Category: music

One way

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This was the song that graced most of my time at University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I still get shivers down my spine when I hear it. If I had ever managed to compile a Top 10 of my favourite songs ever, this would probably be one of only three songs that would be a shoo-in. I can’t quite recall what the other two are right now, because my head is filled with the sound of the quite brilliant One Way by The Levellers, seen here at Glastonbury in 1994.

I was lucky enough to see The Levellers in Brixton in 1995 as part of their Total Chaos tour and rarely have I seen a band have quite so much fun on stage. The evening was a great success and – despite the tour’s moniker – wonderfully organised, save for the young gentleman that climbed up one of the rope ladders at the side of the stage and refused to come down for the rest of the set.

It wasn’t me.

Here is the answer

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I debated long and hard about this post, but then I decided that although it goes against a lot of the rules that I have set on 6000 miles… , they were my rules anyway and it would be fine to bend them a little.
If you’re me.
This approach has worked for monarchies and governments for many years and I don’t see why I shouldn’t give it a quick go.
Just this once. Until next time.

So – step forward Die Antwoord, which is Afrikaans for “The Answer”.
They’re a foul-mouthed 3-piece hip-hop/rap group straight outta Brooklyn. No, not that Brooklyn, the other one – the one near Maitland in Cape Town.
And while they are rather rude and surely not 4 real, they’re also rather amusing and pretty entertaining – the Afrikaans version of Goldie Lookin Chain, innit.

With that explicit lyrics warning in full force – you can now head over to their website, where you can listen to their new album (out next month) and enjoy the dulcet tones of rapper Ninja, vocalist Yo-Landi Visser and the beats of the lovably cuddly DJ Hi-Tek.

Track 2, Wat Kyk Jy? (literally “What are you looking at?”) is a particular favourite of mine and I have attempted a quick translation of the chorus – an exchange between the inquisitive Ninja and the somewhat defensive Yo-Landi – from the guttural Afrikaans into English for the benefit of my readers:

What are you looking at?
Absolutely nothing.
What are you looking at?
Cat.
What are you looking at?
Go away.
What are you looking at?
You sewing machine.

Bi-lingual readers will already have worked out the intricacies of that little dialogue. Perfection.

There’s a lot more to hear as well, including colabs with the currently ubiquitous Jack Parow, Fokofpolisiekar and others.
Just don’t play it when the kids are around, ok?

Ashtray Electric’s Dark Bus Trip

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Here on 6000 miles… you know that we are always happy to promote the latest musical offerings from South Africa – especially for our overseas reader(s). To that end, please find below the video from Cape Town band Ashtray Electric for their single When Sex Becomes A Sport.

Great song, wonderfully dark video.
I’m getting elements of The Music, Snow Patrol, a touch of Starsailor and a dash of Placebo. Add that to a hint of red berries and plenty of coffee and spice and it’s all good.

Tickets please!

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How exciting – look what I got in the post last night:

Two of them, in fact.

Now there’s just a couple of flights to organise, a reasonably priced hotel room in Oslo (is there such a thing?) and a couch here and there in the UK.
Oh, and if you’re reading this, Mr Carter – as you should be – you’re proving rather difficult to get hold of!