Sanctuary Songs
Hi my friends hope you are keeping well as we still trundle along through lockdown, our lives have been pushed down further into a hole than before, as many lose their jobs and livelihoods. Sadly a darker side of society has been given a chance to rear its ugly head as cases of domestic abuse are on the increase, this crime has always been prevalent but due to the conditions of lockdown, the situation is exacerbated and the abusers feel they can continue to act hideously. In order to raise further awareness and necessary funds to support the victims a two-part album compilation has been released, you can find the details over at www.ripcordrecords.com please head over and show your support.
What we have is a total of 150 artists, offering their material for a very worthy cause; they have come together from here in the UK, USA, all over Europe and India in the name of fairness, justice and unity. Part one sees Math bands take centre stage, a lesser known genre perhaps but substantial and satisfying nonetheless, did I just make them sound like a packed lunch? If we are brave enough to step out of our musical bubbles, we can experience a more broadened palette, sonically charged and invigorating. Some of the pieces here are quite cinematic; there is drama, a little nervousness, suspense even, all sitting beside hope, yearning and desire for a life outside of the terror that domestic abuse brings.
Refuge part 2 is another glittering expanse of talent from the post black/sludge subgenre and it’s good to see my friends Hidden Mothers on here, so many bands but so little time folks, but during this lockdown music has been a great escape for many, a chance to forget your anxieties and exist in another realm for a while. If you are less acquainted with these more obscure styles of music, these compilations are a perfect introduction. It is a canvas offering varying tastes and textures, a potent mix of eclectic approaches and methodologies that give us the architecture of music.
It’s a cruel world we live in. the ideal would be to get rid of all the bad things in one fell swoop; the reality is that small steps will hopefully pave the way to a brighter future for everyone.
Seek sanctuary my friends, find it and hold it close, for those who have peace in their lives, long may it continue, and for those of us still struggling I sincerely hope you can find the courage to reach out and take the first steps in making a better life for yourself.
No-one should live in fear; it is a result of the desecration of our humanity, however it is the humans making this music that offer a release, salvation and ultimately a refuge.
Refuge parts 1 and 2 – out now via Ripcord Records.