soundtrack to my life
Who needs movies when you’ve got a soundtrack? Master of film noir soundscapes, Barry Adamson, makes his Moscow debut at Apelsin this Sunday.
TEXT FRANCIS MERSON feedback
Barry Adamson has an impressive CV. He was bass guitarist for post-punk outfit Magazine, then a member of the new-romantic ensemble Visage — remember the hit “Fade to Grey?” — then a founding member of The Bad Seeds. But Adamson’s conception of music was always too broad to fit into the pop-rock paradigm, and after abandoning The Seeds he did what disillusioned ex-band members are supposed to do — he went solo. As a lone rider, Barry began to experiment with the genre of cinema music, bringing out his first single, “The Man with The Golden Arm,” in 1988, after which the glib but apposite label of “soundtracks to non-existent films” was stuck to Adamson’s music. But although the films are indeed non-existent, the period is unmistakable, as visceral brass moans, swooning strings and jazzy vibraphone interludes all indicate a decidedly fifties aesthetic. The lyrics to the songs are abstract, a collage of film noir cliches which are more evocative than meaningful, conjuring up a dark cinematic metropolis — a musical Gotham City of which Adamson is both hero and storyteller. All these cinephile elements are neatly dovetailed with sounds from modern electronica, including a booming drum-and-bass bottom line, which forms the backbone of the mix. The end result is a peculiar melange of lounge, jazz and trip-hop, which, if not always musically edifying, is truly original and at times even a bit creepy. It is no surprise that the king of spookiness, David Lynch, chose Adamson as the main contributor to the soundtrack of “Lost Highway.” Lynch deserves at least some of the credit for Adamson’s popularity in Russia, where the musician/composer will be giving his long-awaited first-ever concert on April 9 at Apelsin. The show will tie in with the release of Adamson’s latest album, the title of which is yet to be disclosed, and fans can expect a load of new material at the show. Tickets go for 800 roubles in advanced and 900 on the night, while a VIP table will set you back at least 1,500. |
