War is eternal – preparatory chants and goosing fighting rhythms are deeply rooted in most cultures. With the changed quality of war since the 20th century, however, its accompanying aspects have changed. 

45 minutes of artists reflecting war’s presence in the media, traumatic experiences, the home front, and the utopia of world peace – with Ami Shavit, The Android Sisters, K Foundation, The Tape-beatles and others.

Featured cover art: Sun Ra – Nuclear War

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The Tiger in Your Tank – Addressing Climate Change (1969-2020)

“The ecological catastrophe begins rehearsing in the Sixties”, writes Allen Ginsberg in 1970; and for more than half a century, political systems are unwilling to fight that development. 45 minutes with sounds of protest – uttered by Appleblim, Diane Di Prima, Leslie Winer, Piero Umiliani and others.

Playlist ‘War – Spreading Freedom the Rough Way’

The Psychic Workshop – Apocalypse

the US based project was part of the world-wide mail art scene during the Eighties, their soundscape Apocalypse is based on fragments from Francis Ford Coppola’s film Apocalypse Now (1987, Tellus)

Ami Shavit – Yom Kippur, Part 2

working around the concept of biofeedback, kinetic artist Ami Shavit tries to overcome his traumatic experiences from the Yom Kippur War by re-enacting them with synthesizers and field recordings (1973, Sub Rosa)

The Tape-beatles – Flowers For Dead Heroes

working with tv samples recorded during the U.S. Persian Gulf War in 1991, the audio art collaboration from Iowa addresses the psychological theatre that’s the home front (1993, Staalplaat)

David Allan Coe – Osama Bin Laden Song

demanding revenge, the outlaw country singer is voicing anger and expectations of the home front after the 9/11 attacks (via wahrweb.org)

James Whitehead – Air Attack Over Kabul Airfield

from the English noise artist’s Afgan Suite, which is part of a series on war that uses samples of artillery and guided munitions deployed in current war regions (2005, Sub Rosa)

Dost Muhammad – Battle Rhythm

battle rhythm played on a dhol drum, recorded by Deben Bhattacharya in Southern Kabul when travelling from Paris to Calcutta overland (1955, Sublime Frequencies)

The Android Sisters – Invasion

Ruth Maleczech and Valaria Wasilewski aka The Android Sisters are addressing the idea of spreading freedom the rough way satirically (1984, Vanguard / RE: EM Records)

Sun Ra – Nuclear War

first comes the heat, then comes the blast; Sun Ra warns about the apocalyptic effects of a nuclear war (1982, Y Records)

K Foundation Presents The Red Army Choir – K Cera Cera (War Is Over If You Want It)

featuring elements from Jay Livingston and Ray Evans’ Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) and Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon, the single was initially meant to be available nowhere until world peace has been established; however, after seeing Itzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat next to each other in front of the White House, K Foundation aka The KLF announce a limited release in Palestine and Israel (1993, K Foundation)

William Onyeabor – Why Go To War

having lived around the Biafra/Nigerian civil war with three million dead people in three years, the DJ and producer of stinging Afro-funk asks a few questions nine years later (1979, Wilfilms Records / RE: Luaka Pop)