TWILIGHT

Nick Garrie’s career is defined by the rise, fall and resurrection of his “lost” psych-folk masterpiece The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas. Born in Yorkshire in 1949 and raised in Paris, Garrie cut his teeth in the 1960s singing in school choirs before studying surrealist poetry at Warwick. By 1968 he was performing acoustic originals along the French Riviera and Amsterdam’s Paradiso, only to have his earnings vanish and an agreed television appearance canceled. Undeterred, he recorded demos in Belgium, including early versions of “Deeper Tones of Blues” and “Bungle Tours,” which lay unheard for decades. Signed in 1969 by French label DiscAZ, he entered Davou Studios with producer Eddie Vartan and a 56-piece orchestra to craft The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas. Its lush string arrangements and surreal lyricism failed to reach audiences when label head Lucien Morisse’s suicide consigned the album to obscurity. Garrie retreated from music, carving out a life as a ski operator, rugby player and French teacher, occasionally returning as Nick Hamilton for the folk-influenced Suitcase Man (1984) and touring Spain with Leonard Cohen. In 2005, Rev-Ola’s reissue of Stanislas sparked renewed critical acclaim. A decade later, Elefant Records’ 2018 deluxe edition—complete with Garrie’s novelized liner notes and rare tracks—cemented its cult status and paved the way for Garrie’s triumphant folk-pop return with 49 Arlington Gardens in 2009, supported by Scottish indie luminaries. Today, Garrie’s legacy stands as a testament to artistic perseverance and the transformative power of rediscovery.