We don’t do too many book reviews here, and if we do, they come my way! This rather wonderfully titled book comes with a CD of music and is called “The Legend of Kaptain Karnival.” The music came out in July 2024, but it only really came to my attention recently, so this is a rare foray by me to the review side of the magazine.
First, to the press release:
Take yourself on an incredible voyage of discovery by way of a sumptuous hardback book of rich and imaginative illustrations that accompany an album of evocative, musical electronica: “The Legend of Kaptain Karnival” is a highly original audiovisual feast from the mind of artist and musician Jem “Stone” Panufnik, renowned producer and sleeve illustrator for pioneering dance music label Finger Lickin’ Records. The book is available from the distinguished publisher of club culture and electronic music, Velocity Press.
The book is 24.5cm square and the 96 pages are printed and bound on heavyweight 150gsm paper with a hardback cover. An A2 (42 cm x 59.4 cm) poster printed on 200gsm gloss-coated paper is also available to buy.
“I have always reveled in telling stories through my work, which often includes commissions for contemporary dance and theater, soundtracks and immersive experiences. Equally, much of my artwork commissions require me to visualize and elaborate on a narrative. The concept of Kaptain Karnival began crystalizing during a simultaneously joyous and sinister period during lockdown, when I found myself in a deep search of my own, ” Jem explains.
“My epiphany was recognizing that elusive spark we all need as humans: we know it is there, but to our detriment, life throws up constant blockages, diversions and distractions. I wanted to illustrate the reach for this much-needed metaphysical force by using something equally powerful and intangible: the fusion of music and art, specifically in the form of a luscious book you could hold in your hands and sink into as you listened to the sonics.”
There are some artists who conceptualize their music visually and create a whole package around it; recently, Wily Bo Walker with his “Rattlin Bone Theater Show,” stands out, but look at the visuals for Floyd’s “We Don’t Need No Education,” and you are in the territory! I’m going to look at the book first and then listen to the music!
My review:
The book I used was the reviewer’s Ebook version, so I am sure the actual book would be more impressive.
Turning the pages, there is always a lot to take in, the work of a fevered imagination. I was pulled toward the term “steampunk.” But it was also slightly Dali with images juxtaposed and melting. I have to note that Jem was responsible for two wonderful album covers (in my opinion): “Midnight Heist—Brothers on the Sly” (2018) and “Feeling’ Kinda Strange (remixed) by Drumattic Twins. Both of these are very much album covers as art and you can buy prints of them on the artist’s website, here. The art from the earlier albums moves seamlessly in style toward the book “Kaptain Karnival.” The thing is, you need the music to review the book! Some albums are soundtracks to films; this album is a soundtrack to the book. It does help to have the picture there when you hear the music; the two combine to provide the context for the sound. An interesting combination.
The above image is “Late-Night Check-in at the Neon Tuxedo Hotel” by Jem “Stone” Panufnik.
The album
The album is 1hr 15 mins and has 15 songs. The songs mirror the book, so you can listen and watch. The album is electronica, on the psychedelic side of the bar and is highly atmospheric.
“Kaptain Karnival is Dead” is a sad opener, mirroring the greys and lifelessness of the book at that stage. The music reminds me of a sci-fi soundtrack, heavy and watching the rain and storm on a planet far, far away.
“Everyone’s Hugging the Horse” runs to 7.30, so it is one of the longer tracks on the album. It reenergizes and restarts the machine; there is a sense of time in the beat and the musical voyage to strange destinations begins. It is, in the loosest possible sense, a machine-based modern jazz.
“Island of the Snake People” has a very bleak black and grey image of a planet of bones. The music is stark and bare, but with a hint of boogie in the blender of life. A jungle drum theme is there with imagery and beat.
“Cardiac Cadillac” presents a huge action scene, a battle between the protagonists with the sparks flying in the middle. I’d describe the music as sci-fi funk, and you would have to listen to know what I mean!
“Voluptuoso” has art that is giving wings, mechanical and literal, to the objects on the page. Musically heavy, a bit slower and reminded me of a robot army walking.
“Rejoice and Shake Ass” turns up the beat with a shorter number (3.44). You could shake an ass to this if you so wished, a cruising groove (good image of the hands playing the electric organ too).
“She Rip Spandex” is a faster track; it returns to that sci-fi movie instrumental feel.
“The Laundrette Conspiracy” at 2.19 is a very quick track with a decent beat and a sense of marching along. It definitely had a jazzy edge and I liked this one, an experimental jazz/pop feel, upbeat and with a swagger. It jumped out at me.
“Moose Knuckle Sandwich” has a funny accompanying animation on Spotify. Plenty going on with this one, a big beat and a musical knuckle sandwich! Play those trumpets…
“Knead us to Temptation” has some dark romantic imagery in the book, romantic in the loosest of terms. Musically, it is experimentally dark and slow, the drums offering a deep beat.
“Chily Con Carnage” has a musical strut and swagger, moving into a sci-fi soundtrack where the ship comes into land.
“Serendipity Blues” returns to skeletal bareness, bones roasted by the late sun. Musically contemplative with a hint of lightness in the background.
“Late-Night Check-in at the Neon Tuxedo Hotel” runs to over eight minutes. It has my favorite art piece in the book with all the rooms in the hotel and loads of individual stories all happening together. It is also a good instrumental with that fusion of jazz and modern techno gives a fine beat and a down feel, a late-night walk along the city river front feel.
“Good-Night and Thank You” has art imagery that is certainly suggestive if you allow it to be. The musical vibe is meditative for this one, a sense of the night.
“Kaptain Karnival is Alive” is a brief minute of resurrection.
Standout tracks: “The Laundrette Conspiracy” and “Late-Night Check-in at the Neon Tuxedo Hotel.”
Stream the music from here
Artist Website: https://jempanufnik.com/
In summary: The Legend of Kaptin Karnival is a visually and sonically immersive experience, blending surreal steampunk-inspired artwork with an atmospheric electronica soundtrack. The book’s fevered imagination, reminiscent of Dali’s melting forms, is complemented by the music, which serves as a true soundtrack to the narrative. The album’s 15 tracks mirror the book’s journey, shifting from bleak sci-fi soundscapes to experimental jazz, funk, and psychedelic beats. Standout tracks like The Laundrette Conspiracy and Late-Night Check-in at the Neon Tuxedo Hotel showcase the fusion of jazz, modern techno, and evocative storytelling. Together, the book and music create a unique, multimedia exploration that enhances the depth of the experience.
And…
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By Mark C Chambers