Ira Cohen
Ira Cohen was born in the Bronx in 1935. A countercultural renaissance man, Cohen made films, photographs and poetry, edited the magazine Gnaoua and authored The Hashish Cookbook. Cohen became well known for his 1968 movie using the Mylar technique, The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda, soundtracked by Angus MacLise, the original drummer of the Velvet Underground. A self-described multimedia shaman, Mr. Cohen compared writing to “pushing a peanut with my nose.” But a postscript to one of his poems marveled at the beauty that could inexplicably blossom: “Sometimes when I pick up my pen,” he wrote, “it leaks gold all over the tablecloth.” He died in 2011.
Ira Cohen was born in the Bronx in 1935. A countercultural renaissance man, Cohen made films, photographs and poetry, edited the magazine Gnaoua and authored The Hashish Cookbook. Cohen became well known for his 1968 movie using the Mylar technique, The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda, soundtracked by Angus MacLise, the original drummer of the Velvet Underground. A self-described multimedia shaman, Mr. Cohen compared writing to “pushing a peanut with my nose.” But a postscript to one of his poems marveled at the beauty that could inexplicably blossom: “Sometimes when I pick up my pen,” he wrote, “it leaks gold all over the tablecloth.” He died in 2011.
Behind The Buddha’s Mask
Lucky restock ** Limited edition of 60. Comes with two inserts ** Limited to 60 copies only and released by Counter Culture Chronicle, the “Behind the Buddha's Mask” cassette is a stunning effort, largely built around the unique recordings made by Christophe Albertijn at the Middelheim Museum in May 2021. While the pandemic forced poet, writer, sarangi player and global wanderer Louise Landes Levi to reside in Japan, her voice – reciting poems from the “Behind the Buddha’s Mask” poem – was trans…
Into the Mylar Chamber (Book)
Between 1968 and 1971, in a loft on New York's Jefferson Street, the poet, photographer and filmmaker Ira Cohen created some of the most mythic images of the late 1960s. Inspired by his friends Jack Smith and Bill Devore, Cohen’s initial experiments with black light developed into an experimental ritual space he termed the Mylar Chamber―a simple room of hinged boards hung with reflective Mylar film. Through his extended network, and with the support of artist and set designer Robert LaVigne, Coh…
Behind The Buddha’s Mask (Book + Tape Bundle)
** Tape + Artist book containing a cycle of mythical poems written while in covid-exile in Japan. A sumi-e drawing by Kawabata Makoto is included in the text. Gold on purple cover, including a full colour insert, pure beauty. ** Limited to 60 copies only and released by Counter Culture Chronicle, the “Behind the Buddha's Mask” cassette is a stunning effort, largely built around the unique recordings made by Christophe Albertijn at the Middelheim Museum in May 2021. While the pandemic forced poe…
From the Archives Vol. 9 (Tape)
Another release in the ongoing CCC Archives series. From the archives vol. 9 with rare material by the free-jazz legend Arthur Doyle, Jan Herman and Ira Cohen
Blue Iris, Black Rose by Burroughs and Ira expert Ian MacFadyen
Ira Cohen (February 3, 1935 – April 25, 2011) was an American poet, publisher, photographer and filmmaker. Ira Cohen was born to deaf parents and instead of just developing speech, began developing his vision early, learning to spell with his fingers. In 1961 he took a Yugoslavian freighter to Tangiers where he lived for four years and published Gnaoua, a magazine devoted to exorcism, introducing the work of Brion Gysin, William S. Burroughs and other members of the Interzone mob.
In 1970 he wen…
NYC 11/20/02 (Tape)
** Limited edition of 60. It comes with a nice insert * A 90 minute very spirited and informal reading at the Tagine Restaurant, NYC by Ira with musical accompinament, sitars and the like. Ira Cohen (February 3, 1935 – April 25, 2011) was an American poet, publisher, photographer and filmmaker. Ira Cohen was born to deaf parents and instead of just developing speech, began developing his vision early, learning to spell with his fingers. In 1961 he took a Yugoslavian freighter to Tangiers where h…
Dundee 2003
* Edition of 80 * The legendary Ira Cohen recorded live at Kill Your Timid Notion, Dundee. Free music provided by Chris Corsano on drums and David Keenan on guitar. Includes two small photographs.
Ruigoord Fiery Tongues
* Limited edition of 20 copies * edition which comes in a cardboard box and is limited to twenty copies. Coming with an explanation about the recordings - of readings at the festival by Armand, Ira Cohen, Louis Lehmann, Hans Verhagen and Simon Vinkenoogand - Ruigoord with a special thank to Hans Plomp and Yvonne van Doorn organising poetry and spoken word events in Ruigoord for decades and hopefully decades to come. This tape is not only a tribute to the five Ruigoord Trophy holders (all artists…
From the Archives Vol. 1 and 2
** Limited edition of 80. The two cassettes comes with a laser printed insert** First in a series of compiled recordings dug up from CCC’s and other archives. Vol. 1 contains: Robert Graves discussing love, black arts and mushrooms + two tracks by Angus MacLise, previously released in ‘Green Groceries’ magazine, 2000, then a J.G. Ballard interview and reading. Also, Louise Bourgeois in her studio in Brooklyn, ‘Doodlings’ by Angus MacLise, previously released in 2006, and Harry Hoogstraten readin…
The Bearded Iris
This is the last recording of Ira Cohen (1935-2011) reading at his New York apartment, made by poet, friend and collaborator Louise Landes Levi who was staying with him at the time. A very intense reading spanning his early work Poems from the Cosmic Crypt up to his last collection Everything You Say May Be Hold Against You . Cohen s visionary surrealist poetry transforms Asian shamanism, the Sufi poetry of Rumi, Cendrars' great travelogues and Lorca's duende into multi-dimensional phantasmagori…
The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda
Fully restored director's cut DVD of Ira Cohen's legendary 1968 film, The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda ina limited edition of 500 copies only."I must say this is the most chemically abused piece of cinema I’ve ever seen – I actually feel under the influence now, I don’t know if I’m safe to walk home. It’s so narcotic that I’m surprised it’s legal to buy over the counter… all this and it was made in 1968 – one year before Woodstock? Well I’m surprised, I was sure people were still locking u…
Kings with Straw Mats
A pilgrimage into the heart of India's greatest sacred celebration, the Kumbh Mela which takes place every 12 years. Filmmaker and poet Ira Cohen brings us face to face with an unforgettable gathering of holy men and into the heart of a visionary experience by rendering it as it really is: a circus of high madness, true devotion and showbiz savvy. The Kumbh Mela takes its name from the Hindu legend which tells how four drops of the gods holy elixir fell to the earth from a "kumbh" or…