M1: Our world is not for sale
Compilation
Available from activist centres and independent music stores.
REVIEWED BY DANNY FAIRFAX
The fact that this CD's proceeds go to funding the May 1 blockade of the Australian Stock Exchange building in Sydney should be enough of a motivation to go out and buy this CD. But, musically, M1: Our world is not for sale is worth the purchase in its own right.
All 20 tracks on the 75-minute CD were donated by the artists, all of whom support the ideals and intentions of the anti-corporate movement and of M1. The CD is a unique mix of underground music, ranging from folk to rock to heavy metal to electronica — something for everybody's musical tastes. One thing is for sure, though, you won't find any of this music at your local HMV store.
The CD starts out with probably its most well-known song, Struggle by techno outfit Kinetic. Far from the blandness of pop, the chorus repeatedly reminds you "The struggle must continue; the resistance will survive" over a pulsating beat.
From there the CD takes the listener on a whirlwind tour of Sydney's progressive music scene. From track two, Clone by folk band V.I.L.B., one of whose members, Anthony Polson, put the CD together, and the rock of The Craggs, Fields, Beware of the Dog, Duppy and Tigramuna, the music progresses to the hip hop of South West Syndicate and back to techno with Sydney DJ Nora Drenlin's Electrosexual.
Other highlights are the almost haunting Not Amused by Audiothrillseeking, Electricity by Keg! and Presence by Me Lee. The CD rounds off with Peacetime by The Cockles, a soft rock song which brings back memories of Crowded House but with a more radical bent to the lyrics.
And at only $15, it is great value — and shows just how much prices are inflated under the major record companies' present monopoly.
An appropriate way to end this review is with the words on the jacket sleeve: "Globalise resistance to their economy. See you at M1."