When I was at university a couple of years ago there was a big debate between different members of the teaching staff over elements of Marxist theory. Which is the more pertinent element of the theory, exploitation or alienation? Some liked the work of Guy Debord and Walter Benjamin and the idea that capitalism creates a world of illusion, an enchanting wonderland of fashions and glittering trinkets which help separate us from our fellow human, whilst others thought this irrelevant in the face of the real exploitation of the world's poor for the benefit of the world's rich.Of course the world is never so simple as such false dichotomies would suggest. The spectacle is necessary so that the exploitation can be perpetuated, and the spectacle must be brighter and more encompassing as the exploitation intensifies.
What does all this have to do with this week's charity shop musical 'bargain' you may ask. Well not much would be my answer, other than that this group of Venezualan musicians were part of the Nueva Cancion (new song) movement that swept Central and South America in the 1970s and '80s. Music was used as a form of immediate mass communication to express ideas that were in opposition to the views of the repressive, right wing regimes that were being installed and supported by the US government across the continent. This music expressed the feelings of the people, of the workers, and was considered dangerous enough to warrent repression in many South American countries, and many songwriters and musicians were harrassed, beaten and forced into exile.
Check out these great recordings from the 1983 Nicaraguan peace concerts for a good overview of the Nueva Cancion movement.
Tracklist:
01 Es Mi Viejo
02 Canto a mi Pueblo
03 Mi Canto
04 Cancion Por Il Fusil Y La Flor
05 Ay Que Si, Ay Que No
06 Algo Diario
07 Cristo al Servicio de Quien
08 Juventud Adelante
09 El Campesino
10 Eres Asi
Get it HERE.
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