This is Thee Faction’s 5th album
since re-appearing (as a result of the discovery of the At Ebbw Vale tapes) in 2010. They would be celebrating their 30th anniversary
this year if that wasn’t so spectacularly bourgeois.
Private capital tends to become concentrated in few
hands, partly because of competition among the capitalists, and partly because
technological development encourages the formation of larger units of
production at the expense of small ones. The result: an oligarchy of private
capital - the enormous power of which cannot be effectively checked
even by a democratically organized political society. Members of legislative
bodies are selected by political parties, largely financed or otherwise
influenced by private capitalists who, for all practical purposes, separate the
electorate from the legislature.
So, representatives of the people have no need to
protect the interests of the any other sections of the population but their
paymasters. Private capitalists control, directly or indirectly, the main
sources of information (press, radio, TV, internet, schools). It’s very
difficult for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to
make intelligent use of politics.
The artist, therefore must dissent, to provide a
bulwark of criticism. Rock music has long been seen as a portal to intellectual
freedom, but is, in fact, co-opted by capitalists and sold as a plastic
rebellion. Large media organisations control music output, and therefore remove
any art from it. This is why pop music is standardised. But you can take these
traditional forms and add ANALYSIS.
It’s pointless complaining. We must show the joy of
freedom. The power of the class. Squares out!
All wars traditionally have had marching bands and
comradely singing, so why not the Class War?
LIVE IN THE UK:
Wed 22 April: Kick Out The Tories pep rally, 100 Club, London
Sat 4 July: Matchwomen’s Strike Festival - Canning Town, London
Sun19 July: Tolpuddle Festival
Sat 4 July: Matchwomen’s Strike Festival - Canning Town, London
Sun19 July: Tolpuddle Festival
“Wildly galvanising, blisteringly angry, insanely
entertaining blue-collar rock ‘n’ roll… scalp-prickingly good with nagging,
catchy riffs. Lyrics range from heartfelt polemic to Jake Thackray-style
observation.” Mojo
“…a critique of societal hegemony on the back of a
grimy blues’n’b twang, rife with the contagious energy of people who know
they’re right. In short, meet Comrade Feelgood.” Q Magazine
“ .. carrying on a proud tradition by providing the
soundtrack to our marches and strikes against this government of millionaires
trying to undo all the things we have fought for.” Mark Serwotka,
General Secretary of the PCS
“How much do I love Thee? I love Thee as chimps
love bananas, as bankers love bonuses, as Jeremy Hunt loves Rupert Murdoch” Francis
Wheen, Assistant Editor, Private Eye
“… sharply dressed and ready for action...
essential” Morning Star
“..barricade storming, smart, fun, instantly
energising” Daily Mirror
“Absolutely brilliant. Tell your mates” Billy
Bragg
“..taking down the Tories one song at a time” The
Guardian
“Guthrie and Seeger, Lennon and Baez, Dylan and
Crass changed views through song. Thee Faction do just that through sheer force
of joy de vivre … Capitalism is good for corporations; that’s why you’ve been
told socialism is bad all your life” Huffington Post
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