BEST MUSIC OF 2013

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

"From The Ages" by EARTHLESS

Who needs to spend 200000 to book a trip to space when you can spend 20 for a vinyl that will take you there?
Cosmic rock created by three amazing musicians who take no prisoners. Nobody jams quite like them as they throw everything into the mix from Sabbath to Hendrix via Hawkwind to create a mind bending trip. Guitarist Isaiah Mitchell embarks on voyages to the stratosphere and the rhythm section is happy to follow instead of acting like an anchor. Just check out the side projects these musicians are involved with: Howlin Rain, Golden Void, OFF!, to name a few.
You'll sail away from the light of this world on this trip, baby...
                                                      Earthless may not be of this earth after all...

"Shrine Of New Generation Slaves" by RIVERSIDE

Mariusz Duda has finally made his masterpiece! The Polish (neo)prog band show superlative musicianship in this eloquent statement that lifts them away from the shadow of Porcupine Tree.
"I could be foreign forevermore to your neverland.
One little brick then another and I will build that wall anyway.
You can find me there rested and calm without mask.
This is where I'll stay."
Waters tore down a wall to find his sanity. Duda builds one to find his. One of the sharpest thinkers ever, Robert Anton Wilson,
spoke of the validity of many realities re one subject and here is
                                                      proof. Mariusz Duda, take a bow...

"Push The Sky Away" by Nick Cave

This is Nick Cave the impressionist rather than the narrator/ storyteller. An artist still evolving, still searching for new forms of expression. Kudos to collaborator Warren Ellis.
Nick Cave ages like wine, really...

"Pelagial" by THE OCEAN

A post metal band based in Berlin with an unusual concept. There is the instrumental version which explores the layers of the ocean and the vocal which explores the human inner psyche. "Awsome" doesn't even come close...

"Exodus Of The Deemed Unrighteous" by Lincoln Durham

It's raw, it's got soul, it's dark, it's poetic. LD has recorded a brilliant second LP that nods to the old blues masters (Johnson, House and especially McDowell) with the modern twist, urgency and edginess of Waits and Cave.
And he can play the slide that the devil himself...

"Sky Burial" by INTER ARMA

Try counting the sub genres included in this affair and you'll stop count by the passionate inventiveness of these musicians. There is ISIS and NEUROSIS in there but there is also room for FLOYD along with a dozen other metallic distractions in a furious amalgam that leaves the listener gasping with awe.
This is experimentation that actually leads somewhere...

"Tall Tall Shadow" by BASIA BULAT

A more mainstream(ish) choice, perhaps? Where everyone is salivating about Lorde, I prefer the immediacy of the canadian singer songwriter's voice. Deceptively, her songs sound simple but she is stupendously talented and her unique delivery may sound strange and awkward to some ears. Not mine, though...

"Sunbather" by DEAFHEAVEN

American Black Metal was widely considered as a joke until the emergence of Deafheaven. And they can not be categorized as black metal anymore. They have widened their canvas to include post rock melodies and other influences to coexist with their black metal without sounding "sellout". They sound "aural revolution"!
Deafheaven explore the dynamics between absolute zero and earsplitting mayhem...

"Fisherman's Box" by THE WATERBOYS

At last, all the sessions from the most creative and enlightening era in the life of Mike Scott. Overflowing with soul....

"Sound System" by THE CLASH

It's the Clash, that's all! Come to think of it, they could've chosen to record more London Callings through the 80s but they chose to evolve as musicians and writers. Having witnessed them live, the energy emanating from the stage is still, to this day, unparalleled.
UNPARALLELED!!!

"Shakerism" by HEYMOONSHAKER

I usually don't go for music in compressed electronic form. It is not the way I enjoy it. But this human beat box blues duo make stirring music that will not pass by unnoticed. Fabulous raspy Waitslike vocals. Never thought I would ever say this, but check this YouTube
clip.

                                                  

            

DEAD PRESIDENTS CLUB

The pomp and sensationalism are still running amuck and the demons are still crawling under my skin.

An ex president has passed away and instead of dignified obituaries the primates have elevated him to superhero status. Maybe pomp and sensationalism is in the DNA, along with stupidity and incompetence…

"He marked the history of Cyprus"
Correct me if I'm wrong but, isn't the history of this nation good enough to make the Guinness Book of Records (™)? I mean, in 50 short years our politicos have achieved everything. A coup d'etat, a war the effects of which are still felt today, blew up the energy infrastructure to smithereens, bankruptcy etc.

Perspective, please…

"He helped establish Democracy in Cyprus"
What colour drugs are you on? Where is Democracy? I've searched in all my pockets. One had a hole so, I should guess, it slipped right through it? And then it dawned on me that I have never experienced Democracy in this place other than the one I've created within me…

"He was instrumental in safeguarding the Freedom of the Press"
Oh, I guess that explains the fact we have so many paid for paperboys full of pomp and sensationalism.

We live in a country where 60 year olds (politicians included) still go by the names they had when they were four years old. Do we have time to listen to a Yannakis (Little John) or a Michalakis (Little Michael)? Seriously, little boys lost in big mens' shoes...

So, perspective, please..

An OK politician…so his name will be given to a dozen of avenues and streets and half a dozen of buildings. By 2112 if this place exists all the streets will be named after politicians. Everywhere you look there will be no escape. No groundhog day, though…
"Please deliver the pizza at 5 Glafkos Clerides street…"
"Is that 5 Glafkos Clerides street in Acropolis, Engomi, Ayios Dhometios, Kaimakli or Strovolos?"
Every municipality will have one except, maybe, Aglandzia… Talk about a taxi driver nightmare worst than the DeNiro flick.

Only the fact that his last wish was to stay off life support, an act of dignity devoid of vanity, should have grounded politicos, journos and primates alike. But, I guess, it's in the DNA…

When my synapses pause in my quest for applause
When my ego lets go to my end of the bone
To focus instead on the love that is precious to me
Then I shall be free


"Flickering Flame"                   (ROGER WATERS)

KARAGOZ & HACIVAT

SCENARIO 1
An ex mega developer is suing an ex president  for the sum of 600000.00 euros.


SCENARIO 2
Karagoz and Hacivat were two hilarious characters who were actually construction workers on a mosque in Bursa in the mid-1300s. Their clownish behavior distracted other workers, slowing down construction thus, the ruler of the time had them executed. Their antics were so sorely missed that they were immortalized as the silly puppets in Shadow Theater in Turkey, then in Greece and eventually and inevitably, in Cyprus.



(Imaginary) SCENARIO 3
In steps Hollywood, sniffing big bucks by realizing the potential of merging SCENARIOS 1&2 into
a big budget spectacula (without the "r"). Spot on casting has Forrest Whittaker in the role of the ex president while Eddie Murphy lands the coveted role of the ex mega developer.
Here is an excerpt of the first draft of the screenplay :

ex P :    Wassup* homie*?
ex MD :(angry) I'm suing yo ass* for 6000 benjamins*, that's wassup!
ex P :    (suprised) Why you suing my ass, nigga*?
ex MD: Fixed up yo crib* muthafucka* and you stiffed me!
ex P:     (perplexed) Whatcha on about, nigga? I gave you cash and you wouldn't take it! I made you a    
             playa*, nigga. Gave you jobs, gave you a football club, nigga, and you gone and fucked it all
             up!  
ex MD: I'm bustin' on yo ass, muthafucka. All I got now is dem threads* on me. Yo bitch better be
             payin' up 'cause we ain't straight* no more.
exP:      Fake ass nigga*, what you on about? Like you built a crib for Queen Elisabeth or somethin'?
exMD: Aight*.  Football club my ass! See yo ass in court!

GLOSSARY
Wassup                    : What's up
Homie                      : A friend from back home/own kind
Ass                           : Arse
Benjamins                : $100 bill, as the face of Benjamin Franklin is on the bill
Nigga                       : Negro
Crib                          : House
Muthafucka              : Oedipodean fornication (sort of)
Playa                        : Someone who dates many people or mover and shaker
Threads                    : Clothes
We straight               : All is well
Fake ass nigga          : Pretentious, not the real deal
Aight                        : Allright




Tell me why things don't look the same
In this shadow play
I have to find my way
In this shadow play
I have to get away
From this shadow play


"Shadow Play"             (RORY GALLAGHER)

THE INJUSTICE SYNDROME

Pharmaceutical companies and psychologists, as some of the more dangerous entities and professionals, have been inventing ridiculous "diseases" in order to gain money or give credibility to a profession that maybe, should have not existed in the first place.

* The Attention Deficit Syndrome. That is a good one. Because at that age kids are predominantly    
   having their mind geared towards sex and could care less about which the capital city of Burkina
   Faso is....

* The Sexaholic Syndrome. Well, excuse us for enjoying the most instinctively natural act of human
   behaviour. First you give us the blue pill to correct then another to nullify?

* The Overeating Syndrome. F..k you! Ban chocolates!

The list goes on and on, of course. And they pump gullible people full of pills they don't need in the first place because everybody is different, has different vices and you have to see the beauty in these "flaws" or you are doomed to live a life cloaked in a shroud of fear...

Here's to the losers
Substance abusers
To the rejects
All the imperfects

'Cause I think we're beautiful...



"The Losers"                           (WARRIOR SOUL)




So here is a new syndrome for the consideration of psychologists and pharmaceuticals. The Injustice Syndrome suffered by the somewhat inbred primates of the grand isle of Cyprus. It is so embedded in the DNA of these peoples from the simple primate football fan to the (ex) president. Done wrong by the referee, done wrong by the Investigative Committee, done wrong by God... you name it, the injustice gene is characteristic of the people of this island.
So why not a pill to cure this "disease"? Mind you, it must me multicoloured to match the loudness of these people. What is that you say? It's a small market?

People suck, and that's my contention. I'm tired of this "Aren't
humanity neat?" bulls..t. We're a virus with shoes, OK?

You ever notice that people who believe in creationism look really
unevolved? Eyes real close, big furry hands and feet.
"I believe God created me in one day."
"Yeah, looks like he rushed it..."


                                                      (BILL HICKS)

COMPETITIVE VULTURE CULTURE

It is a silly notion that, to this day, has impregnated the western world with this culture of competition.
Be the best in sport...
Be the best in the classroom...
Be the best in what-have-you...
And keep the prices down (if you grow some hairs on your b***s and fight the Cartels...)
Or, when we were kids, "my dad can beat the s**t out of your dad".

It has become a cutthroat industry. Succeed! Win at any cost!
Whatever happened to the noble and humane "live and let live"?

Stick a needle in, swallow a substantial amount of pills and then go ahead and win the race. Here, take
some more drugs and go on, parade your trophy on TV...


If competition's good for you, is it bad if I wish to wake up, do my job and go about my day?
I'd certainly give up top honours (which I do not have anyway) for a couple of drops of enjoyment and
enlightenment...



Who is the strongest
Who is the best
Who holds the aces
The East or the West
This is the crap our children are learning


"The Tide Is Turning"                   (ROGER WATERS)




Someone tried to sucker me into a conversation re "who is the best vocalist ever, in rock music" the other day. I avoided of course...
There are NO "bests". There are NO "winners". Success cannot be measured by the headlines one creates but by the satisfaction of his/hers creative "libido" (need).
There are no "bests". It is, maybe, experience you carry along that develops your taste. So, opinions differ and believe me competition has nothing to do with it.
So, being true to my accumulated experience, I'd say : "f**k me if I've ever heard anything like the voice of Peter Hammill". It still intrigues me how he explores this most expressive of "instruments".
Jeff Buckley embarked on a similar exploration with undoubted potential before his life was cut short.
Peter Hammill! I'll enjoy this while you parade your trophies...

HEROES AND THE PINK ELEPHANT

Woke up this mornin'.....walked out the room
turned a stone over.....there was a hero there, too

Excuse my amateurish blues tsiattisto (traditional Cypriot rhyming) but I need to keep perspective. I need sanity. I need my spirit NOT to be broken.

No disrespect to the families who lost their loved ones in a blast two years ago but, it seems to me we are the loudest, most sensationalist group of people on this earth. We change the meanings of words at will. I had to go back to the dictionary and look up the word again. No disrespect, but it was a clear
situation of "wrong place, wrong time?". Any way I look at it, it spells VICTIM to me. Innocent victim but still, victim.
Besides, what are the chances of coming across a hero these days in this place...

Reminds me actually of the talking heads on TV :
"TRAGEDY!!! Blood on the asphalt. Another person has tragically died after his car..."
Now, I'm no expert in ancient Greek drama but I'm sure the death of ONE person does NOT a tragedy
constitute.
What next? The animal lovers will hold vigil every time a cat gets run over in the street? Don't get me wrong, I love cats, they're my favourite pets but these f....rs don't look right, left and right again before crossing the street. Not to mention them being too lazy to walk twenty meters down the road and use the bloody zebra crossing...

It used to be every stone you turned on this island there was an alizavra (lizard). But today, only heroes.
"You blind yourself with comfort lies
  Like lightning never strikes you twice
  And we laugh at your amazed surprise
  As the ark begins to sink" wrote Justin Sullivan

no, there are no more heroes, just victims, incompetent fools and loud people...



There are no more hummingbirds
Like there used to be
They're fat and slow and careless now
They turned blue and mean

And the parrots sound like monkeys
Screaming from the trees
As the decent people
Fumble for the keys

"Civilians"                            (Joe Henry)

CYPRIANS OR CYPRIOTS

Lately, I can't be arsed...
But this jewel of an Attorney General is something else...

First, his son is cited by the police for drunk driving. The citation ends up on the Attorney General's
desk. He does what any father would do. He drops the case. And then he appears in front of a camera
supporting his action as if it were the normal thing to do...

Why are we not called Cyprians?

Banana Republic
Septic Isle
Screaming in the suffering sea
Sounds like crying


"Banana Republic"             (THE BOOMTOWN RATS)






Then, our clueless one, appears in front of the Supreme Court to argue a case for the Government against the judges who refused to accept paycuts in these crisis/bankruptcy times.
The verdict of the Supreme Court should have hit him like a ton of lead. The Attorney General's argument was POOR, they said.
Now, if I were him, I'd have gotten the message, went back to my office and picked up my coat...
But, of course, I'm thankfully not him and he's definitely and unfortunately not me...

Ever wonder why we are called Cypriots?


The purple and the pinstripe
Mutely shake their heads
A silence shrieking volumes
A violence more than they condemn


"Banana Republic"                  (THE BOOMTOWN RATS)






Lastly, our hero announced that he will investigate a case NOT because it is his constitutional duty and obligation but because "he has dignity"...
Like, we have to sit around and wait for this dimwit to chase after the badguys whenever his dignity is compromised!
As I've been preaching (hehehe-Father Bob) ,  we cannot go after the officials. They are there by default and we are here but for the grace of God. And I'm not even a believer...
It is this Democratic system that allows for, or better still, breeds these officials and politicians.
I kid you not, IQ tests for all people in office and then, just maybe, I will be arsed to vote again...

Why are we not called Cyprians but Cypriots? One could argue on strong evidence that it is a synthesis of two words. Cyprus and idiots...

Do you remember Dick Tracy?
Do you remember Shane?
Could you see him selling tickets
Where the buzzard circles over
The body on the plain
Did you understand the music YOKO?
Or was it all in vain


5.01 AM (The Pros And Cons Of Hitchhiking)      (ROGER
                                                                                  WATERS)