Music

An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times. I think that is true of painters, sculptors, poets, musicians. How can you be an artist and not reflect the times? That to me is the definition of an artist.

Nina Simone

Tuesday, 04 April 2017 20:44

Celebrating the politics of punk

Written by Mark Perryman

in Music

8th April is the 40th Anniversary of The Clash's debut album. Mark Perryman reminds us what the 1977 punk and politics mix was all about. The birth of punk for most is dated on or round 1976, with the November release that year of the Sex Pistols’ Anarchy in the UK. Music…

The Clash Joe Strummer White Riot

Tuesday, 21 February 2017 18:25

The struggle never ends

Written by Mike Quille

in Music

Like all artists, musicians enhance the quality of our lives, and expand the cultural commons which we need as much as the air we breathe. Chris Wood has developed into one of the most socially aware songwriters in Britain, and Mike Quille caught up with him during his latest British…

Chris Wood So much to defend trespasser jerusalem

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Thursday, 20 October 2016 14:58

Stop consuming and do it yourself

in Music

Written by Robb Johnson

Via email interview, Robb Johnson introduces his new album and talks about politics, protest music, and plum pudding. Q. Can you tell us something about your new album, whether it's a change of style, direction, material or theme? ‘My Best Regards’ consists of 16 tracks, 13 songs recorded with Jenny…

Robb Johnson jeremy corbyn My Best Regards

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Wednesday, 28 September 2016 14:19

Music and Marxism: Part Two

in Music

Written by Mark Abel

Mark Abel continues his analysis of how Marxists should appreciate and evaluate music. In the first part of this article, I argued that critique was at the heart of any application of Marxist theory, and that therefore a Marxist musicology must be a critical, rather than a disinterested (or complacent)…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 07 June 2016 19:47

Music and Marxism

in Music

Written by Mark Abel

In the second part of his series, Mark Abel asks how Marxists should judge music. In the first part of this series of articles, I argued that critique was at the heart of any application of Marxist theory, and that therefore a Marxist musicology must be a critical, rather than…

marxism Pete Seeger Ken Colyer Michael Tippett Alan Bush

Lesley Woods, lead singer for the Au Pairs

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Friday, 27 May 2016 11:05

No-one's little girl: gender and guitars in post-punk pop music

in Music

Written by Phil Brett

Phil Brett riffs on the political meanings of some great post-punk pop groups. Forty years ago punk exploded into the national conscience, with bands like The Clash, Sex Pistols and The Jam developing a huge following. Much as I love these bands, I want to focus on what followed from…

postpunk the raincoats the slits

Tuesday, 26 April 2016 10:05

What is the task of Marxist musicology?

Written by Mark Abel

in Music

In the first of a series of articles, Mark Abel discusses music and Marxism. We hope they will stimulate further contributions on this topic. Part 1: Explanation or critique? This website welcomes discussions of how Marxism relates to art and culture. But what does Marxist inquiry look like? This might seem…

marxism and music Adorno Lukacs struggle for socialism

Saturday, 19 March 2016 20:00

Cold old fire

Written by Lynched

in Music

'Cold Old Fire' by Lynched, a Dublin-based folk group, was written after the financial crisis in Ireland that would end up sending 80,000 people a year overseas. 'The Button Factory' refers to the main Dublin dole office. See also Poets, Presidents and Politics. We always sing, even when were losing'Cos…

Financial crash

Saturday, 12 March 2016 19:35

Snarky Puppy: a temporary utopia of deeply humanist music

Written by Nick Grant

in Music

Music can have political meanings without being directly about political issues, says Nick Grant, reviewing the 'deeply humanist vision' of Snarky Puppy's latest album, Family Dinner: Volume Two. When my son tipped me off in 2012 about a band he thought I might like, I ignored him. I mean how on…

live creativity collective performance common humanity

Wednesday, 09 March 2016 21:01

The Music of Imperialism: Berlioz's The Trojans

Written by Haydn Greenway

in Music

Haydn Greenway analyses the hidden meanings of Berlioz's great opera,'The Trojans'. Classical music can arouse extreme emotional responses. It also requires an intellectual engagement in order to decipher the language hidden within the complexity of sonic patterns. This can require repeated listenings, say, of a Beethoven symphony, to fully understand…

Imperialism pop culture