MIXED MEDIA : ** “TAKING IT HOME” Buckwheat Zydeco, <i> Island Visual Arts videocassette ($19.95)</i> : <i> Items in this periodic survey of pop-related books, videocassettes and laser discs are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five (a classic). </i>
This no-frills concert video by the Louisiana accordionist promises the “wild bayou atmosphere of a true Creole country night out.” So how come they filmed it in a London pub? Visually, the camera angles are extremely limited and director Bob Portway is way too fond of close-up finger and face shots. The only drama is whether saxophonist Dennis Taylor can maintain his deadpan expression for the entire 55-minute set, and whether those prone to motion sickness will be affected every time the camera zooms in on Patrick Landry’s rub-board. Musically, it’s uninspired--Buckwheat and company’s zydeco is just a little too jumpy and kinetic to find the grooves that can make the bayou sound so exhilarating.
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