 'outsider' light until now. I did a little research and it's clear that he, or they or whatever have never done an interview. And these people have something like 90 albums, but it's not like 700 songs of scatting and breathing through a ukulele; it's beautiful music. So interesting point here, Alex. They are definitely on the periphery, the fringes, but for some unknown reason. I'd love some biographical information to go with the music.
If you really want to be nosy and sate you curiosity, you can do what I did and send Rachael Eisley an email: rachael_eisley@tomfahy.org. I wouldn't be too probing, but you may actually get a few answers that will put meat on the bones of your speculations, especially as she was a so-called "core-member."
I asked Eisley if she believed that Tom's struggle with Tay-Sachs had an influence on the group's sound; if the disease actually was responsible for a derangement that might impact the music. I had nothing to lose, you see. And I actually got a response! It was a little canned but also very honest:
"Symptoms of manic-depression or psychotic episodes may be present in about 30% of affected persons, but Tom's symptoms were chiefly physiological as opposed to psychological."
But you see what I was getting at? The official biography states that Fahy died following a lengthy battle with a rare form of Tay-Sachs. LOTS is non-fatal, apparently, so what killed him? It is a good mystery that would make an even better movie, if not for any other reason, than at least for scenery: Ireland, Chile, Hawaii, Newfoundland.
On Fahy's "Outsider" status: A rare and often debilitating illness would be a contributor, as it would make live appearances awkward. I mentioned to Eisley that the music had an esoteric feel, but received no confirmatory reply. But it IS esoteric: strange, nameless instruments that produce otherworldly sounds; they had something called a Venusian Accordion. No kidding. It is also very difficult to describe the music categorically and I think this generates accessibility issues, especially in the 'tagging' age.
Great updated Discography (http://tomfahy.org/albums.html) and Biography (http://www.tomfahy.org/biography_alternate.html). I've said my peace but I still feel undernourished.