PPP/Occupé
PPP
Colin Kerr-Guitar Feedback
Dan Willems-samples/mix
The guitar track, performed by Colin Kerr, conjures up a throbbing high voltage electric
transformer humming/feedback which connects the disparate elements together, nerve-like.
The Pasolini excerpts (from the documentary "Whoever Says the Truth, Shall Die") are in
Italian and French, and knowing from the subtitles in the film, describes the horrifying
street execution of PPP in graphic detail, laying blame to the whole of corrupt Italian
politics/mafia/vatican. But if one doesn't understand the language, it functions more as a
thoughtful and pretty juxtaposition to the material in English. Then there's the pulp sci-fi
philosophizing and sex of David Friedman's "Space Thing", totally escapist, superficial
and base, but quite a bit of fun with the groovy music which leads into the real life pop star
(Arch Hall Jr.) acting out his own self-fulfilling prophecy in Ray Dennis Steckler's, "Wild Guitar".
"Golden Bat" (a 60's Japanese Movie Superhero) shows up to remind us that everything is
ultimately too funny and tragic because of your possible fate. The Haitian Rara documentary
narration ties the heavens and the earth together, musically, politically, sexually.
My bandmates/friends,Tony and Matt introduce the piece with words of encouragement, as
they did at the "free music series" where Heather Floyd and I performed the duet, which then
becomes a trio improv with Colin's guitar. I suppose that's a "life-affirming" part to the puzzle.
But it's all about relationships, the good and the bad. It's strange, subliminally it's quite heavy
and dark, but on the surface it's kind of happy and fun to listen to. I listen to it all the time.
Almost like a catchy pop song. Oh, yeah, and the screaming of one of the "criminals" being
crucified, as Christ, in Pasolini's "The Gospel According to St. Matthew", alights the hill of
Calvary with his cross. Creepy. This screaming coincides with Don Proctor, in "Wild Guitar",
as he spills his guts about "getting the fast-pencil", betrayed by his record company. I will
never again be able to think of the crucifixion of Christ as anything other than getting
"the fast pencil" (written out of the picture). I originally wanted to title the piece after the
documentary, "Whoever Says the Truth, Shall Die", but it's too long. Starting out with a
theme like that will and does fulfill itself. Anyway...(DW)
Occupé
Colin Kerr-Piano
Dan Willems-samples/mix
A scene from Godard's Alphaville begins this journey into the depths of Man's mind.
Occupied/Free, either from within or from invading forces, is the theme of this 8:46
sound collage. What is revealed is in the tea leaves. Colin Kerr provides the piano
accompaniment to this invisible film that jumps from its gate into the echoey Netherworld
of L. Ron Hubbard's "associative words". These words become stories and form the
physical and mental world. The ultra-violence that terrorizes this world proves that
humans are unable to understand "the story". Logic, either from a Vulcan or from
the Alpha-60 computer, proves that Man is doomed to destruction. Well, duh, of course,
it's just that some people want to hurry it along, like your whole country, your blood,
your precious thoughts. Let Bela Lugosi be the screaming voice of sanity. Watch Out!
The atomic bomb is on the inside as well. (DW)
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