A New Wave

For Patti , and Jason and all moved by music and words.

Once this album, New Wave

was the only one I had and I played it inside out until the grooves were shallow.

But for all the magic of ‘Shake some action’ the teenage salaciousness of ‘Love comes in spurts’ or the drama of ‘New Rose’ the album revolved around Patti Smith’s masterpiece, ‘Piss Factory’.

Though raised around and exposed to some great singers; Collins, Baez, Mitchell, Armatrading, Nicks etc no one had ever told a story like this one, in this way . That hazy piano and late afternoon guitar , both of them running off into the evening while Patti opens her heart.

The album itself and its cover, its type font, its track listing were a great source of wonder and subject of discussion for my friend Jason and I - so much as this is about Patti and the imprint she left on me, it’s also for him, his kindness and his deep understanding of what music could do, and will always do for us.

Defeated and gifted (for PS)

Should I walk the banks of this river? Within the reeds, searching out baskets, frayed out hopes and some lost trace of benediction, as I watch cold waters rise,

cast adrift on ships set west on wave upon wave of broken flags - torn out - shredded by pills and smoke and powder. All gone, all dissipated- lost or flushed out through motel cistern into despair of early American holy western morning light - rolling gently forward as the stars go out and day steps out on stage.

There she is. Smiling and ever assertive still. Out there in the face of it. Waving. Ready to meet us on the beach and talk, walking against the surf.

Understanding power and the dynamics of power in word and image and the joy of song requiring no exposition.

We shall live again, and it will be better. We will all be better. Not as broken. Or petty.

No more walking through empty trains, tired, failing to keep pace with the blank rush of onward coalface night toward ocean and mountain and then nothing.

No more of that. Just love and hope. Sunken ships and treasures raised from the sea and set aright. A licence granted to create and be happy, and then be content within the act.

Waiting at the bar, head down for love to arrive and take you home.

THANK YOU FOR READING, AS EVER , JON.