October 2020 in and Around the Parish of St Bartholomew
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Sydenham Life October 2020 In and around the parish of St Bartholomew www.stbartschurchsydenham.org IDLES – Ultra Mono, an appreciation (sort of) I realise that there probably are not a on their previous work – visceral, huge number of Sydenham Life readers Comment p.3 thumping guitar music, noisy but who at fi rst glance will be interested in From the Editor almost incessantly catchy, anthemic a rowdy, sweary, post-punk record (and and irresistibly danceable; this time it really is a record – proper vinyl!) but I A Sydenham Riot p4 round the songs are (even) more hope you’ll read on anyway. There will by Stuart Forbes concise, leaner and punchier. There is perhaps be some who will also question COVID Symptom Study variety in the relentlessness, from the why a Vicar would even review, or a App p5 opening roar of ‘War’, to the almost Parish magazine carry a review for by Jane Somers pop of ‘Mr Motivator’, pure post-punk such an album; but of course church of ‘Carcinogenic’ and more refl ective magazines have a very long history of Robert Igonibo Awoloye- ‘A Hymn’. And while they share the reviewing and promoting music, it’s Kio RIP p5 (very wide) common space of the broad just that has usually been limited to by Molly Wickert post-punk revival, part of what makes certain strands of classical and other IDLES so successful is that they have music deemed ‘worthy’ or inspirational. Black History Month – developed a very distinctive sound that As I have argued before, in being so Circus Stories p6 confi dently borrows ideas from Grime limited the Church has unfortunately by Angela Morgan and Hip-hop as well as punk and noise- often been guilty of colluding with rock and ends up sounding like no-one cultural snobbery and elitism and, else. Success has allowed for bigger whether intentionally or not, the social elitism that goes production, but while the extra polish may have smoothed along with it. Like all art, music - whether opera, grime, some of the rougher edges from their earlier sound, the soul, rock or the myriad other sounds the Creator has album sounds huge and very ‘in your face’. blessed us with - has the potential to be transcendent; to The other side of IDLES acclaim, and more of the enable us to catch a glimpse of heaven, or to be prophetic; reason for this review, is that as well as fantastic music speaking truth to power or inspiring humans to fi nd the they speak with a surprising honesty and vulnerability and best in themselves. Some would argue that the Church have been unafraid in addressing the multiple fractures in has given up on the prophetic in recent decades, reducing society. Previous albums have addressed the struggles of it to a sort of collective self indulgence with little value living in poverty, NHS cuts, toxic masculinity, addiction, outside of certain spiritual cliques, while the poets of the racism, the need to value and love oneself and the grief faith are ignored in favour of bland mediocrity. But the of being father to a still-born child. Some of those Spirit moves as she will and truth is truth wherever it is themes continue on Ultra Mono, or are expanded upon; proclaimed. the importance of consent (and anger that it still needs ‘Ultra Mono’ is IDLES 3rd album and solidifi es their saying!), mental health, the continued assault on the place as one of the most critically acclaimed bands of working class and poor, all underpinned by rallying calls recent times. After a faltering start from their formation to community, self-acceptance and love. IDLES are hardly in 2009, they received considerable critical praise for their unique in their lyrical themes. However they present debut album ‘Brutalism’ in 2017. Their second album them with an unusual directness coupled with humour ‘Joy As An Act Of Resistance’ gained them a Mercury and a sense of joy – for all the apparent ranting, the clear Music Prize nomination, considerable commercial success intention is to celebrate togetherness, respect, love and and saw them become a major live draw. ‘Ultra Mono’ unity as means by which inequality, oppression and misery consolidates IDLES rise – endless positive reviews and can be fought. They have been accused of sloganeering, live shows planned for May & June 2021 selling out or of being too white, too male, not working class enough almost instantly resulting in many extra dates being etc. which all seems a bit odd when their sincerity is added which also then sold out. 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In they kill COVID 19. He said that individuals had filmed wards that order for me to use the gym I needed to book a space on an app were actually closed. It took me a while to think about this and the which limits the number of users at anyone time that may use the reason why the wards were closed were people were just not going facility. As you enter the gym there are about twenty bottles of to the hospital and there were a number of restrictions in place. disinfectant and wipes, with a note to take only one wipe. There is I said that one of our neighbours was a nurse and next time he a requirement to wipe equipment before and after use. There is saw her he should ask whether COVID 19 was real. The nurse told also plenty of hand sanitizer. Better the social enterprise that runs me that when the pandemic was at its peak it was manic and they the gym means business. Their top priority is to keep the facilities were working under conditions that were incompatible with proper they run open. Closed facilities incur cost but there is no revenue to health and safety as there was not sufficient personal protection offset these costs. equipment. The pandemic is still with us but some individuals seem to be What is paradoxical about this pandemic is the large amount of oblivious to the consequences if it were allowed to rip its way deaths which have occurred in America, over 210,000. A country through the country or for that matter the world. I am totally dumb which is one of the most technologically advanced in the world with struck when I have travelled on a bus to see teenage children not also some of the greatest disparities of wealth.