Saturday, August 2, 2014

Fantômas and Musical Journeys

I consider James Blackshaw one of the most talented musicians I have ever come across. I have written about him before and the growth he has exhibited, from records featuring just him and his acoustic 12-string to more sonically complicated records involving keys and strings.

His latest record continues that journey forward and see him stepping not only into the role of player but as composer. Fantômas: Le Faux Magistrat was recorded live at the Théâtre du Châlet in Paris on Halloween 2013. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Fantômas silent film series, directed by Frenchman Louis Feuillade, composer Yann Tiersen was asked to run the score and accompanying live performances for screenings of the five films. For the final film, Le Faux Magistrat, he asked Blackshaw. And this record is a document of that performance.

It features Blackshaw on his usual nylon string guitar as well as the grand piano. For this he is joined by Charlotte Glasson, Duane Pitre, and Simon Scott playing assortments of guitars, saxophones, flutes, violins, electronics and percussion instruments.

I confess I don't know anything about any of these films or people, except for Blackshaw. His name on the record's spine is what got it into the shopping basket (virtually, of course). But I know interesting music when I hear it. The images on the record hint at a dark, noir-ish endeavor. The music is equally foreboding and lovely. It is broken into 13 pieces and spread over 2 LPs.

For me it is a real listening experience. Four great musicians playing live to a film involves a tremendous amount of skill. Especially when they are rotating from instrument to instrument. It is hard to image that 4 people could pull this off so well. A sinister piano melody is augmented by a dark, almost sleazy saxophone in one of the opening pieces, which will give way to a lovely 12-string figure, soon augmented by a haunting violin and vibraphone. It doesn't deserve to be background music. With so much going on it's worth the listener's effort to apply themselves to the music.

I wouldn't dream of performing music like this, the meager talents I have do no begin to approach what is going on here. I appreciate it immensely. I appreciate the talent and the skill, both natural and that honed by years and years of practice, to make this as wondrous as it is.

Here is a link to Part VIII. For whatever reason the embed won't find it.