SOUNDTRACK: TINDERSTICKS-Simple Pleasure (1999).
Tindersticks changed a bit with this disc. And it’s evident from the moment the opening track kicks in: “Can We Start Again” is the most upbeat (musically) song they’ve ever done. (Even if lyrically it’s not exactly puppies and rainbows). And it is a truly magnificent song. The next track, “If You’re Looking for a Way Out” has Staples singing so emotionally, his voice almost seems to break.”
As the disc proceeds, new aspects of the Tindersticks come into view. The biggest change is an influx of soul stylings. Staples actually croons from time to time; but the two biggest soul aspects are the groovy keyboards (not unheard of on previous discs, but very prominent here) and some gorgeous female backing vocals. Indeed, “From the Inside” is propulsive instrumental with very 60s-sounding organ.
“If She’s Torn” sounds like a beautiful long-lost soul song, especially with the delicate keyboard notes that sprinkle down as the songs ends. The final two tracks “I Know That Loving” and “CF GF” prominently feature the backing vocalists and they end the disc on a glorious note.
This disc is considerably shorter than their previous ones. It seems like rather than making an epic mood piece, they settled down to make a more simple soul, almost pop record (although surely not pop by conventional standards).
This was the first Tindersticks disc I bought and it remains one of my favorites.
[READ: October 29, 2009] “While the Women Are Sleeping”
I have not read any Marías before. And I was delighted by the multifaceted nature of this story.
It begins rather lightly with a man and his wife people-watching on a beach. He needs glasses but, as this is the beach, he doesn’t wear them (no facial tan lines!). So, he squints at people until, through some fascinating physics, he looks through his wife’s straw hat and is able to see much better. (The image of a man with a straw hat held to his face is quite amusing).
After relaxing and spying for a few days, a new couple appears on the beach. She is stunningly beautiful and is pretty much always naked on the lounger (this is Europe after all). Her boyfriend is a considerably older, overweight, balding man. He spends his entire time on the beach filming her, every inch of her, while she rests/sleeps/checks for blemishes.
The narrator and his wife are bemused by this, as it continues for many days, with the young woman never looking at him or posing for him or even talking to him.
Finally one night, the narrator can’t sleep and he sees the man outside by the pool,all alone. He trudges down and begins talking to the man. We learn a number of dark secrets that the man possesses and the touching and yet very creepy reason why he films his girlfriend all the time.
The story turned a corner about half way through and grew very, very dark. It began slow and languorous and then became tension filled; it was extremely enjoyable. The other thing I noticed about it was that the language made it seem like it wasn’t written recently. It was only the videocamera that provided a time frame. I don’t know if it is because he is a European writer, or because it was translated (translators seem to give a timeless aspect to works), but the writing made it seem like it could have been written any time since the late 20th century. Which was pretty cool.
You can read it here.
For ease of searching, I include Javier Marias.
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