It’s taken me ages to get this post written as new information came up and new cds arrived. So this may get amended in time…
Back in 1979 I was dozing in front of The Old Grey Whistle Test when up popped a new band, Bruce Woolley & The Camera Club. This is best version I can find on You Tube at the moment…
The thing that attracted me was the keyboards, a young kid hiding behind a stack of synths, producing piercing solos and textures different to anything else about at the time. They appeared on Radio 1 In Concert a few weeks later (I wish I still had that tape) and I was a fan. I bought the album “English Garden”, was initially mildly disappointed by the “pop” production, and that following another single “Trouble Is” was that.
I heard “Europa & the Pirate Twins” by Thomas Dolby and joined the dots. Windpower followed and the album ‘Golden Age of Wireless’. As usual I followed him off and on for the next few years up to his single with Sakamoto, “FieldWork”, still one of my favourites by either artist.
I have just been listening to the Audiobook of Thomas Dolby’s Speed Of Sound and now know the goings on behind that music. I’ll explore the business aspects of Dolby’s relationship with the music and I.T. industries elsewhere, but the book paints a picture of an artist whose life influences his art perhaps more overtly than others. The ‘Aliens Ate My Buick‘ album was a sharp change of direction, a move to the USA, marriage and work with George Clinton brought out a more upbeat funky feel, although the lasting song from the album for me is the more atmospheric ‘Budapest By Blimp’. Listen to Jazz singer Claire Martin’s version of “Key To Your Ferrari”, proof that Dolby’s main skill is as a songwriter.
I missed ‘Astronauts & Heretics‘ but will explore it now having read about it in his book and listened to “The Beauty of a Dream”. Read his tale of dragging a contribution out of Jerry Garcia before you hear the song.
Included at the end of the Audiobook of Speed Of Sound is Oceanea from his most recent album ‘Map Of The Floating City. I knew of the album/game concept but the music was a surprise. Burning Shed have the 2CD version in stock. Mine arrived as I was writing this, and on first listen* the rest of the album is up to the standard of Oceanea. The package is nice as well, the map has all sorts of nuggets for the Dolby fan to spot, in fact it now seems that he has been building a whole world all these years, even down to the landlocked boat for a recording studio. I wonder if he has read J.G.Ballard?
I would recommend the Audiobook version of The Speed of Sound as Dolby’s narration gives it a personal feel that enhances the story. Any or all of his albums are worth exploring, if you get his “comeback” live album ‘The Sole Inhabitant’ get the DVD for the between song chat and anecdotes. His instrument set up including bits of 1920’s radios is also interesting, at least it was to me…
I wasn’t aware of how personal many of his lyrics were, the “fun” nature of his early music masked that aspect of his work, but I am listening with new understanding to all his albums and enjoying the more introspective work on Astronauts & Heretics and Map…. Take some time to read or listen to his book and find new depths in his music as I have.
* after a couple more listens Oceanea, & Spice Train are favourites but To The Lifeboats is creeping up fast. You need to see the video of “The Toad Lickers” too, bizarre to almost Douglas Adams standards.
