Medical Grade Music

by Steve Davis, Kavus Torabi

No-one, least of all Steve Davis and Kavus Torabi themselves, expected the six-time former World Snooker champion and a British-Iranian underground rock musician to become one of the most trusted brands in British alternative music. In their weekly radio shows and as two-thirds of The Utopia Strong, they set out to do exactly that.

Part sonic memoir, part Socratic dialogue, part gonzo mission to the heart of what makes music truly psychedelic, Medical Grade Music takes us from the snooker halls of Plumstead to the wildest shores of Plymouth's '90s thrash scene in the first work of joint autobiography to trace the evolution of a life-changing friendship through the discographies of Gentle Giant, Voivod and a host of deviant psychedelic avatars.

336 pages, Paperback

Published September 6, 2022

About the author

There is more than one author by this name.

Reviews

[Chris Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

The worst thing you can say about this book is that it’s incredibly hard to keep reading it without having to stop and look up the records both writers are enthusing about. The strangest thing you can say about it is that the old cliche that Britain’s ostensibly dullest snooker player being a huge prog fan and, in fact, as far from dull as you can get is actually the least interesting thing about the book

I’m a novice in the weirder eddies of prog and zeuhl and whatnot that Steve and Kavus spend the book excitedly extolling, but I love Cardiacs, Gong, XTC, Henry Cow and Torabi’s nineties band The Monsoon Bassoon so I knew this would be an eye opener for me. What I wasn’t expecting was a dual autobiography written in the style of the best fanzine writers: absolute enthusiasts. There’s a music magazine called the Big Takeover that I love purely because the writers LOVE the material they’re reviewing, rather than worrying unduly about how they express themselves or what the “correct” position on a record should be. They love stuff and they tell you with giddy abandon. And that’s this book

Yes we see our writers strange progression towards becoming close friends and meeting - and working with - their absolute heroes, and yes there’s a sort of progression towards the music they’re writing about. But really it’s two fans cornering you and enthusiastically telling you about this strange music they adore. That it’s also profoundly, almost unbearably moving about the eventual fate of Tim Smith of Cardiacs is a profoundly lovely surprise. I’m listening to them as I write with a new found admiration for his wayward genius

[Edvard Gaukstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skikkelig nerdebok med en del musikk og band jeg har kjennskap til fra før av (Cardiacs, Gong, Magma, XTC) og mye jeg har hørt om, samt mye nytt og merkelig. Er så klart mest interessert i å lese de delene som omhandler Cardiacs og Tim Smith (selv om det også er veldig trist) et musikalsk geni uten like i musikkhistorien. Veldig morsom bok også.

[David Catlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being one of those that know / follow about 90% of these ‘interesting’ bands featured already, I’ve met the authors at small gigs in London - both lovely blokes. I even shared a giggle with Steve in the Gents toilet at a Guapo gig (soap dispenser/hand drier confusion that caught us both out).

For that reason, whilst reading this book I was sure I would give it 4 stars as I thought I was unlikely to be introduced to much amazing new music - I was already into this amazing music. That said, it’s really got to be 5 stars for its enthusiasm, humanity and joyful celebration of music.

Anyway, enough name-dropping from me. Go and listen to Magma.

[Graham Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and improbable adventures in music

Music means so many different things to so many people. What we listen to and like and what we decide not to like defines who we are. This is book is a particularly moving story of two very different people brought together by a shared love of music. It reads as if you were sitting listening to Kavus and Steve speaking at your table in your local pub, an intimate and honest exploration of a shared adventure with an illuminating ‘how we got to be where we are now’ feel to it that had me entranced. There are so many different threads to it to keep you interested, and so much unfamiliar music that I now want to explore. One of these threads I particularly enjoyed is the story of Kavus and Cardiacs, which provides a window into the world of the musical genius misfit of Tim Smith. The idea for the book may have started as something completely different, but I am very happy it ended up being the oddly shaped fantastic creature it is. Fabulous!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about music and why it is so important that I have ever read. It doesn't matter if you like the genre(s) of music discussed in the book, read it for the joy of hearing them describe how music shapes you, changes you, lifts you up when you need it, and is always there to soothe your weary soul. I honestly cannot recommend it highly enough.
(I mean, I loved it enough to actually remember my goodreads password so I could evangelise about why people should read it, that should say something about how good it is.)

[Dan Hobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but a little boring

Kavus spills a long history of his life in music and guitar ability (which he seems quite proud of). Not a massive input from Steve Davis and his journey into his musical journey which I would have liked to seen more of in this book . Still worth a read

[Mr P Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for Cardiacs fans

As a life long Cardiacs fan, Kavus gave me such a lot of insight into Tim Smith. I can't thank him enough.
...other than that, I never even knew he was in a band with Steve Davies but the book has been a fantastic read from both contributors. Both enlightening and very funny..

[P BAMLETT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb book

One of the best music books i have ever read. Incredible passion and wonderful humour .
Thanks very much to both