Yo…
Welcome to February. Most New Year’s resolutions are fading and 2024 no longer has that new year smell.
Life has a structure. But, life also freely offers opportunities.
A response to shape our days like clay. Or Play-Doh if you’ve retained your innocence. (Rediscovered?)
The Charisma of Presence
This moment
This fresh NOW
is your gift.
Our gift.
~~
I’m catching up on music I didn’t chill with during 2023.
From November 1st, 2023 this is Olive Jones; her soothing single is called Planes:
“Now the birds
They sing louder
Now the birds
They sing much clearer now
hey wake me up when the dawn is calling…”
The Charisma of Presence
Grasp this precious offering
with cupped hands
—wide open, trembling —
Hold this contemporary NOW,
let the potential gently pulse in your hands
like a mobile on vibrate.
~~
On January 24 George Stroumboulopoulos released Deep Dive: Radiohead (Pt 1) a podcast of his Apple Music radio program. The next day Strombo broadened the reflection with Part 2.
Radiohead works in January: it’s a dystopian dark month as winter drags on. However, I did not want to return to Radiohead. I turned to Smile which is like the Diet Coke of Radiohead.
The Smile are a band comprising of Radiohead members Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, bass, keys) and Jonny Greenwood (guitar, bass, keys) with Tom Skinner (drums). Their first album A Light for Attracting Attention came out on May 13, 2022.
On January 26, 2024 they shared Wall of Eyes. Fresh music if you’re seeking that.
What I didn’t soak up was their Tiny Desk performance from last year.
When George started talking about Radiohead I was like oh yes…The Smile!
From this performance I recommend The Smoke. That’s my January Jam for a Fresh February.
The Charisma of Presence
Inhabit this NOW like a t-shirt;
let it hang on your frame with complete ease and comfort
a familiar gentle NOW—
so much hangs onto this prevailing NOW.
Wholly sincerely devote yourself to this strong NOW
lavish compassionate attention on this original NOW—
care for this modern NOW like a small child,
train in the way it should go
so when it’s older, a wiser NOW it won’t deviate from The Path.
~~
Memento Mori is the fifteenth studio album by Depeche Mode. I’ve only listened to it a couple of times since it’s release on March 24, 2023.
I went through this with R.E.M. Memento Mori is the first Depeche Mode album to be recorded and released as a duo, following the death of co-founder and keyboardist Andy Fletcher on May 26, 2022. (In 1997, Bill Berry R.E.M’s drummer and also co-founder left the band. The band decided to continue as a trio.)
At the end of January Depeche dispatched a music video for Before We Drown from that 2023 album. As you can tell it’s directed by Anton Corbijn. (The video is very Anton Corbijn including the mood, vibes and black and white colours.)
The Charisma of Presence
Nurture NOW into awe:
Nurture NOW into awesome:
Let this affectionate NOW woo you
the sweet complexity of heady romance—
Prepare
Prepare to unleash your NOW energy,
ideas can booby trap like prejudices
locking you in place like a bookmark entombed in Chapter 1:
donate this magnificent NOW to something transcendent
NOW sweet NOW is the occasion to burst free:
learn to walk so you can run
to race in such a way to win the prize.
Train and treasure your mind for NOW.
~~
Finally…this:
“I’m gonna put up a fight when they say come to the light.”
Yes.
The Sam Roberts Band released The Adventures Of Ben Blank album shortly before Halloween, 2023.
That line and these below are quoted from a banger from the album: Afterlife.
I ain’t scared if the end is coming
And I don’t care if I have to keep running
Gonna hold on tight when Death comes gunning for me
I’m gonna fight wanna live under the sun
Yes!
The Charisma of Presence
Reclaim this enlightened NOW
let this curious NOW lead you to the myriad levels below the surface
doggedly go deep like a dog on the hunt enraptured with the scent.
Paying attention to the light where darkness foolishly believes it reigns:
build on this dangerous NOW with all that’s come before
Submit this NOW to Love, bathed in hope, offered in faith
Be awake NOW
The day is coming
Your Day Is Coming
NOW.
That’s enough for NOW…
Sammy Younan
-28-
Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair podcast: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.