Tosh Berman's Blog, page 105
February 3, 2021
"Telstar: The Joe Meek Story" a play by Nick Moran with James Hicks (Oberon Modern Plays) 2005
Of all the mediums, besides the music, of course, a theatrical play would be best to tell the narrative of Joe Meek. For one, I can't picture him being outside of his apartment/flat/studio. I think at least 90% of the photos I have seen of Meek's in the studio working or posing in front of his recording equipment, which also has tons of reel-to-reel tapes thrown on the floor. In a manner, he reminds me of looking at photos of the painter Francis Bacon in his tiny and messy studio. Meek and Bacon share a sexual orientation as well as a love for being in their studios making art/commerce. Their work is enormous and went beyond their studios. Still, in an everyday life situation, both were chained to their work and studio.
Nick Moran with James Hicks (that's the billing on the book cover) is a very accurate and crystal clear series of Meek snapshots at work. Dealing with the issues of rent with his understanding landlady, who he eventually murders in the act of insanity, as well as with his love/artist Heinz, and the various and somewhat dedicated musicians who worked with Joe. In a way, the Meek narrative works itself as a play. Joe Meek being in the studio was a total theater experience. It seems he was always on the brink of complete disaster, but on the other hand, he was a genius. Not the greatest songwriter, but truly a master of sound and how it conveys emotions and sexuality to the listener. Although I suspect he wasn't aware of France's Musique-Concrete composers, he did use similar techniques of using noise. Such as throwing pebbles into a toilet. Also capturing the pounding foot-stomping from his staircase for the amazing "Have I The Right" by The Honeycombs.
This is a somber narration, but putting together such a fascinating group of people in the Meek studio, therefore his world, is an excellent read. The chances for me to see this play on stage are probably non-existent; still, I get the show after reading the play.
February 2, 2021
Serge Gainsbourg's "Mister Melody: Les Interprètes de Serge Gainsbourg" CD Box Set Compilation, 2006
Where does one start with Serge Gainsbourg? I can see a listener being overwhelmed in choosing the album that introduces this brilliant figure's entire aesthetic in French 20th-century music. I decided on three pretty great compilations that go into his pop, Latin, and Jazz period in a previous post. I would also purchase "Mister Melody" CD Box Set, because its 4 CDs covers a lot of ground in the Gainsbourg world, and it's an excellent compilation.
What makes this compilation so special is that it focuses on the recordings that Gainsbourg produced, wrote for other artists. He was an excellent collaborator or general in the recording booth. Here we have a very early (and before Velvet Underground) Nico, which I believe was her first recording, "Strip-Tease," As well as a young Marianne Faithfull. Also a series of recordings with Juliette Gréco, Philippe Clay, Catherine Sauvage, Petula Clark, and of course, the infamous records he made with Brigitte Bardot, France Gall, and Jane Birkin. Who are not the only actresses he worked with? Isabelle Aubret, Anna Karina, Catherine Deneuve, and actors' Serge Reggiani (who is fantastic)? Jean-Claude Brialy. The fact is, Gainsbourg, worked with every prominent music figure in France, and it's mind-boggling how many of these artists are on this set.
The music quality is high. It comes with a 44-page book with interview excerpts and original art-work for all releases those tracks are taken from. I highly recommend the package.
"Who Is Lun*na Menoh?" at the Portland International Film Festival 44
The film on Lun*na Menoh is finished and will be shown online at the Portland International Film Festival 44. The ticket is only good in the United States.
"Who Is Lun*na Menoh?” follows the life and work of the extraordinary Japanese artist. From her early career in Japan to the underground music scene in Los Angeles, from fashion show runways featuring her sculptural designs to art galleries showing her fantastical work, Lun*na’s edgy, witty and beautiful creations are explored.Director Jeff Mizushima follows Lun*na’s artistic career, showcasing her uniquely individual expressionism and interviewing her family, gallery owners, models, fans, and fellow visual artists & musicians to find out who and what Lun*na Menoh is and why her art, in all of its forms, fits in our world.Directed by Jeff Mizushima81 mins | United States | 2020DocumentaryFollow this link for tickets to the online screening:Tickets for "Who Is Lun*na Menoh?"
February 1, 2021
February 1, 2021, by Tosh Berman
February 1, 2021
After almost a year of living inside my house due to the virus, I have become an expert on isolated living. One new hobby I have is watching the money disappear from my account on a regular basis. More is taken out than putting it in, and I like to measure my mood swings by the simple act of spending money. Not on fun things, mind you, but the mostly bills due to Electricity, mortgage, Internet services, and so forth. Watching one's life drain away is an interesting way of watching time passing.
I wake up around 6:30 in the morning and start writing on something or look up on my Facebook page to see what the outside world is doing. It seems that they are doing what I'm doing -checking their Facebook page. Facebook is a reflection, not unlike a mirror. I then read the Guardian and New York Times online, or I should say I scan the articles. It's interesting how one looks at the news these days. Since the beginning, there have always been newspapers devoted to a political or cultural position. I read the news to find things that I agree with, and I genuinely don't want another opinion because they are wrong, or even worse, stupid. Fox News, for instance, is for stupid people. I read smart media like The Guardian because it's for intelligent people. Why would I expand my horizon by reading stupid media?
By 9:30 AM, I'm in the bathtub reading a novel or the current issue of MOJO Magazine. This, besides happy hour, is my favorite time of the day. The outside world is locked outside of my bathroom, and there is nothing here but my thoughts, desires, and whatever I'm reading in the tub. Obviously, I only read paperbacks in the bathtub because hardcovers are too heavy for bath reading. I do a lot of reading. I have to read at least two music books a month for our bi-weekly podcast BOOK MUSIK. I only stop reading in the tub when the water gets cold, and that is the signal for me to throw the book to the other side of the room and focus on severe hair washing.
Once I'm out of the tub, I go weigh myself to see how fat I am. My mood brightens when I lose weight. If I gain, then the great depression starts. I take out the yoga mat and do a series of stretches for my back, which sometimes gets sore to my fat stomach. Health is a constant battle, which is another way of fighting boredom from being home all day. It's the little things that add spice to the day.
I only eat two meals a day, and my first meal is brunch. I like to time it around 11;30. Since we don't go out, nor can we afford to eat out, I make something in the kitchen. I'm a fan of Amy's Frozen Vegan Mexican food, or I like fake Mac and Cheese. The type of cheese I want is spelled "Cheeze." To add flavor, I put some unsalted nuts in the dish, and with a small spoon, I mix it to give the plate some texture. Since I hate to do the afternoon dishes, I pretty much eat the frozen food in the container that comes with the packaging. I then have a glass of orange juice, take a "One A (1) Day proactive tablet for those who are 65+. Now, it's time for the afternoon writing session.
What usually takes place is me looking at the blank computer screen until 6:00 PM, which becomes a happy hour. Since we are on a budget, my wife and I drink "Three Wishes" wine. Not sure what the wishes are or were, but at the very least, we haven't died (yet) from the wine. I play a record while having my first glass of wine. I never planned what I'm going to listen to. My body/brain seems to reach out without a serious thought, and presto, the record ends up in my hands. We then have dinner together and remark on our day. For me, this is difficult, as you can gather by reading this post/essay. Nothing on a basic day ever happens to me, except my actions above. Still, it's essential to keep a schedule of some sort, or you would go mad. Then again, how does one define madness?
The one (and only one) exciting thing that happened today is that I discovered the music of Emmanuelle Parrenin and a singer who died a few days ago, but never heard of until I read about the death, Sophie. One is reminded to take their head out of their space and smell the air outside. Parrenin's album "Maison rose" and Sophie's "Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides" share a need to experiment in their choice of medium. Sophie is very electronic, but so is Parrenin in her own manner of the music she made in 1977. I recommend both albums.
Albums That I Listened to in 2003
Finding new music released in 2003 was boring to me. Besides new recordings by Wire, "Send," and Bowie's "Reality" everything was non-existent. Except in the year 2003, and since the 1990s, I really got into the music of Serge Gainsbourg. Like on a Sparks (Ron and Russell Mael) level of fandom. With my love for Serge and his world, I started TamTam Books. The three compilation CDs of Serge's music is excellent. Organized in pop, Latin, and Jazz. It's an excellent way to make your first step into the world of Gainsbourg.
BOOK MUSIK - "She Bop: The Definitive History of Women in Popular Music" by Lucy O'Brien (Jawbone)
Book Musik 039 – She Bop: The Definitive History of Women in Popular Music by Lucy O’BrienPosted on February 1, 2021 by Book Musik
Tosh and Kimley discuss She Bop: The Definitive History of Women in Popular Music (Revised and Updated 25th Anniversary Edition) by Lucy O’Brien. Respect! Women have been fighting the pop music establishment since the beginning for just a little bit… Rock ‘n’ rollers like to think they live by their own rules, outside the establishment, but women know that it’s an ol’ boys club on par with cliques of politicians and financiers. So, sisters are doing it for themselves and finding unique ways to assert their creative voices. O’Brien gives us an exhaustive look at the struggles and triumphs of women in the music biz since recorded music started.
Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17
Book Musik · Book Musik 039 – SHE BOP: The Definitive History of Women in Popular Music bJanuary 31, 2021
The Albums That Were Important To Me in 2002
2002 was when America opened up the Pandora Box concerning Iraq and other faraway places. We are, to this day, can't bring the evil spirits back into that box. Nevertheless, the world's anxiety brought three magnificent albums, and those three were made by veterans of the pop music world. At this point, I remember feeling a sense of shame that I loved these albums over Wilco's release of that year, for instance. I pretty much ignored the newer artists for these old guys, yet, the music they were making was way more ahead of their time.
Bryan Ferry's "Frantic" is one of his more astonishing recordings. Unexpectedly I didn't think this would be even an impressive Ferry album. I was wrong. It's a superb album with Ferry in all his strengths. Also, I presume that the album was recorded over a time or even years. Still, the recordings and songs were as fresh as my memory of hearing the first Roxy Music album. It sounded like 'now,' and for whatever reason, "Frantic" sounded contemporary in the right way. The Ferry originals are up there with his classic songs from the past. His two Dylan covers on the album, I think, are magnificent. The classic here is an Eno/Ferry tune, "I Thought." It captures the early Roxy, but also the haunting lyrics with even the sad music is something of great beauty.
Looking at the present and forward at the same time is David Bowie's "Heathen." The album does have the post 9/11 mood, which I believing he was recording this album on that date. "Sunday," "A Better Future," and "Heathen (The Rays) are first-class Bowie tunes, and having Tony Visconti back in the production seat is also a plus for this late Bowie masterpiece. His cover of The Pixies "Cactus" is respectful to the original. And his beloved early idol, Legendary Stardust Cowboy's "I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship, is a goofy but incredibly romantic song.
Most hardcore Sparks' fans feel that the Island Records era of Sparks is the masterpiece era, as well as "No. One Song in Heaven." "Lil Beethoven" is a masterpiece as well. Like Bowie, very much in the present, and their eyes on to the future. In places, it reminds me of Steve Reich's music, but with a strong hip-hop overture and melodic tunes. Chamber pop but done in the 21st century. A masterpiece. Everything else released in 2002 was neither here nor there. Still, these three albums are influential works by artists with a beautiful history.
Sundance Film Festival 2021 Q&A for The Sparks Brothers - festival.sunda...
My love for Ron Mael, Russell Mael, and Edgar Wright on their documentary "The Sparks Brothers." I'm in the film as well.
