Shame File Music news #23, June 2004
http://ShameFile.tripod.com

NEW ON SHAME FILE

* Undecisive God “Border Protection Policy” CD
The Border Protection Policy CD is a frustrated, angry response to
Australia's draconian policies against asylum seekers.

Australian has had a policy of mandatory detention of all asylum seekers who
arrive on our shores since the mid 1990s, including children. There are 91
children in in detention in Australia, and 89 in Nauru (as of November 2003)

The vast majority of detainees are Afghan, and most a held in detention
(including children) for 6-12 months. Some have been in detention for up to 4
years.

During the 2001 Federal Election campaign, Norwegian freight ship the Tampa
rescued over 400 asylum seekers from a sinking boat off the coast of
Australia. Australia refused to allow the ship to dock, and passed
retrospective legislation excluding Australian sea island territories from
its immigration zone. This is to prevent asylum seekers landing and claiming
refugee status.

Also in the lead-up to the election, the government claimed asylum seekers
had thrown children overboard to incite the Australian Navy to take them on
board. This later proved to be untrue.

These are policies of the current Australian Government, but mandatory
detention was originally implemented by the previous government (the ALP -
now in oppostion). All Australians are responsible for this xenophobic,
fearful refusal of asylum seekers.

Extract from a review of “Border Protection Policy” from The Taped Crusaders:

“The title track is projectile vomit hurled like fists pounding into the
television, expelling disgust and expressing contempt. Barrage after barrage,
the disbelief and nausea. "SIEV & SUNCS" (their not really people, their
Suspected Unlawful Non Citizens having the affrontary to arrive in Suspected
Illegal Entry Vessels instead of first-class on a plane like Nice Lawful
Aussie Citizens) is the shattering of nerves rising and falling, the burning
sun reflected off the indifferent ocean. "Mandatory Detention Of Children" is
a burning trail of guitar lead igniting the camps, curdling thought beyond
belief. "We Will Decide Who Comes Into This Country" is the sound of metal
fences being twisted by willing and furious hands, their side and our side,
destroying sides so that there are no longer sides, but us. The three
tracks "Iranian Torture Methods" are sinister, slow gurgling, electric
static, tension-filled pauses, the darkness of the hood, long hours of the
unendurable. Lest we forget. "Death Whimpers Of The Chattering Class" is
twitching and chattering teeth, voices, limbs abased in their own effluvia.
Burbling guitar noise and strings scraped and echoed. Idle banter and mocking
laughter turned to choking and vomiting. "The Voice Of The People" is made in
collaboration with W.I.T. who supplied the sinister background hiss-drone for
a collage of talkback radio wit and wisdom. As voice overdubs with voice, the
entire thing becomes a morass of pure, undiluted bullshit, stupid whinging
Australians complaining about their daily privations over and over and over
and over and over, with the talk show host showing every subtle and smart-
arse media trick to twist and convince public opinion. "SIEV X" is splatters
of static, sounding like gunshots hitting the water, bodies hitting the
water, the ocean drinking greedily of the weak and dispossessed.

This album needs to be heard as a whole. The first few tracks are short and
hard, reminding me of the impact of The Dead Kennedys "In God We Trust Inc."
when I first heard it, track after track of rage in an instant. "The Voice Of
The People" then lowers the pace to the banality of evil before returning to
another brief shot of noise...then nothing. Silence. Back to our daily lives
once more. She'll be right mate. She'll always be f*cking right”

Purchase the CD for AU$10ppd (US$7.50ppd) from the Shame File Music site (or
from either Peril Underground or Synaesthesia in Melbourne).

50% of proceeds from the CD will be donated to the Asylum Seekers Resource
Centre in West Melbourne.


OTHER NEW ADDITIONS TO SHAME FILE:

* Various Artists “The Undertow: undercurrents of Australian experimental
music” CD – featuring the best of the current crop of Australian ambient,
drones, noise and experimental, including Thembi Soddell, New Waver,
Sadaiche, Scott Sinclair, W.I.T., Undecisive God, Screwtape, Isomer, Sue
Harding, Bokor, Lawrence English, The Hi-God People, The Unnameable, Diaspora
and Kettle - $10ppd (US$7.50ppd)

Various Artists: Woodlot Surer CD – 12 artists contribute 5x1 minute tracks
each to create this fascinating collection of strange moments curated by
Julian Williams’ From the Same Mother label. Artists include Chris Smith,
Snawklor, Keynote Speaker, The Hi-God People, Undecisive God (including 2
previously unreleased tracks), Green Beret and more - AU$8ppd (US$6ppd)

Bokor/Pablo Reche: Dialogue CD – Melbourne’s Bokor and Argentina’s drone
master Reche collaborate from opposite sides of the world to create a dark
ambient drone masterpiece – AU$10ppd (US$7.50ppd)

Sadaiche: Sensory Facility CD – Sadaiche’s track “Meeir” on “The Undertow”
compilation is proving to be a favourite among listeners, and this Melbourne
artist has issued an new CD of material working largely with synth drones and
samples – AU$8ppd (US$6ppd)

Note that all releases are available for a trade of your own music, but
for “Border Proctecion Policy” please also include $5 to be donated to Asylum
Seekers Resource Centre.

COMING SOON

* Clinton Green & Scott Sinclair “Guitar Improvisations” CD
* Undecisive God “Archive Five” CD


OTHER LINKS:

UNDECISIVE GOD – http://undecisive_god.tripod.com
The official site with news, reviews, discography, images and mp3s.

THE UNNAMEABLE – http://the_unnameable.tripod.com
Dark ambient sound inspired by H.P. Lovecraft.

CLINTON'S TALES
http://ClintonGreen.tripod.com/index-4.html
Short stories online – tales of love, humour and dread.

TAPETRADING
http://ClintonGreen.tripod.com/list.html

exp_melb LIST
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exp_melb
A discussion list dedicated to experimental music-related events / releases /
news based in and around Melbourne, Australia.


Cheers,
Clinton