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Book Review: From Other Worlds

by Lang Reid

Author Ian Quartermaine must be having many sleepless nights. After his update of Sleepless in Bangkok, we had For King and Country only a few weeks ago and this has been smartly followed by From Other Worlds (ISBN 974-8303-74-8) in the same package as another book entitled Cybernaut. The accompanying letter suggested that From Other Worlds be read before Cybernaut, so as a dutiful reviewer I have done just that.

In his usual fashion, Quartermaine has used the short chapter format, some even being less than two pages in length. In this way he certainly does move the action along at quite some pace, and ‘action’ writing characterizes Quartermaine’s novels. His other forte is confrontation, which he employed with great success, from my point of view, in his previous novels reviewed here, being Sleepless in Bangkok and For King and Country. Quartermaine also realizes that his writing has this quality and a warning is published, and in this case, on the front cover.

The tale begins with a visit to our earth by invaders from outer space. The fact that they have come to us, rather than vice versa, shows that they are more advanced technologically than we are. It also becomes apparent that they have a different mind-set to us humans as well. Man’s aggressive nature being noted by one of the leaders of the extra-terrestrials, “Even members of the same race can be hostile and aggressive to each other, especially if their appearance, culture or religion are different in some way. Leader Vicon confirmed, his mind searching for an answer to mankind’s paradoxical and sometimes destructive behaviour.” One only has to look no further than the south of Thailand to see the reality. The book even mentions ‘Holy Wars’, an oxymoron if ever there was one.

Many years ago (around 50 if I admit to it), I remember reading a comic called The Eagle, and each week would read about the hero Dan Dare and his arch enemy the Mekons that came from Venus. Somehow, From Other Worlds reminded me of that scenario, and I wonder of Quartermaine ever read those comics too. Whatever, Dan Dare always triumphed over the Mekon. I cannot say the same outcome is inside this book. Quartermaine’s Vicon is made of different stuff to the Eagle’s Mekon.

Initially it seemed as if it would be a great read for the sci-fi fans out there, with a very surprising ending. However, this is not the case. It should not be just dismissed as another sci-fi piece of imagination left to run wild, as this book has a much greater depth than that.

As a brief synopsis of human characteristics it is particularly pertinent and incisive in its examination of “us” the so-called master race on earth. I have always felt that the earth’s races will only unite when we are threatened from outside our own world. I have the feeling that Quartermaine adheres to this line of thinking too. It is a psychological thriller, rather than sci-fi. In many ways a disturbing book if you read between the lines. I liked it.


  Mott’s CD review: Greenslade – Greenslade

Mott the Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew

2 Stars **

Ah, the early seventies. The peak of the era we all lovingly called progressive-rock. During that time there were the releases of some classic albums, which have all stood the test of time. ‘Doremi Fasol Latido’ by Hawkwind, ‘In the Wake of Poseidon’ by King Crimson, ‘Tarkus’ by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, ‘The Debut Album’ by Flash and countless others, still sounding as fresh and relevant as they did over thirty years ago.

Some, on the other hand, have rather fallen from their illustrious heights. Greenslade’s debut album is a point in case. This ‘teenage’ Dog can recall clearly nodding along sagely in an attempt to look very knowledgeable when this was first thrust upon his ears. He was taken in by a rather smashing Roger Dean Cover (the artist, who became famous for his artwork for ‘Yes’ amongst others), the fact that here there was a band that was a little bit unique (dual keyboards and no lead guitar), and that they indeed had a fine pedigree. Dave Greenslade (who humbly gave his name to the band) on one set of keyboards had plied his trade for the previous three years with the magnificent Colosseum. On the other keyboards was Dave Lawson, who had been in ‘Samurai’ (never heard of them, but they sounded impressive). Bassist Tony Reeves had been in ‘Curved Air’. And drummer Andrew McCulloch had been in ‘Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come’, ‘Manfred Mann’, and ‘King Crimson’. However, his presence in each band was only a short one, which perhaps should have given us some form of clue.

While we were all with great pretentiousness listening away in our bedsits, I think actually we were all pretending to be listening to the next big thing, not wanting to seem uncool by blurting out that it was actually very ordinary and a second division ‘Yes’ or ‘E.L.P.’ Second division (just above the relegation zone) was where they stayed throughout their career.

Most of the songs are very mid-paced with very little to differentiate one from the other. Sure, the keyboards intermingle very nicely, but if truth be told they sound like a very average lounge act with an over ambitious, dominating keyboard player stuck with a bad singer. Although there can be no doubt that Dave Lawson was great foil for Dave Greenslade’s keyboard playing, a singer he was not, nor could he write lyrics, his other primary job within the band. Try this little sonnet from ‘What are you doing to me’:

‘’You murdered the love that I once had for you,

When you put in the boot cos the shoe wouldn’t do,

Well if that’s how you feel, woman, I love you, too.”

I think it would perhaps have been a good idea to not have written the lyrics on the inside sleeve of this album as there are many more just as cringe worthy moments. Worst of all is his impression of the Lord’s Prayer on ‘Drowning Man’. It is so awful that it wants to make you snicker. There is a time and place for everything and that was neither the time nor the place. I believe Dave Lawson is no longer in the music business. I cannot say that I am totally surprised.

Tony Reeves plays bass guitar with great enthusiasm throughout, if a little bit repetitively. However, at no point on these songs does he seem to be playing the same song as the other members of the band. His most embarrassing moment comes during ‘Melange’, where the bass is very dominant. That’s surprising for a dual keyboard band. Reeves gets by definition a bass solo, but it actually sounds as if the rest of the band gives up playing for a minute and without realizing it, Reeves just carries on in his own sweet way.

Andrew McCulloch drums are thankfully mixed way down in the production, which I think is a kindness to the skins man, same as saying he had rudimentary skills would be a kindness. How he managed to stay in King Crimson under the critical eye of Robert Fripp for three months before being booted out will always remain a mystery.

The staple of any Greenslade concert was always the final song on this album, and throughout their career the last song of their live set, ‘Sundance’. Now this is not actually a bad piece of music and at over eight minutes (longer on stage), it represents a fair portion of the album. But I’m afraid it is too little too late. The first thing that you notice is that the song is an instrumental, so already the song is ahead on points as there is none of Lawson’s yodeling in it. And for the first time the band actually seems to gel together and play with some fire in their bellies. The interplay between Lawson and Greenslade fair sparkles at times with the great controlled violence, mingled with light and shade only a rock keyboard player can bring to his music. A bit more of this and less of the lyrics and the vocals and they might of had something.

All I can say is that if you have fond memories of Greenslade, leave them in the past. You may be very disappointed if you try and listen to your past memories today. These days Dave Greenslade writes scores for television and movies. He also released a solo album of songs inspired by the disc world based on the Terry Pratchet books, which was rather good and plays with the reformed Colosseum. I don’t know what the other three are doing and don’t care, as long as Dave Lawson is not singing.

Musicians
Dave Greenslade – Keyboards
Dave Lawson - Vocals and Keyboards
Greg Reeves - Bass Guitar
Andrew McCulloch - Drums

Songs

Feathered Friends
An English Western
Drowning Man
Temple Song
Melange
What Are You Doin’ To Me
Sundance
To contact Mott the Dog email: [email protected]