“Baroque or
Odd” by DJ&M – A Joxfield ProjeX Associate
In 1968 Janne
& Stefan of Joxfield ProjeX had made music together for a couple of years
as DJ&M, short for DonnoJanne & Maecs. Simple music just like kids do,
but sometimes with an experimental touch. Even though they didn’t have any tape
recorders until autumn 1969 they composed and organized albums as if it was for
real. Having heard The Beatles’ self-titled “White Album” they were inspired by
the concept of doing a double album, which they thus also did. Between December
1968 and January 1969, they wrote the 30 songs that became the DJ&M “virtual”
double album “Baroque or Odd”. To override The Beatles DJ&M added a four
track EP to the double LP. Cover art and various inserts were made in two
copies, one each, as usual, but no recording. As usual. Janne had just turned
15, Stefan had four months left before his 15th birthday. Just kids.
As The
Beatles’ “White Album” celebrated it’s 50th anniversary November 22
2018 the idea came up of making a constructive and creative interpretation of
the 34 songs of “Baroque or Odd”. The music had been written down in a
self-invented note system where you could see which note it was, but not its
value. You had to memorize the specific melodies.
Sheets for 32
of the 34 songs was found in a closet. Most of the melodies were forgotten, but
by reading and playing the self-invented note system various parts of the songs
could be remembered, recovered and become the starting point of the
interpretations of the songs. One of the songs, “Jar”, was a description of a
cut-up sampled piece and this way of making music became inspiration for the two
lost songs on the album.
Between
late November 2018 and January 2019 recordings, mixing and masters were done.
41 tunes in 85 minutes (the four track EP became five, the last song of the
album is in seven parts, all in all 41 tracks). A double LP with an EP. Some
kind of progressive pop. It will at least see the light as a digital release in
February 2019, 50 years after its original appearance. And then let’s see what
the future brings with it…
The track
presented here are actually two, back to back, “I’m Bach” (0.32) and “Friendship”
(3.40), track 4 & 5 of Side B.
Enjoy!
© Tin Can
Music
https://soundcloud.com/oaxjoxfield/djm-im-bach-friendship
