sommar@enea.se (Erland Sommarskog) (06/09/91)
M? Yes, M, who made "Pop Muzik" which was a major hit in 1979. A disco tune with the tongue in cheek, and the entire album "New York, London, Paris, Munich" was a joke with the disco industry, and particulary the Munich sound. The brain behind M was Robin Scott assisted by Brigit Vinchon(*). M cut two more albums "The Official Secrets Act" and the reviewed "Famous Last Words". "Official Secrets" was quite different from the debut album. While catchy in places, Scott didn't stay away from the experimental. "Famous Last Words" is again a radical departure. It is closer to "Official Secrets" than this album is to "New York...", and while songs like "Smash the Mirror" and "To Be is To Buy" have very typical M melodies, still with arrangements which are not really the same as on the other albums, songs like "The Bridge", "Love Life" and "Yellow Magic" reminds of nothing from the other albums. Screaming guitars in the background, or heavy bass and drum like on "Yellow Life". "Dance on the Ruins" could possibly have been on "Official Secrets", but definitely not the first album. Sort of experimental track with the chant "why is everybody else having fun?". One could ask what are the characteristics of M? Well, it is Robin Scott's and Brigit Vinchon's voices, both are very personal. But you also find it in the melodies; Scott has very typical way of writing his song melodies. This is even more demonstrated on the four songs with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Robin Scott I received on the same tape (Usenet trade). "Just About Enough" is a very typical M song. I saw here on Usenet that Scott stopped making albums due to drinking problems. Whatver the reason I think it is a pity. Although I may not fully apperciate his experimental turns, they are genious in their ways. And mixed with his talent of writing catchy pop tunes makes the M albums an interesting listening. (*) Actually my correspondent listed her as Brigit Novic in his notes of the liner notes to me. She is listed as Vinchon on the other two albums though.