Now the purists may feel post-humously betrayed by Bles’ foray into English music, but there are plenty of good reasons to buy the aptly titled English Album:
Too many people treat music like newspapers: rapidly consumed and thrown away without a thought for posterity and the bigger picture. Tragedy, say I. CDs are documents, they are stories about our past and present, and deserve a much longer shelf life.
The English Album may be a departure from Bles’ usual vernacular, but as a historical recording it says more about the South African music landscape than your Prime Circle CD ever will.
- Niel Bekker
- 1. For when the G-Unit comes over on Sunday (that’s grandparents, guys).
- 2. If you are the G-Unit.
- 3. To sell on Ebay in twenty years’ time. Bles is already worth up to $50 on vinyl.
- 4. To ward off the undead. Ghouls can’t slow dance.
- 5. To prove to your English relatives that you’re down with the language.
- 6. To woo die dames if you are sent back in time.
- 7. To ‘borrow’ style tips from the lover himself. Start with a faded green leather jacket.
- 8. If you hated The Platters’ inferior original version of “The Great Pretender” and you reckon Freddy Mercury is just a besembek wimp.
- 9. In case someone puts a gun to your head and says “prove you’re South African”.
- 10. Because Bles knows best.
Too many people treat music like newspapers: rapidly consumed and thrown away without a thought for posterity and the bigger picture. Tragedy, say I. CDs are documents, they are stories about our past and present, and deserve a much longer shelf life.
The English Album may be a departure from Bles’ usual vernacular, but as a historical recording it says more about the South African music landscape than your Prime Circle CD ever will.
- Niel Bekker