Monthly Archives: July 2009

Mezzoforte Live in Reykjavik

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I have always had a soft spot for that most impossible of outfits, a fusion/jazz-funk quartet from Reykjavik called Mezzoforte. Since their first (and pretty much only) hit ‘Garden Party’ back in 1980 they have been hovering in this strange twilight zone between obscurity and the ‘oh, I think I have heard of them’ remarks. This of course proves my friend C’s point that I have a penchant for what he calls ‘elevator music’. Mezzoforte made some cracking albums in the eighties, full of impressive bass slapping, ‘oooo deee aaahing’ background vocals by barely post pubescent men from Iceland and some great melodies. Then there was a lull and they returned with some more albums that still had some bass slapping but less catchy melodies and more ‘adult’ jazzy bits (with other words, it wasn’t as good anymore). Because they’ve been around for a good thirty years now, they produced a 2 – cd live album (Live In Reykjavik) with the ‘deluxe’ version sporting an extra DVD, catching it all on video.

So far so dandy. Of course I had to have it, so when triple pack of digital goodness arrived I whacked the first CD into the player and was waiting for some good old sweaty musicianship with plenty of crowd noises and ‘Good evening Luton, er, Reykjavik’ shouts. Instead I heard what I thought was the studio versions. Checked the CD: nope, says ‘live’.  Popped the DVD in: yes, there they were, a bunch of middle aged men, nodding their heads, swaying gently, but not much else, surrounded by a couple of dozen appreciative listeners. But it still sounded like the studio versions of their songs, with the slight minute aberration from the original. Just not quite as good.

Bottomline: If you fancy Mezzoforte, buy the remastered versions of ‘Surprise Surprise’ and ‘Observations’. Stay clear of this rather luke warm collection that’s neither offering a live atmosphere nor the energy of the originals.

Swineflu is taking over. Especially in the press.

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The place were I earn my money is broadly speaking in the healthcare business: folks call us or walk through the door, get some advice or some medication and leave the premises (hopefully) soon feeling better. Over the last 3 weeks the amount of people me and my workmates have been seeing and given advice over the phone has broadly quadrupled. The amount of fear and misinformation that is out there in the community is incredible. The relentless pounding of sensationalist headlines by the English red tops into the psyche of its readers has turned this normally relaxed and good natured country into a collection of existentially frightened humans fearing for their lives. That it compares favourably to other influenza epidemics doesn’t seem to be registered. The amount of misinformation doesn’t help. Daily changing guidance from a plethora of different agencies and quangos only adds to the confusion.

Stay calm. If you have flu like symptoms, stay at home until you’re better. If you have long term health problems, call your GP or one of the numerous helplines. Have some paracetamol, they will help make you feel better. Don’t watch day time television: it’s very bad for your brain.

See, that wasn’t hard, was it?

Well Educated Managers.

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Shenzhen Dingoo Digital Product Co, makers of a delightful little gaming console – the aeronautically named Dingoo A320 – take obviously pride in the education of their staff and their meteorological micro climate. Their websites states:

Shenzhen Dingoo Digital Co., Ltd. focus on games and digital products, and is located in the Futian District, Shenzhen, with elegant geographical, thick atmosphere of scientific research. Dingoo has a strong R & D platform and partners, dedicated and capable staff, as well as a number well-educated managers with years of related experiences in management.

Do you think they could send some to the NHS?

Vibraphonic

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I started playing bass about a year ago (Fordiebianco recommends Wesley bass guitars: the bass of choice for those musicians who don’t want to pay through their nose and don’t see the need to spend 3000 pounds if they only play on the weekends and anyway: what’s good enough for JJ Abrams is good enough for me) and therefore always keep a special eye on what the bass guy is doing when I go to gigs.

Image from Rogerbeajolais.com

Nick Cohen, the bass player for Matt Bianco, obviousy hasn’t that much to do during a gig: MB’s music has never put high value on low frequency acrobatics, preferring their bass players (if they actually have one on the record. For years it used to be a DX7) to be gently accompaying them in the background. Always with a slight air of boredom, Nick stands there on the stage, observing the other guys standing around (ok, I admit it: there is not much movement on stage during a MB concert, it’s all a bit static), doing his thing. When I had a look at his website, I was surprised at the variety of projects he has been involved with and ordered some stuff from his back catalogue. One project stands out: Vibraphonic had 2 albums out on the seminal ‘Acid Jazz’ label, 2 albums on ‘Hollywood Records’ and one album on Tony Remy’s  ‘StayTuned’ label and after ordering from various second hand outfits I now have a nice collection of their albums (though I stayed away from ‘A vibraphonic christmas’ {No, I am not joking}).

They fit in perfectly into my Acid Jazz collection, proudly standing near The James Taylor Quartet, Galliano and the Jamiroquai collection. What’s their sound like? Well, it’s funky (yep. Nick Cohen does the funk), jazzy and unsurprisingly there is a vibraphone played by the oenologically named Roger Beaujolais (no, really). Think ‘The James Taylor Quartet’ meets Drizabone meets a vibraphone player.  Quite pleasant, actually.

Which just once again proves that Matt Bianco is the centre of the musical universe. I am sure there are connections to Metallica and Blue Oyster Cult as well.