Gone to Rotterdam

R.I.P. ALICE COLTRANE

I am listening to Ptah, The El Daoud, one of my favourite Alice Coltrane albums. Only 3 years ago did I discover the amazing music of John Coltrane’s widow. Ever since, her albums have become cherished gems that I keep on returning to. Consoling and genuine masterpieces that often result in pure transcendental bliss. RIP Alice, I hope you are in Turiya Loka now.

Soul gem hidden between sludge mayhem

I have these 4 double 7” compilations called CRY NOW, CRY LATER released by Theologian Records in conjunction with Pessimiser fanzine in the early 90’s. Every one of these 4 volumes is filled with misanthropic sludge core that gets me in the right mood every now and then.

At the end of some of these 7-inches comes a 10 seconds fragment of a 60’s soul track that is supposed to contrast sharply with the heavy sludge mayhem. At the end of Side 2 of the second compilation however, comes a 10 seconds fragment of a song that I wish I could identify because it reveals an immense beauty of deep soul desperation. The lyrics go like this:

“I’m standing here crying - why, oh why? - because our love is dying.”

I really don’t know where to start my investigation. I could address my question at one of these specialised music message boards (what I once did which helped me to identify an awesome track Jah Shaka played at a live show) but I am afraid the soulsters won’t own records by bands called Excruciating Terror, Eyehategod or Man Is The Bastard.

Anyhow, I am convinced that in 2007, I will identify this majestic soul song. It is my personal objective for this year. To be continued…


P.S. If you know what I’m talking about, I enabled the comments option just in case…

FUCKED UP

It’s been ages since I went to a hardcore show. Last time I considered going to one (Regulations from Denmark), I decided not to go at the very last moment because I didn’t feel like watching 3 boring bands before the one I came for went on stage. At punk rock shows in Belgium, most often two bands are scheduled to play, whereas hardcore shows always tend to be small festivals with a lot of crappy bands. Yesterday too, I was bored to death before FUCKED UP went on stage. But once they did, this Canadian hardcore band showed why they are held in high esteem by many punk rock fans worldwide: FUCKED UP plays the ultimate mix between raging hardcore and furious punk rock. With a PA system, the sound would have been better but still Fucked Up managed to blast out some of the most amazing adrenaline-ridden Black Flag-style hardcore punk I have ever witnessed. A great start for 2007!