The Other Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW MODEL ARMY
“The Ghost of Cain”
(EMI)

Their first two albums “Ven-
geance” and “No Rest for the
Wicked” set a _ standard that
would be almost impossible to
maintain. Musically, they attain
their goals but lyrically they seem
to have lost their previous fire.
This is -most unfortunate, for
their true power lies in the ability
to combine both, to create a sens-
ual bulldozer. A sound that en-
snares body and mind. The bass
growls malevolently, the drums
thunder, the guitar is best
likened to a rabid dog or the sonic
equivalent of the indiscriminate
use of a heavy machine gun.
Most important though, is that
they’re angry.

Lyrically they deal with moral/
societal issues. Their views are
radically different from the usual
clichéd nihilistic platitudes that
most so-called ‘punk’ bands pay
lip service too. N.M.A. channel
their vitriol onto the moral vac-
uity of the modern age. They
seem to ascribe to the idea that
emotion is superior to pure logic.
That passion supercedes logic is a
seductive idea, and very possibly
a good one (to a certain extent).
They are opinionated and some
of this is ever so slightly contra-
dictory, they advocate the use of

violence, if necessary, attack
ambivelence, hate convention
but venerate tradition. They

want to live in a black and white
world and to some extent they
succeed. Most importantly,
though, if you listen carefully
they may make you think (hard
to conceive, I admit). Lead sin-
ger, Slade the Leveller (so named
for a 17th century socialist
movement in England) has a def-
inite obsession with law and
order and the philosophical no-

New Model Army

man’s land of whether the in-
dividual should act on his own or
wait for the appropriate authori-
ties. “The Hunt” is a story of
group’s search for the leader of a
small town’s drug ring, “So we
followed your man back to your
front door,/And we’re waiting
for you outside/’Cos not every-
body here is afraid of you/Not
everybody passes on the other

side of the street/And we could

spend our whole lives waiting/
for some thunderbolt to come/
And we could spend our whole
lives waiting/For some justice to
be done/Unless we make our
own.”

On the surface this appears to
be simply macho posturing but
perhaps not. Should people
allow evil to be done when it is in
their power to stop it? Ultimately
this song details a belief in the in-
vidual’s power to alter some of
the circumstances that affect his/
her life. Songs are not sociologi-
cal essay’s nor should they be,
New Model Army _ succeed
because of their sense of outrage
and their sometimes dogmatic
application of their ideas of right
and wrong.

The galloping Americanization
of England is dealt with in the
other outstanding track on _ this
album. “SJst State” snaps at both
the people invading that septic
isle and those allowing it to
happen. “We’re WASP’s_ yeah
proud American sons/We know
how .to clean our teeth and how
to strip a gun”. This is coupled
with the biting cynicism of “The
star-spangled union-jack flies so
proud/above the dancing _patri-
otic crowd.”

If you have never heard this
band then don’t buy this record,
get their second one, “No Rest for
the Wicked” which has some of
their best songs on it.

By Colin

 

 

Around the
poetry corner

As weeks go on the pain, slow, drifts away

I think of you when alone and nothing to do

The times of love, sweet love, do say

I had a life, good life, with you.

Just like two trees our branches blown together

Just as easily the wind has blown us apart

I thought you were mine, you thought I was yours, forever
We turned our backs, far too young, too damn smart.
We said first loves, that they never last

We thought ours was different, too strong to be said
Who'd know they’d be right, our love is now past.
The more that I see, the more my heart learns

As weeks go on the plain, slow, return.

by Rick D.

 

 

THEATRE EVENTS

CHARLEY’S AUNT

At the Presentation House, Directed by Anthony Hol-
land, Tickets are $7.00 for Adults and $6.00 for Students
and Seniors. Phone Maureen Gulyas (publicist) at 988-
1600.

Runs till Dec. 20, 1986.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Treat yourself to enchantment and fun for the family.
Performances run till Dec. 21, 1986. 8:00 pm each night
with Matinees on Sat. and Sun.

RAPE FANTASIES (M. Atwood),
STEVE MCQUEEN (D. Mamet),
WHITE BOYS (T. Walmsley)
Tickets are $4.00 at the door.
Phone: 873-3646 or 879-2080

MR. SCROOGE

By. Ray Soden

Presented by the North Vancouver Community Players,
a Christmas play with music and mystery for children of
all ages (Including you). Fridays 7:00 pm and Saturday
and Sunday at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Runs till Dec. 21.
Adults $2.00 and Children $1.00.

Call: 980-3952

PUSHING FORTY AND TURNING THIRTY

Vancouver East Cultural Centre presents until January.
Tickets are $8.00.

Phone: 254-9578

CONCERTS

ARTS CLUB THEATRE

The weekend alternative for week-day people at 1181
Seymour St. Features the best in independant original
live music from Vancouver and North America. Music
starts at 10:30 pm on Friday and at 11:30 on Saturdays.
Cover charge is $3.00. For more info phone Cattle
Productions at 684-2325. Acts include: Death Sentence,
Hanged Men, Beyond Possessions, House of Commons,
Fratricide, Lethal Virus, Stubborn Blood, Tree Frog,
Chris Houston, Euthanasia, No Fun, Medallion, Omni-
squid and the Sore Heads with guests. Also phone the
Arts Club at 683-0151.

‘ MUSIC IN THE MORNING

Margret Bruce and Peter Gellhorn in a two piano recital.
April 16, 1987 in the Douglas College Performing Arts
Theatre. Coffee at 10:00 am, recital from 10:30 to 11:30
pm. Admission: $10.00 ($7.00 Students and Seniors). For
more information and tickets call 736-5650

ART GALLERIES

VANCOUVER ART GALLERY

Lecture and Guided tour: Art Gallery and Douglas
College. March 26, 1987: 7:30 - 9:30 pm & March 27, 1987:
10:30 am - 12:00 pm. Fee $17.00

BURNABY ART GALLERY

“Pressing Matters”, A close look at the art of printmak-
ing. March 2, 9, 16 and 23: 7:30 - 9:30 pm. March 21: 10:00
am - 4:00 pm. Fee: $25.00 for gallery members, $35.00 for
non-members.

Info at 291-9441

 

 

 

 

December 12, 1986 Page 9

~ SAGE PAGE