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Book Review: How to buy
land and build a house
by Lang Reid
 The
full title of this week’s book for review, which came from Bookazine, is How
to Buy Land and Build a House in Thailand (ISBN 1-887521-71-2, published
Paiboon this year and written by Philip Bryce).
Having just gone through the exercise of watching my house being built, I
wondered if this should have been the book I purchased before agreeing to
buy the house off the developer’s plan? Or was it just some kind of
‘handyman’s special’ publication to let you DIY?
The promise at the introduction of the book is that it will “help you
understand the intricacies of Thailand land titles, purchase contracts and
other foreign ownership options.” Anyone who has been through this will
understand what a mammoth undertaking this is, in the current ever-shifting
dilemma of foreign ownership rules and nominee shareholders in companies set
up to facilitate land purchases.
Author Bryce does emphasize the fact that you will need the advice of a
competent Thai lawyer to assist you through the land purchase options;
however, as the legislation seems to be changing daily (or the
interpretation of the legislations) this is a veritable minefield. “Please
talk to your lawyer on this, all I can give is my opinion,” says Bryce.
The book does go into house building in some detail, including such items as
access roads and the builder’s pole for electricity supply.
On page 82, Philip Bryce has some other sobering advice, where he states,
“Technically speaking it is illegal to check up on the building progress
yourself without a permit, since it can be considered work, so be careful
and stay friendly with the neighbors to avoid visits from the police.”
There are chapters to assist the novice to select a builder, project manager
and even the weekly “beer bust” to look after the workers and keep a happy
work force.
Following chapters deal with the plethora of items and procedures entailed
in the building of a house, even helpful hints on how to make sure the
reinforcing steel is kept in the correct place while the concrete is poured.
I had to smile when in one chapter author Bryce shows with photographs how
to re-drill a door when the barrel hole for the door handle has been drilled
in the wrong place, and he wryly writes, “However, my builder managed yet
again to get most of the handles slightly wrong, resulting in locks that do
not open or close correctly.”
An interesting book, and well worth the B. 595 sticker price. Whilst no
publication can be all things for all people, it does allow the purchaser
some leverage in what is happing to their house. The glossary of Thai
terminology with each chapter makes it easy to pinpoint the areas of
concern; however, that may just be the starting point for some intense
negotiations. Bryce ends the book with the statement, “I hope you have fun
and success with your building project, be diligent, check everything and if
things are not working out, don’t be afraid to make changes.” He could have
added, ‘Caveat emptor’!
Mott’s CD review: Robert Plant and The Strange Sensation
Mighty Rearranger
 by Mott the Dog
5 Stars *****
At last, after twelve studio albums (including two special collectors
editions for fan club members only) since the break up of the world’s
greatest rock ‘n’ roll band, Led Zeppelin, after the tragic death of
drummer John Bonham, Robert Plant has released an album that stands up
to the work of his illustrious previous band. The Mighty Rearranger is a
mighty album which should be included in any record collection of people
that like serious rock.
There are many mitigating circumstances why Robert Plant has made such a
successful return to the scene. Firstly, on this collection of works
Robert Plant has not been afraid to admit his history and influences. I
am not for a moment suggesting that he has gone out and tried to create
an album that sounds like a new Led Zeppelin album, but on the other
hand he has not allowed them to stand in the way either. Quite naturally
Robert Plant was the lead singer and one of the main songwriters within
Led Zeppelin, so of course there are moments which are very Zepplenish,
but so what? There are also many other influences on the album. Robert
Plant’s fanaticism with Moroccan music is heard, with liberal use of
modern technology to give each song a very up to date sheen. There is of
course a lot of purely original Robert Plant in there to.
But most importantly, although this album will be known as the new
Robert Plant CD it’s actually credited to Robert Plant and The Strange
Sensation, and the boys in the band have made no small contribution to
the album.
After the demise of Robert Plant’s previous band, ‘Priory of Brion’ in
2001, he wasted no time getting a new band together, calling them
‘Strange Sensation’, and now the nucleus of the band has been together
for over four years. They are as tight as the All Blacks back row.
Little idea was given to how successful a union this was going to be
when they released their first album together, the quite frankly
appalling ‘Dreamland’, (2002) a collection of hurriedly put together
cover versions that lacked any soul or direction.
But after almost two hundred concerts as a band this has already been
put behind them. All twelve songs on the album are originals, with
thankfully not a cover version in sight. The writing, conceiving and
creating of each song is credited equally amongst members of the band,
so is the mixing, recording and producing. So for the first time since
his Zeppelin days Robert Plant finds himself in more of a band
situation, and if this is the result long may it continue.
Not one note is wasted here. The dual guitars of Skin Tyson and Justin
Adams weave in and out of each song providing the necessary textures.
For those of you missing the old rock ‘n’ roll thunder of the Zeppelin
days you will not be disappointed by the bluster of ‘Tin Pan Valley’ or
the title track. In fact, any song on this collection could have fitted
into the Led Zeppelin catalogue.
Clive Deamer has the impossible job of no matter how much time has past,
John Bonham left huge footprints to follow in when you are drumming for
an ex-Zeppelin man, but instead of avoiding the issue this very talented
skinsman meets the problem head on. If a song requires some percussion
that resembles the style of the great man, then that is what the song
gets; there is no use being coy about it - the job has to be done and
I’m sure the great man himself would have approved of the job done here
by Clive Dreamer, although of course for most of the time he just sounds
like the very good musician that he is.
John Baggott plays all the keyboards and is the man probably the most
responsible for giving this album its cohesion, setting up a wall of
intricate keyboards, allowing the guitars and Robert Plant’s vocals to
sparkle over the top.
The find of the album, though, is the bass playing abilities of a
certain Billy Fuller who is such a unique bass player that I would go as
far as to say he has created a completely new way of playing the four
string. His work can be heard all the way through the album, but is at
its most prominent best during the second song, and first single off the
album, ‘Shine It All Around’. Here he achieves a bass sound that can
only be described as filthy. He is even allowed enough space for a short
solo.
Unfortunately, due to all musicians having such tight schedules these
days, well the good ones anyway, since the recording of this album there
have been two changes to the Strange Sensations line up: Billy Fuller
moving on up the rock ‘n’ roll family tree to be replaced by Robert
Plant’s old cohort Charlie Jones, and Skin Tyson being replaced by Porl
Thompson, who had played with Page and Plant on their reunion tour, a
pretty fair swap in both cases I feel.
This must not of course take the focus of attention away from the main
man himself, Mr Robert Plant, aka Percy to his friends (a reference to
his affection for gardening and Percy Thrower, the man behind the
gardening programmes on the British Broadcasting Television network. Led
Zeppelin’s gardening exploits whilst on the road are nearly as well
documented as their music). Robert Plant is now in his sixth decade, and
although he can still belt out a rocker with the best of them, he uses
the new maturity in his voice that only comes with the accumulation of
years, to full effect. He’s not kidding when on ‘Shine It All Around’ he
sings, “These are the best days of my life/Bright, strong and golden”,
or perhaps more tellingly on ‘Tin Pan Valley,’ showing his new re-found
confidence, and comfort with the past: “I come from Tin Pan Valley, and
I’m moving right along/I live in a former glory, so long ago and
gone/I’m turning down the talk shows, the humour and the couch… I’m
moving onto higher ground, I’ve found a new way out.”
Mighty Rearranger brings out all the best nuances of the Plant vocal
chords using all his middle eastern phrasing, other worldly voices, soft
blues accents, gorgeous psychedelic swooshes, and the customized heavy
rock roar, plus as an extra bonus there is some devilish harmonica
playing during the title track.
‘Brother Ray’ was a late addition to the album, giving us a genuine
heartfelt tribute to the great Ray Charles, starting out with some great
barrelhouse piano before leading into the main body of the song. So
don’t click your CD off as there is a ten second gap between sections
where the band gets into something much more modern.
The Mighty Rearranger does not miss a trick. Not only does it have great
impact upon first listening, but it also grows on you more and more
after each new listening. If you have been put off the solo work from
Led Zeppelin’s old singer with his previous dabbling with such diverse
musical styles as doo-wop, synth pop, and even bass and drums, give
‘Mighty Rearranger’ a try. If you enjoy class you will enjoy this.
Musicians
Robert Plant: Vocals and Harmonica
John Baggott: Keyboards, Electronica, Moog bass
Clive Deamer: Drums, Bendia
Justin Adams: Electric Guitars, Lap Steel, Bendia, Tehardant, Bass
Skin Tyson: Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Lap Steel, Bass
And Introducing Billy Fuller: Electric and Double Bass
Songs
Another Tribe
Shine It All Around
Freedom Fries
Tin Pan Valley
All The Kings Horses
The Enchanter
Takamba
Dancing In Heaven
Somebody Knocking
Let The Four Winds Blow. Mighty Rearranger
Brother Ray
To contact Mott the
Dog email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mott-the-dog.com
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