Bourbonese Qualk — My Government Is My Soul
First released in the year 1989, My Government Is My Soul, was the 11th album from Bourbonese Qualk- the UK-based anarchistic and experimental music collective that existed (on and off) between the early 1980s and the early 2000s. The sixteen-track (plus two bonus tracks) affair found the project mixing often detailed percussion- both electronic & organic- with funky grooves, bright-to-brooding electronics, shouty anarcho-punk vocals, and subtle world music touches. Here, from the fine folks at Austria's Klanggalerie, as part of their series of reissues of the band's back catalogue, is a CD release of the album.
The CD comes presented in a glossy four-panel digipak; on its front cover, we get a picture of what we presume is a grid map for some large mainframe computer of the 80’s. On the back, we find the track listing and credits for the album- at this point, the project was a four-piece bringing together- Simon Crab- Voice & Electronics, Miles Miles- guitar & saxophone, Owen Rossitter- drums & percussion. Kif Cole- live sound.
Having heard, I believe, most of the band's work to date, I’d say this album stands as one of the most sonically varied and consistent releases. In its first half, we move from the tight, grooving funk bass, uneasy guitar tones, hissing & hovering vocals, and building beat weave of “Guilt”. On to the afro-rhythmic-led & jiving organ-edged groove of “Ton Ton Macoute”. Onto shaking/ Stomping vibe, scratching sonic churn, and shouty male vocals of “Knock”.
In its second half, we move from the eerie & choppy “Trapped” with its blend of stretched yells, feedback bays, machine-reeling ‘n’ churning beats, bounced shouts, and wonky tonal stabs. There’s the afro beat/ guitar strut meets snapping beats/ bass of “The Last Thing We Have Is Choice”. Or the rising siren, smarting ‘n’ chopping beats, hissing to shout chants, and bass synth-searing groove of “This Will Fall”.
My Government Is My Soul is a highly accomplished example of genre-blurring & mood-shifting, as it effortlessly shifts from funky/ afro grooves to shouty/ taut. aggravated, to the eerie and choppy, and beyond.