Another funny year has nearly flown, but has at least given me personally lots of musical respite. So in what has become an annual event, here are some musical highlights from 2018 that are listed in no particular order, they have all succeeded in diferent ways to pick me up immensely.
Special mention goes out to the Cellar Bar, here in Cardigan, a musical venue of much magic and wonder. My deep commiserations are offered to much loved independent venue the Parrot in Carmarthen, sadly closing its doors on New Year's eve.
Respect to the music makers, and those that have and will keep on supporting them, local or further afield, let's continue to get lost in the power of music, with its mighty ability to lift our hearts and stir our souls. Keep on listening, see you on the other side. 1. Le Trio Joubran - The Long March
The 92 year old privileged Queen of England, known for living in a palace and spending tax payers money like water , had had her yearly Christmas lecture being rightfully slammed on social media for being " out of touch " and disrespectful to families " struggling to make ends meet"
Some commentators pointed out the vast disparity between the Queen's opulence and the real-life situations of 'her subjects' as she called for people to come together not driven by tribalism. Telling us to respect one another.
One posted on Twitter " Always warms an old republican's heart to see the billionaire head of an antiquated institution surrounding themelves with gold in their modest 885 roomed detached home, while others are f***ing struggling to make ends meet."
Others highlighted the plight of food bank users over Christmas, with one writing :" Queen says from her humble and modest surroundings, family kept her 'well occupied' over the year. I suspect the thousands of mum and dads thay use food banks and struggle on Universal Credit each week could say the same."
Oh the bloody irony, there she was sitting on a gold chair, in a gold room, with her gold fire guard and gold clock in front of a gold mirror, beside her bloody gold piano, writing with her bloody gold pen, next to her ruddy gold picture frame, wearing her flipping gold bracelet talking about poverty. I guess we should be so grateful and proud. Our wonderful Queen still thinks of us plebs and allows us to see her pretty things, flaunting her excess and crassness, a decade into austerity with homelessness and food banks daily rising. So out of touch with reality .Down with the crown.Make monarchy history.
Tradition is no excuse for cruelty. Tradition is no excuse for deceit. Tradition is no excuse for breaking the law.
Boxing Day is a day of tradition. Disappointingly, one of those is still
the boxing day hunt. Across the country, 250 hunts hunts were scheduled to meet today, including two on National Trust land, out in
force, in all their regalia, on their trusty steeds attempting to convince the great British
public that they are a valued part of society. These hunting groups have recently faced allegations that blood sport has continued under the guise of trail hunting,
and charities say there have been dozens of reports of foxes being
pursued and killed since November 2018 when the hunting season began. Wild
animals – including foxes, hare and deer, are still being chased to
exhaustion across the British countryside before being torn to pieces by
packs of trained hunting hounds. A growing concern that the ban is being brazenly flouted has led Labour to announce that it would strengthen the 2004 Hunting Act – much maligned by both
hunters and animal rights activists – if elected and remove legal
loopholes that make prosecutions hard to achieve. Labour also said that it
would consult on the introduction of custodial sentences for offences
under the Hunting Act, potentially bringing the penalties in line with
those for other wildlife crimes, if in government. The shadow Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
secretary Sue Hayman also left open the possibility of a new
“recklessness” clause to prevent trail hunting being used as cover for
illegal hunting. “Labour’s 2004 Hunting Act was a key milestone in banning this cruel
blood sport, but since then new practices have developed to exploit
loopholes in the legislation,” she said. “While Theresa May proposed scrapping the Hunting Act all together,
Labour is today calling time on those who defy the law by announcing
several measures that would clampdown on illegal hunting. “Labour is the true party of animal welfare. These new proposals form
part of the next chapter in striving to ensure our laws and regulations
on animal welfare are up to date and fit for purpose.” Labour’s promise came as a poll commissioned by the League Against
Cruel Sports https://www.huntsabs.org.uk/found only one in six (16%) rural residents believe hunting
with dogs reflects countryside values. The polling by Survation
found that over nine out of 10 (91%) rural residents think that
observing nature reflects countryside values. The poll found only
4% said they ever participate in hunting, compared to 63% who observe
wildlife at least once a month, 59% who take part in walking or hiking
at least once a month, 39% who participate in running, cycling or horse
riding at least once a month and 52% who visit pubs at least once a
month. Chris Luffingham, director of campaigns at the League
Against Cruel Sports, said: “Hunting is claimed by a minority to be a
cornerstone of country life, yet it is revealing that people living in
the countryside get far more enjoyment from watching wildlife rather
than killing it. “Modern day countryside values are based around respect for nature, not the abuse of nature for entertainment. “This polling confirms that we are a nation of animal lovers and that hunting needs to be consigned to history.” –
The polling took place in early December 2018 with a sample size of
1,072 people aged over 18 living in rural areas in England and Wales. There remains though a serious threat that under Theresa May the Hunting Act will be repealed. May’s manifesto for the 2018 General Election included a pledge to give MPs a vote on legalising fox hunting. Furthermore hunts have still found many ways to circumvent the law and get away with killing wildlife.Whether through so-called ‘trail’ hunting, abusing exemptions in the law or exploiting legal loopholes, thousands of animals are being killed across the UK every year with impunity.This is not helped by landowners giving hunts access to land in order to carry out activities which could be cover for illegal hunting, or by legislation that is not strong enough tying the hands of law enforcement agencies. All this combined means that hunts are carrying on with killing wildlife in the way they always have. Anti-hunting groups contend that reports of foxes and hares being killed
by hounds are often not followed up despite being supported by
evidence. A decline in funding for the National Wildlife
Crime Unit, as well as cuts to local police forces, means hunts can
often act with impunity unless they are monitored by members of Hunt
Saboteurs, a non-violent direct action group. https://www.huntsabs.org.uk/ A spokesperson for the group said: “Boxing Day is the PR stunt of the
hunting world. The reality is that many hunts are gangs of countryside
lawbreakers who endlessly flout the hunting ban and, even on this day
when the eyes of the world are on them, will still chase and kill
wildlife. “It’s a sign of how the tide of public opinion continues to turn that
various hunts are being turned away from their traditional prestigious
Boxing Day meets by locals who are sick of their hypocrisy and the chaos
they cause.” The 'traditional' Boxing Day meets of the hunts gloss over the otherwise murky world of animal cruelty in which packs of hounds still literally tear apart their quarry of British wildlife. But everything it stands for is opposed by the majority of people in this country. There has never been a better time to strengthen the Hunting Act
and bring an end to the illegal persecution of wildlife still going on
under the guise of 'trail' hunting. If you love the countryside, it's time to stuff this tradition, it's not a part of British culture that should be preserved in the modern age. Well done to all those that are still fighting to keep hunting illegal. Stop the killing of Animals by Hunts in the UK https://takeaction.league.org.uk/page/19719/data/1?ea.url.id=1668592
The Disappearing Fox - A Mystery for the Boxing Day Hunts
Capitalism used to work
by the simple promise of a carrot,
the joys of being wealthier than others
promotion, promotion, promotion,
but the carat has lost its lustre
and now a stick has to be used as well,
this stick takes the form of a war on the poor
to be witchunted, scapegoated and demonised,
in these times of crisis and deep trouble
as they get out their scissors, and cut, cut, cut,
to numb peoples senses, distract us with unreason
broken and beaten, dishevelled and divided,
in a continual ideological game of attrition
making us walk the path of least resistance,
if I was a violent man, I'd stand outside and fight
but all I can muster is a slow dance,
as I gather up some moist crumbs of happiness
and with some simple words feed survival,
tomorrow, I will look and seek safe asylum
remember the victims who have no knowledge of the future,
in December's receding days of calamity and fear
follow horizon engraved with the pulse of struggle,
awake and embrace a new dawn, plant some flares in the mist
gather the truth deep inside, hoping dreams get better for all.
It's been a while since Joe Strummer, slipped away, but only seems like a moment, this legendary heart and political soul of punk, whose rebel spirit and righteous anger has still not faded, his songs still resonate, with immediacy and warning after all, " the ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in, meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin." His lyrics still able to make us think, that help challenge our views of society. He also taught us, that punk is not a uniform, it's an idea, a passionate grassroots idea to create change, standing up for what you believe, about being open minded, at the end of the day we are all individuals , you've gotta do what's right for you, follow your own heart, your own true spirit. Strummer died of a heart attack on December 22. He was only 50. As a member of The Clash Strummer was
a punk-rock pioneer with a fondness for reggae, who changed peoples lives forever.They got a force that would shape how politics and music fit together,
transforming this new, angry punk sound into something with purpose. Through his songwriting Strummer consistently critiqued capitalism,
advocated racial justice and opposed imperialism. He showed young people
there are alternatives to the complacency, opportunism, and political
ambivalence that dominate popular culture. Strummer’s music remains an
enduring legacy of radicalism, defiance, and resistance. As a musician, Strummer redefined music and reaffirmed the principles of
committed and intelligent opposition. He seemed to be involved in so
many different movements and supported so many causes before they were
fashionable. The Clash were at the forefront of the Rock against Racism
movement founded in the seventies to combat the rise of the far-right
National Front. Never afraid of controversy, Strummer pushed the Clash
to support publicly the H-Block protests in Northern Ireland, which
began in 1976 when the British took away the political status of IRA
“prisoners.” But co-founding one of
the most important bands of the past 50 years has, understandably,
overshadowed the full breadth of Strummer’s musical interests. His
career outside the Clash included forays into rockabilly, folk-rock,
African music and Spanish Civil War songs. Released nearly 16 years ater his death, Joe Strummer 001 a 32
track compilation of remastered rarities and previously unreleased
tracks, stands as a testament to his vision for open borders and open
hearts. This collection gives a sense of the scope of Strummer’s career, and
the passion with which he pursued it. Over the years, and through
various musical incarnations, he never sounded less than joyful about
what he was doing. He’s ready to rumble on opener “Letsgetabitrockin,”
from the 101ers, which barrels along on a tumult of guitars and a lean
rhythm. Later, Strummer pushes the beat a little on a more subdued
acoustic demo from 1975 of the same song, as if he’s imagining the
churning full-band arrangement to come. He sings with exhilaration over a
booming mix of drums and guitar on “Love Kills,” the title track from
the 1986 biopic Sid and Nancy; takes on a tone of wonderment as
he threads his voice through hand drums and African chanting on
“Sandpaper Blues”; and lets loose with scruffy, melodic abandon on the
taut “Coma Girl,” from Streetcore, his posthumous 2003 release with the Mescaleros. Even on an aching “Redemption Song” with Johnny Cash, from Cash’s 2003 Unearthed boxed set, Strummer strikes a balance between worldweary and triumphant.
Strummer and Jimmy Cliff, the ska and reggae legend, are a natural pairing on “Over the Border,” from Cliff’s 2003 album Fantastic Plastic People.
And Strummer builds on the Clash’s “Spanish Bombs” with jittery banjo
and a vaguely Iberian tint on “15th Brigade”—his take on “Viva la Quince
Brigada,” sung by Spanish Republicans in their fight against the
fascists during the Spanish Civil War. The second half of 001 is given over to demos and
previously unreleased tracks, many of which are illuminating.
“Czechoslovak Song/Where Is England” from 1983 rides a slow, heavy dub
rhythm that bears only a vague resemblance to the song it morphed into:
the Clash’s synth-laced single “This Is England.” The boxed set version
of 001 also includes a more fully formed demo of “This Is
England” from 1984, with gruff vocals and without the synths. The grungy
blues “Crying on 23rd” and the countrified “2 Bullets,” soaked in pedal
steel guitar, are outtakes from Sid and Nancy, and both feature Strummer’s former Clash bandmate Mick Jones on bass. As fun as the older stuff is, one of the latter-day unreleased tracks is
a standout. Strummer recorded “London Is Burning” in 2002 with the
Mescaleros, then reworked it into “Burnin’ Streets” for Streetcore.
The version here is faster, punchier and more evocative: “London is
burning / Don’t tell the queen,” he sings to set the scene. It would
have been one of the best songs on Streetcore;
instead, it’s an unexpected gem tucked away toward the bottom of the
tracklist here. It’s a reminder of just how good Strummer could be, and
makes you wonder what more he would have done had a congenital heart
defect not felled him at 50. The consolation is knowing how much more
material remains to be heard, and hoping there are more songs in the
archives that are as good as the ones here. He performed for the last time on November 15, 2002 at a benefit for
striking London firefighters. For someone who used his music to
galvanize and promote progressive action, this final performance was
most fitting. On the anniversary of his death I post this in a spirit of rememberence and joyfulness that he has left behind such a great legacy of music or us to enjoy.So go easy, stay light, stay free, London might still be burning, we still have more than enough time to chant down babylon, after all, the future is unwritten. Know your rights. Thank you Commandante Joe, gone but not forgotten. R.I.P Link to Joe Strummer Foundation remember " Without people, your nothing." - Joe Strummer http://joestrummerfoundation.org " People can change anything they want to and that means everything in the world " - Joe Strummer Some favourites of mine:- Joe Strummer - Redemption Song
The Clash - Clampdown
The Clash - Clash City Rockers
The Clash - Tommy Gun
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Johnny Appleseed
Joe Strummer - White man in Hammersmith Palis ( Glastonbury 2009 )
Joe Strummer and the mescaleros - London is Burning
Christmas can be a daunting time for many, especially to those of us who are prone to depression. It’s known as 'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year' but for many, myself included, it’s filled with anxiety and depression. Some people get depressed at Christmas because of the excessive
commercialisation of the season, with the focus on gifts with high expectations of perfect, happy families
enjoying luxurious celebrations and gifts, but not all of us are able to
live up to these ideals. Others get depressed because
Christmas appears to be a trigger to engage in excessive self-reflection
and rumination about the inadequacies of life (and a "victim”
mentality) in comparison to other people who seem to have more and do
more. Others become anxious at Christmas because of the pressure (both
commercial and self-induced) to spend a lot of money on gifts and incur
increasing debt. Others report that they dread Christmas because of the
expectations of social gatherings with family, friends and
acquaintances that they'd rather not spend time with. For those who have recently lost a loved one,
Christmas can intensify feelings of grief and sadness. Many others
experience feelings of isolation, financial pressures or increased
family conflict that make the season a very stressful time of year For people without a significant other, who don’t have family or who
live far from family, the holidays can be especially tough. While
longing for company, lonely people may isolate even more, leaving them
feeling even worse. Now try and imagine someone suffering from depression or anxiety being constantly told to snap out of it, or just to smile. It is not as simple as that. Life can often be to unbearable, time does not have a magic formula . It is not something that can be quickly overcome, and is not a sign of emotional weakness. Generally not a lot of people are that informed about mental illness and come out with ill-informed, uneducated statements that do not help one bit. The stigma that we can suffer from can be immense, we need to confront these stigmas, and keep challenging the fears, myths and stigmas that still surround mental illness. Each source of stigma, is a barrier that is difficult to overcome, that can shatter hopes of recovery, leaving an individual feeling devastated and isolated.There are so many misconceptions that we have to unlearn. I for one have witnessed, that it is never an easy road, that anyone regardless of their personality, lifestyle or background can suffer from. Depression is different for everyone. Don't contribute to the stigma. There are many free services available that offer mental health support
at this time of year, such as the Samaritans who can be reached on 116 123 (UK)https://www.samaritans.org.
If your symptoms of stress, anxiety or depression are severe or long
lasting, see a doctor who can provide some guidance and treatment
options. Do hope yours is a good one, best wishes, and take care. Heddwch/Peace
Left field American artist Don Van Vliet, who was mainly known by his nom-de-plume Captain Beefheart was one of the most original musician- poets of the 20th century, to whom the term "ahead of his time" can be applied. A
true musical genius and iconclast who passed away in 2010 following several years of illness with
MS.
Beefheart wild and free has been part of my life, for a long time. Brilliant, eccentric, indefinable, difficult – Captain Beefheart’s
musical career was often seemingly impenetrable, but his true genius was
in his experimentation that, along with the work of his mentor Frank
Zappa, helped pave the way for a generation of creative musicians and
break the boundaries between art and rock.
His music blended rock, blues and psychedelia with free jazz,
avant-garde and contemporary experimental composition. He invented his own genre of music, which even seems
to go beyond music itself. Captain Beefheart's music at its best is a
form of art, that is maybe best compared to an abstract painting. His body of work
is never an easy listen but over the 12 studio records that he created
with The Magic Band there are moments of sheer brilliance. Captain Beefheart was born
January 15, 1941 to impoverished parents at Glendale, California. He had little time for
formal education, claiming later: “If you want to be a different fish,
you got to jump out of the school.” But from an early age he displayed
artistic ability and, according to his own account, was offered a full
scholarship at a European art school at the age of 13 by a local dairy,
an offer his parents refused on the ground that all artists were
”queer”. in Glendale, California. He was born Don Vliet, but he
changed his name into Don van Vliet in the early sixties. His genius was
discovered very early through his paintings and sculptures, and at the
age of thirteen, he was offered a scholarship to study in Europe. His
parents didn't accept the offer, and decided to move to Lancaster
instead. It was during his stay there, that Van Vliet met Frank Zappa.Although he had no formal musical training, he had a passion for the
blues, a desperate desire to perform and a distinctive voice, very reminiscent of Howling Wolf. In 1964
Captain Beefheart formed The Magic Band, and in 1965 the band signed to
A&M, for which they recorded two singles. The first, "Diddy Wah
Diddy" (The Bo Diddley-song), was actually quite successful, but A&M
wasn't interested in Beefheart's ideas for an entire album. In 1967,
Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band finally got the opportunity to
release their debut album, "Safe As Milk", on the label Buddah. After 1968's "Strictly Personal" Frank Zappa offered his old
friend to make an album on his own label Straight Records, promising him
complete creative freedom. Of course Van Vliet couldn't refuse this
offer, and he recorded arguably the, most fascinating, original
and avantgarde rock album ever made: "Trout Mask Replica". It was
released in 1969. It is considered to be his masterpiece produced by his friend Frank Zappa
who allowed Van Vliet full creative control over the music. its 28 sprawling tracks retain something of Beefheart’s youthful
obsession with the blues. But with individual instruments playing often
fractured atonal and polyrhythmic lines in opposition to one another,
the influence of free jazz exponents such as Ornette Coleman and John
Coltrane is unmistakable. Thanks
to the brilliance of "Trout Mask Replica" and its follow-up, "Lick My Decals Off, Baby"
(1970), Captain Beefheart gained popularity in both the United States
and Europe. These were followed by "The Spotlight Kid" and "Clear Spot"
(both released in
1972), deemed too commercial to many but to me still garner lots of
delight, then came "Unconditionally Guaranteed" and "Bluejeans &
Moonbeams" (both released in 1974) It is true that "Bluejeans &
Moonbeams"
is not as experimental as Beefheart's early recordings, but I think it
still contains some beautiful blues-oriented songs that are well worth a
listen. After a short collaboration with Frank Zappa called "Bongo Fury", Beefheart
returned with 1978's "Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)" and
1980's "Doc At The Radar Station", then in 1982 came "Ice Cream For Crow". It would turn out to be his last album,
for after "Ice Cream For Crow", Van Vliet decided to devote the rest of
his life to painting.During his retirement from music he lived in the desert of
California in quiet solitude with his wife Janet who he had married in 1970 and mainly engaged with the
production of exquisite and primal painting in the Abstract
Expressionist style.
The following was included in the exhibition document Stand Up To Be Discontinued in 1993. Its evident the MS was clearly taking it's toll and is incredibly sad to listen to. Captain Beefheart reading "Fallin' Ditch" as a poem
When I get lonesome the wind begin t' moan
When I trip fallin' ditch
Somebody wanna' throw the dirt right down
When I feel like dyin' the sun come out
'n stole m' fear 'n gone
Who's afraid of the spirit with the bluesferbones
Who's afraid of the fallin' ditch
Fallin' ditch ain't gonna get my bones
How's that for the spirit
How's that for the things
Ain't my fault the thing's gone wrong
'n when I'm smilin' my face wrinkles up real warm
'n when um frownin' things just turn t' stone
Fallin' ditch ain't gonna get my bones
'n when I get lonesome the wind begin t' moan
Fallin' ditch ain't gonna get my bones
Captain Beeefheart - Fallin' Ditch
Captain Beefheart reading "Skeleton Makes Good" as a poem
There's so many things
to feel
and see while you're awake
they're just out of reach
out of grasp
yeah out of reach
and just as many;
maybe more
the minute that you sleep
so I got to throw my preach
skeleton breath
scorpion blush
I have a crush on your skeleton
watch out unsuspecting stranger
you'll fall off the log
headfirst into dreams
end up screaming
this will comb the wolf
and that will comb the fog
what will peen the rain
what will preen the hog
oh you mean earth
and hell over you
and laugh at your tire tracks
if you get up
skeleton makes good.
The Tired Plain
The bra was white and yellow elastic
and held to foam cones
the corners triangular shaped
pyramid
three edges made one point
starfish and embry boards
triple D cupped and poked to a point
the main character was composed into a bow
that broke first in the front
and equal on adjacent sides
American cowboy was approaching on a collision course
– his hands groped outstretched three digits triangular
to the front nail a line was drawn from the middle
finger to the knuckle of the index finger across
the middle finger onto the third –
creating a perfect arrow
with an imaginary point
The following documentaries are also so engaging to watch.
The Artist Formerly Known as Captain Beefheart
Beefhearts status as an outsider icon of strange music helped him cultivate a mythic presence in the history of popular music and though his work, whether in music or drawing, was never mainstream and only
ever gained a relatively small following, he was nevertheless a larger-than-life
character who pushed the boundaries of his art in a way which influenced
many who followed in his wake.
Amongst those who have cited Captain Beefheart as an influence are Tom
Waits and PJ Harvey, many post-punk bands, and exprimental artists while devotees include , Matt Groening
(creator of The Simpsons) and the film director David Lynch http://www.beefheart.com/
