Words and pictures by Charlie Hannah. Read more by Charlie at The Dentist
Mr Joel Sarakula
(in honour of Joel Sarakula’s ‘Northern Soul’ single launch)
If you went down to the Servant Jazz Quarters
On the night of the 21st May
You would be completely forgiven if you thought
You’d fallen down a wormhole to, say
1972, San Francisco –
All paisley print and shoulder-length hair,
Hippy heaven, before the dawn of disco,
All that was missing were the flares.
I was greeted outside by an Irish girl
Who goes by the name, Finnula.
She’s the lover of the man in question:
Mr Joel Sarakula.
He took to the stage at around 9.30
In trademark spectacles and purple loafers.
His clothes were pristine (he is never dirty)
And I sat on the floor (there were no sofas).
His backing band numbered five
And all were Australian bar one.
Joel and his gang moved over here
For the music scene. (Is there one?)
When they started playing we all listened.
He’s got more diamonds in his set than a jeweller.
The piano pounded, the glasses glistened
On Mr Joel Sarakula.
John Lennon, Todd Rundgren and Jarvis Cocker
Come to mind when I think about Joel.
He’s a soul guru, prog-father and rocker,
But I don’t mean to pigeon-hole.
When talking about music I love
I try to avoid hyperbole,
Both in writing a piece like this
And when I’m discussing it verbally
But I’d like to make an exception.
His album, the Golden Age, is cooler
Than anything on your radio’s reception.
Mr. Joel Sarakula
Crafted ten timeless pop songs
With perfect production in tow,
No fillers, all top songs,
It’s a tragedy the world doesn’t know.
His particular brand of writing
Blends 70s pop, melancholy and soul.
It harks back to the golden age it’s citing
Yet remains inimitably Joel.
A mistake I’ve made, I should know well
by now the pronunciation that he
insists on is Jo-ЁL
with an umlaut on the Ё.
Wait, I’m way off the beam now,
We’re back at the gig and it’s getting funky.
The band are really playing as a team now
And JoёL is grooving like a monkey.
He’s played some old songs and tossed a
Few new ones in for good measure
From his upcoming album ‘The Imposter’,
Which he will release, I am sure, at his leisure.
‘Northern Soul’, released on CD and vinyl,
Was performed near the end of the night.
It was sung with flair and energy primal.
(The recording too, is out of sight!)
With inventive chords and a driving beat
And lyrics of wit and innuendo,
Those who were sitting jumped from their seats
And danced till its final crescendo.
The song is perfect, I cannot refuse it
For post-modern pop/soul he’s the ruler
Listen up world! You need the music
of Mr. Joёl Sarakula.