Friday, 26 December 2014

Did You Hear The One About North Korea?

The Queen's Speech In The Event of Nuclear War (1983)

When I spoke to you less than three months ago we were all enjoying the warmth and fellowship of a family Christmas. Our thoughts were concentrated on the strong links that bind each generation to the ones that came before and those that will follow. The horrors of war could not have seemed more remote as my family and I shared our Christmas joy with the growing family of the Commonwealth.
Now this madness of war is once more spreading through the world and our brave country must again prepare itself to survive against great odds.
I have never forgotten the sorrow and the pride I felt as my sister and I huddled around the nursery wireless set listening to my father's inspiring words on that fateful day in 1939. Not for a single moment did I imagine that this solemn and awful duty would one day fall to me.
We all know that the dangers facing us today are greater by far than at any time in our long history. The enemy is not the soldier with his rifle nor even the airman prowling the skies above our cities and towns but the deadly power of abused technology.
But whatever terrors lie in wait for us all the qualities that have helped to keep our freedom intact twice already during this sad century will once more be our strength.
My husband and I share with families up and down the land the fear we feel for sons and daughters, husbands and brothers who have left our side to serve their country. My beloved son Andrew is at this moment in action with his unit and we pray continually for his safety and for the safety of all servicemen and women at home and overseas.
It is this close bond of family life that must be our greatest defence against the unknown. If families remain united and resolute, giving shelter to those living alone and unprotected, our country's will to survive cannot be
My message to you therefore is simple. Help those who cannot help themselves, give comfort to the lonely and the homeless and let your family become the focus of hope and life to those who need it.
As we strive together to fight off the new evil let us pray for our country and men of goodwill wherever they may be.
God bless you all.
Via

Elvis Costello - The Making of 'Almost Blue' (The South Bank Show 1981)

Thursday, 25 December 2014

Exile's Best of 2014

My top 5 albums of the year:

Swans: To Be Kind

Who would have thought when I bought my copy of the I Crawled 12" in Beaudisque in Amsterdam in 1984 that thirty years later the Swans would be producing the most vital sounds in their catalogue?

Black Cab: Games Of The XXI Olympiad

It has been an absolute joy to listen to these songs morph and gestate at Black Cab's live gigs over the last couple of years. If you haven't seen them live then do yourself a favour

The Bug: Angels & Devils

Damn! Kevin Martin has been playing my spine as a bassline for a long time. At first I didn't think that this stacked up against London Zoo but let it wash over you LOUD and then immerse yourself into this album that is almost the perfect segue of all time. Also if you can, get to hear the Demolition Dub EP/mini album that was given away free to gig goers in Tokyo.
Google may be your friend.
PS: Kevin/Oz promoters. You seriously cannot play Adelaide next year and not drop into Melbourne to destroy a few speakers/nervous systems/buildings

Einstürzende Neubauten: Lament

After seeing a fair number of the brilliant early Neubauten gigs in London and Amsterdam and then being highly disappointed the two times they have visited Australia since I came out here in 86, including last year's ATP 'I'll Be Your Mirror' fest, I must be honest I was not expecting this album to be the tour de force that it is. Hint: If any band could summon up the horror that was the great war then that band is Einstürzende Neubauten.
It's also very disconcerting hearing Blixa sing 'God Save The King'

Scott Walker + Sunn O))) ‎– Soused

So good I bought the vinyl (first for what? Twenty years?) just to get the ScottO))) tee shirt

Bubbling under...

bvdub: Tanto

Dean Blunt: Black Metal

Jane Weaver: The Silver Globe

The Delines: Colfax Avenue

Wadada Leo Smith: The Great Lakes Suites

Single of the year:
Oren Ambarchi: Milk A Cow With A Monkey Wrench

Band of the year:
Sleaford Mods

Gig of the year:
The Delines/Nikki Lane (Northcote Social Club)

Blog of the year:
Marcello Carlin and Lena Friesen's Then Play Long

Book of the year
Willy Vlautin: The Free

Discovery of the year:
Animal Pharma