THAT MAN FANTASTIC: POP SONGS FOR ART FILMS

THAT MAN FANTASTIC

POP SONGS FOR ART FILMS

© 2006 FANTASTIC SONGS (837101216739)

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Spooky, whimsical, melodious, atmospheric British/ American pop songs for art films. Hence the album title Pop Songs For Art Films.

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notes

First up I have to say that I refuse to talk about myslef in the 3rd person any more.. I don't care what everyone else is doing...I swear it makes me feel schizo... okay now I got that off my chest...
Originally from Manchester England, now based in Oakland California, I have to say that of all the bands I've been in this is the best line up. It's like being in the band that's lived in my dreams all these years, doing the music I've always dreamt of doing.. and this is just the beginning.

Described as spooky pop for grown ups or “…like a cross between the Massive Attack and the Pet Shop Boys ”, TMF features the talents of long time Bay Area Drummer Mark Bernfield, Guitarist Brother Jack Elder, Bass player David Brooks on Bass, Pierre Yves Louis on rhythm guitar, and Lee Haddad on Keys
I sing and play guitar and piano.
The new album Pop Songs for Art Films, co –produced with William Duke is my first after the handsome poets dissolved in 2000.
Since then I have been recording and producing local talent and have written music for theater and film.

Look out for TMF to pop up at local clubs,markets and coffee shops around the Bay Area before they embark on the UK tour next spring
Go to www.myspace.com/thatmanfantastic for more info

reviews

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  • A Kind of Homecoming
    author: Shiffi Le Soy

    A select few have been aware of Stephen Duffy’s presence in San Francisco music circles since the early 90s, notably with modern rock geniuses Handsome Poets. His latest project, That Man Fantastic, a meditation on maturity, contentment, isolation and faded dreams, continues his tradition of crafting moody evocative pop influenced by – among others - Beth Gibbons, Brian Eno, David Bowie, U2, Nick Drake, and Rinse Dream. Well, if you’re going to have influences you couldn’t do much better than that, and on their new album ‘Pop Music for Art Films’, That Man Fantastic more than live up to them. ‘Second Skin’, a standout track, is distinguished by Duffy’s yearning vocals and trademark circular acoustic guitar patterns. Many of the songs are haunted by liberal applications of reverb and a shimmering moodiness courtesy of Brother Jack Elder’s guitar work, notably on ‘She who is always in my Thoughts’ a touching tribute to a constant companion. In fact there are lovely guitar touches all over this beautifully produced album; check the spooky musings of ‘Electricity’. Instrumentally there is much else to admire, including stirring melodic bass courtesy of David Brooks, and some lovely piano work, for instance on ‘Layer upon Layer’, Stephen, have you been taking lessons on “the old joanna”? Nice one. There are many surprises on this album. Listening to ‘The Prayer’ TMF even seem to have created a new genre – ambient alt country-rock! And if that sounds weird, wait till you hear it…I have feeling you’ll be impressed. Fans will enjoy spotting influences here, but then there are some songs, like ‘Or all 6’ and ‘Whenever I See the Sun” (quite often in California, I’d have thought!), which are pure Stephen Duffy. I can’t explain what that means, you’ll have to listen for yourself. After listening to ‘Pop Music for Art Films’ I was rather pretentiously reminded of T.S. Eliot’s poem ‘Little Gidding’, where Eliot writes: ‘We shall not cease from exploration/ And the end of all our exploring/ Will be to arrive where we started/ And know the place for the first time’ It really feels like Duffy and his cohorts have effected a kind of homecoming on this record. The cover photo shows band members relaxing on a couch in the middle of the sidewalk, a comfortable if somewhat unusual location which sums up the feeling of much of this album – cozy and welcoming, yet spacious and occasionally edgy. Celebrating the mystery of creation and a love reborn, ‘Pop Music for Art Films’ is Stephen Duffy’s finest hour…so far.

  • Buy it!
    author: J. F. Cabaddu

    a well crafted, well conceived, album. a must have for those hungry for something outside the overplayed, over-hyped, selections on the radio.

  • Evocative, compelling, a soundtrack for life
    author: Marie the Invisible Girl

    The songs on this beautifully produced CD have tremendous power without being overpowering. The simple melodies and hypnotic layers gently make their way into your memory with repeated listenings. Elegant, meticulous stuff -- the very best in mood music!

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