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4-CD-Box Cover
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Martin Stone – Down But Not Out In Paris And
London – The Mad Dog Chronicles
is a 4-CD-box
which has been so beautifully made that I thought I must be dreaming.
The Mad Dox
Box 1 is a joint effort of three record labels: Projectile, Pygtrack and Soft Cloud.
Most certainly this is a limited issue, and I dare say that the three labels
involved will not cash in money enough to buy themselves terraced houses – not
because the music is irrelevant, but because the release is so expensively
done. The box, the accompanying book, the four-fold fold-out-cardboard sleeve
for the CDs, the CDs themselves have been beautifully illustrated by John
Hurford. His drawings are magnificent, the Tony Poole artwork is to the mark.
The 50-page book (bound in a hard cover) is richly illustrated with photos,
drawings posters… and entertains the reader with reminiscences and memories of
an outstanding musician. Among the contributors are Russell Hunter, Michael
Moorcock, Tony Poole, Roger Powell, Pete Thomas, Carol Grimes, Edwin Pouncy,
Eric Golden to name just a few. Nigel Cross, the co-ordinator of this effort
magnifique, has compiled a portrait of “Stoney” - a lover beloved - as he
was seen by bandmates and friends.
Martin
“Stoney” Stone has played with many bands – The Savoy Brown Blues Band, Mighty
Baby, The Pink Fairies, The Tallahassee Rent Boys, The OTs and even a number of
French bands when he was living there. Thus the music featured here is
multidimensional – from Hillbilly or Gypsy Swing to Balladesque or French
Chansons, from wailing Blues to Rock’n’roll, from Garage Rock to almost free
form improvisation.
The bands
featured on these four CDs are The Tallahassee Rent Boys, Mighty Baby, Almost
Presley, Totally Hank, Wolf People, The OTs, Les Soucoupes Violentes as well as
duo work with Matt Deighton as well as Stéphane Eden and four tracks as Martin
Stone solo.
The music
has been culled from various and often private sources, but rest assured, the
sound quality is always high even if the music originated from a cassette tape.
Tony Poole as the master of the knobs guarantees for that.
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CD 3 jacket
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The variety
of musical approaches on these CDs covering Stoney’s music and musical
contributions from 1992 to 2013 is wide, and if cover versions are performed
they range from Robert Johnson via John Coltrane to Gun Club.
So, what
are the songs that impressed me most?
First and foremost
it is John Coltrane’s “India” on disc 3 - a 20-minute Jazz and Rock synergy and
a tour of free form improvisation recorded live by Mighty Baby in 2006: a three
guitarists’ challenge. In 1970, when people were more receptive and open-minded
this interpretation would have moved mountains. “Little Girl Blues” by Almost Presley was
heart-stopping. Almost Presley – racing along with a dominating violin – sound
like Gypsy Swing with a load of Mexicana. Their unexpected tempo changes and
stops are exciting.
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CD 1 jacket
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I’ve
already mentioned the kaleidoscope of sounds the listener can expect on “Down
But Not Out”, so while the Blues wailing of the OTs (feat. Chris Youlden)
exposes a broad chest and stands up to the very best of the British Blues
masters, Matt Deighton’s “A Blaze Of Light” is floating along like a sailing
boat in a summer breeze. Stéphane Eden’s “Elle n’aime pas me chansons” is a
psychedelic Blues chanson which turns into a Garage Punk rocker. I also dug Les
Soucoupes Violentes who drifted between Pub Rock Chamber Music and brash
Rolling Stones-like R & B – including inspired longish guitar solos.
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Les Soucoupes Violentes
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Martin Stone in the 70s
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If “India” is
one, then the four tracks of solo work of Martin Stone on CD 2 are the other
highlight.
It was a
great idea to finish this box set with the 1996 tribute song “Martin” by Clay
Harper & The Pierced Hearts feat. Eric Goulden and Charles Wolff. Little
things like this add to style.
By my
standards, this box set is a must, however expensive it might be. Thank you,
Nigel!
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The accompanying book's backside
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Orders via https://shagratrecords.com/
