Paul Amlehn - Lyrics, composition, arrangement, editing, mixing, production
Boaz Abebe - Vocals
Man Ray - Rayograph

The title for this composition comes from a poem by Emily Dickinson: "Hope is the thing with feathers."

Lyrics:

"Twilight encroaches upon the hives of limerence.

A man with a broken neck
Is sitting in the corner of the room.

He says: "The stars are made of bone."
He says: "The stars are made of bone."

But we must not worry.
We must not stop believing.

It will be better 
When tomorrow comes around."

The Thing With Feathers

My name is Paul Amlehn. I am an artist working in the mediums of literature, music, visual art, theater, opera, dance, performance art, and film.

My poetry, prose, and texts for theater and opera have been published in literary journals in 23 countries, including Exquisite Corpse, the California Quarterly, Poetry Salzburg Review, and Evergreen Review.

My paintings, photographs, music, and video art works have been exhibited throughout the world, including at Artist's Space, Luhring Augustine, the Chelsea Art Museum, and Tate Liverpool, and at festivals which include Art 42 Basel (with the Serpentine Gallery - curated by Julia Peyton-Jones and Hans Ulrich Obrist), documenta 14, and the 51st, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, and 60th Venice Biennales.

On my music projects I have collaborated with Robert Fripp (King Crimson), Ulrich Krieger (Lou Reed), Chuck Hammer (David Bowie), Jamie Saft (Iggy Pop), Susan Stenger (John Cale), Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno), Michael Blair (Tom Waits), David Van Tieghem (Laurie Anderson), Michael Johnson (Joy Division), Joe Gore (PJ Harvey), Terry Edwards (Tindersticks), Mick Rossi (Leonard Cohen), Jem Finer (The Pogues), Kate St John (Van Morrison), Mark Egan (Arcadia), Eberhard Kranemann (Kraftwerk), Reinier van Houdt (Current 93), Thomas Stern (Einsturzende Neubauten), Paul Barker (Ministry), Stephen Thrower (Coil), Jessica Stewart (Psychic TV), Colin Potter (Nurse With Wound), Ches Smith (Mr. Bungle), Stephen Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire), Susan Alcorn, Suzanne Ciani, Keiron Melling (The Fall), Julia Kent (Antony and the Johnsons), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), Laurent Petitgand (Wim Wenders), Jen Baker (Werner Herzog), Phil Minton (Matthew Barney), Jim Pugliese (New York City Ballet), John King (Merce Cunningham Dance Company), Robert Black (Bang on a Can All-Stars), Frank Cassara (Steve Reich and Musicians), William Winant (Terry Riley), Andy Findon (Michael Nyman Group), Andrew Sterman (Philip Glass Ensemble), Jeff Zeigler (Kronos Quartet), and many others.

On my film and video art projects I have collaborated with actors, actresses, singers, and dancers, including Philippe Nahon (Gaspar Noe), Artur Barciś (Krzysztof Kieślowski), Anne Louise Hassing (Lars von Trier), Kate Moran (Peter Greenaway), Kate Fisher (Robert Wilson), Elisa Lasowski (David Cronenberg), Pamela Flores (Alejandro Jodorowsky), Stefania Casini (Andy Warhol), and many others.

I am currently working on an album of music which has texts and vocals by William S. Burroughs, in cooperation with the Burroughs Estate. I am also presently working on an album of music which reimagines the work of John Cage, in cooperation with the John Cage Trust.

Cover art for my albums has been provided by painter Gerhard Richter and artist, musician, and filmmaker David Lynch.

At the end of 2024, I worked on several re-creation compositions which utilzed sonic elements from pre-existing songs by Brian Eno and David Byrne, Nine Inch Nails, and Grimes, from their albums "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts," Ghosts I-IV," and "Miss Anthropocene, combined with new music by myself and other musicians.

I'm presently working on a new music recording project. Musicians taking part in this project are: Stan Harrison (Talking Heads), Ben Somers (Seal), Jarboe (Swans), Ghazi Barakat (Pharoah Chromium), Rob Burns (David Gilmour), Nicholas Currie (Momus),  Peter Hess (Philip Glass Ensemble), and others.

Soli Deo gloria.

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