[kj] Killingly amazed

[god botherer]

Hi Lennonka!

Right, so now I'm guessing you're Czech. Dobry den! Jak se maj?

No, I can't really speak Czech, but I've been to your (?) country many times 
- to Prague, to Ostrava, to Kutna Hora, Karlstein, to the mountains in the 
east (forgotten their name) and to the very old village in those parts near 
where I saw a wonderful night time open air concert featuring ambient music 
by Czech artists including Satori. Yours is a beautiful country with 
friendly people (well, unless you happen to be a gypsy!). Whereabouts do you 
live?

About my discovery of Killing Joke: Wardance came at me out of the radio in 
1980. It was a moment of revelation. It sounded like fire in sound form. I'd 
never heard anything like it, and went and bought it the next day, so then I 
heard Pssyche (the other side of the single). Then it was a while before I 
took my interest further. I did not fully realize at that time how different 
they were to the various punk groups I was getting into at the time - many 
of whom I didn't think too much of really.

Eventually I bought the first album, and again it was like nothing I'd ever 
heard before. I began to see an integral feature of all that has been best 
in Killing Joke music over the years which is this capacity to contain so 
many emotions simultaneously. So you have anger, melancholy, joy and 
exultation all at once. I am still at a loss to name other music that can do 
the same. Some of the best classical music can move from one mood to another 
in the course of a symphony, and express one at a time profoundly, but 
Killing Joke music is a paradox. It is a complete experience, and although I 
have wide and varied musical tastes, and many albums, when I play Killing 
Joke there is nothing else that can come after, so nothing does.

I first saw Killing Joke in June 1981 (I was very young!). After the gig 
people were coming out just stunned by the brilliance and intensity of the 
experience. I was compelled to simply run and run and run. This first gig 
was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Needless to say I have 
been back for more. I lost count after fifty gigs.

Most contemporary music - if it is any good - can be classed as 
entertainment, but entertainment has never seemed an appropriate term for 
Killing Joke. It is an intense experience.

Killing Joke live has never been quite the same since Jaz went off to 
Iceland and returned in 1982. Before then there was something extraordinary 
in their performance, which has never really been captured properly on film. 
The nearest I've seen is footage from the Hammersmith Palais London show in 
February 1982 a couple of days before Jaz disappeared. I know French TV were 
there (I was there) and it looked as though they were filming the whole 
show, but I've only seen six songs in black and white poor quality, but 
still you can see something very real is going on. Since then Jaz has 
striven to make contact with whatever force coursed through his veins before 
Iceland. From time to time, a little of it returns. A lot of the time it 
seems he's trying to 'fake it to make it' - and sometimes gets there. That 
said, there is still nothing to match a Killing Joke gig.

And it's not all about Jaz either! Many of us love this music while 
recognizing that Jaz is a very flawed character - but which of us isn't? We 
don't do hero worship round here.

It's great to hear that people are still discovering this music. It's 
amazing to me that even within the last couple of years something like 
Gratitude could have been recorded.

It's true, there are a few weaker areas of the catalogue, and one or two 
rare embarassments. No one album ever seemed to be the ultimate work - and 
no one track either.

One thing that you will see from the views expressed here is that there is 
very little concensus over Killing Joke's best work, but I think that's all 
part of the fascination. Most groups have a small number of tracks that the 
fan base generally agree to be their best, but that doesn't seem to be the 
case round here. Most agree that the album Outside the Gate (1988) is the 
low point, but even that is worth having.

I imagine Requiem (1980) might be the most universally liked track, while 
not being many people's actual favourite. The album Brighter Than a Thousand 
Suns (1986) polarises opinion most. Many people don't get it. On the surface 
it can seem tamer than much of their output, but I absolutely adore it.

Wow! I didn't mean to write that much! Sorry, I got a bit carried away! I 
think I'll go and have a lie down.

I'm interested to know: just how well known is Jaz in the Czech Republic? 
What do people think about him, and his appearance in Rok Dabla? Do many 
people know Killing Joke? Did you hear the album Jaz did with Cechomor? If 
so what did you think? I think it's quite beautiful in parts. What other 
music are you into?

Best wishes

Si



>From: "Lennonka" <svoje.ja at centrum.cz>

>Hey,
>you really see my point.
>And good question. I've been listening to KJ for the last 7 months and I 
>discovered it in the last week.
>What about you?
>And the others?
>
>I'm curious.
>
>Lennonka
>______________________________________________________________
> > Od: acroastic at hotmail.com
> > Komu: gathering at misera.net
> > Datum: 01.11.2006 17:01
> > Pøedmìt: RE: [kj] Killingly amazed
> >
> >Hi Lennonka
> >
> >That's a good summing up. I know exactly what you mean. I was initially
>stunned by Wardance when it first came out, but after that as I got to
>hear more songs, part of me looked down on the apparent simplicity of the
>music as I had been into much more complex music before, but another part
>of me thrilled to the music and I kept coming back for more, had a
>revelation when I saw them live and became somewhat obsessed. I still am.
> >
> >There is indeed nothing like Killing Joke.
> >
> >How long ago did you make your discovery?
> >
> >Si
> >
>
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