Every couple of years some former fan-turned-journalist comes along to rattle the fame cage of singer/songwriter/producer Sananda Francesco Maitreya, the man who used to be called Terence Trent D’Arby. In 2007, writer Miles Marshall Lewis rapped with the shadowy superstar for lit-journal The Believer and two weeks ago the New Statesman sent Kate Mossman to Italy to dig through Maitreya’s cobwebbed covered memories of his ‘80s pop past. In the story, Maitreya comes across as cool, kooky, philosophical and paranoid as he’s always been. Part of the reason for their sit down was to promote his latest sonic opus The Rise of the Zugebrian Time Lords, a title that reminds me of a bugged-out Roger Zelazny fantasy novel from the seventies.

Mossman describes the project as “a retro-futuristic concept album spread over two discs of bipolar excess.” The writer took the time to talk to Maitreya about his current obsession with former Sesame Street music director/composer Joe Raposo (“It’s Not Easy Being Green”) who inspired the first single “Giraffe.” But it is obvious that Mossman’s real mission is to take both her subject and readers for a Black to Future joyride back to 1987, the year that the budding genius released his outstanding debut Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby.

Back then, D’Arby was the talk of London town and the British music press couldn’t get enough of the cocky soul man. Featured in the New Musical Express (NME), Melody Maker and The Face, he was hyped for months prior to his first singles “If You Let Me Stay” and “Wishing Well” coming out. The media played up D’Arby’s narrative as an ex-Army man who adopted England as his home and was a complete musical genius (as though Al Green and Willie Mitchell became one person) who took himself quite seriously.

http://www.soulhead.com/2...-gonzales/

[Edited 10/21/15 7:42am]

My fav album by him.

Cool Shot!

It's a good album, and songs like TKSDITKSS and I'll Be Alright are absolute classics, with songs like This Side of Love, Attracted To You and Billy Don't Fall being very good too. But it's one that always seems to get somewhat romanticised for its (self-conscious) avant-garde-ness. It was certainly an admirably bold move to go in that direction after his first album, and one gets the sense there was a nod to ATWIAD in there somewhere (as well as Sgt Pepper, obviously), but I always feel like it doesn't quiiiiite come off as the work of genius young Tezza fancied it to be.

Also, though the lyrics to TKSDITKSS are sublime, elsewhere it gets a bit ropey. That line about "the village green" and "people full of beans" is kind of cringeable. And the one that goes "Though Apartheid's a greater issue / I long to hear 'I miss you'" just makes me giggle.

[Edited 10/21/15 10:01am]

This one always sounds like it would've fit right in:



Anyone know what the deal was with this song? Was it an outtake from those sessions?

The vocal stylings certainly suggest the same era, as does the instrumentation.

He used that pseudonymn around that time too.

t

[Edited 12/7/15 14:28pm]

i finally found this album earlier this year at a used cd shop. i found it damn near unlistenable. horrible follow up to a great debut. very opaque and alienating. not that I need radio friendly tracks, the industry at the time certainly did and even if such songs are lacking, if the project was cohesive with some still "very good" non-single type tracks, cool. but yeah, EPIC fail for me after waiting so long to hear it

Tried my damnest to like it, but besides "To Know Someone", just wasn't feeling the rest.

He just start having his moments on each album, after his debut album, which can still be played all the way thru, to this day.

As I said in other threads, this is my favourite TTD album.

It is a fascinating journey in a somewhat unconfortable musical land, where there is no space for mainstream compromises but only for a particular vision of feelings and emotions.

I love it.

deebee said:

Anyone know what the deal was with this song? Was it an outtake from those sessions?

It's a single release under the pseudonime "The Incredible E.G. O'Reilly" back in 1988, with this wonderful song dedicated to his daughter and a fine instrumental titled "Au Chuillean".

If I remember well it was released months before NFNF, so I'm not sure it is from the same sessions, I think not.

I have the original 3" CD single.

Very nice.

first 5 albums r gems...

BoraBora said:

deebee said:

Anyone know what the deal was with this song? Was it an outtake from those sessions?

It's a single release under the pseudonime "The Incredible E.G. O'Reilly" back in 1988, with this wonderful song dedicated to his daughter and a fine instrumental titled "Au Chuillean".

If I remember well it was released months before NFNF, so I'm not sure it is from the same sessions, I think not.

I have the original 3" CD single.

Very nice.

Yeah, maybe just a standalone project after the promotion of his first album had died down - with Tezza seemingly enjoying some Irish influences and having a larf with the pseudonym. His version of An Chúileann seems to have made it onto a 'Pure Celtic' compilation, oddly enough! I wonder if they knew who it really was?

novabrkr said:

The vocal stylings certainly suggest the same era, as does the instrumentation.

He used that pseudonymn around that time too.

Yeah, in retrospect, it certainly seems to be the start of him discovering a new direction, even if it wasn't necessarily intended for the NFNF album.

luvsexy4all said:

first 5 albums r gems...

I try really hard to get into him but he comes off as underwhelming all the time. He reminds
me of a few music composition classmates I remember from back in the day who were really
talented but had really corny ideas.

Anyways, his debut is his best album, imo.

Ego101 said:

I got it the day it came out...

I wasn't feeling it much, although *I Loved the first album.

after Lenny Kravitz came around in 89'..

I never really enjoyed TTD's music much after...

For me its just too 'out there/deep ish'

and at the same time not as - (IMO)-

'Unique/Funky/Groovy/Timeless/Well Performed' as other 'Genius' Musicians

ala- Prince, Shuggie Otis, Stevie, Sly..

(IMO) He's not a great guitarist/bassist or pianist or drummer.. or producer.. he's ok.

Lenny would burn him! & Prince would burn Lenny! I'll always have a soft spot for TTD though-

He's got some serious Sam Cooke Soul in his throat!

I kinda agree.

I don't think TTD is "out there" like Sun Ra, or Captain Beefheard, or Frank Zappa. Rather,
he's a gifted vocalist who has a fanciful artistic vision but lacks the musical abilities to fully
realize his ambition.

duccichucka said:

luvsexy4all said:

first 5 albums r gems...

I try really hard to get into him but he comes off as underwhelming all the time. He reminds
me of a few music composition classmates I remember from back in the day who were really
talented but had really corny ideas.

Anyways, his debut is his best album, imo.

agree

HuMpThAnG said:

duccichucka said:

I try really hard to get into him but he comes off as underwhelming all the time. He reminds
me of a few music composition classmates I remember from back in the day who were really
talented but had really corny ideas.

Anyways, his debut is his best album, imo.

agree

I prefer Vibrator, Symphony Or Damn, Wildcard and NFNF

This is his best. Love it. Shame the press hated on it when it came out, so most people didn't give it a serious listen.

Serious said:

HuMpThAnG said:

agree

I prefer Vibrator, Symphony Or Damn, Wildcard and NFNF

dig that one also

Until "Wild Card - The Joker's Edition," this was my favorite music released by TTD/Sananda.


"Neither Fish Nor Flesh" would have made an excellent video collection, with a lose script tying the songs together. I think the album is very "visual" and I appreciate the diverse lyric and music choices that separeted it from the mainstream. While it wasn't his most popular work, I think it is some of his most brilliant... and that's hard to measure when one's body of work is largely brilliant to begin with! 'This Side of Love' is amazing and still makes me giddy when I hear it.

TTD, how many times did you think people would re-listen to the title track?

So you're neither fish nor flesh, ummmm... ok.

We don't care if you're a cheesburger, just make us dance and sing and maybe even pretend to cry so our ladies believe we're sensitive and we'll get laid.

-

I Have Faith In These Desolate Times should have been towards the end of the album and at the #2 spot it drags.

-

It Feels So Good To Love Someone Like You, I never liked this track and don't know anyone else that does.

-

To Know Someone Deeply Is To Know Someone Softly, should have been the opening track.

-

I'll Be Alright, it's a b-side.

-

Billy Don't Fall, positive message but not something the clubs at the time would play.

-

This Side Of Love, I like it and would have worked in spot #2.

-

Attracted To You, ok but a bit generic.

-

Roly Poly, now we're cooking with gas. Easy to dance to and sing along with. Should be in the 3rd slot.

-

You Will Pay Tomorrow, goes on too long. So much that it's difficult to remember the lyrics.

Cut the length in half and axe that damn kazoo.

-

I Don't Want To Bring Your Gods Down. Would have been so easy to blow it or not take him seriously but his delivery is perfect and pulls the song through.

-

...And I Need To Be With Someone Tonight, one of the worst closing tacks of any album ever.

The song doesn't actually stink but this is a 'record' not a book, TTD.

Wake the FU!

And he did with Symphony Or Damn!

I love Neither Fish Nor Flesh. I love the album after that much better but it's still a great record. You gotta be pretty brave and make your second album as far left as TTD did.

i think i still have that NFNF UK book with lyrics--if anyone wants to buy it