Rough Trade Chef Geoff Travis vergleicht Tyler Ballgame mit Elvis, Nilsson und Roy Orbison. Große Namen, doch insbesondere der Seitenblick auf Roy Orbison ist völlig verständlich, überrascht Tyler Ballgame doch mit einer faszinierenden, glockenhellen Stimme. Mehr noch, hat man bei einem Livekonzert die Personen vor Augen, könnte Tyler doch stilistisch genauso der Kassenwart deines Bikerclubs nebenan sein!
Doch Ballgame bespielt im Gegenteil ein zärtliches Feld, ein Sehnen nach Zuneigung und Liebe, das er mit seiner feinen Stimme unterstreicht. Musikalisch fußt das Debütalbum auf einem klassischen Sound der frühen 70er, ist reich instrumentiert und versprüht Authentizität im besten Sinne. Verantwortlich dafür ist auch Jonathan Rado von Foxygen, der die Produktion des Albums übernommen hat und hier wie schon in seiner alten, hart vermissten Hauptband auf analoge Aufnahmetechnik setzt und aufs Beste einen Sound der späten 60er, frühen 70er wieder erweckt.
* Your three favourite Punk singles/songs?
Not sure if these count as pure punk but
** Janitor by Suburban Lawns,
** Waiting Room by Fugazi, and
** KKK Took My Baby Away by The Ramones.
* A record that will make you dance?
My prized possession is a pressing of Fela Kuti’s Afrodisiac. You can’t help but move! I don’t know why it’s not played at every party.
3. Your favourite song lyrics?
“Suzanne” by Leonard Cohen.
There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love and they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror
* The best “new” artist / band right now?
It’s probably cliché to say by now, but Geese is really exciting. The sounds they’re pulling from and the energy they have when the play together…it’s palpable. And the writing is dark and playful and holds the weight of their humanity.
* Your favourite song about rebellion/revolution?
I still think the Beatles’ “Within You, Without You” is as revolutionary today as it was in the 60’s. East meets West. The insanity of the ego. Most people live their whole lives within the framework of their own ego and never actually see anything or anyone.
* Your favourite song this year so far? (or of last year)
I love Alex G’s “Afterlife”. It’s so infectious and is such a natural step in his career. I play it over and over. I’m a big fan.
* Your favourite movie about music – and why?
There’s a great documentary from 1979 called “From Mao to Mozart” in which American violinist Isaac Stern goes to China immediately after the cultural revolution. The way he speaks about music and shows how universal its themes are is beautiful! Music is sacred and always a bridge!
* Roy Orbison, Baby Huey or Smokey Robinson – which one do you prefer and why?
Roy Orbison! He had such a sad life and you can feel it instantly. He uses so many colors on his palate and his writing is so unique. Some of THE great songs and performances.
* The best song you’ve ever written / recorded?
I’m very proud of my debut record. “For The First Time, Again” seems to reach a lot of people when we play it live.
* Your favourite German song/record?
Mozart’s Queen of the Night Aria from the Magic Flute. Does that play on solid gold oldies radio in Germany?
* Your favourite record of all time?
Joanna Newsom’s Milk Eyed Mender. She’s a master of her craft and her imagination is unbound.
„For The First Time, Again“, das Debütalbum von Tyler Ballgame, ist gerade erschienen
