Just checking in

This Russia/Ukraine war is so incredibly depressing AND infuriating. I dread watching the first 10 minutes of the national news every evening because it's nothing but bombed out buildings, war crime atrocities, frightened refugees, and unnecessary death. I get angry about a situation over which I have absolutely no control. I suppose the choice is between not watching the evening news and not remaining informed of world events.

I am still slowly but surely plugging my way through the book Burning Down the Haus (by Tim Mohr) about the early '80s punk movement in East Germany. Those young people were fearless, risking long intense interrogation from the Stasi and imprisonment in order to speak their minds and their truth. It is quite an incredible story. Once I finish it, I will try (key word: try) to write more about it in here.

On the subject of German music, I have finally decided to dip my toe in "Krautrock." I have been listening to CAN and their albums Tago Mago and Ege Bamyasi. While they were a band that did not give a hoot about commercial hits, a lot of their stuff is compelling and hypnotic while about 1/3 of it is completely bizarre. (If you were a band from West Germany, you were free to go off the rails. East German bands had to be a bit sneakier if they wanted to get some subversive content in their music). The track "Peking O," for example, sounds like a psychedelic/surrealistic alternate universe soundtrack to a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Decide for yourself if that is something you feel like investigating.

Well, that's all I have for now.


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