Sharp, Elliot / A Modicum of Passion
Album: A Modicum of Passion   Collection:General
Artist:Sharp, Elliot   Added:Feb 2005
Label:Abaton Book Company  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2005-09-11 Pull Date: 2005-11-13
Week Ending: Nov 6 Sep 18
Airplays: 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. Nov 02, 2005: Eels in the Loo
A Tasteful Border
2. Sep 13, 2005: Foreplay and Sex Wax
Fais Dodo

Album Review
Ragnar of Ravensfjord
Reviewed 2005-09-05
This is an audio play and folk opera written by Lauri Bortiz. This features Elliot Sharp, Eric Mingus (son of the late Charles Mingus), Ben Miller, Joan Wasser, Devorah Day and The Yellin String Quartet. The story involves images a dystopian future America where men can only wed other men. Women are relegated to mere breeder housekeeper status. There are 5 characters whose lines are punctuated by the string quartet. A modern take on "The Handmaid's Tale", perhaps?
((((1)))) Slow, dramatic cello, plucked strings, then upbeat & cyclical.
((((2)))) Slow dramatic male vocals & strings. Similar to The Who’s track “It’s A Boy, Mrs. Walker” (from Tommy). Then spoken dialogue.
((((3)))) The two fathers dealing with their kid. Mostly dialogue. Pretty funny stuff.
((4)) Recycles structure of track #2 with different dialogue in praise of finding a son.
(((5))) High-pitched strings, deals with baby troubles.
(((6))) Funny bits about “cat chewed carcasses”, future baby stuff & screaming strings.
((((7)))) Off-kilter & wild string-based instrumental
((((8)))) Deals with: complaining neighbors & homelessness.
((((9)))) Complaining neighbor now surrogate mother takes over and signs a beautiful lil’ lullaby in French & English.
(((10))) Conversation between man & woman
re: marriage and mothering in this strange new world,
(11) Putting clothes on the baby & singing a silly lullaby
((((12)))) Varied string sounds, instrumental.
((13)) Dialogue and weird male & female (?) vocals.
((14)) Slow, elongated vocals & strings.

Track Listing
1. A Modicum of Passion Overtur   8. Half Pint
2. A Night not Unlike Tonight   9. Fais Dodo
3. Somebody's Stinky   10. What's Your Name; Who's Your
4. The Kind We Always Wanted   11. In the Pink
5. She Came to Stay   12. To Sleep, Perchance
6. Dada's Such a Dimwit   13. A Tasteful Border
7. Blue By Who?   14. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow