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Book Review: Bangkok Nature and Wonders
by Lang Reid
 Asia
Books are the publishers and distributors of a new series of photo guide
books, and their management kindly sent over the Bangkok (ISBN
8-8540-0100-7) and Phuket (ISBN 8-8540-0098-1) versions of the Nature and
Wonders publications. These were originally in Italian (though the
pictures were in English - grin), but now they have had the text
translated into English as well. Very glossy publications, they were
printed in China, which I personally think is a shame, as there are enough
good quality printing houses in Thailand to have been able to keep the
work in this country. However, I am sure the publishers have their
reasons.
The book is more pictorial than editorial, though there
are probably just enough words to get by. The photographs have captions,
which add to the editorial content; however, the placement of the
captions, relative to the photographs, is very confusing. There will be a
caption under one photograph that you find actually relates to the photo
on the previous page! If you are not aware of landmarks in Bangkok, you
have to be very wary.
The Bangkok book is divided into 12 sections, with the
last two being Ayutthaya and Pattaya, which I believe is not such a good
concept. Both places, and Ayutthaya in particular, deserve complete
publications on their own, and there is more that could be said and seen
in Bangkok itself, than covered adequately by this book. For example, Thai
sport gets two pages only, with Muay Thai covered pictorially with just
another thumbnail photograph. Thai cuisine also rates two pages, with the
editorial space giving precedence to Thai spices and Royal Thai cuisine.
Unfortunately, the paucity of pictures gives the reader neither.
In this publication, Ayutthaya gets four pages. This is
a city that was the capital of Thailand for 33 kings and declared a World
Heritage site by UNESCO in 1991. As mentioned above, there is a complete
book lying in wait for a photographer and writer. This book does not do it
justice in any way.
The Pattaya pages have again the small ‘thumbnail’
pictures, plus a final full bleed across the book gutter of an
“antiquated fishing boat” crossing Pattaya Bay. This is another result
of translation, I am sure. “Traditional” fishing boat would be much
more to the mark.
Comparisons with European landmarks and customs abound,
showing the book’s Italian origins. The temple area in Bangkok being
compared to the Vatican, and the Emerald Buddha likened to the statue of
Pallas venerated in Troy.
Both books have an RRP of B. 450 which does not make
them overly expensive when compared to the price of similar publications,
though I much prefer William Warren’s historical overviews. These books
have a few ‘grey’ areas that may relate principally to the fact that
the translations were done in Milan, rather than locally. Reference to the
Buddha as being a “god” being particularly incorrect. The Buddha was a
man.
As a brief and colorful overview of Bangkok it fits the bill. Good as a
Xmas present for the folks overseas, but not as a resource book.
Mott’s CD review: Osibisa First Album
Weaved by Mott the Dog
Unravelled by Ella Crew
 5
Stars *****
‘Osibisa’ was formed in London, England in 1969
by a multi-racial group of musicians, all with the same interests in
music. The nucleus of the band was from Ghana; others, like the
unbelievable guitarist Wendell Richardson, came from Antigua; the bass
player who was simply known as Spartacus (I’m Spartacus!) was from
Grenada; the keyboard player from Trinidad; and the saxophonist was from
Nigeria.
However, what they all had in common was great
musical rhythm, enthusiasm, and ability. Their music was borrowed from
Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, African based drum music, Rock, Pop, and Latin
Groove, to create quite an original sound.
In Ghanaian ‘Osibisa’ means “criss-cross
rhythms that explode with happiness”. Now, how one word can say all
that I do not know, but that is exactly how the music sounds, and they
are the very words that introduce the first song on this, Osibisa’s
first album aptly titled “Dawn”.
Like a breath of fresh air, Osibisa’s music first
came to prominence with the release of their first single “Music for
Gong Gong’’, included here on their first album, which was released
at the tail end of 1970. It is a piece of music that will get even the
most conservative of souls out boogieing on the dance floor. So it was
great expectations when their first album was released in the early days
of 1971, and the boys did not disappoint, arriving as it did when Prog-Rock
was in its heyday. Each of these percussive driven songs blew away all
the pretensions of those serious minded twiddlers in the likes of Yes,
King Crimson, etc. Osibisa’s unbridled enthusiasm was so infectious,
you could not help but be dragged along by the sheer exuberance of it
all.
Although Osibisa’s main strength was in their live
concerts, they could also drum up a storm (quite literally) in the
studio. Nobody at the time could have realized how influential their
music was going to be in years ahead. Osibisa today is still known as
the Godfather of ‘World Music’, and the effect of their big hit
single “Sunshine Day” (1975) was to change the disco scene forever.
But this, their first album, was to set the template
of the Osibisa sound for eternity. The band is still going today, albeit
with only two of the seven original members left, which actually is not
bad by today’s standards considering that the band is now in their
35th year.
Many of the songs on this collection are still in the
band’s live repertoire today. Like all good albums, the songs on this
set play like a live concert. Opener “Dawn”, which begins with the
immortal translation of Osibisa, builds on a rhythm of percussion until
giving way to let the individual soloist bring the song to a rousing
conclusion - some seven and a half minutes later. You then get five
other songs of criss-cross rhythms before being brought to a riotous
climax by “Think About The People”.
When a band starts off its career with such a strong
album, it is often difficult to keep up the standards set by its debut
(especially with an ever changing line-up - Wendell Richardson, the
band’s simply stunning lead guitarist, was at one stage lured away by
British rockers “Free”). So it is perhaps true to say that
Osibisa’s studio output has been a little patchy since then, although
their live concerts have never been short of marvelous, always led by
Teddy Osei out front on drums, sax, fluttering flute, and vocals. This,
their first album, is nothing short of a diamond. A must buy for anybody
who likes a shot of fun with their music.
Musicians on this
album
Teddy Osei - Tenor Sax, Flute, African Drums, Vocals
Sol Amarfio - Drums
Mac Tontoh - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Kabasa
Spartacus - Bass Guitar, Assorted Percussions, Whistles
Wendell Richardson - Lead Guitar and Vocals
Robert Bailey - Organ, Piano and Timbales
Loughty Lasisi Amao - Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax and Conas
Songs
Dawn
Music For Gong Gong
Ayiko Bia
Akwaaba
Oranges
Phallus C
Think About The People
To contact Mott the Dog email: [email protected]
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