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Poetry in Motion
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The Beat, Poetry in Motion >>
In the '70s Linton Kwesi Johnson was part of my regular soundscape. I trekked across north, south, east and west -- the length and breadth of London -- to many different shows he did, from the Rock Against Racism gigs to poetical roots sessions in back rooms. I had not kept up with his recent stuff, so was interested when other Beaters raved on about how good LKJ's Live in Paris (Wrasse) release was. So when it arrived through my letterbox I eagerly slipped it on. I was shocked by just how modern LKJ sounds today. The music really has matured wilh age. Dennis Bovell is still the total genial musical maestro and the usual guys who have played the music since the beginning have meshed together and got it down so tight. The songs have really progressed as well. "Sonny's Letiah" has certainly grown in stature, as has "Reggae Fi Radni" which has fleshed out very nicely emphasizing the Guyana touches. "Mekkin Histri" is still a slice through English social conflict of the last X number of years. Well done, Linton: It's good to see a man who maintains the standards.
But have the conflicts in English society that Linton talks about gotten better? No, they have not gotten better and the only thing to change has been where the people on the first rung of society come from. One time it was Irish, then West Indians, Spanish and Portugese, now it is Somalians, Sudanese, Congolese, Albanians, Romanians, Polish, Lithuanians, Ukrunians. After listening to Linton I had to go and listen to Michael Smith's "Me Cyaan Believe It." Yes, it still sounded believable as well as relevant today. I did believe it. 05/01/05
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