BECK HANSEN’S SONG READER
Image: Singer Beck featured (centre) along with Campeau, Harmon and Welsh L-R
Of course, nearly all music used to be released on paper, in complex, calligraphic-like notation.
That off-beat muso Beck has done so in 2012 is not a feat of technology, but rather, imagination – in a market saturated with new releases, we are talking about this one. And soon, you can listen to it too.
On December 19, under the guidance of Canadian-born, Sydney-based Brian Campeau – who has already flown his Beck fan flag at a tribute night at jazz club 505 – the score will come to life with the help of Dappled Cities, Josh Pyke, Richard in your Mind, Jonathan Boulet, with more to be announced this week.
All the proceeds will go to non-profit writing centre the Sydney Story Factory, located behind the shop-front of the Martian Embassy on Redfern’s main drag. If this connection seems like a long-bow, think again. The Factory is part of a global web of like-minded initiatives hatched by publishing concern McSweeney’s founder, Dave Eggers. And the publisher of the sheet music? You got it.
It’s a pretty genius idea from street rag The Brag’s Steph Harmon and Caitlin Welsh, that the chanteur signed off on himself. While touring for Harvest Festival in November this year the pair met the man backstage wearing an, “intimidatingly large hat.”
Says Harmon: “There’s obviously nothing new about a song book, but the way McSweeney’s and Beck have approached it manages to do two seemingly contradictory things at once: they’re taking us back to a time before recording existed, a time when you had to play music yourself or go to a concert in order to hear it; at the same time, they’re embracing and almost relying on new technology, inviting people around the world to engage with the project online, by uploading audio and video covers and collaborating on events like this one. Also, it totally nullifies the threat of music piracy. Super win!”
With Campeau at the helm (who impressively spent three weeks in his home studio working on the tracks before even taking them to the other musicians), and with special guests providing spoken word segues between sets, it’s a super win we can all benefit from.
Dec 19, 7pm, The Standard, L3/383 Bourke St, Surry Hills, $25, moshtix.com.au
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