Crippled Black Pheonix - (Mankind) The Crafty Ape (Mascot)

“Use your anger to creatively destroy your oppressors.” These are the opening words from Crippled Black Pheonix’s newest album, a call to arms announced by a vocoder voice that sets the mood of the rest of the record. Led by Justin Greaves, the band is the unification of a hand full of seasoned musicians with a taste for serious minded Rock.

But what’s the real deal here? Are CBP using the rising dissident to further their own gain or are they providing musical sustenance to the global protest movement? This is the danger with the term ‘political band’ and I’m hesitant to use it on CBP. Bands like U2 and The Manic Street Preachers were once awarded it and now, after achieving fame and success, these swaggering tycoons jet around the world, selling their antiestablishment egotism. We’ve developed automatic scepticism of musicians that attach themselves to social struggle; perhaps finally realising that almost anything can be exploited for profit and that the Rock Star lifestyle, as much as any other modern hypocrisy, is very much apart of the problem.

But if CBP are not a ‘political band’ then they are at the very least politically inclined and this is a far more free and effective position to be in. Despite it all: job cuts, privatisation and rioting, there are not many artists around who can turn anxiety into the language of resistance.

Whatever their motivations, CBP make some excellent music. Their fifth release, (Mankind) The Crafty Ape is a rich and diverse record that matches the disgruntled lyrics perfectly. While their previous records were more atmospherically based, this one takes a step past despair and further into rebellion. Cross breeding Pink Floyd’s inventive structure with Radiohead’s gloominess and dissatisfaction, their music is a well-devised and heavyweight Prog Rock with the kind of inherent quality that can only derive from solid musicianship and intensive gigging.

Enhanced by the raw clarity of the production, the group explore both a range of tones and their own ability achieving the execution. ‘The Heart of Every Country’ feels very Floyd indeed (circa Animals) with its grand composition of sailing guitar solos and thick piano chords. With stomping tom percussion and burning guitar lines, ‘Laying Traps’ is a driving piece of work and the video sees the band don gas masks and anarchic attire for a performance interspersed with scenes of protest. ‘Release The Clowns’, while swaggering like The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, gives a final warning before the close: “Gather your belongings ‘cause the revolution’s coming”.

Though sounding completely different, (Mankind) The Crafty Ape follows PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake for an appraisal of this country’s decent into mismanagement and irrelevance. Some may be put off by the band’s consciously dark focus but it must be taken it for what it is. While more and more bands appear to be drifting into escapism and nostalgia, there are still some on the other side, drawing their inspiration from realism and suggesting that maybe, just maybe, things aren’t going too well and we might need to do something about it. Otherwise, as CBP say, “Just keep on complaining, and someone will hear you”.

(© Copyright 2012 Brendan Morgan)

The Convincing Power of Words

In 1946 George Orwell wrote and published a small essay giving, what he felt, was inductory help to the process of writing. Entitled Politics and the English Language in it he looks, in depth, at the way certain words and phrases can confuse and blur your understanding of what is being communicated. The essay acts as a warning against language oppression. A few years later he would publish Nineteen Eighty Four, one of the most important works of literature in the last century. In the book a governmentally initiated language called New Speak acts as just another tool in controlling the population. Expression, through a mechanical language, was suppressed. The essay in question, published a few years before this, lays the foundation for this very idea. Orwell promotes writing truthfully and keeping a strong grip on meaning. The voice of the writer must reside in the text instead of being clasped in ego or in the need to convert the reader. To simplify is to bring clarity; less is essentially more (I wonder how well I'm doing keeping out of irony at this point).

The relationship between language and politics is very close. One could argue that it was Noam Chomsky's study of linguistics that lead him into political activism, although he has denied this. In a 1969 interview in The New Left the drive, for him, was "rooted ultimately in some concept of human nature and human needs". Over the many years after the interview, his intuitive knowledge of semantics would have given him a wise outlook on the progression of politics leading up to and into the 21st Century. Remaining steadfast, he opposed the early 90's "War on Drugs" policy claiming the language choice to be misleading and has been highly critical of the position of the American Media.

Frustratingly, these warnings appear ever more relevant in our current political situation. You have only to watch Prime Ministers questions for a few minutes or catch a glimpse of Fox News to see substantial evidence for this. Our parliamentary debate is a veritable shit-slinging of buzz words and hollow sentiment, all supporting partisan interests. The word 'change', used almost to absurdity by many politicians, has mutated from its definition. If Enoch Powell rose from the grave to be seated in Parliament this would count as change. Such is the convincing power of words. When I hear it, I wince and my eye flickers in nervous aversion. As a word, it's political profanity and, used so many times, remains empty and untrustworthy. Even Barack Obama's early speeches rung with an unconvincing air of synthetic 'change'. Ultimately, it was his optimism and honesty that lead this message into belief; but it took some time. Phrases such as "War on Terror", "Coalition of the Willing", "Tough on Crime"; all serve to create a form of brand-name or catch-phrase politics, for a culture fed on TV and advertising. It's getting more and more difficult to speak with conviction or with a unique voice. Just telling someone that you love them for example produces a depressing feeling of cliche, the feeling that it has been said over and over, a billion times before.

Of course, it's not politicians who are to blame for this perversion of language. Our happy acceptance of being lied to is phenomenal. We ignore it, we let it go, and perhaps with reason. We want to believe that our government is acting on this proposed 'change' and if not, we don't want any part of it. It's hard to condemn people who see nothing but smoke and mirrors in politics. Truth is now an desperate animal, lost in a fog, moving in and out of the endless, evolving realities that we find ourselves in. Language can create barriers in society. What unites us is our sense of reality, our collective understanding of our environment and it's hard to see how constant mention of 'change' fits into this, other than to draw us further away from the will to actually achieve it for ourselves.

USA Election 2008 - My pointless coverage

It's been a hell of ride. Many months of mud slinging, smearing and general ridiculousness. But now the wild campaign torpedo is primed to hit and America's future will be decided. I say America's future, perhaps I mean the whole of western civilisation's. Much hangs in the balance. Their national integrity is lost and America's reputation as a standing symbol for freedom, liberty and sanity is tarnished. The economic disaster of the last few months acted as Bush's final finger in our face. His swan song was a tuneless one. But now, they have the chance to put it all behind them.
It is with great anxiety that I settle down to track the final minutes. To me the choice is obvious. McCain never bothered me as much as my adversaries. That was until he played the Palin card. That sealed it. But to our friends across the Atlantic, who have surprised us before, it is apparently not so case closed. Other 'extremely important things' play in how they choose a candidate. Yes, 'extremely important things' such as Christian morals, elitism, was he a druggie, how nice his tie is, does his name rhyme with Osama? IMPORTANT THINGS! It's tricky.
Oh Jesus, this is going to be a nervous night. The BBC can never be trusted, as well you know. I can already feel my lungs heavy from increased smoking. My right leg will be dancing the Charleston after all the coffee I'm going to drink. But it must go on. My faith in America and its place on the list of countries-I'd-like-to-go-back-to might be lost forever. Let's get this over with.

11:40pm - It begins, and already in true BBC 24 fashion, there is a lot of faff. Because the camera never rests, relentlessly projecting images in the hope of up-to-date news, the broadcasters jump through hoops to try and keep the viewer occupied. It would seem the actual event isn't interesting enough for us. Flashing maps and CG effects seem to do the trick, or so they think. It's actually an arsenal on the senses and an exhausting one at that.
"I'm going to have to stop you there! We have John Simpson Live in Chicago!"
Holy shit!
"There's a real sense of excitement here!" he says, in an exited way of course. He should know I guess, he's covered stacks of American elections before.
"What do you think?"
"What do you think senator?"
"What do you think?"
Get on with it damn it!

11:48pm - Some intriguing poll results scrolling here and there. 61% don't think McCain will lower taxes. Distrust this late in the game (and yes, it is a game) is not good.
What the fuck? "Obamachinno"?!? Sigh. Only in America.
Now we get to see a few republican's trying to keep cool and remain calm. Trying to do both at the same time is difficult. "He's got experience" they say of McCain. "I think he'll win" says another. All this is said with fixed smiles. Remember, you're on TV and, as such, you can be easily stereotyped. But these hard core supporters don’t look, visually at least, like the square headed Reagan lovers of old.
Back to the big map of colour! This all must be a massive undertaking for the country. Each state is equal to the size of England, comparatively. No wonder the political mood is so erratically insane in America.

12:00am - "And so here we have the first state call" David Dimbleby seems hopelessly bored by all this. Perhaps he’s been at the gin already and is trying to forget that closing hours have just gone.
Kentucky goes to McCain. Vermont goes for Obama. McCain's on 8 points, Obama's on 3, 270 points to win, it's like a video game! Thinking that way it feels odd to call it 'winning'. Is the white house a bonus level I wonder?
Plenty of wank about race issues again, allowing the Beeb to fill time. Blah Blah…
Wow, minorities form 41% of the population of America. I think the phrase "All American" doesn't apply anymore, thank God. Frankly, it never did. The country was built by others.
The Republican representatives in the studio respond to the current results: "We're winning, we're winning... giggle giggle!" The tone is half assed.
"The economy is the number one issue". This aspect could make or break Obama. Will his policies stand up and will it secure a victory?
Random Question: What happens to the Patriot Act after all this?

12:16am - A brief word with Ricky Gervais. He relates his initial apathy for the race that turned into an addictive quality, but then has to answer an unfortunate question about who Brent would vote for. Scowls and cut away...
Here come the hoards over the hill to witness the upcoming elected's speech. One or two look like they're really struggling to make it to the barrier. It's almost biblical.
Praise for Obama beating Hilary "in a fair fight". Hilary’s back on the cocaine this evening.

12:30am - "What do you read into that?" says David. What do you read into what? It’s hard to answer when you have a huge delay in the result. Consistently live TV produces many mistakes, and with a terrible earnesty in trying to get information it often trips over itself.

12:37am - Still no results. Cue horrendous stalling and blibber bladdar. Speculations are flying all over the place like popcorn that defies the laws of time.
We get a pre-emptive interview with McCain on his campaign plane. His wife smiles fakely while he looks either tired as hell or visibly spooked. The guy looks troubled.
Some poor reporter attempts to talk over a band spilling out the Beatles at one of the main Republican conventions. Maybe she's put off by how bad their cover of "Eight Days of Week" is. History has shown that Republicans don’t choose their music too well.

12:49am - Helpful anti-commie sentiment. "Castro wants Obama to win." Cigars all round if he does however.

12:52am - McCain holds South Carolina the devious fuck. At least he's against torture, something that America has evilly resurrected over recent years. So, it’s 16 to 3 and I get a sudden headache. If McCain wins I’m definitely not going to work tomorrow. I’ll hide in my room for several days, under the blankets.
Conrad, a fellow tenant in my house, makes a good point: The rich states, such as Maine, have all voted democrat. McCain’s outreach to the poor obviously hit home.

1:00am - Pennsylvania goes blue followed by New Hampshire and the BBC play a cheer from the crowd, and bam! Illinois and District of Columbia joins in. Democrats are bouncing on their beds. There are monosyllabic noises of pleasure. New Jersey becomes gives in to the peer pressure and gives Obama an extra 15 points. On 103 to Obama and 34 to McCain I can safely call it a night, only to wake up later and check the final result.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

4:03am - Such dedication. I awake to an intense and still uncertain atmosphere. Fearing the worse I clamber down the stairs to witness the Obamanian hoards screeching in ecstasy, waving flags like a religious mist has descended. Jesus, grown men are crying. “It's over!” I hear Conrad shout. And indeed it is. At this point, Obama has exceeded the 270 mark leaving McCain in the dust. His figures continue to count up. Florida and California was the key here, there’s no doubt about it.

4:09am - A gracious and respectable speech by McCain. His thoughts about the Republicans being dealt a heavy blow from the beginning of the race appear quite accurate. The liberal media lapped all the liquid Obama up. The hype was infectious and was always something that I tried to take with a general sense of objectiveness. Personally, McCain never really had very much control on his campaign. Some of his supporters were off the wall with their accusations of terrorism and supposed ethnicity. His original positive message was eventually clouded at the end by cheap and desperate slander. Obama’s campaign was like a gentle but relentless spinning wheel, with only minor bumps in its way he remained positive and focused. Now, in retrospect, it was like a work of art.

4:30am - Obama’s final speech is pretty self explanatory and I’m sure you’d already have seen it by the time I post this, so I won’t bore you like the BBC would. At present, the atmosphere is one of happy mania. Obama’s message is clear and impassioned but the bullet-proof glass that surrounds his stage acts as almost an omen. “It’s your victory!” he says. Even if you argue that his message of change and hope is contrived, you have to admit that America needs it. It’s time to get back to greatness, and not the kind of greatness in wealth and power, but great in mind and soul. Freedom is no longer a brand name. Greed and corruption evaporate. The era of the Bush is over.

I breath a deep sigh of relief. For now it seems things could get better. But time will tell. Obama has an incredibly taxing few months ahead. His movements will be monitored closely. He must, MUST, fulfil his promises or disaster will ensue. We could see the dawning of a beautiful and exciting new age for America, or we could we witnessing the first steps to chaos and possible collapse. As long as the positive, foundational ethic refuses to fade, I’m confident of the former.

Some campaign soundtrack moments that stood out for me during the night:
“We won’t get fooled again” – The Who
“Changes” – David Bowie
“Ceremony” – Joy Division

17th of January 2008- The fight turns personal in the American Election

The one policy that each candidate stands for, the one policy for me that currently presides over the rest, is foreign affairs. And it seemes at first, certainly during few months before Michigan, the only candidate out of this crazy, over-stimulated, drugged up rat race is Obama. Rare, in most politicians, is his ability to put forward this issue in near honesty and with planned efficiency. The time has come for America to reconcider their role in the world arena, Iraq being one on a very long list included. Pakistan and Kenya to name a few others. How long can the civilised world hold the torch of democracy?
What I lean on now is which candidate had the best selection of music soundtracking their happy-clappy rallys (no pink prizes for Hilary here, it was office staff party music and god awful). This will seem intelligent enough when I remind you that the US is a country that houses citizens who choose their next president, the chump who sits on the most powerful country in the world, by the style of their tie. What's unbelievably worse is watching the American media (CNN in particular) question the public, during the lulls in between poll counting, about who they concider the most "attractive" candidate. These morons they bother to interview are exactly the kind of idiotic attention seekers of whose opinion we clearly don't give a shit about. Surely I'm not the only one who thinks the US presidential election should be focused on politics dealing over the delicate future of our world, not entertainment? You think? It's like the chapter from Johnathan Swift's "Gullivers Travels" where the next King of Laputa the floating island, jumps a fucking stick. Jesus Christ, it's so close, it's creepy. Speaking of creepy, lets have a moment of silence for John Edwards...
that's enough...
What I'm looking forward to see alot more of is continued debate between the candidates (sure, as if it's presently not enough) Both Hilary and Huckabee have been putting some, lets face it, amusing punches. This campain is personal this time round, politicans perform so much better under pressure.

-More on the US Campain Trail to come-