Barry Adamsons LP - As Above So Below 1998 Mute records
This was solid heavy rotation for me during the years 99-01. I first heard barry adamsons solo stuff while on a date with my wife to be at the time Anastasia at the Upstairs lounge above the Mekong Restaurant on the south grand St. louis. It was DJ devil or something like that. The track was entitled the Big Bamboozle. It was some time traveled film noir bit of sturm und drang yknow shock and awe. Big big anhilating horns over ostinato insistence in the bass. It was hot. Yikes.
Anyways. I bought As above so Below a few days later and it served me well for many years of repeated listening . The album had an Odyssey like journey through Sin Sex Murder Chase Death Reserection and redemption. All in a very swank and sophisticated acid jazz indie pop formula.
Here is the endorphin charged second track, what it means, delight in its ability to entrain into its tempo and urgency. Yes its very much like a drug. So allow yourself the adrenaline boost. Barry Adamson paints a picture of impending doom, madness in genius, genius in madness, and yearning romantic heart to boot.
Next is a track that embodies the thematic material of the album. A Faust like dialogue between the protaganist, Barry, who seems comfortable and mature in his ability to embody the character and place the lyrics in the realm of fiction, and the Devil. The song is Jazz Devil. Here are the lyrics.
When God appeared before me I was drowning in my pool
I was fifty over thirty but lookin' real cool
He said a life of tedious insights and an overflowing cup
Just don't cut the mustard I'm afraid you can't come up
I fell way down it seemed into a bottomless pit
A sign saying "Hotel Hades" was the only thing a-lit
Beelzebub was hangin' but he wouldn't cut no slack
He told me the big cat hath spoken I'm afraid you're going back as the
Jazz Devil. Full and greedy I'm the
Jazz Devil. Libido needy I'm the
Jazz Devil, fly me in the mix
Where you can call me agent double-oh six-six-six
I cruise the streets of London with just one thing on my mind
Gotta passport labelled fun of the interactive kind
But first I found some cats and they were howling at the moon
I told 'em you play the instruments and I'll play the buffoon
We broke into a sombre march called "Misery and Woe"
And then we upped the tempo 'til the juice began to flow
All a sudden this chick named Mimi just appeared right outta the blue
Sayin' I've been searchin' for someone and now I know who
Jazz Devil. Sick and racy I'm the
Jazz Devil. But very tasty I'm the
Jazz Devil, fly me in the mix
Where you can call me agent double-oh six-six-six
Me and Mimi settled down in the family kinda way
Won ten million on the lottery without no debt to pay
And in the wee small hours when there was no place left to spend
We'd open up each other so the days would never end
Some jealous cats caught wind of this and armed up to the teeth
They came in search of me and she with their pistols underneath
And they caught me going down a thing that made them just see red
And as Mimi hit the no return they filled me fulla lead
Damn… I'm dead!
When God appeared before me I was lyin' in a pool
I was fifty over thirty but lookin' real cool
He said a life of tedious insights and a tendency to crack
Just don't cut the mustard time to head on back
I fell way down I knew into a bottomless pit
(Oh no here we go)
The sign saying "Hotel Hades" is the only sign that's lit
Beezelbub was hangin' but he never cuts no slack
He says, the big cat hath spoken again you're going back as the
Jazz Devil. Every mornin hail the
Jazz Devil. Cos as long as days keep dawnin' I'm the
Jazz Devil, fly me in the mix
You know that I am agent double-oh six-six-six (wow)
Heavy heavy heavy. And it evolves and intensifies to a very paranoid soundscape of hopelessness and frustration. A musical psychotic break is felt and his lyrics during ‘still i rise’ display tangential loose associations, visions of grandeur, ideas of reference. It is the end game for the protaganist as he seems cornered and hunted down in both physical form and spiritual. The chord progression is like an escher staircase that never ends. Give it a listen. Its not for the meek and best in headphones or your own space. Pretty is not the only game in town,
Wow indeed. The devils fucking plaything!! Offta. Yeah thats some fucked up jazz, love it. Thats my nickname for my junk. Lol. Here is a playlist that contains the songs off the album.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUHXLMVK4nv1Z-y7zHRD3Awn-CSXnE_t
But i wanted to end the session with the indie film noir track of his called the big bamboozle....enjoy and thanks for listening.
