Pitchfork

In 1993, weird little label Table of the Elements issued Guitar Series Vol. 1 and Guitar Series Vol. 2, a pair of limited edition 7" records containing solo guitar performances by some of experimental rock's titans. Folks like Jim O'Rourke, Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Derek Bailey, and Keiji Haino (like I said, titans) flaunted their fretwork for the sets, which sold out immediately and subsequently became the stuff of record-nerd legend.

Flash forward 15 years, and you've got Guitar Series volumes three and four, emerging over the course of 2008 from the still weird but not quite as little Table of the Elements. A dozen artists contributed tracks to the series: Thurston and Lee (though not together-- those dudes really oughta form a popular rock band to pass the time between rarified geekery), Christian Fennesz, Rhys Chatham (commanding a guitar army), Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley, Collections of Colonies of Bees, Belong, Oren Ambarchi, Ateleia and Benjamin Curtis (of School of Seven Bells, ex-Secret Machines), Andrew Burnes and David Daniell of San Augustin, and Jon Mueller of Collection of Colonies of Bees.

Each track will be carved into a clear vinyl 12", with an etching on the flipside from noted UK illustrator Savage Pencil. The first two-- from Collections of Colonies of Bees and the Ateleia/Benjamin Curtis combo-- are due May 20, with the rest to follow throughout 2008. A portion of the proceeds will go to Sweet Relief, which provides services to ailing musicians. And yes, once again, the series is limited edition.

In other Table of the Elements news, Chatham's "GUITAR TRIO IS MY LIFE!" live album, featuring contributions from members of members of Sonic Youth, Tortoise, Godspeed You! Black Emperor/A Silver Mt. Zion, Hüsker Dü, Fog, Final Fantasy, and more, is out this week. And the label will hold their SXSW showcase Thursday, March 13 at the Hideout Theatre. Collections of Colonies of Bees, Megafaun, and Northampton Wools-- a collaboration between Thurston Moore and Bill Nace-- highlight a bill that also includes Neptune, Melissa St. Pierre, Carlos Villarreal and Jon Mueller.

Look at these things! They're gorgeous!