(Dave Fleminger and Heather Vorwerck of the guitar/cello duo The Comeuppance ride the Mad Hatter’s coat tails and drop some fresh new tracks into the rabbit hole. Dave describes the journey.)
Recently I chanced upon the English director Cecil Hepworth’s 1903 movie “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” It was the first cinematic portrayal of Lewis Carroll’s famous Victorian novel. The only remaining print of the film is unfortunately quite damaged, even missing some scenes, but it’s a magical movie. And if anything the state of the film stock even adds to its otherworldly quality — perhaps because it was made less than 40 years after the book was first published. it offers a small glimpse into the very world from which the story originated.
Clearly, the storyline was already well-known to the 1903 movie-going public, as Hepworth chose to illustrate scenes from the book without much explanation of the plot.
As somebody who has continually searched for the happy accidents, and has often searched out the odd serendipitous
“Dark Side of Oz” mashup, I decided to try my hand at creating a soundtrack for Hepworth’s lovely film. I chose a couple tracks from the nearly complete upcoming Comeuppance debut album (scheduled for release in early to mid-April). After dropping the selected music under the video track, I was quite surprised how well it lined up, as phrasing seemed to follow pacing, and some of the lyrics even echoed the images onscreen.
It reminds me yet again of that “how random is random?” kind of conundrum, as one can further suppose that to juxtapose is to already suggest a context … perplexing. I’ve always been amazed at how what at first seems like merely a self-imposed soundtrack suddenly fits precisely, time and content-wise, to the life I happen to be experiencing at that given moment. Sometimes it’s downright uncanny. Which comes first, the sync or the synchronicity?
And of course it is purely a coincidence that I am presenting this vid within hours of a movie premiere of the most recent re-telling of the Alice tale. Total chance…happenstance…comeuppance.
Ever get that sync-ing feeling as you’re falling down the rabbit-hole?
You can read the original Alice In Wonderland novel online thanks to Project Gutenberg at www.aliceinwonderland.com.
The Comeuppance are performing on March 30, 8pm at the El Rio Club in San Francisco.
— David Fleminger
More by Dave Fleminger:
- Wendy Pyro: Punk pioneer
- The Answers: “You Are There”
- Have you ‘zine me? Snare Issue #3
- “Merry Tweeksters World Mutation Day”/”Sufi Sales”
- Boo: “Hurricane Fighter Plane”
Congratulations, Dave and Heather. This is absolutely, stunningly beautiful. I am in awe of your musicianship and sense of aesthetics. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album!
Very cool, Dave and Heather. I’d like to get one of those magic fans for when the rabbit’s house gets too small. The Cheshire Cat is not amused….
beautiful.
and you’re right: uncannily fitting.
Bravo!!
>>And if anything the state of the film stock even adds to its otherworldly quality — perhaps because it was made less than 40 years after the book was first published. it offers a small glimpse into the very world from which the story originated.
I thrive on this kind of human arithmetic … How a given span of years affects the proximity of a document to its inspiration. At our age, four decades seems like something you could reach across with an outstretched arm!
And the music is breathtaking and does serendipitous justice to its accidental subject.
The filming reminds me of Murnaus (sp?) Nosferatu or Leni Reifenstahls Das Blue Licht? Fritz Langs “M” etc….
Remember what the Doormouse said….
Just beautiful, Dave and Heather! I really wish I could be there for the show. But the good news is that I will swing by in the fall.
The music makes me feel like I am in Berlin
Beautiful.
You are what you eat… “Eat Me”… evocative of a recurring dream.
Scrumpdillyicious…that music is so delightful it makes me want to slurp it all up and smallow it whole; or dress like a butterfly and dance to the tunes like a 12 year old school girl learning ballet for the school May Day Parade! The music is absolutely delightful and soothing to the ears! David, your voice is sounding better than ever! The marriage of The Comeuppance Music with the vintage Alice film was sheer perfection…I can’t wait to hear you live; and to pick up a Cd for my collection! Well done!