Franz Koglmann

O Moon My Pin-Up

★★★½

The mixing and mingling of music and literature has existed for centuries. Coming from Biblical recitals and chants to something of this creation has been a long and intriguing journey. Koglmann presents on the Hat Hut label, a musical take and look into the The Pisan Cantos by Ezra Pound. There is no doubt that this music is meant to be taken seriously and as pure art. While Pound was a known Fascist and supporter of the dictatorial regimes in Europe at the time, his role on bringing Eastern poetry into modern view still has an impact. I've only read a few of his works, but nothing from what this music is based off of. The music, like the poetry, is filled with vivid detail and the idea of Imagism. A mix of effective and sudden opera with Jazz instrumentation makes this a potent concoction. 

This music is not trying to be political in a sort of defense or condemnation of Pound's ideology. Rather it takes a look at his work near the end of the Second World War and his physical and mental state at the time. The vocal performance here does an amazing job at replicating that feeling in a haunting and desperate manner. The instrumentation at points can seemingly create a love child of Stravinsky and 50’s cool jazz music, especially the west Coast scene. The guitar can emulate Grant Green and the trumpet from Koglmann acts like a marching band section leader gone rogue. 

There’s a swinging rhythm at many points that is broken up by the exaggerated vocal performance that immediately grabs you. The double bass is quite vivid and exhibits a lot of personality. It goes right along as it’s own voice in the whole poetical affair. The instrumentation has moments that are improvised, and some that are perfect down to the note in correspondence to the structure of the poems. The vocal recital of the poetry is very transformative and unstable throughout. On “First Movement, Clouds”, the vocalist goes from screams and groans to delivering a near perfect opera performance. 

This is definitely an interesting and captivating piece of music, one that ties into literature more than anything else. The unique and hectic composition style makes it a thoughtful and somewhat intense listening experience even without the full context of the poetry. While I plan on reading that set of poems, I’m not sure if I’ll need to come back to this in the future. Maybe if I’m missing it. 

Favorite Song: Second Movement, Cassandra