Spirits Low? Then You Need A Karmakanic!

How many times have you heard the phrase that music is therapeutic?  Or heard the story of the person in a coma waking up because of their favourite music being played?  Or even the term mood music?  What about music providing ‘atmosphere’ to a film, keying you up for a tense moment, a romantic moment, a scary moment?  How many times have you come across things like that?  So many times, I imagine, that you don’t even pay attention to them anymore.  So why is it, then, if we acknowledge that music is a key component in our lives, to our emotional make-up, to the way we think and act towards one another and to ourselves, that we allow so much dross to enter into it?  Why do we do that?  I’ll tell you why!  It’s because we’re inherently lazy, that’s why!  If things can be done without effort, without any thought, then we’re happy.  Well, most of us, that is.  The music that is peddled by the radio jocks on the “popular” shows certainly falls into the little effort category.  It’s single layered.  It has one major melody and timing sequence and involves very little of the listener’s intellect.  This, for most, is fine I suppose.  But I don’t want that!  I want to be challenged, I want to be stretched, to have to think occasionally.  As most people don’t want that, does that mean I am abnormal?  I hope not!  It’s a scary thought to know that your ideas and desires are in the minority.  But it’s also nice to know that you have an edge of uniqueness that distances one from the hoards.

Am I being too elitist here, do you think?  What would it be like if prog was the main “popular” music that everyone listened too?  What would happen if on the bus instead of singing “Umbrella ella, uh, uh” they sang “Shine on you crazy diamond”?  Would old farts like me still moan about the crap the kids of today were listening too?  Maybe I would, so maybe I’d better shut up and move on.  You see, progressive rock was, once, the “popular” music and kids like me did sing Floyd stuff on the bus.  And, yes, we did get moans about how it wasn’t even proper music, how you couldn’t even hum the tune after you’d heard it a hundred times and so on.  Just ask my dad!  He couldn’t understand where the music was coming from, nor where it was going.  As a musician himself, though, he was receptive and open, giving it a chance.  Now into his 70’s, he admits to liking Pink Floyd, but that’s as far as it goes.  Maybe there’s hope for us yet, eh?  Prog has a spirit that lifts people and helps make the world a better place for 60 minutes at a time, or however long the CD lasts.  You just need to put a bit of effort into it.

Okay, moving on, what was played on the 24^th of November?  Here’s the play list:

Artist : Album : Track

Clear Blue Sky : Gateway to the 7th Dimension : Voice Across The Water

Karmakanic : Wheel of Life : Where Earth Meets The Sky

Space Ritual : Otherworld : Sonic Savages

Led Zepplin : Physical Graffiti : Kashmir

Paul Roberts : (no album) : Quest for the Celestine Spatula       

Saga : Worlds Apart Revisited : Ice Nice

Ayreon : The Final Experiment : The Banishment

Kaipa : Angling Feelings : Path of Humbleness

Pain of Salvation : Scarsick : Idiocracy

Steve Thorne : Emotional Creatures Pt2 : Sandheads

Spock's Beard : Snow : Devils Got My Throat

Spock's Beard : Snow : NYC

Yes : Going For The One : Going For The One

A nice mix, if I say so myself.  And all of it music that means listening.  Take the Karmakanic track.  That borders on jazz-rock in places, but it also has a punchy central theme that drifts in and out.  A great track from a good band.

What about the Celestine Spatula?  If you ever wanted your spirits lifting then this is the kitchen implement for you!  It’s nice to know that prog can be serious when needed but can also be light and frivolous as well.  The music is first rate and if the group of students who produced it ever do anything else I would love to have a listen.  It so remeinds me of the days of bands like the HeeBee GeeBees or Albertos Y Los Paranoias.

Speaking of being lazy and putting in no effort, there’s a track on the Pain of Salvation album that covers that them wonderfully.  I may play it some day but, hey, you’ll have to listen to it!

Anyway, I’m off until the next show so bye for now.

Remember, tell your mates about the show as there’s nothing worse then missing great music.

All the best,

DaveO.

Making Saturday night worth staying in for!

Article by Dave O'Neill, 6 Dec 2007
Posted in The Dave O Prog Rock Show

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