friday five - 05.09.08 - rain

After an extended absence, the Friday Five returns with a new location, a new domain, and - for the most part - new content. As usual, however, I cannot guarantee that this (and all future posts) will consist of entirely new music. Copyright laws are tricksy buggers, and I don't want to be caught in the middle of a recording industry clusterf&*k.

All that aside ...

Today, the fifth of September, is a special day; not only because it marks the rebound of this endeavour in loose media, but because a lovely tropical storm has traced its path to cross with the roots of headquarters. Tropical Storm Hanna, not quite a Category One, is beginning to brew. The clouds are dark, the wind whines a haunting plea to the trees that capture it, and the satellites still (miraculously) punch their way through a swiftly-sealing atmosphere.

What better theme to embark upon? Rain it is.

The Cure - "Prayers for Rain" (mp3|8.45MB): The album Disintegration is one of The Cure's best works, and I say that with as much bias as professionally manageable. "Prayers for Rain" is classic; a pleadingly visible montage of intensity which, at its most merciless, depicts the listener in silhouette, hair matted damply to the scalp with the humidity that presses in from the bricks. Standing just off a city curb with the steam from a manhole rising to greet them, "you strangle me, entangle me - in hopelessness and prayers for rain" is the preemptive request. But then ...

Assemblage 23 - "I Am the Rain" (mp3|2.66MB): It hits - suddenly, viciously, tearing the sky apart in a series of wild electronic pulses that finally break the skin of the clouds and release their liquid burden upon the helpless loiterer. Assemblage 23 lets the beat speak for itself, and lyrically gives those soulseekers a purpose. "I am the rain falling down to cover you." Crazier paradoxes have been fulfilled.

A Band of Bees - "Wash in the Rain" (mp3|5.06MB): We've touched the touching and pounded the pavement. But who dances through the puddles? A Band of Bees contributes this jazzy number to the drizzly ensemble to ensure that the night flows on unencumbered. Why does the rain always have to be composed of a lonely man's tears? It doesn't. This is why.

Duran Duran - "Hold Back the Rain" (wma|3.53MB): The ensuing downpour isn't necessarily a bad thing. Though the lyrics hint at a conscious longing, Duran Duran's crazy 80s synth won't let anyone fall back. Who cares if it's raining? Who cares if I'm still alone? I do, but I'm sure as hell not going to let you know. Not yet, anyway. Not until ...

Espers - "Cruel Storm" (m4a|4.96MB): ... not until the storm sets in. And it's best to be indoors. Oddly, the candle's still flickering. Espers' Meg Baird sings, "as light bleeds from the sky, I watch your heart die," and the weary, sodden life-traveller, hypnotised by the assurances of her cherubic voice, is rather okay with that. It's time to rest, and this lulling pseudo-waltz into the empty, flooded streets will certainly help urge it along.


As always, send lovemail/hatemail/anymail related to the Friday Five to fridayfiveradio@gmail.com. Requests are always considered. See you next week!