benbell

reBoot

"using the beats of our generation to provide hope for the next"

reBoot is a Fantstic album (available on iTunes) and a good resource for discussion based work with young people who are into Urban music.

it is worth pointing out that a lot of the tunes will appeal more to those who like latin house (and grown up house) rather than 'Top of the Pop's Urban'
Check out the NextAid site for further details.

“We believe it is each generation’s responsibility to provide a better future for the next,” says NextAid’s Co-Founder Lauren Segal. The Los Angeles-based humanitarian organization has partnered with Om Records to release the benefit compilation CD, reBOOT: Notes for the Next Generation, containing unreleased tracks by some of the most recognizable and respected producers, artist and DJs from the world of electronic music.

All proceeds from the net wholesale of this CD will help children in Africa whose parents have died from AIDS. “The (AIDS) situation in South Africa, as most know, is horrific, with many communities creating a generation of orphans, robbed not just of their innocence, but of their chance for a healthy, vital future,” explains Om’s Chris Smith. “reBOOT is our attempt to humanize the problem of AIDS in Africa.”

There are a myriad of musical styles represented on reboot: From afro-beat, spoken word poetry and soulful house, to dub reggae and “Om” lounge-style downtempo.

Faithful

Lyrics from the amazing album Be By Common
Great insight, great for discussion with Young People …

I was rollin' around, in my mind it occurred
What if God was a her?
Would I treat her the same? Would I still be runnin' game on her?
In what type of ways would I want her?
Would I want her for her mind or her heavenly body?
Couldn't be out gettin' bogus with someone so godly
If I was wit' her would I still be wantin' my ex?
The lies, the greed, the weed, the sex
Wouldn't be ashamed to give her part of my check
Wearin' her cross, I mean the heart on my neck
Her I would reflect on the streets of the Chi'
Ride wit' her, 'cause I know for me she'd die
Through good and bad call on her like I'm chirpin' her
Couldn't be jealous 'cause other brothers worship her
Walk this earth for her, glory, I'm grateful
To be in her presence I try to stay faithful

Faithful to thee
Faithful to thee
Faithful to thee
I'd like to be her very best friend

What is God doing? - reflections on my last post

She is cartwheeling down our street, the colours of her dress are vibrant and eye catching

He is whispering to those who stop, “come closer if you dare”

They are celebrating, dancing, laughing, partying – why? ….. why ask why? ….. “just because” I hear them call

She holds the new born baby in her loving gaze and marvels at his beauty with the odour of lament for his future lost innocence rising to fill her consciousness.

He is waving at the Lost – “this way” he shouts with exuberance

They are mourning, weeping, for the situations that the headlines speak of both now and the forgotten, they cry also for the pain that never made the headlines but is felt so deeply in heaven and on earth.

With the chisels and sandpaper of a craftsman she is shaping the souls of her lovers, smoothing the painful roughness of life’s wear and tear. Chiselling and roughing up that which they have sort to smooth over with the intention of ‘being normal’.

Please add your own lines in the comments if you have spotted God recently.

What's going on?

As part if a prayerful reflection the leader asked us

‘What is God doing by his Spirit in your area?’

A simple question that could easily be forgotten, after all it wasn’t the first time I’ve heard it asked.
It has left me disorientated, searching, questioning…… how can I find out, what am I looking for.
My theology of God being at work by his spirit in my community, in the lives of the young people I work with, requires me to watch and follow. I often forget and end up stepping out, leading, running in to all kinds of otherness.
And so without having found the answers, but compelled by the search I ask you ………

‘What is God doing by his spirit in you area?’

Sigur Ros

Bunked off Church last night to see Sigur Ros play at Somerset House. First gig I’ve been to there and loved it! Small and intimate, beautiful and grand. Also the first time I’ve seen Sigur Ros. I went with some SR veterans and so had been educated in what to expect. Expectations were all realised as soon as I saw Guitars being played with cello bows, and a bass being played with a drum stick. All this came after the bands string quartet who did a few songs of their own which were just mad, fantastically mad …. One girl played the saw (yes a saw) with a bow whilst another played the wine glasses all filled with different amounts of water and perfectly in tune.

I love the innovation of musicians such as this. It was just a shame that their visuals didn’t reflect the experimentalism of their music.

Everything is quiet

The shock of yesterdays events is exclaimed in the stillness. 
Islington seems much quieter today.

Many still went to work and got on the number 30 bus near here.
Many haven’t, and this vacuum has created an unsettling stillness.

Last night I couldn’t sleep, it was too quiet. No traffic rushing passed our bedroom window, no sense of living in central London. It was like lying in the countryside ……. I like the city.

The noisy bin-men who throw the bins around amidst shouts and calls at 7.30am still came this morning but in silence and almost reverence. There is an air of respectfulness within the greater community.

James Meek has written a very good article for the Guardian on the events of the last couple of days, particularly of interest to me as he sets much of his article in our Islington locality. I live on Essex Road and shared that walk with many yesterday.