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| "Jerusalem Postponed": homelessness, the House of Saud and history inverted |
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Jerusalem, from the preface to Milton, A Poem, by William Blake
Jerusalem
There was a strange item in the news the other week. It seems that the famous anthem Jerusalem can be sung at gay civil ceremonies, but not at straight weddings. This is because it falls between two camps. The clergy don’t recognise it as a hymn because it is not a song addressed to God, whereas the civil authorities won’t allow it because of its overtly religious theme. It was, however, sung at the Royal Wedding.
Sir George Young, the Conservative leader of the House of Commons, said, ‘I think that Jerusalem should be sung on every possible occasion.’ The Daily Maildescribed it as 'England’s most patriotic song,' while it has replaced the Red Flagas the Labour Party’s official anthem.
Now this is all very odd. If you listen to the words of Jerusalem you will find that it is a call to resistance, and that it layers mystery upon mystery in the form of questions that have no answers. It is anything but patriotic.
The poem was written by William Blake and first appeared as the frontispiece to one of his prophetic books, Milton, addressed to John Milton, Blake’s favourite poet.
Milton was a civil servant who worked under Oliver Cromwell and who wrote possibly the greatest epic poem in the English language: Paradise Lost. Samuel Johnson described him as "an acrimonious and surly republican". In his political writings he dealt extensively with the trial and execution of Charles I, praising it as a justifiable act.
Read on...
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NOW AVAILABLE FROM GONZO MULTIMEDIA
"Stone writes with intelligence, wit and sensitivity."
Times Literary Supplement
"Wry, acute, and sometimes hellishly entertaining essays in squalor and rebellion."
Herald
"The best guide to the Underground since Charon ferried dead souls across the Styx."
Independent on Sunday
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| SOME OTHER BOOKS BY C.J.STONE |
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| I have just discovered a series of comic books by Bill Willingham, involving the exploits and adventures of a series of characters of myth, legend and fairy tale in modern-day New York. It sounds horribly twee, but - to my enormous surprise - it isn't. They are very deftly and wittily written with oodles of sex and violence, and clever plot twists which keep one interested, even when one is as jaded an old git as me. They have been gathered together into a series of 20 (so far) trade paperback graphic novels, and I have been happily working my way through them, and cluttering up the shelves of my library even more whilst I do so. |
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I have just found out that the series is planned to end next year, but whether this goes for all the multifarious spin-offs or not, I don't know. The main series is called 'Fables' and - as Wikipedia precises it: The series deals with various characters from fairy tales and folklore – referring to themselves as "Fables" – who have been forced out of their Homelands by "The Adversary" who has conquered the realm. The Fables have traveled to our world and formed a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown. Fables who are unable to blend in with human society (such as monsters and anthropomorphic animals) live at "the Farm" in upstate New York.
Check it out, you may well be surprised. |
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HAWKWIND NEWS
(The Masters of the Universe do seem to have a steady stream of interesting stories featuring them, their various friends and relations, and alumni). Each week Graham Inglis keeps us up to date with the latest news from the Hawkverse.. |
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There's considerable doubt as to whether Hawkwind are visiting North America next month. A list of dates was published in late 2013 but has since been removed from the official list of upcoming dates... and while it appears some venues have cancelled the Hawkwind gigs and started
refunding money, other ticket sources are still listing some dates.
On Wednesday night (19th) one American ticket-selling website was still displaying a choice of five March gigs: Toronto, Massachusetts, 'Frisco, and two nights in Denver Colorado. And The Washington Post gig guide is listing Hawkwind in Washington DC. However, Hawkwind announced back in mid-January that the Toronto gig had been cancelled. This happened amidst presumably-malicious rumours that Hawkwind's Dave Brock was unable to get a visa to visit the USA.
Hawkwind have confirmed the London show is a one-off, saying they thought long and hard about touring the show but "if we recreate the past albums, we are accused of 'cashing in' or 'living in the past'. There are lots of tribute bands and ex-members offshoot bands who are playing the Space Ritual album set... so what is the need for us to do it?"
The recent Hawkwind comment on Facebook continued: "After loads of lucrative offers which could have made us all rich we decided to compromise and revive the Space Ritual for one night only... and we would do this, not for filthy lucre... we would do it for a good cause, and as a lot of you know, animal rescue is one of our passions..."
The London show, on Saturday 22 February, which both Graham and Jon will be at is in support of several animal charities including Wet Nose Animal Aid and Team Badger.
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| Simple Minds In the Beginning, Today |
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| As the great Simple Minds have scheduled yet more shows in the UK this July, let's take a look back with Doug at their 5X5 tour a couple years back at the London Roundhouse. At that time, they performed 5 tracks from each of their first 5 records- arguably their most "progressive" or "krautrock" flavored era. Last year they visited California for the first time in about 10 years to do their greatest hits, but this special show in London for 5X5 ranks as the best concert this fan has ever witnessed by Jim, Charlie, and gang.... |
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Occasionally there comes a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness a moment in music history – to revisit the past or celebrate the present success of a major band. During March of 2012 at the London Roundhouse theater one of those chances came when we saw Simple Mindsperform five tracks from each of their first five records- the 5X5 tour. The show was spectacular, with singer Jim Kerr’s voice in great shape, backed by original guitarist Charlie Burchill, and drummer Mel Gaynor joined by tight backing bass and keys. As promised five tracks from each of their earliest work were performed, highlighting these early, darker, more experimental albums. As presented at the Roundhouse, the band breathed new life into these early songs, so loved by their core fans, and so different from their later rock-oriented work.
 In the states, Simple Minds were not well known until and after their fifth album, 1982′s brilliant, New Gold Dream, which included the singles “Promised You a Miracle” and “Glittering Prize”. It wasn’t until later in 1985 that the band had their first and only #1 single in the states with “ Don’t You (Forget About Me)” recorded for the John Hughes film “ The Breakfast Club.” Unlike their more commercially successful Irish brethren U2, the Scottish band Simple Minds were prone to more challenging, rambling, avant-garde sounds, presented live by the writhe Kerr. Something about the way Jim fronted this band always appealed to me – he darts in and around the beat, often departing from traditional verse-chorus-verse structures into something like scat punctuated by anthemic calls. Much less direct than U2 and more interesting to these ears. The early work attracted a core of fans, then growing a stronger following in the arena-rock mid 80′s period. Their post-80′s work saw a decline of interest in the US, though they remain ever popular in Europe.
Read on...
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He actually IS called Jon Pertwee, and he runs a shop selling pop culture memorabilia with a special emphasis on Dr Who related stuff. He is an old mate of mine, and from now on will be doing a regular column in this magazine. Hooray!
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The way that we think of today's TV has changed. We know that we can watch this week's Big Brother on our new handy dandy phones, or with the catch up service, although why the Channel Four one isn't called 'Four play' is beyond me!
Growing up with a family who had ideas above their social station and trying to be better than they actually were was tough!
We moved a lot of times, basically as my birth parent tried piss off every single neighbour we had, so it seemed! However, the small flickering box in the corner had some magic gems, that, once shown to us, would never repeat them, never wait till we could catch up..they were gone forever!
One such show was HULK. This was a true gem in the world of fantastic TV from the grim intro telling us that he had got the blame for a murder he didn't do, Dr David Banner, marvellously played by the mighty Bill Bixby, was a troubled soul and no mistake; whenever he grew angry or even miffed he tore his shirt and became big bad Lou Ferringo, an ex-body builder who had taken the part and given it a heart and soul that was previously missing from the genre.
Weekly he bulged his way onto our screen and I strongly wished he would come to Taunton and take me away while knocking the woman I lived with through a nearby wall..it didn't happen.The Hulk was, and is, a benchmark TV show. No he wasn't an fx marvel (marvel, see what I did there?) but what he did was gave sad little kids like me some hope that life would be OK. Thanks Lou! |
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| THE WORLD OF GONZO ACCORDING TO GHOSTMAN RAINES |
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| THE YES CIRCULAR - TIME AND A WORD |
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| The Court Circular tells interested readers about the comings and goings of members of The Royal Family. However, readers of this periodical seem interested in the comings and goings of Yes and of various alumni of this magnificent and long-standing band. Give the people what they want, I say |
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After last week's bumper bag of news from the Yes camp and from all their various alumni, this week has slowed down again unfortuantely. I am very tempted to try plotting the amount of these stories each week on a graph, and seeing if I can correlate it against current events. Maybe I will even be able to foresee the future. I could call it PROG-OMANCY!
But we have Chris Squire telling a story about Yes and Geoff Downes talking about a new Yes recording, whilst Jon Anderson is about to embark on the "Progressive Nation at Sea" jaunt which will also include a Q & A session.
Oh and we cannot forget, considering the theme of this special issue, that Rick Wakeman did of course play the part of Thor in Litzomania. |
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| I am probably getting a bit OCD about all of this, but I find the Yes soap opera of sound to be absolutely enthralling, and I for one can't wait to see what happens next! |
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Changing the world one gift at a time
The worldwide Freecycle Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Freecycle groups match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them. Our goal is to keep usable items out of landfills. By using what we already have on this earth, we reduce consumerism, manufacture fewer goods, and lessen the impact on the earth. Another benefit of using Freecycle is that it encourages us to get rid of junk that we no longer need and promote community involvement in the process.
http://uk.freecycle.org/ |
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LIFE IS LIKE A PAN PIZZA
Each of us get a slice
Some devour theirs with hungry desire
Others pick and choose their ingredients
Cos when it comes to hunger/no two are alike
Some surrender lovingly/some put up a fight
This society oscillates between anorexic and obese
Luckily we care more for who you are than what you choose to eat
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In Victorian times every well-bred Gentleman had a 'Cabinet of Curiosities'; a collection of peculiar odds and sods, usually housed in a finely made cabinet with a glass door. These could include anything from Natural History specimens to historical artefacts. There has always been something of the Victorian amateur naturalist about me, and I have a houseful of arcane objects; some completely worthless, others decidedly not, but all precious to me for the memories they hold.
But people send me lots of pictures of interesting, and, may I say, peculiar things. But once again this week it is over to my lovely wife...
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This week ... I’m Starting with the Man in the Mirror
For US $2,600.00 (Approximately £1,577.29) you can have a vanity mirror that once adorned the bathroom/dressing room of Michael Jackson. But be warned, there are already 12 offers on it (however this auction does not appear to have a end date on it that I could see, so presumably once an offer has been accepted it will disappear). It does look like a very ordinary mirror to me – in fact I have one exactly like it in design upstairs, apart from the fact that mine is of the bog-standard ** silver metal variety. But I am not Michael Jackson so I am well aware that that does not count.
I love the picture showing it in situ though. Excellent selling strategy (?)
** And this reminds me. I must have a look to see if the urinals mentioned last week were sold or not, and if not if they have been relisted.1 I hope none of you were coy and, therefore, got pipped at the post, whilst crossing your fingers (or is that legs?) waiting until the last few seconds before bidding. That is not a good idea you know, especially with the dodgy climate at the moment with lightning threatening to cut off the all-important electricity supply to your computer, thus causing such golden opportunities to be missed in the last, crucial seconds.
FOOTNOTE
1 I was a tad alarmed when Jon read about this sale. He actually exclaimed ‘I want it!’ However, I am fairly confident that the carefully aimed, bow-crossing shot of portent, which consisted mainly of my honed Medusa-like stare coupled with a low, just audible, growl has warned him off ever thinking such a thing again. |
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Hey hey we’re the Monkees
Many years ago – in fact I hate to think how many – I was a member of the Monkees Fan Club. I say ‘the’; I have no idea how many of them there were but as far as I was concerned the one I was in was ‘the’ one. I have absolutely no memory of what I received for this membership, how often and so on and so forth, or what happened to all of the gathered bits and bobs.
However, I did not know – or have no memory of ever knowing - that Stephen Stills almost became one. According to The Huffington Post:
“Stephen Stills Was Almost A Monkee?
Speaking of The Monkees, did you know that Stephen Stills, soon to achieve fame as a member of the Buffalo Springfield, auditioned for a part as one of the Monkees? He was turned down — rumours have it that it was everything from bad teeth to his weight, but more likely it was a contract issue — and he recommended his old buddy Peter Tork for the role. Which worked out pretty well for Peter Tork.”
And whilst my cheeks still burn with childish embarrassment after having revealed my membership to the above fan club, I may as well go the whole hog and admit that Peter Tork was always my favourite. (That is him on the right, for those of you not in the know.)
Jon has also asked me to point out that another similar rumour, that Charles Manson auditioned, is completely untrue. He was in prison at the time. (Charles Manson that is,not Jon.)
And to shoulder-force the bulging door shut on the cabinet this week:
Apparently, “If Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side Of The Moon" is started at the precise moment the MGM lion roars for the second time in the movie "The Wizard Of Oz", the cd is perfectly synchronized with the movie”.
Well bust my buttons. |
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And for a change this week, I shall toss the sarcasm aside - just this once mind - and bring you this touching tale.
It does not fit in the cabinet of curiosities, but deserves to be told in its own right, away from the weird and bizarre eccentricities of humankind. It should not rub shoulders with the absurd and sometimes grotesque side of entertainment. It does not involve people making money by selling things to those willing to spend their own pounds, shillings and pence on something that was once coughed on, chewed on, sweated on, or owned by someone that became famous.
This is the sad tale of Argentine farmer Pedro Martin Ureta and his wife Graciela, who got married and settled down on the fertile farmlands Ureta had grown up on and raised four children.
“Graciela, who oversaw work in the fields, had big plans for the farm. As Atlas Obscura reports, on a flight over Pampa, the farmer’s wife had noticed another farm that looked like a milking pail from the air. Graciela thought that family could create something even more magnificent on their own farm: A huge forest shaped as her favorite instrument – the guitar.
But like with so many plans, Ureta had to put his wife's idea on the back burner.
"My father was a young man, and very busy with his work and his own plans," Ureta's youngest child, Ezequiel, told the Wall Street Journal. "He told my mom, 'Later. We'll talk about it later.'"
Later never came. In 1977, Graciela died suddenly of a cerebral aneurysm at the tender age of 25. To compound the tragedy, the young mother of four was pregnant with what would have been the couple’s fifth child.
Still heartbroken a few years later, Ureta decided that the best way to honor his late wife would be to fulfill her wish and create the giant work of art in her honor.
After landscapers refused to help with the project, the savvy farmer and his children took it on themselves. One-by-one, they planted and nurtured roughly 7,000 cypress and eucalyptus trees into the shape of a guitar: Cypess for the figure-eight-shaped body and starburst sound hole and Blue eucalyptus trees to represent the six strings.”
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| Isn't that just one of the most touchingly beautiful works of art you have ever seen? |
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SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION TIME
Just in case you are interested, here is yer beloved Editor at iTunes
   
Check it out now... |
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| INTRODUCING THE NINE HENRYS |
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There are nine Henrys, purported to be the world’s first cloned cartoon character. They live in a strange lo-fi domestic surrealist world peopled by talking rock buns and elephants on wobbly stilts.
They mooch around in their minimalist universe suffering from an existential crisis with some genetically modified humour thrown in. I think Peter McAdam is one of the funniest people around, and I cannot recommend his book The Nine Henrys highly enough. Check it out at Amazon.
Each issue we shall be running a series of Henrybits that are not found in his book about the nine cloned cartoon characters who inhabit a surreal world nearly as insane as mine...
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The Weird Weekend is the largest yearly gathering of mystery animal investigators in the English-speaking world. Now in its fifteenth year, the convention attracts speakers and visitors from all over the world and showcases the findings of investigators into strange phenomena.
Cryptozoologists, parapsychologists, ufologists, and folklorists are descending on Woolfardisworthy Community Centre to share their findings and insights. Unlike other events, the Weird Weekend will also include workshops giving tips to budding paranormal investigators, and even a programme of special events for children. The Weird Weekend is the only fortean conference in the world that is truly a family event, although those veterans of previous events should be reassured that it is still as anarchically silly as ever!
The event is raising money for the Centre for Fortean Zoology, the world’s only full time, professional cryptozoological organisation. The profit from food and beverages goes to a selection of village charities, mostly working with children.
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| the running order (so far) for the 2014 event |
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| DEWA BUDJANA Joged Kahyangan (MOONJUNE) |
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This is Dewa’s sixth solo album to date, and while he may well be a bona fide pop star in his home country with his band Gigi selling millions of records, he is still relatively unknown outside of his native Indonesia. With this, his second album for the international label Moonjune, surely that will soon change. The album title translates to “Dances of Heaven”, and if you are at all interested in jazz fusion that is the place to which you will be transported when listening to this. On this album he has been joined by Larry Goldings (organ, piano), Bob Mintzer (tenor and soprano sax, clarinet, bass clarinet), Jimmy Johnson (bass) and Peter Erskine (drums) as well as singer Janis Siegel guesting on the one number with vocals.
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The musicians didn’t see Budjana’s charts until the day of the recording, and the first take was the only rehearsal they had with the second or third take ending up on the album. Recorded in just a single day, this is pretty much a full live recording, which makes it even more incredible. Dewa has strong understanding of the use of space and harmony, as well as dischord, and combines all the elements to make an album that takes the listener by the hand as opposed to bashing them over the head. There are whole passages where Dewa is notable by his absence, letting the rest of the guys take his music on a journey and he joins in with wonderfully fluid Metheny/McLaughlin style at just the right moment. It is a wonderfully restful album, one where time and space disappears and is replaced instead by a world filled with harmony, delicacy, and restrained power. Every piece is a classic in it’s own right, while the restraint of everyone involved in the vocal “As You Leave My Nest” is superb.
The digipak opens up to provide three pages of notes, written by John Kelman, which definitely add to the overall experience. This is an essential album to anyone who enjoys wonderful music, whatever the genre. www.moonjune.com
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| ELORA Crash (PROGRESSIVE PROMOTION) |
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| Elora came together in Marseilles in 2005, and after releasing an EP in 2010 they signed with German label Progressive Promotion Records and have now just released their debut album ‘Crash’. I have no problem listening to lyrics in another language, as it allows me to concentrate on the overall feel and sound of the songs (I’m a typical pom, can understand Te Reo Maori just enough to sing the anthem and I know the odd word, but apart from that it’s English all the way). But, here I think I must be missing out on something as I just don’t ‘get’ this album as much as I think that I should. It’s extremely solid crossover with loads of influences, notably Porcupine Tree and Pink Floyd among others, and the use of male and female leads and harmonies is a nice aspect, but it is never really more than that. |
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| If I try to dig into why I feel this way, I can only say that there is no real hook or melodic flow for me to really connect with the music, so it rather passes me by. At times very dreamy indeed, and almost New Age, there just isn’t enough bite and edge for me to get excited about it. Possibly if I understood French then it might have more meaning, but this is like a snack as opposed to a full meal and leaves me wanting more. www.progressive-promotion.de |
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| JEREMY & PROGRESSOR Searching For The Son (MALS) |
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| The last time that Jeremy Morris released an album with Progressor (Vitaly Menshikov) was back in 2005 when they joined forces for ‘The Pearl of Great Price’, so it has taken them a while to get back together, but given Jeremy’s recording output probably that isn’t too surprising. They both provide different instrumentation, while Jeremy provides the vocals, but there are also a few other musicians involved, notably John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick. I was playing his superb ‘Moccasin Warrior II’ album just the other day, so it was interesting to find him on here. I was asked to provide a much more detailed review on this album, something that I very rarely undertake just due to the amount of music I |
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listen to and the time I have to write about it, but given that Jeremy and I have known each other for some twenty years why not? In fact, I finally got all my cassettes out the other day, and still have ‘Green’, ‘Soul Saver’ and ‘Dreams Come True’ from all those years ago! One never knows quite what to expect from Jeremy in terms of what style will be in place on each release, but this is mostly songs with vocals, Christian lyrics, and a musical style that is reminiscent of the last Sixties.
Searching for the Son (8:07) – Gentle bubbling keyboards lead way into a solid dose of psychedelic progressive pop, as the chords become more strident and the full band comes in. Dreamy, atmospheric and evocative, the addition of saxophone onto this track definitely gives it even more power and emphasis while the slightly strained guitar also brings back memories of a time gone by.
Future Flight (7:44) – Gently picked guitar, and delicate mellotron combine with some ‘spacey’ sounds to lead us into another number that could have come straight from the end of the Sixties. Picked guitar and a driving bass leads us through a number that swirls, shifts and changes throughout.
The Blind Man’s Dream (6:53) – Layered keyboards and gentle 12-string slowly introduces to some phased distorted guitar, as the guys gradually kick into one of the heaviest numbers on the album. There is a real edginess to this one, with plenty of guitar soloing, and although it is only seven minutes long it contains many distinct musical sections, with the repeated lyrics and themes returned to nearer the end. Throughout, the keyboards act as a bedrock for the guitars to do very much their own thing, with more than a hint of later-period Beatles.
Distant Light (10:28) – Lots of clarinet-style keyboards on this number gives it quite a different feel, as does the use of gently strummed acoustic guitar. But, as with others, this number has multiple sections, and when it starts to drive along there is a much greater impact due to the softness of what has gone before.
Wings of the Wind (11:16) – The longest song on the album, this also has multiple sections, and brings in loads of different musical elements trumpet combining with electric piano at one point, with distorted guitars all adding to a very jazzy feel. In fact, it seems quite chaotic at times, very different to the more structured and laid-back feel of much of the album. But what really makes this for me is the wonderfully delicate piano that comes in and out throughout the song, and closes it out as a solo. There is wonderful touch and emotion contained within those notes.
Messiah Will Come (7:09) – This starts as a far more orchestral piece with layers of synth strings, and some real trumpet, before it moves into a more psychedelic number led by some jangly guitar. Bill Morris’ trumpet is again an important factor in this song, before guitar and keyboards dominate with some wonderful interplay.
Had Enough (4:34) – This is one of three totally solo Jeremy songs on the album, and is the most poppy/psych of everything. A repeated chorus line gets into the mind and stays there, and there is a distinct groove and underlying emotional current that makes this a real joy to play time and again.
Way to Zion (6:01) – A total contrast to what preceeded it, here we have a number that again is very orchestral in style, and it takes quite a while for the vocals to kick in, so much so that the first time I played it I wondered if it was going to be an instrumental. In many ways this reminds me of Gryphon, with synth instrumentation taking the place of the real thing.
The Mirror (6:29) – The next Jeremy solo song is based much more on his vocals with gently picked guitar for accompaniment, with delicate keyboards providing some accents. This is quite an uplifting number, with less layering of the vocals and therefore more cut through.
On A Cherub (5:23) – The final Jeremy solo finds multi-layered vocals on top of picked guitar, with delicate mellotron for support, before some phasing takes place that moves the music in and out. There is some fine jangly guitar soloing on this piece, as prog and psychedelia combine.
Sonic Dances (4:05) – Vitaly provides the final song, apparently recorded back in 1993. Multi-layered acoustic guitar picking gives us a closing number that is musically quite at odds with the rest of the album, but somehow is a fitting final piece as it rounds it off nicely.
So there you have it, 78 minutes long, mixing lots of different influences together in a way that is enjoyable and fun to play. The final words must go to J&P, as on the booklet it states “Repeated listens required: Don’t even try to dig it upon the first spin!” So there you are. |
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| NEMO La Vers Dans Le Fruit (PROGRESSIVE PROMOTION) |
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| It’s is always a pleasure to be sent an album by one of my favourite bands, so when I heard that Nemo were releasing a double CD I knew that I was going to be in for a treat, and I wasn’t wrong. These guys always put a lot of effort into how their release looks, and here we have a double digi-pak with a booklet, and great artwork. Interestingly, the painter is depicting a tree in full leaf in a field, but if one looks at the rear of the pack one can see that in fact the tree is dying, surrounded by empty oil drums and rubbish, while the ghost of a wolf and a person can be seen, as well as a goat and ravens. What does it all mean? One of the joys of Nemo for me is that I don’t speak French, so the lyrics and melodies thereof become just another instrument and I listen to the album as a whole, instead of concentrating on the words. |
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Yet again, the guys have produced what I have now come to expect of them, namely a structured, layered, complex progressive rock which contains numerous elements and influences yet somehow is constructed in such a manner that is immediate and inviting. There are times when the mellotrons almost overpower the sound, then others when they are much more into a heavy prog area, with wonderfully emotive vocals throughout. There is power, there is passion, and if you ever want to hear a prog band put the hammer down then listen to “Un Pied Dans la Tombe” where they somehow keep the guitars in check just enough.
The music ebbs and flows, taking the listener on a musical journey, always with a clear direction and intent. Is that a hint of Muse I hear there, or Porcupine Tree here? Nemo have brought together many influences, as always, and created something that is all-encompassing and while highly structured always manages to contain a sense of freedom. I have heard that long-time bassist Lionel B. Guichard has just left the band, so it will be interesting to see how Nemo replace him as this quartet have yet again combined to bring some wonderful music to the world. |
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A SHORT INTRODUCTION TO ENSIFERUM
by Corinna |
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From Helsinki in Finland, Ensiferum is a folk metal band founded in 1995.
And those kind folks at Wikipedia tell us:
"Metal and folk melodies are played on lead guitar or keyboard, overlaying heavier heavy metal backing rhythms such as the classic gallop. The band also include fairly frequent use of acoustic guitars, usually at the beginnings of songs. The lyrical themes of their music most often relate to fantastical, archaic, or historic stories that can most often be grouped in with Nordic concepts, usually with heroic sentiment."
If you fancy a wee listen and a bit of foot stomping whilst eating your supper, try this one out
It does seem a rather fitting finale to this Ragnarok issue.
If we are still here that is.
But that, as they say, is in the lap of the Gods. |
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THE BEST LAID PLANS...
So folks, that was my effort at putting a fair old bit of this magazine together this week. Jon has still some last minute things to add to it, and hopefully he will spot any deliberate or horrendous errors that I may have made. If not, forgive my ham-fistedness on my virgin trip down these columns ... and never fear ... he will be back next week to take the helm, and I shall return, with duster in hand, to the cabinet of curiosities. Speaking of helms, if the Gods set to it I think the tremors caused by the earthquake off the coast of North Devon/South Wales yesterday will pale ever so slightly into insignificance once the likes of Thor and his hammer, Mjölnir, along with the hoof-beats of Odin's horse Sleipnir get their groove on. Not to mention the dragon, the wolf, the sea serpent...... |
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Lilith decided it was about time that she was in this magazine instead of her brother stealing all the limelight, so for this week only here she is. She isn't really as bad-tempered and evil as she looks in this photo by the way.
'Far vel', I am led to believe is old Norse for 'goodbye.'
So far vel it is, but hopefully just for a week! |
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Tors strid med jättarna 1872 (Thor's Fight with the Giants) by Marten Eskil Winge
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