Ghosts & Shadows – She Makes War Music, ramblings and recommendations

2012 3/52 – Five Things I Liked This Week – Feat Gil Scott Heron, Martin Luther King & Handcrafted Chocolate

Click to see the rest of this week’s photos

1) "The Last Holiday : A Memoir" by Gil Scott Heron

I'm so thankful to a friend for introducing me to the wonderful work of Gil Scott Heron a number of years before he sadly died, and though I've only just started reading this newly published book I find myself mesmerised once more by his way with words. I can't wait to read more about his tour with Stevie Wonder, who worked so hard to get Martin Luther King's birthday recognised as a National Holiday in the USA.

2) Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" Speech - Full Text

I hadn't read this before, but as last Sunday marked what would have been MLK's 83rd birthday, it was about time.

And oh what a tune.

3) "The Mast Brothers" by The Scout

A really beautiful short film about Brooklyn chocolate makers the Mast Brothers, who discuss the adventure of handcrafting their product from the chocolate itself to the printed paper - they're restoring a printing press so they can do it all themselves and get their community to create designs that mean something to them.

"Everything roots back to our love affair with the spirit of craft...We're looking for an inconsistent product - so your tastebuds are not only enjoying the sensuality of it but they're also learning - your brain is learning something while you eat it."

How utterly lovely.

4) Centre Point

Despite living in London for 12 years I had never had an opportunity to experience the breathtaking panorama from the 32nd floor of Centre Point, barely giving the building a glance as I passed it hundreds of times. Arriving in the swanky Paramount Member's Club laden with cameras for a filming job on Thursday I was breathless at the view (and the exertion), then when we were shown up to the viewing gallery even higher up I got really excited.

More photos here.

5) "Why You Do This" by Michael Dafferner

A full length film by satellite engineer and vocalist Michael Dafferner about touring with "math core" metal band Car Bomb. I'm not a fan of metal - but neither are most people, a point Dafferner explores through interviews with fellow band members and members of the other bands Car Bomb support. The musical style is less interesting than the footage, anyway, as this film shows the stark reality of DIY touring, if you're a band who think one of the reasons to tour is to try and make money that is.

I watched this with a fellow DIY musician and the deadpan voiceover and truthful editing (no hiding the bad bits to make the band look cooler or more popular/successful here) definitely caused some hollow laughs and prompted a discussion about why *we* do this, BUT Dafferner definitely emphasised the economics over other far more enriching elements of performing live music - performing your songs to others (whatever the number), seeing new places, having new experiences, living a musical life... There was no mention of any efforts the band had made to ensure there would be a crowd waiting for them at the various towns they gigged in, and I suppose there are still a lot of bands who just expect people to magically appear at shows and love them, but to be fair these tours were in 2007/8/9 so perhaps the band would do things differently now.

An interesting watch, whatever sort of music you make: