COLORS 1000 EXTRA/ORDINARY OBJECTS TASCHEN

The friendship between the famous photographer Oliviero Toscani­who does not know his controversial photos used in Benetton advertisements?­and Peter Gabriel is common knowledge to many fans and the possibility that sooner or later a musical project born from their collaboration could be published is not an impossible fantasy but could soon become reality.

Meanwhile, a very curious book published by Taschen and realised by the famous magazine Colors, under the supervision of Oliviero Toscani, is coming out these next few weeks. In this book ordinary and less ordinary objects, collected during Toscaniís many trips around the world, are shown and explained. They are objects, gadgets, accessories which we often use and which can often canít do without. Ordinary objects for some countries, yet totally extravagant for other. Objects which may have absolutely no value but which have, for some, a determining subjective importance.

In the 700 pages, we discover objects used for cleaning ears made with the tail of an armadillo, electronic mechanisms to measure bad breath or soap bars to clean your hands made of steel. The list never ends and you remain at times astounded in front of objects you would never imagine existed. 1000 extra/ordinary objects is book which describes the marvellous absurdity of being human. It can however also be read simply like an amusing guide of objects originating from the whole world. The game becomes even crazier when you discover that the final part of the book is a type of Yellow Pages with addresses and phone numbers in Asia, Africa, America and Europe listing where these objects can actually be purchased.

A further reason to linger on this extravagant project is the interesting and in-depth introduction written by Peter especially for this book. This is a brief extract: "People like to surround themselves with objects­it's part of our nature. It may be an anal instinct, but we like our stuff. People are surrounded by their objects­whether they are useful, decorative, beautiful, ugly, common or rare, we canít help but leave clues everywhere as to our identity. Clues about our culture, national identity, political ideology, religious affiliation and sexual inclinations, our objects reflect who we really are and who we want to be."

I fully recommend this book for those who want to make an alternative Christmas present or to treat themselves to something totally different. Beats buying someone a box of chocolates.

Stefano Tucciarelli aka Mr. Mozo Rising Translation by Nathalie Sutter

E.C. SCOTT MASTERPIECE BLIND PIG RECORDS BPCD 5062

Far from the sparkling limelight and absent from the covers of music magazines which usually centre on artists of international fame, E.C. Scott is a Californian singer and author who, with a limited record production alternated to festival and club performances throughout the States, has managed to create a respectable opening in the huge panorama of soul and blues music.

A strong and potent timbre and a ductility which stresses a suffused and sensual vocality are just some of the winning ingredients. After the release of two albums since 1995, which were much appraised by the critics and by a restricted but faithful American audience, E.C. Scott now attempts an international launch on Blind Pig Records with a new project in which we find 11 songs plus a cover of a Gabriel track. Masterpiece is a very bluesy album with a slight classic R twang, typical of someone who has grown up listening to Dinah Washington, Clarence Carter or Gladys Knight, even though it has been realised and arranged with a distinctively modern approach.

The tracks Ms. Scott has composed and interprets are decidedly intriguing, at times humorous with regard to the lyrics and the beautiful, easily accessible melodies aren't easily forgotten. As regards the cover version, it could not be anything else but Sledgehammer: to compose this track Peter had also always frankly admitted to have been inspired by the style of the famous label Motown as well as by artists such as Otis Redding. This cover version emphasises even more these influences thanks to Ms. Scottís aggressive and incisive timbre.

Except for some sax improvisations (perfectly calibrated and never out of place) there is no variation of emphasis with respect to the original arrangements in spite of the use of totally acoustic sounds which reveal a surprisingly strong and vital energy. This is a beautiful version realised with sincere intentions and with great respect towards an artist like Gabriel, which clearly has managed to create a solid credibility also towards artists of different musical interests with regard to traditional pop/rock.

I highly recommend this excellent album, easily obtainable on most major internet sites and my sincere wishes that this new album will reach a substantial number of appraisers in the retinue of this interesting American author and interpreter.

Stefano Tucciarelli aka Mr. Mozo Rising Translation by Nathalie Sutter