Reviews
Fish, animals and Turakina
Peter Bartlett, Guardian, 1 Oct 1998.
Fish, animals, Turakina and ancient Chinese philosophy feature heavily on The Bing
Turkby Ensemble meets Moslem Sa, released Saturday week at the Wild Horse
Saloon.
The Bing Turkby Ensemble is city librarian Craig Johnston's other life, and this
is his second release under the guise.
...meets Moslem Sa follows Grabs you by the Plimentos, a collection
of do-it-yourself, write-as-you-go pop songs released by Bing earlier this year.
He says ...meets Moslem Sa is a concept album all about the "quest to find
the Taoist pill of immortality ... but you have to go through Turakina to get there."
Bing's obsession with all thing Turakina goes back to his childhood in the dreary
Rangitikei settlement.
"It's lots of rowdy songs about fish, animals and Turakina. A physical and philosophical
journey on a quest," he says.
"In reality it's a whole heap of songs with me talking shit in between them."
Bing, 25, says he has ensured there are gaps between the tracks so people can program
his ravings out of the CD as required.
Taoism was started by philosopher Lao-tzu around 600 BC and combines magic and superstition
with the worship of many gods.
Bing, who has been doing t'ai chi for about six years, was impressed to read about
"iron shirt" Chi Kung in a book about the Chinese following.
"He proved it when people chucked a battering ram at his guts and he didn't move,"
Bing says.
An illustration from the book depicts this brave act by Chi Kung, and it inspired
Bing. He has used the ancient drawing as his album cover and poster art.
What about the music, the songs?
"Just make something up," Bing replies.
* With the Bing Turkby ensemble on the October 10 bill at the Wild Horse is Rungled,
while Simnock on Steel, which includes Craig Johnston on Bass, will be on last.
Craig says Simnock has had more drummers than "Spinal Tap" but this is the big "comeback
gig" after years of not performing live. The Simnock performance will be recorded
on an 8-track and later released on CD.