Another two-week absence which again I can only apologise for, dissertation reading and the general stresses of life have consigned me to the continuous 'putting-off' of blogging. However, it's a new dawn, it's a new day, a new life, for me etc etc.
Yesterday was International Women's Day and I first and foremost wanted to wish everyone a good one. Looking through the FB and Twitter feeds yesterday I gauged a mixed reaction to the event, some of which came as a surprise and some slightly less so.
It was great to see people praising the event, both males and females talking about particular people who've inspired them as, while this may sound a tad cliched, it was raising awareness which is basically the point and although I forgot to check I'm hopeful that #IWD was trending at some point- these things are important today.
Now the real cliches of the day that were literally making me tear my fucking hair out were the, 'Why should it only be one day. Doesn't this defeat the point of feminism' and even worse still, 'Does this mean we should get an international men's day... or is 'IMD' just the other 364 days of the year' (Imagine me saying said cliches in a whiny imitative voice of no one in particular). And why should these make me tear out my hair in said fashion... well what critics of IWD need to understand is that raising awareness of the basic issues which underlie our society is the sole goal of IWD and other events like it. We're going through a transitional phase as we push for equality in what is still a pretty damn unequal society (unequal pay, lack of representation in politics, everyday sexism in the media, the list goes on). If the next generation can start appreciating the struggles women have experienced, even just in the 20th century, then maybe we can go just a little further in understanding the plight of women and building towards closing the gender gap. It's happening with Black History Month in the same manner and I believe vast improvements are being made in that respect. Positive discrimination is important.
Suzanne Moore, writer for the Guardian, makes a decent point in this article that IWD feels a little bit 'cupcakey' and has recently become de-politicised with talks of the dangers of female circumision mixed with the celebration of an obscure female singer from the Far East. However, I don't really believe it need be overly political. Once you get politics into the mix, the next generation immediately loses interest. How about maybe we focus the other 364 days on the political side of things?
#rantover
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I fully appreciate the fact that I really should have covered a woman today in this section but it's Saturday morning as I'm writing this and I've found an absolute gem so that'll have to wait. I also appreciate just as much for any fans of Joe Banfi that he's in fact from Northwich in Cheshire but that's not too far a cry from Yorkshire and I refer you to the previous sentence on said time of day, apologies all round. Anyway, Banfi played the Sheffield Harley the other day and while I missed out on the gig, I heard wonderful things.
Joe Banfi's done a pretty remarkable thing and mixed in traditional folk with a dark layer of grunge. On his illustrious FB page, he cites influences as far-reaching as Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana, Nick Drake, and strangely enough the Deftones, who's 'Cleverness... influences his songwriting to date'. A fine mix, and one which has contributed to his uniqueness. I suppose all great artists are born from many.
With two EP's out on Communion (Ben Howard, Gotye, Michael Kiwanuka), Banfi seems destined for bigger things. First EP, 'Iron' came out in September of last year and did brilliantly on the review front, Ben Dorey of Now Then Magazine referred to it as, 'Providing a raw emotion that makes his work so captivating'. It's hard to disagree, lead single 'Guts and Bones' is soulful and deeply fulfilling and his cover within a cover in the form of Nirvana's, 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night' gives the traditional American folk song a further twist.
With 'Iron' an undoubted success for Communion, new EP 'Nomads' was released six weeks ago and, even in the limited time offered to Banfi to develop, there is a definite progression in both the vocal ability and the lyrical prowess of a record which has been occupying my headphones all week. The title track is an epic and has been linked below while 'Olive Green' is definitely a goosebump-inducer with the personability of the lyrics making the listener pause for thought- 'Only the green boots by the back door make me feel safe'. Also hang on until the final minute of closer 'Oarsmen' to hear the full extent to which Nirvana have had an influence over him.
Don't know if he'd take this as an insult but I reckon if Alt-J did purely folk-grunge rather than 'folky, poppy, psychedelic, punk, indie, grunge' then they'd sound just a little bit like Joe. The unique croaky twinge of his vocals definitely draws parallels with his namesake in Alt-J Joe Newman. Hope he's a fan.
Joe Banfi's currently midway through a mini tour of the UK and if you get a chance to see him then take it hands down, although I'm assured that he's a regular tourer. Keep on doing what you're doing Joe and keep on looking just a little bit like the ex-Doctor Who actor Christoper Eccleston.
Cheers to all for reading. Back next week,
Max
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