DJ Andy Butler explains the mythological underpinnings of his recent aural collaboration, Hercules and Love Affair:
The name refers to the friendship between Hercules (who is called Heracles in Greek mythology) and Hylas, his trusty travel companion or his gay lover, depending on your point of view. Hylas’ beauty was so unparalleled that a water nymph kidnapped him.
Hercules was despondent, unable to continue his voyage with Jason and the Argonauts, and he wandered the island of Cios in search of Hylas.
“He stayed on the island, looking for his boyfriend,” Mr. Butler said. “I just thought this was super-beautiful: the strongest man on earth looking for his lost love, at his most vulnerable. Strong men can have strong feelings. And they can experience those feelings and experience pain and express pain – and be gay.”
It sort of hits you right in the here (pointing to our virtual heart).
fanboi
Big week for herc and Hylas. They appeared in the pages of marvel Comic’s Incredible herc. The relationship was only HINTED at but it was still there in CMYK for us all to see.
http://heroesnhunks.com/wordpress/2008/06/22/herc-loves-hylas/
Kid A
Not to mention that a collaborator w/ Hercules and Love Affair is Antony Hegarty, currently one of my favorite musicians.
Tim
The Herc & Love Affair album is fantastic. Highly recommended! Full throttle disco at times with hints of early/original house music, NOT the atrocity of what house music has become.
Meeg
There were also some myths where Hylas was Heracles’ bastard son (and thus presumably — hopefully — not his lover)