Book Review : Mates' Crates by Andrei Sandu

Following the nice interview I did with Andrei Sandu following his book's publication, I felt the need to support his beautiful work just a little more, thus writing this review.

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Introduction. – In a time where finding information about songs has been made much easier thanks to the development of the internet, allowing any music enthusiast to discover how an album was recorded and why a song was composed, one may ask if reading a book like "Mates' crates - 100 Stories Behind The Songs" is worth it.

My answer will be a short and direct one: Yes. And we're going to discover these reasons together along with a positive review of Andrei's book; not forgetting a few points that may have to be corrected in a second issue (of course minor ones). Let's go then!

Why you should read Andrei's book. – The first reason why you should read Andrei's book has to do with his personality and his passion for music. A radio host, DJ, music lover, and a member of the London Loft Party, Andrei is as passionate about music as one can be. And, when you're dealing with passion, you're dealing with Truth. Anyone who dearly loves something, and who puts his heart into it, has meaningful stories and interesting points of view to share. And, being a part of the London Loft crew only adds to the most interesting pages of Andrei's book as the reader gets closer to some absolute classics played over the years by legends (Mancuso, Levan, François K and so many more) that proudly stood the test of time. In a sense, this book not only is an open door to some of the best music available, it is also the key that will allow you to discover even more tunes should you take the time to dig on your own...

Also, it must not be forgotten that Andrei's book is proudly self-published as a fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders and Music Venue Trust.

The Great... – As far as the book itself is concerned, it is a pleasure to hold: the beautifully printed cover is soft, and the book is quite thick and heavy with a nice yet straightforward presentation, allowing the reader to enjoy reading stories behind the selected records. Still, although the book's layout is simple, it does not mean anything is lacking. It is quite the contrary. The book is loaded with great information: the record's sleeves pictures open and end each article, QR-codes allow the reader to access the songs on Youtube, also the label and the year of the record are mentioned, each article being completed with Andrei's memories and stories behind the recording of the songs or the albums they are issued from. Again, a simple yet well-thought-out and effective presentation! We can't think of anything more that could be added here, it's great!

Also, on the editorial side, Andrei's Work has been seriously conducted as he proposes cross-references between the articles he wrote, allowing the reader to expand his knowledge entertainingly.

Speaking of Andrei's writing style, here again, nothing can be criticised as he takes you with him on his journey, sharing his stories, how he found the records, how he discovered the artists, and what the songs or the albums represent to him, along with objective and researched information (for instance, did you know that the Legendary South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela took part in Lamont Dozier's album production?). You're not reading a bored musical journalist's paper about a record he barely took the time to listen to. You're reading a friend's work who shares with you his very soul. Mates' Crates offers a nice and heartwarming reading experience and, just for that point alone, is undoubtedly worth keeping in your library!

... and the "possibly improvable". – A few things may be improved should another edition be printed in the future, rest assured, nothing too important!

Although the book is beautifully produced, it sits quite stiffly in the reader's hands. Should you want to open it up slightly more, you'll risk damaging its slice, which, really, is a pitty. Nowadays, some books have their pages glued together. Although it is more cost-sustainable, it does have its downsides for the reader as these books age quickly, showing some strong wear without being used very often.

Lastly, we would have wished the colours were more vivid, allowing the reader to fully enjoy the record's covers or pictures.

Conclusion. – Let's be honest, nothing of these few remarks can prevent us, and future readers, from enjoying this incredible piece of work. Simply put, we love this little musical bible to bits and wish Andrei all the success he deserves for sharing the love he has for Music. Don't wait, grab Andrei's book right here!

Artur Michalski

Aka "The Lioncub"