Who Begat Eye

Who begat Eye
Who begat Fear
Who begat Wing
Who begat Bone
Who begat Granite
Who begat Sweat
Who begat Nothing
Who begat Never
Never Never Never

– John Blum

“Crow is a game where two participants work collaboratively to create poetry together. Unlike many traditional games, Crow has no winners, losers, or competitive engagement; it does not use playing pieces, dice or game paraphernalia.”

The two participants in this instance are John Blum and his piano - his mode of communication, the channel for his emotions and frustrations; the rock upon which his hopes and fears are built; his life.

“Poets in Crow do not seek to tell a whole story, nor do they look to become characters in Crow mythology. Instead, they work together exploring ideas and emotions through extemporaneous  thematic exploration and linguistic experimentation to uncover a common sense of meaning.”

The improvised work here is almost beyond description. I find it brutal, painful, forceful; like drama therapy where inner exploration is forced to surface with honesty, openness and unbridled energy. Where inner sanctum becomes outer chaos. It signifies, to me, the path of exploration that few dare tread, even artistically, in the fear of what may be discovered. It is generous, frightening and beautiful.

“A carrion trickster, Crow is without the burden of morality. He is at once cunning, curious, sardonic, cheeky, violent, crude, selfish and naive. He despises Man yet frequently envies him. He is on the road to discovery - seeking to understand himself, Man, God and the universe. More than that, he is also seeking to make Man, God and the universe understand themselves through him. He’s also utterly indestructible.”

Look around and witness how the mediocrity of media, marketing and materialism are throttling our creative lifeblood, and how the untalented and bent are rewarded so richly. I smell frustration and anger here, but also envy… Blum wants to be heard because his experiences and emotions are ours, if only we could recognise and understand… We are the victims, he is the survivor…

“It is important to remember when playing Crow that there is no “right” answer at any given moment of play. Try to remain loose and flexible, and let words and ideas flow. Don’t try to force perfection, just reach for something that means something to you in that moment.”

It’s where so many musicians fail and Blum succeeds. Watch him play in the gloomy darkness, his long slender fingers rising, crashing, and darting from one key to another at desperate pace. His back to the audience, he is in a world of his own creation. He plays the game well. He is the Crow that hovers above us hoping that at some point we will look up… understand and accept.

Begat: To cause to exist or occur; produce.

Blum goes one major creative step foward, but not with diamond studded skulls or dead sharks and cows. His extraordinary skill and passion are employed in a truly human endeavour  - that of communicating the truth through music.  There’s no cheap thrills here, no instant satisfaction, no layers of face-paint to mask natural imperfections; it’s a heart, soul and mind endeavour of such rarity and purity it cannot be ignored.  Blum doesn’t just exist, he is. 

And this is no ordinary review, because this is no ordinary record.

ED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XZ0gFtt7lE

www.johnblum.com

Lineage

In the beginning was Scream
Who begat Blood
Who begat Eye
Who begat Fear
Who begat Wing
Who begat Bone
Who begat Granite
Who begat Violet
Who begat Guitar
Who begat Sweat
Who begat Adam
Who begat Mary
Who begat God
Who begat Nothing
Who begat Never
Never Never Never

Who begat Crow

Screaming for Blood
Grubs, crusts

Anything

Trembling featherless elbows in the nest’s filth

– Ted Hughes