Just heard something amazing on WFMU and had to get more info. Now, I beam it directly to YOU:
From WFMU’s New Bin, circa April 2005:
TONY MASON COX / Heartfelt (No Label)
Receiving this in the mail with a blurred photograph on the cover of a man undergoing some kind of open-heart surgery made me immediately suspect it was some kind of Cold Wave/Industrial action, but then looking on the back of the CD I was startled to see headshots of what looks like a late 50s/early 60s bespectacled middle class suit-type. That coupled with song titles like “Milk”, “Dads”, “If I Hurt You”, “If You Hurt Me”, and “Alabamy Jail” made me totally confused. And the liner notes certainly didn’t help things. Tony Mason-Cox is an Australian insurance salesman whose notes verify that indeed, he refused a triple-bypass in favor of being operated on by a Philippine spiritual surgeon, while awake, in 1995 and the bloody mess on the cover was real. A firm believer in reincarnation, the surgeon was believed to be a God-chosen medium to help heal. If that isn’t enough, Mason-Cox believes that he was the medium himself for an 1800’s Negro slave from Alabama, who spoke through him as he sang a capella into a tape recorder booming hymns of picking cotton and being locked in jail; the a capella recordings were then backed by a jazz band on this CD. Phew. Mason-Cox’s “originals” also are totally surreal, almost like Ivor Cutler gone smooth jazz, though Cutler charms and this distresses. File under “real people” I guess.
What I heard was a cover of “The Impossible Dream” that ended in one of the most horrific, extended, gurgly high notes I’ve ever heard — one of those baritone shrieks that completely clipped out the recording device to attain a sort of pure square wave that I can only describe as frightening and soul-searing.
As soon as I can get my hands on this MP3, you will find a link to it in _here it is!_ that space right there.
November 29th, 2005 at 12:24 am
Like Scott Walker, except not good! I was about to dismiss this as weirdo WFMU jokey-pokey-malokey, but then I found a picture of Mr. Mason-Cox, and suddenly it was somewhat endearing. http://www.abc.net.au/arts/adlib/stories/s892305.htm (And John we had no idea you were into show-tunes! Your seeeeecret’s ouuuut.)
February 4th, 2006 at 12:58 am
Oi !! I am very proud of the b flat that you didn’t like. It is a properly sung note, and is NOT screamed! Ah well I guess it takes all kinds. Thanks for your help.
Best wishes Tony
February 4th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
Tony, believe it or not, I consider this high praise of your b-flat:
“one of the most horrific, extended, gurgly high notes I’ve ever heard — one of those baritone shrieks that completely clipped out the recording device to attain a sort of pure square wave that I can only describe as frightening and soul-searing”
Please continue making music!