Books, songs & films: January 24

Last week’s reading:

• Parrot and Olivier in America is Peter Carey at his most exuberant, wild almost. Recounting the fictional tale of the trip to the new, troubling democratic nation of the United States of America by French nobleman Olivier-Jean-Baptist de Clarel de Barfleur and an artistic servant thrust upon him, John ‘Parrot’ Larrit. Carey succeeds marvellously in retelling the famed trip of Alexis de Tocqueville, fully inhabiting the two characters from different worlds. This is spooling, literary  yet earth language at its zenith, and while Carey can edge towards form over substance, here he is firmly anchored in his fast-paced story. Fascinating, even revelatory, and a hoot to read.
• Ian Rankin has over recent years, in my opinion, discarded some of the sharp writing skills that distinguished his Inspector Rebus series. His last few book were, simply put, entertaining enough but forgettable. But there was something about The Complaints that invited me in and my instincts were right: this is Rankin back at his best. Introducing Malcolm Fox, a member of the unloved Complaints & Conduct department of the Edinburgh police, the ones who investigate bent coppers, the book races off at a fast pace and piles crisis upon crisis. Fox is a refreshing new hero, far less ‘flawed’ in that by now cliched genre manner, honest yet impetuous, with a sharp wit and engaging way. What lifts The Complaintsback into Rankin’s best heights is the plotting, labyrinthine as can be. The quality of the plotting lets Rankin’s other strengths, his sense of place, his dialogue and his pithy style, shine out. Wonderful.

Last week’s music:

• I was both anticipating and dreading John Fogerty’s C&W outing The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again, loving his voice but recoiling from the genre. And so it panned out: this is a moderately enjoyable outing for a remarkable singer rarely stretched. Standout tracks include John Prine’s ‘Paradise,’ with its Green River lyrics recalling the Creedence classic; ‘Garden Party,’ that marvellous Rick Nelson song reprised with no innovation, and partly spoiled by Don Henley guesting; ‘Change in the Weather,’ the only Fogerty-penned track, from way back in 1986 but sung with the urgency of climate change; and an upbeat version, sharing vocals with Bruce Springsteen, of Phil Everly’s ‘When Will I Be Loved.’ The other eight songs are somewhat ho-hum but who can deny Fogerty his day in the sun? And the bonus DVD, containing a rare interview with the man and some rehearsal footage, is almost worth the price of the album by itself.
• Logos is the second release of Atlas Sound, the solo project of Deerhunter main man Bradford Cox. I know little about Deerhunter but Logosis magical stuff. Often minimalist – shuffling guitar and effects overlaid by Cox’s fragile voice – the album is laced with lovely melodies, intimate lyrics and a nice indie rock feel. Two of the tracks stand out because they’re collaborations that end up sounding distinctive: ‘Walkabout’ with Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox, is a radio friendly upbeat single, while ‘Quick Canal’ is an eight-minute opus featuring Laetitia Sadier from Stereolab. A slow burner of an album, Logos will send me looking for related material.

Current reading/listening/viewing:

• Fiction: the tail end of A Gate at the Stairs/Lorrie Moore. Also Blood Moon/Garry Disher; Spud – The Madness Continues/John van de Ruit; Fever and Spear/Javier Marias; The Long Fall/Walter Mosley. Nonfiction: In the Company of Crows and Ravens/John M. Marzluff & Tony Angell
• Music:  Magic Neighbor/Lisa Germano and Evil Urges/My Morning Jacket
• Planned movies: I’ll be catching the Melbourne debut of the film The Road, including a hosted discussion afterwards. Bright Star and Up in the Air are still in my sights

New stuff to track down and then read/hear/see:

• In The New York Times Stephen Mihm accords a sparkling review to Joyce Appleby’s The Relentless Revolution: A History of Capitalism
• From some online preview of upcoming books: The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine/Michael Lewis and Union Atlantic/Adam Haslett
• No music or movies gleaned this week