by Lang Reid
After
a run of thrillers and who-dunnits, this week’s coffee table tome was a
welcome change. Jim Thompson - the House on the Klong (ISBN 9-8130-1868-2,
Archipelago Press, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) was co-authored by William
Warren and Jean-Michel Beurdeley, with photographs by Luca Invernizzi
Tettoni. It is indeed a coffee table book with hard cover and full colour
all the way through.
At the front, acknowledgement is made of the James H.W.
Thompson Foundation, under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn, which effectively looks after the property, now designated as
a national museum. The fact that the house was built and its contents were
collected by an American businessman is an unfortunate indictment of the
Thai personality, which in the late 50’s and early 60’s was slavishly
looking towards the American dream, rather than maintaining its own
culture. Warren points this out, but more gently than my critique.
The book is divided into four main sections - A man and
his house, The Garden, A visit to the house and the Art collection. The
co-authors share these sections, with William Warren contributing to the
historical aspect, while Beurdeley deals with examination of the collected
art. The format is similar in each, with a narrative at the front leading
into well captioned photographs.
Warren the historian was a friend of Jim Thompson, so
much of the history relies on his personal memories, but these give the
book an immediacy and a personal touch. While reading the book, you are
not kept aware of the disappearance of the house owner, and in a small way
it continues the mystique surrounding the American silk magnate.
You are also given some thumbnail sketches of Bangkok
of 45 years ago and earlier, both through the eyes of William Warren and
those of luminaries such as W. Somerset Maugham. Warren backs up
Invernizzi Tattoni’s photographs with old letters and archival
photographs and architectural plans, Thompson being an architect before he
began to delve into the silk trade.
Romance, Asian art, Thai architecture, Buddhism and
oriental paintings are all here, rolled into one book. However, this is
not an inexpensive book at B. 1,295, but as a reference volume it is
priceless. Anyone who has any feelings for old Siam, as Jim Thompson did,
will enjoy looking at the house that Jim Thompson built, and the art
treasures he collected and housed inside it.
William Warren, a very accomplished writer and
historian, avoids examination of the mysterious disappearance of Jim
Thompson, but steadfastly looks at the house and its origins, while art
authority Beurdeley deals with description of the art pieces. Factor in
the exquisite photographs by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni and you have the
complete and authoritative book on this remarkable house.
I enjoyed this book from hard cover to hard cover. My only
disappointment was the fact that the book was printed in Singapore. Many
years ago, it was necessary for ‘art’ books to be published in
Singapore or Hong Kong, but not any more. Perhaps future editions can be
proudly printed in Thailand. They deserve to be.
Drawn by Mott the Dog
Colored in by Ella Crew
5
Kisses *****
“You Wanted The Best? You Got The Best. The Hottest
Band In The Land, KISS.” This is the taped introduction to every KISS
concert since the year dot. Who would be brave enough to dispute this
claim? Their stage shows are folklore now, and after 30 years, 32
albums, and over 90 million record sales, the band is still going
strong.
The lineup has fluctuated dramatically over the years
with only main stays Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley remaining constant.
Some musicians leave and return for these shows, as does original
drummer Peter Criss, but already less than a year down the road he has
been replaced by the returning Eric Singer. The make-up of each
replacement musician stays the same so the crowd hardly ever notices.
The idea is that once you are in the band, make sure you don’t upset
Gene or Paul or you will find yourself on the outside again. So, on this
recording you have Tommy Thayer playing the role of Silver Spaceman and
Ace Frehley on lead guitar never missing a note or smudging his make up.
Alive Four Symphony is the first Full length concert
available from the masters of Theatre Rock; and what a concert it was,
too. Over 40 thousand rabid KISS fans attended, and it is spread over
two DVDs. The first documents the arrival of the band in Australia and
their meeting up with the conductor and musical director of the
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with its classically trained musicians.
Although it starts out in distrust and coldness, by the time of concert,
band, orchestra members and choir are as one and have the time of their
lives.
On Disc Two is the full concert broken up into three
acts. The first act is the 4-piece rock band playing six of their
classic songs stripped to the bone. Act two consists of five songs given
the acoustic treatment with a 12-piece string section. Songs like
‘Beth’ and ‘Forever’, two ballads, gave KISS surprise ballad
single hits, and have been screaming out for in the live context. Act
three is where all the action really kicks off. The four members of the
band look great despite the fact that all of them are in their sixth
decade. They rock ‘round the stage shaking their booties like never
before; all in their adopted make up and specially made stage space
suits.
The Cat behind the drums only comes to the front to
play up to the crowd during his solo singing spot in ‘Beth’. The
Spaceman on lead guitar takes every opportunity to blaze out as many
notes per second solos as possible, and, being new to the band,
obviously loves every second of it.
The Beast on bass, forever sticking out the longest
and most suggestive tongue in rock, spits blood and eats fire during his
bass solo before flying bat-like sixty feet into the gantry above the
stage, and then is flown down again to join his crewmen.
Center stage is the Starman in his 8-inch stack
heeled boots, flouncing and pouting at the audience, playing his guitar
over each shoulder before bringing it crashing to the ground, and being
flown round the audience on a flying trapeze.
Add to this a 60-piece orchestra and conductor all in
full KISS make up (each member of the orchestra was allowed to choose
which member of KISS’ make up they wanted to wear) enjoying their new
found freedom in being able to play rock music instead of the strict
rigors of the classics. When they are then joined by a 40-piece
Australian Children’s Choir (naturally also in full make up), the
audience (half of them are also in full KISS dress) go completely wild.
Add to this KISS playing all their classic songs (ranging from
selections from their first album to their latest studio effort); a
great stage set; a hilarious Paul Stanley in-between song raps; some of
the biggest and loudest pyrotechnics ever set off on a rock stage, and
you have one of the greatest rock shows ever recorded on this DVD.
Over the course of the two DVDs the playing time
(including bonus features) clocks in at over three and a half hours. So
with KISS, as usual, everything to excess.
KISS on this
recording are:
Star child Paul Stanley - Guitar and Vocals
The Beast Gene Simmons - Bass Guitar and Vocals
The Cat Peter Criss - Drums and Vocals
Spaceman Tommy Thayer - Lead Guitar
Dressed as the Beast David Campbell - Conductor
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
The Australian Children’s Choir
Songs by KISS
Deuce
Strutter
Let Me Go Rock ‘n’ Roll
Lick It Up
Calling Dr. Love
Psycho Circus
KISS with the
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Beth
Forever
Goin’ Blind
Sure Know Something
Shandi
KISS with the
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Children’s Choir
Detroit Rock City
King Of The Night Time World
Shout It Out Loud
God Of Thunder
Love Gun
Great Expectations
Black Diamond
I Was Made For Lovin’ You
Rock and Roll All Nite
To contact Mott the Dog email: [email protected]
Mott’s CD review: KISS - Alive 4 Symphony ... The DVD