Interdependence

'Because someone has made up the word "wave", do I have to distinguish it from water?' Kabir

Like a beautiful spider's web on a dewy morning, there is a kind of order in the universe, in the movement of the stars and the turning of the earth and the changing of the seasons, and even in the cycle of human life. I like to think of it all as one big dance, and whatever moves I make I can expect to be reciprocated in one way or another. The relation of the individual to the totality of existence is more intimate than that of the part to the whole. The individual is the whole. In our recognition of our interdependence with others and the world around us, we are compelled to feel a sense of responsibility for our thoughts and actions.

We all seek happiness and an end to suffering so if we can begin to truly recognize the oneness of all humankind, our motivation to find lasting happiness and peace will grow stronger. The oneness of humanity, founded on compassion, understanding and respect, is a realistic and viable basis for our conduct. It may seem a long way off, but the tide is set to change and those of us already awakened to the wonderful truth of interdependence will find ourselves one step ahead on the path to reconciliation and leading the way towards finding out the truth about our existence.

Listening to: 'Fixin' to Die' - Bukka White

The Band

When a group of musicians find themselves living together in an old chocolate factory, it's perhaps inevitable that they would combine their talents to create sweet music. But in this instance, the gentlemen involved appear to have notes running through their veins; living and breathing music like I've never seen.

Despite all doing their own thing in different bands it seemed a fine idea to get together and rehearse for gigs that would make them some money, at a time when creatives are having a tough time. For their first rehearsal each person chose two of their songs for the band to improvise to, et voila! They had eight extraordinary songs. Between them the instruments they play include guitar, organ, trombone, double bass, fiddle, saxophone, piano, mandolin, accordian and percussion. They're planning to get two more players to complete the group: a wizard jazz percussionist and a trumpet player. There are also plans for a barber shop quartet... Watch this space!

Listening to: 'Almost cut my hair' - Crosby, Stills & Nash

Iain Woods for Volume

The magnificant Iain Woods has been interviewed for Volume about his various interests and talents, and they chose to use some photographs from our shoot in the Elizabeth Fry refuge in Hackney:

http://www.volumemag.blogspot.com/

Listening to: 'Rocombey' - Lord Cobra and Pana-Afro Sounds

Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.

'To Autumn' - John Keats

I have found myself in total awe of Autumn this year, as I've wandered through woodland feeling the leaves beneath my feet, looking upwards at the rainbow of colours, watching as leaves dance gently to the ground, and soaking up that earthy scent of mushrooms abounding. It is a time for foraging and enjoying nature's treasures, as well as marking a change in pace from the busy summer to one of calm reflection.

Traditionally Autumn is seen to represent adulthood, as we ripen to maturity and then prepare ourselves for retirement in the winter months. It reflects a period of change more than any other season. Although Autumn tends to be associated with melancholy in poetry , I sense a time of fulfillment, wisdom and freedom that brings the harvest of a lifetime of learning.

There is something about this time of year that compels me to turn inward and take stock of the year gone by. It also encourages me to immerse myself in nature because there is so much to observe, from the migrating birds to the sprouting mushrooms to the ever-changing leaves.

The seasons provide a wonderful opportunity to harmonize with nature as we soak up our environment and get in tune with what is happening around us. By listening to that instinctual urge within us that calls for us to withdraw and hibernate in Autumn and through the Winter, we allow our mind to realign itself and become calm in preparation for new beginnings and the busyness that comes with Spring.

Listening to: 'Let me Try' - MC5

Fred

Listening to: 'Walking the Blues' - Willie Dixon & The All Stars

The Agitator

The Agitator was back to ruffling some feathers at Soapbox last week - encouraging us to stamp on our bills and speak out against the powers that be. I always enjoy Derek's performances, but the Evaristo Club provides the perfect setting for him to speak directly to his audience and mobilise them into thinking about what he sings so passionately about. With the perfect percussion accompaniment from Rob, ensuring a marching and heart-pumping beat, I was left feeling ready for action!

Listening to: 'Cowgirl in the Sand' - Neil Young

The Holy Vessels

For their debut performance, The Holy Vessels, composed of five friends and musicians from Brighton, gave a soulful set at Soho's Evaristo Club. Down in the dark, sweaty basement their sweet melodies felt uplifting and pure, and I found my feet incessantly stomping to their rhythmic lines. I'll be looking out for these lovely gents in the future.

Listening to:'Atlanta Blues' - Sara Martin

Pumpkin Heads

Knowing that I was going to be missing out on the Halloween celebrations I got started early on the pumpkins this year. It all began as an innocent desire to make pumpkin pie, but I ended up making fritters, muffins, soup, curry... All turned out to be deliciously delightful!

It was on a jaunt to visit a friend in the mystical Thetford Forest near Norfolk that I finally got round to carving some faces on these magnificant vegetables. Armed with a fine collection of knives and scalpels, Luke and I got slightly carried away with the pumpkin facial surgery and ended up carving three ridiculous faces on one. With candles inside, it created the most beautiful shimmering patterns around the room and with the fruit of our labour, I made a warming Thai inspired coconut broth.

Listening to: 'Coconut' - Harry Nilsson

Portico Quartet - 'Isla'

'After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.'

As far as album releases go, I don't think I've ever waited with such anticipation! Although I've heard the tracks from 'Isla' played live at recent gigs, knowing the hard work and thought that has gone in to its production and with the Real World team behind it, I knew I would be in for a suprise. And a marvelous one at that!

Portico Quartet have such a rare quality in their music; it is hard to describe in words. Listening through 'Isla' you are taken on a sonic journey through time and space to ethereal heights, where sounds resonate within and beyond you. In tracks such as 'Line' and 'Isla' I find myself interpreting the sounds as those from nature, the universe, or my inner being. Those sounds that aren't easily expressed but that make sense and encourage you to look at things differently.

I was interested to see what Portico Quartet would do with their second album after the ingenuity and success of 'Knee Deep in the North Sea', and I am so gratified with the result. With each listen I find myself hearing more as the album unfolds, and the well thought-out track order, piano interlude and final improvisation lend perfectly to the album's progression.

Listening to: 'Shed Song' - Portico Quartet

Smokey Angle Shades

The first time I heard of Smokey Angle Shades was back in April, and I remember feeling curious and intrigued by their name. It wasn't until I found out they would be playing on this year's Rat Pack Tour that I had the opportunity to see them at a warm-up gig in Camden, and I felt instantly drawn to them as they took to the stage - with their penchant for elaborate headgear and wild country n' western vibe!

I found myself stomping away with the rest of the crowd to their melodic and catchy songs. Their sound is definitely unique but there are nods to early Beatles records, 60's California, rhythm and blues, and perhaps a dash of a Nashville hoedown! Their beautiful harmonies and rolling rhythms, combined with the obvious musical talent of the five members, make Smokey Angle Shades a very exciting band to watch, and I hope to see much more from them in the future.

Listening to: 'Me and My Chauffer Blues' - Memphis Minnie

Mind Waves

'Never in this world does hatred cease by hatred: hatred ceases by love, and this according to a law which has existed forever.'


A few minutes spent playing around with my camera in the garden led to these images, which have since made me ponder about the nature of our thoughts, and how they influence the world around us and our perception of it. I have always felt that when I am in a positive mood, people I encounter and things around me reflect my positive state; as though I attract what I feel. During unhappy spells, it has felt the opposite: like the world is against me and everyone in it is miserable.


Our minds have come to be "deluded" as a result of years of conditioning and experience, which have encouraged fear, hatred, craving and selfishness to become the 'normal' state of mind. But these negative emotions and thoughts have no valid foundation and work against our natural instinct and the oneness of humanity.

Everyday life had become laden with anxieties, regrets, doubt and paranoia due to the overwhelming pressures of consumerist culture and the political climate, which constantly work towards ridding us of our individuality, our liberties and our feeling of self-worth. The result is a constant want for something more; something better, bigger and more expensive, and a worrying cycle of self-destruction on an internal and external level. All these negative influences that constantly surround us have inevitably led to a increasing trend in negative mind patterns, manifesting themselves in forms of depression and anxiety.

'All that we are is the result
of what we have thought.
It is founded on our thoughts,
It is made up of our thoughts.' (The Dhammapada)

By cultivating positive thoughts and emotions we can begin to change the basic perspectives on which our feelings depend, so that we can gradually reorient the way we perceive ourselves and others. If we become mindful of our thoughts, noting our emotional reactions to them, then it will become obvious what makes us feel good and happy. Using this knowledge, we can encourage and call upon these thoughts at times when we need relief from feelings of anger, impatience, lust, hatred and so on.

'Our positive states of mind can act as antidotes to our negative tendencies... So that as you enhance the capacity of these antidotal factors, the greater their force, the more you will be able to reduce the force of the mental and emotional afflictions.' (The Dalai Lama)


By making a conscious effort at first, we can be mindful of our thoughts, our perceptions, our speech and our actions so that those around us experience the positive energy created from positive thoughts. Developing a warm heart ourselves can also help transform others, encouraging them to become more compassionate and harmonious with the world around them. A sense of community and a positive atmosphere will then develop based on mutual trust, respect, love and kindness. By sharing one another's suffering and working towards eradicating hatred and anger from our minds, a profound change can begin; leading to inner and outward peace, and lasting happiness.



Listening to: 'After the War' - Steve Reich