I always thought of FATS DOMINO as a bit of a corny singer. My parents used to have this dreary 5LP box set in their rather dull record collection (which also featured uhm... 'incredible masterpieces' by Neil Diamond, John Denver & Barbara Streisand). It must've been some kinda cheap reissue as I don't think they would've spent a lot of money on a box set. I gave it a few spins as a teenager but didn't understand what all the fuss was about. After all, Fats Domino was a household name, being one of the few black artists to continually make the pop charts, altogether selling over 65-million records, including 23 gold singles! A couple of weeks ago however, I ordered a couple of CD's at RED LICK and I really couldn't resist a £2,00 Fats Domino collection on Ace Records. The other day, I received the CD in my mailbox and I am totally hooked! 'The Imperial Singles Volume 2 : 1953-1956' is shockfull of spectacular New Orleans R&B tunes pushed towards rock and roll. This is what I call 'Goodtime Music' : rollicking R&B of the highest order. The lyrics are a true revelation : "Oooohooohooooo, you're so fine, I'm glad you're mine, lalala, lalalalalaa...". Simplicity in complicated times is all you need. The picture above features Herbert Hardesty from the Fats Domino rhythm section, lying on the floor of the 54 Ballroom in Los Angeles while honking out a sax solo of "Don't You Know". The fans loved it and so will you. The CD lasts for 71 minutes and I still keep pushing the repeat button. Woo Woo Woo, Woo Woo Woo Woo!!!

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If the new documentary by Austrian filmmaker Hupert Sauper was pure fiction, people would left the theatre with a feeling of disbelief. Sadly, the tale of DARWIN'S NIGHTMARE is harsh reality. It tells about the struggle for survival of the fishermen around Lake Victoria in Tanzania where 'a little experiment' in the 1960s turned out into a complete disaster for the local people.

Some 40 years ago, the enormous Nile perch (which reaches up to two metres in length) was experimentally introduced into the lake but soon the voracious predator wiped out practically all other life. The fishermen who used to make a living by going out fishing the various species soon became obliged to work for the Nile Perch filet factories, which are called 'models of economic development' by EU-commissioners.

The reality however is that the fish factories sell the filets directly to Europe, making them too expensive for the locals to buy. So once the filets have been removed, the population is left with the decayed, discarded fish carcasses which they dry and use as food. Sauper's film turns into apocalyptic horror when he shows us how toddlers walk among the rotting fish whilst the maggots wriggle around the bare feet and the toxic ammonia gas blinds the impoverished people. This is the real truth behind the nice Nile Perch filet from Tanzania which is sold at your first world supermarket and eaten by two million Europeans every day.

So while so much fish is exported abroad, Tanzania itself is struggling to avoid famine. Fishermen spend their free time with prositutes who also serve Western businessmen and sinister Russian cargo plane pilots at the bars. H.I.V. infection rages through the region. Street children burn scraps of Styrofoam fish packing material so they can inhale the fumes, and fight with one another over meager portions of donated food. Globalization feeds the lucrative foreign markets while the locals starve to death.

To make things worse, the huge ex-Soviet cargo planes who come daily to collect the filets bring Kalashnikovs and ammunitions for the uncounted wars in the dark center of the continent. That's where the real money lies. This booming multiniational industry of fish and weapons is a haunting reminder of the consequences of capitalism and a deeply disturbing portrait of ordinary people who become the victim of the endless pursuit of profit from the Western world. Hupert Sauper has made a devastating, fascinating and very imaginative film.

You owe it to yourself to go watch DARWIN'S NIGHTMARE.

Just a quick post to tell you about the crazy spring sale at BLOOD & FIRE (thank you Tom!). This English label is together with Pressure Sounds the ultimate reggae reissue label, noteworthy for its splendid releases, both in music & packaging. Half of the current catalogue has been temporarily dropped in prices from £11,06 to £4,25 and that my dear friends is money for jam(aica) so do yourself a favour and get them while you can!

Last Friday, I got the ultimate chance to book a last minute gig by SOUTH FILTHY, one of my favourite contemporary bands featuring Monsieur Jeffrey Evans (Gibson Bros, '68 Comeback), Jack Yarber (Oblivians) and Walter Daniels (Jack O' Fire). The concert, which took place at a great club surrounded by a peaceful & pastoral stretch of land, was a full blast : a terrific party, full of atmosphere and cold beers. Some people told me that the combination of rural America & the Flemish countryside contributed to the majesty of the gig and I can only agree. All of the six musicians, including Ron Franklin on drums and two other musicians of whom I forgot the name but were nevertheless amazing, turned out to be extremely nice people and we all had a wonderful time. Thanks to Robert from Kiss n Run Booking for making it happen! Here's a picture of Walter Daniels having a beer with the locals...

Howdy!

This web log is a complementary outlet for my site http://www.batarang.be. Here you will find random notes on music, film, travel, etc.

I hope it will become an interactive kind of blog where we can learn from each other and forget all about the obvious.

Let's get it on!

Signed,
Luke Batarang