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@JERO: Where else would we go?!
Nice three-page feature on Elder and the excellent new album in the February edition of Prog (Rick Wakeman cover). Dungen article including Reine interview too.
@Johnny: It’s a bit discouraging, isn’t it? And this will mean nothing in the UK now for 5 years and counting. Still, given the sheer creativity exhibited recently, not least on Ancient Astronauts, I can’t imagine that fire being extinguished any time soon. But they have to get it right with the next drummer. Not only must he/she/they fit, but they must be sure that he/she/they (it?) will be as committed in terms of time and effort as they are, and stick around for a few years. I think we can give them time to decide upon whomever it might be and then to nurture the relationship. I think you can’t hurry this sort of thing. I hope I’m on the right track there, anyway!
@punknotyet: I had an eye on Zopp and then forgot about them, so thank you. I really like the sound of this!
@ the conscience: We all want peace, but if someone is attacking you, you have to defend yourself; that is not the moment to throw away guns.
Having said that, I am disturbed by the way countries are sending tanks and weapons to one side or the other. It is inevitable that this will drag on and become bigger. There was room for negotiation. It is not as simple as Russia = bad and everyone else = good. Russia has to have the NATO threat that has been building for years scaled back.
Anyway, I have always felt that this goes deeper than Putin’s megalomania. The globalist psychopaths, who manipulate all sides, seek to suck us all into World War Three.
Very glad to hear from you!
Aspects of humanity brought out in these situations, and on such a scale, are dispiriting. Under normal circumstances, one could scarcely believe that so many harboured such cruel instincts, but it seems it is so – and among all races.
Stay safe.
Martin Ødegaard is the captain of Arsenal and Norway. He is having a fantastic season and scored a great goal in Arsenal’s victory over Spurs in the North London Derby.
For those who are unaware of the player, this might be useful information should Bent mention his name between songs at a gig one of these days, given that Bent likes to make references to football now and then.
Lush new vibes from Youth – ‘The Conference of Starlings’ (Ambient, AMSR, poetry, drone, psychedelic excursions). The artwork might resonate with anyone familiar with Douglas Harding’s ‘On Having No Head.’
https://kommune.bandcamp.com/album/conference-of-starlings?from=fanpub_fb
To follow up, I have now had the new Elder album on heacy rotation for a few days and it is an absolute joy. I love the sound of it; the guitars and the solos are great, while the keyboards (just enough – not too much) really freshen things up. The vocals and vocal melodies are superb. It is a truly uplifting album and it is giving me a boost every day just now. If you’re deliberating, go for it!
@supernaut: You’re absolutely right of course; the original line-up has been back together since 2008. In Big Paul’s absence they used everyone’s former favourite freelance session drummer Dave Grohl (he played for free), Geoff Dugmore and Benny Calvert, none of whom were admitted to the band; otherwise, Martin Atkins and Youth’s replacement, Raven, got an equal share.
My point is that, while songwriting should be rewarded, for one or two of the guys in a band to get the lion’s share of the spoils seems unfair to me – especially if they are blocking the creative route of other members (think Lennon and McCartney with Harrison).
I really hope this wasn’t about money, but I suspect it might be a factor, and money goes with creative input. We can only speculate, of course, and I think it’s fair enough if we do.
@ Punj Lizard: I hadn’t wanted to read that into the statement but there might be something in what you say.
“… too different in…commitment”
What is that saying, I wonder?
I can well imagine Tomas’ frustration. If one is not a Christian Vander or a Neil Peart, where is a drummer to find his creative satisfaction – not to mention his status and reasonable financial rewards? Had Tomas wanted more creative input, perhaps it would not have been welcomed or encouraged. So there is a need then for him to pursue extra-curricular activities and maybe that doesn’t suit this band’s modus operandi. I’m tempted to say that Bent amd Snah want to have their cake and eat it, but, when the way things work has turned out so well for us aficianados, it would be churlish to question their approach. Maybe they will just have to burn their way through the Kenneths and Tomases of this world every few years. However, it’s difficult not to reflect that they have really lost a gem who will take some replacing.
I think they have to give the next guy a little more to get his teeth into. No matter how good the songwriting and all the other elements, the drummer can make or break this kind of band (yeah, I know it’s one of a kind) – especially live. When you get the right guy, you’ve got to keep him happy.
Given his own extra-curricular activities, I concede that it is unlikely that Torstein will occupy the stool. Maybe he is not quite the right fit for Motorpsycho as we have known them but I would love to see the Motorpsycho that would emerge from Bent and Snah working with him. Hey, he could even bring along his mates Ståle and Reine too!
The music of The Smiths is considerably less interesting and the demands on the drummer were relatively minimal but it was noteworthy how that all played out in court.
One band that splits everything equally and operates as a democracy is Killing Joke, even though drummer Big Paul writes half the lyrics and guitarist Geordie writes more than half the music. The result? The same line-up that set out in 1979 is live and kicking and just sold out the Royal Albert Hall in March.
One further reflection: this buggers up the film a bit, doesn’t it?
