It'll be a busy week. We're putting the finishing touches to our own version of 'Box Song' in a studio in Hackney at the moment. Im also going to the Edinburgh festival next weekend having booked tickets to see Rhod Gilbert, Tim Key, the documentary 'We Are Together' and my friend Kate's play, which should be a whole of fun. On top of this Im pretty tired, having just come back from the Green Man Festival in Wales where we played a really good set to a great crowd in torrential rain. None of this bodes particulalry well for my blogging in the immediate future, but I thought I could at least continue my current series of Animal Poems with Ian Johnson's epic,
The Tortoise...
It's the mildest and slowest of all creatures on this planet.
And as far as age goes it really should be able to manage it.
To over one hundred and fifty years of age.
And man comes along and traps it in a cage.
For its large and delightful shell,
well,
something had to be done about it
ass they were becoming extinct an fast,
once their population was vast,
but it did not last,
so they made exile,
to the fair Galapagos Isle,
Where they could stay and rest in their small but large figures.
All spelling, punctuation and line breaks are Ian's.
Monday, 20 August 2007
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Orthodoxy and Anglicanism Pt.2/2
I suggested in part one of this series of posts that Orthodoxy within Christian faith and practice must centre on the continual affirmation of the centrality and distinctiveness of the Christian understanding of God, and not on the human cultural process' that enshrine this understanding into accessible religious categories, like worship or confession.
If this is indeed the case, then the task that subsequently falls upon us is to consider what in fact the distinctiveness of the Christian understanding of God is. In my consideration, it is the basic Christian notion of God as trinity, a notion that reflects not only the particularity of the Christian belief that Jesus and the Holy Spook are also to be considered as divine, but also that difference within unity is to be understood as a heavenly paradigm.
The beauty of anglicanism, its heavenly truth, is the incorporation of different human cultural process' of enshrining the Christian God within the general unity of its communion. Within its fold, Anglo-Catholics can easily break bread with Charismatics, and so on. Here is, I think, a real expression of Christian Orthodoxy, an affirmation of the centrality and distinctiveness of difference within unity consistently focused on the Christian God.
It is my contention then that the proposal of an Anglican Covenant, a document which would subscribe a basic guidebook for major decision making within each anglican church, is a huge threat to this Orthodoxy. It is a huge threat, because it desires unity at the sacrifice of difference.
Of course, neither can difference be sought at the sacrifice of unity. This is vital to remember also. But, it must be realised that the fundamentals of Anglican doctrine - The Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, the scriptures, the sacraments and daily prayer - have been considered able to safeguard this from happening for hundreds of years. It seems strange that these age old criteria, which have served the church well through a whole load of problematic scenarios, have become doubted within the last ten years or so because of a single issue, namely the ordination of homosexuals.
Anglicanism's unique Orthodoxy is now being uniquely challenged. I sincerely hope it will not be defeated.
If this is indeed the case, then the task that subsequently falls upon us is to consider what in fact the distinctiveness of the Christian understanding of God is. In my consideration, it is the basic Christian notion of God as trinity, a notion that reflects not only the particularity of the Christian belief that Jesus and the Holy Spook are also to be considered as divine, but also that difference within unity is to be understood as a heavenly paradigm.
The beauty of anglicanism, its heavenly truth, is the incorporation of different human cultural process' of enshrining the Christian God within the general unity of its communion. Within its fold, Anglo-Catholics can easily break bread with Charismatics, and so on. Here is, I think, a real expression of Christian Orthodoxy, an affirmation of the centrality and distinctiveness of difference within unity consistently focused on the Christian God.
It is my contention then that the proposal of an Anglican Covenant, a document which would subscribe a basic guidebook for major decision making within each anglican church, is a huge threat to this Orthodoxy. It is a huge threat, because it desires unity at the sacrifice of difference.
Of course, neither can difference be sought at the sacrifice of unity. This is vital to remember also. But, it must be realised that the fundamentals of Anglican doctrine - The Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, the scriptures, the sacraments and daily prayer - have been considered able to safeguard this from happening for hundreds of years. It seems strange that these age old criteria, which have served the church well through a whole load of problematic scenarios, have become doubted within the last ten years or so because of a single issue, namely the ordination of homosexuals.
Anglicanism's unique Orthodoxy is now being uniquely challenged. I sincerely hope it will not be defeated.
Animal Poetry
When I was in the second year of secondary school, aged 13, my class produced a selection of poetry about Animals. It was printed out into pamphlet form, and I rediscovered my copy fairly recently. Reflecting on the anthology some 10 years later I see that it contains some of the most ridiculous verse written in the last 2000 years. I have wanted to share it with others since I found it, and I reckon this is the best way to do so. Over the next few weeks, and perhaps months, I will bring you some of the highlights of this fine collection.
I start with the awesome 'Pussy Cat' by Harpreet Chaggar. As you may guess after reading the first few stanzas of the poem, its main theme is lifted from Pheobe from Friends' song 'Smelly Cat'. Still, even Pheobe herself couldn't have produced the superb nuance of this works conclusion. You'll see what I mean when you read it. Spelling mistakes, punctuation, capitalisation and phrasing are all the author's own work.
Pussy Cat
pussycat, pussy cat,
What are they feeding you,
Pussy cat, pussy cat,
What are they feeding you
You smell like a smelly cat,
Smelly cat smelly cat,
What are they feeding you,
Smelly smelly smelly smelly smelly cat,
What are they feeding you,
Smelly cat smelly cat,
What are they feeding you,
Smelly cat smelly cat what were they feeding you,
Smelly cat smelly cat you look like a dead cat,
Dead cat dead cat what were they feeding you,
Dead cat dead cat I will be missing you,
Missy cat Missy cat I am missing you,
Missy cat Missy cat you look as if you are a heaven cat,
heaven cat heaven cat I will be meeting you,
heaven cat is it nice up there,
heaven cat heaven cat does God have a tash,
Bye bye heaven cat
I start with the awesome 'Pussy Cat' by Harpreet Chaggar. As you may guess after reading the first few stanzas of the poem, its main theme is lifted from Pheobe from Friends' song 'Smelly Cat'. Still, even Pheobe herself couldn't have produced the superb nuance of this works conclusion. You'll see what I mean when you read it. Spelling mistakes, punctuation, capitalisation and phrasing are all the author's own work.
Pussy Cat
pussycat, pussy cat,
What are they feeding you,
Pussy cat, pussy cat,
What are they feeding you
You smell like a smelly cat,
Smelly cat smelly cat,
What are they feeding you,
Smelly smelly smelly smelly smelly cat,
What are they feeding you,
Smelly cat smelly cat,
What are they feeding you,
Smelly cat smelly cat what were they feeding you,
Smelly cat smelly cat you look like a dead cat,
Dead cat dead cat what were they feeding you,
Dead cat dead cat I will be missing you,
Missy cat Missy cat I am missing you,
Missy cat Missy cat you look as if you are a heaven cat,
heaven cat heaven cat I will be meeting you,
heaven cat is it nice up there,
heaven cat heaven cat does God have a tash,
Bye bye heaven cat
Thursday, 9 August 2007
Orthodoxy and Anglicanism Pt.1/2
Well I've been promising a post on this subject for a while now, but in reality I have very little developed thought on it. By jotting down a few initial ideas in the next two posts I merely hope to clarify to myself, and to anyone else who is reading this, what I have been trying to get my head around for the last few weeks.
I spose that central to my thinking recently has been an increasing awareness that to posit Christian orthodoxy as a fidelity to a specific set of cultural values/a way of doing church, is wrongheaded. It is an elevation of the human framework of religious interpretation and expression over the central doctrines that that framework is supposed to be grounded in.
In saying this it is not my attention to deny the importance of religion itself. For heavenly truth to be grasped, interpreted and enacted within the world it of course needs the earthly - the skills and effort of that same world's practitioners. Yet having said this, it strikes me as self-evident that Christian orthodoxy must be rooted in divine truth and not in the process of divine truth's translation into practical knowledge and practice on earth. Orthodoxy must surely be about the continual affirmation of the centrality and distinctiveness of the Christian understanding of God, and not the centrality of certain human consturcts that this centrality has inspired.
I spose that central to my thinking recently has been an increasing awareness that to posit Christian orthodoxy as a fidelity to a specific set of cultural values/a way of doing church, is wrongheaded. It is an elevation of the human framework of religious interpretation and expression over the central doctrines that that framework is supposed to be grounded in.
In saying this it is not my attention to deny the importance of religion itself. For heavenly truth to be grasped, interpreted and enacted within the world it of course needs the earthly - the skills and effort of that same world's practitioners. Yet having said this, it strikes me as self-evident that Christian orthodoxy must be rooted in divine truth and not in the process of divine truth's translation into practical knowledge and practice on earth. Orthodoxy must surely be about the continual affirmation of the centrality and distinctiveness of the Christian understanding of God, and not the centrality of certain human consturcts that this centrality has inspired.
Flynn Things
Festivals are a step up. We played our first last saturday in Kent at the quite averagely named 'electric gardens', and have our next tomorrow in Victoria at an under 18 event. Everything is bigger; the crowds, the sound, the stage, the sense of responsibility to put on a good show, everything. Despite all this though I felt we did a good job. It wasn't particualrly nerve wracking but it was unfamiliar and I was glad that the sunburnt fellers joined the girls in cowboy hats to be fairly decent to us. No bottles of piss were thrown. This was a plus.
We've also been recording a fair deal. After doing the single last week, we went to the Mayfair Stuidos in Primrose hill this Monday to do a version of Leftovers with the American producer Ryan Hadlock - him of Gossip production fame. Its turned out pretty good - gritty, energetic and interesting. Hopefully we'll get to work with him a bit more in the near future...
We've also been recording a fair deal. After doing the single last week, we went to the Mayfair Stuidos in Primrose hill this Monday to do a version of Leftovers with the American producer Ryan Hadlock - him of Gossip production fame. Its turned out pretty good - gritty, energetic and interesting. Hopefully we'll get to work with him a bit more in the near future...
Thursday, 2 August 2007
Singularly Good
Today's Opening Thought: I have found myself telling shop assistants at my local Sainsbury's to "have a nice day" before they have the chance to say anything to me. This is surely a bad thing. I know in my heart of hearts that it is not a competition as to who can wish the other a nice day first. The problem is that it is not a competition that I do not want to win. Incidentally, as I hurry out these platitudes I am also aware of another thought arising: I should very much like someone, a friend perhaps, to present me with one of those orange Sainsbury's jackets that Sainsbury's staff are made to wear. I need a decent body warmer and this would really do the trick. The trouble is that the process of obtaining such a jacket for said friend would be lengthy, complex and, most probably, a little unnecessary. Essentially it is plain unlikely, and as such the consistancy with which this redundant thought presents itself in my mind is a little annoying.
Similarly shallow to these opening words, but much more zesty, is This is a Knife - a weekly video podcast which I help to make for channel4.com. I gather from the lack of response to the questions in my last post that this blog's readership is not exactly strong. Still, I earge anyone reading this post to check it out. It is funny and it is about the internet. If you like that sort of thing you will no fucking doubt like this.
On the music front things are well. We are currently recording the next single, 'Box Song', in the Rak Stuidos in London, with Dan Gretch producing. We're all a little unsteady as to its progress - many things need a good ol' tinkering - but we're getting there slowly but surely. Hopefully we will finish up tomorrow in time for our first festival of the summer, Electric Gardens, on saturday. We are busy like this, recording and playing, till November. It's a little daunting but also very exciting. Hopefully it'll mean more time, rather than less, for pottering around with a few side projects that I've got on the go. More on these another day. While Im on the subject of music though I should mention that this month's mojo magazine has an article on us, well Johnny more specifically. Though it can be rather grating that some journalists don't concentrate on the fullness of the band, all kind press is fine by me. Thoughts on Orthodoxy and Anglicanism coming very soon...
Matt
Similarly shallow to these opening words, but much more zesty, is This is a Knife - a weekly video podcast which I help to make for channel4.com. I gather from the lack of response to the questions in my last post that this blog's readership is not exactly strong. Still, I earge anyone reading this post to check it out. It is funny and it is about the internet. If you like that sort of thing you will no fucking doubt like this.
On the music front things are well. We are currently recording the next single, 'Box Song', in the Rak Stuidos in London, with Dan Gretch producing. We're all a little unsteady as to its progress - many things need a good ol' tinkering - but we're getting there slowly but surely. Hopefully we will finish up tomorrow in time for our first festival of the summer, Electric Gardens, on saturday. We are busy like this, recording and playing, till November. It's a little daunting but also very exciting. Hopefully it'll mean more time, rather than less, for pottering around with a few side projects that I've got on the go. More on these another day. While Im on the subject of music though I should mention that this month's mojo magazine has an article on us, well Johnny more specifically. Though it can be rather grating that some journalists don't concentrate on the fullness of the band, all kind press is fine by me. Thoughts on Orthodoxy and Anglicanism coming very soon...
Matt
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