Cries From the Midnight Circus
August 5, 2007 at 6:30 pm
KURTZ
Pain is easy to handle -- but
nobility.. the nobility of a
man is judged by how much Truth
he can handle.
WILLARD
What Truth?
KURTZ
The truth that you were sent
here to murder me, ans so far
you haven't done it. And do
you know why?
(looks at him)
Yes, you know why.
(he looks)
Your mission makes about as much
sense as those idiots who sent
you on it. Asshole ! Schmuck !
How long does it take you to
figure out that nobody knows
what they're doing here.
(coldly)
Except me.
- Francis Ford Coppola/John Milius, Apocalypse Now
As far as the opinion makers are concerned, they have been doing exactly what it was obvious they would do. Every book that comes out, every article that comes out, talks about how — while it may have been a “mistake” or an “unwise effort” — the United States was defending South Vietnam from North Vietnamese aggression. And they portray those who opposed the war as apologists for North Vietnam. That’s standard to say.
The purpose is obvious: to obscure the fact that the United States did attack South Vietnam and the major war was fought against South Vietnam. The real invasion of South Vietnam which was directed largely against the rural society began directly in 1962 after many years of working through mercenaries and client groups. And that fact simply does not exist in official American history. There Is no such event in American history as the attack on South Vietnam. That’s gone. Of course, It Is a part of real history. But it’s not a part of official history.
And most of us who were opposed to the war, especially in the early 60’s — the war we were opposed to was the war on South Vietnam which destroyed South Vietnam’s rural society. The South was devastated. But now anyone who opposed this atrocity is regarded as having defended North Vietnam. And that’s part of the effort to present the war as if it were a war between South Vietnam and North Vietnam with the United States helping the South. Of course it’s fabrication. But it’s “official truth” now. (Chomsky)
“Cries From the Midnight Circus”
01. The White Birch - Your Spain
Come Up for Air (Glitterhouse, 2006)
02. H.P. Lovecraft - It’s About Time
H.P. Lovecraft II (Radioactive, 1968)
03. The Pretty Things - Cries From The Midnight Circus
Parachute (Original Masters UK, 1970)
04. Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit
Surrealistic Pillow (1967)
05. The Seeds - Faded Picture
A Web Of Sound (Diablo Records UK, 1966)
06. Blind Faith - Do What You Like
Blind Faith (1969)
07. Labradford - P
Mi Media Naranja (Kranky, 1997)
Note: It’s a series of playlist to explore boundry of blog expression.
see also: Apocalypse Now (wiki), When The Music’s Over
Image: apocalypse Now
nice move ;)
and love that bass on that pretty thing song.
Links and side notes:
———-
The White Birch
http://thewhitebirch.one.no/thewhitebirch.html
H.P. Lovecraft
http://www.richieunterberger.com/hplove.html
Like the stories of the author after whom they were named, H.P. Lovecraft’s music was spooky and mysterious, a vibe well-suited for the psychedelic times when their two albums were released in 1967 and 1968. Their remarkably eclectic balance of folk, jazz, orchestrated pop, and even bits of garage rock and classical music, was too fragile and ethereal to keep afloat for any longer than that, perhaps. It lasted long enough, however, for the group to gift us with two uneven, occasionally brilliant albums that are among the most intriguing obscure relics of the psychedelic age.
The Pretty Things
http://www.prettythings.net/
Jefferson Airplane
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Airplane
Jefferson Airplane’s second LP, and the album that launched them to international fame, was Surrealistic Pillow. It was recorded in Los Angeles over 13 days with producer Rick Jarrard at a cost of US$8000. Released in February 1967, the LP entered the Billboard album chart on March 25 and charted for over a year, peaking at #3.
The Seeds
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seeds
The Seeds were a 1960s rock band whose raw and abrasive energy and simple, repetitive lyrics came to exemplify the garage rock style. They were based in Los Angeles, California.
Blind Faith
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Faith
Blind Faith were an English blues supergroup which consisted of Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds, Cream), Ginger Baker (Graham Bond Organisation, Cream), Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic) and Ric Grech (Family). The group only released one album, Blind Faith, in August 1969 (see 1969 in music) and were often seen as stylistically similar to the bands which Winwood, Baker, and Clapton had most recently participated in (Traffic and Cream). The band helped to pioneer a fusion of rock and roll with the blues.
Labradford
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labradford
Labradford consists of bassist Robert Donne, guitarist/vocalist Mark Nelson, and Carter Brown on keyboards. Their music style is experimental ambient/post-rock, although their earlier releases such as Prazision and A Stable Reference were much more related to dark drone rock. They make use of electronics as well as non-traditional arrangement and production techniques to create soundtrack-like, effects-heavy soundscapes, which ties them closely with bands like Experimental Audio Research, Flying Saucer Attack and Gastr del Sol.
Moka ,
and love that bass on that pretty thing song.
—–
This got to be the first time I actually post rock after several weeks. I am still not completely in the mood. But the late 60’s seems to be an interesting spot to explore.
Late 60’s rock, that’s my cream I love this thing. I used to listen to tons of 60’s 70’s rock bands. For me the best rock music ever was composed in between 1967 and 1975 it was a very interesting era for music, huge experimentation of existing technology and mashing of styles. And you didn’t had to dig up to find creativity, diversity and technical ability in music, I suppose back in the 70’s you just turned the radio on and heard amazingly talented and artisitc music happening as opossed to now (well, I actually enjoy the digging up part of it, it gives the music a treasure like quality)
Also back then musicians had the record companies by the balls, you know grand funk railroad and grateful dead just to name examples had a huge following, filing up large halls even before they had hits on the radio. Artists were somehow in control of their musical fates, at least speaking of those with commercial success. but then again I dont think I would really trade the last 12 years of music ive grown up with for those.
mmm I think Desmond Williams just emailed asking for explanations (not a removal request) on an inclusion on one of his tracks on one of your cinematic hip hop posts.
I am trying to find the basic “acid” idea and transpose it to electronica playlist. So far no luck. My thought it would make a nice bridge skipping current top chart in odd sort of way.
Maybe I should dig more avant rock and IDM site. This list is actually “best of indie” I was trying to write for 60’s category. But not into it… probably do it later.
Yeah, I saw the Desmond Williams email. I have to answer that. (I have to answer bunch of MDM email too. it’s been piling)
Excellent selection of songs, and excellent quote as well from one of my favorite movie Apocalypse Now. Make love not war man! :d I’d add the soundtrack from Platoon and Dear Hunter to that selection. Btw added you to my blogroll and reader, keep up the good work.
TP, from ZMEmusic.
Heya,
Yeah supposedly there is a series of such post. but too lazy to complete it. I am trying to make several post with themes that tackles the war, it’s fairly difficult to get it the way I want it. … I guess it’ll be done when it’s done.
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