Om Shiva Shankara Hari Hari Ganga!

Cannabis or ganja is associated with worship of the Hindu deity Shiva, who is popularly believed to like the hemp plant. Cannabis is offered to Shiva images, especially on Shivratri festival. This practice is particularly witnessed at the temples of Benares, Baidynath, & Tarakeswar.

Cannabis is not only offered to Shiva, but also consumed by Shaivite yogis. Ganja is smoked by some Shaivite devotees & cannabis itself is seen as a gift (prasad or offering) to Shiva to aid in sadhana (spiritual exercise). In India, the Aghora sect of Tantra & a significant section of Shaivite Tantrics ritually partake of marijuana as part of their sadhana. Some of the wandering ascetics in India known as sadhus smoke ganja out of a clay chillum.

& what does he feel when he is on such a high? Madhusudan closes his eyes in bliss as he recalls:

"We all know that God resides everywhere. But we see Him in bits & pieces. Cannabis makes me see God in His entirety. It is a sight of such unalloyed joy that tears well up in my eyes."

Ganga – Les Musiques du Gange 3xCD, Virgin Classics, 1998.
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CD1 – The Himalayas to the Eternal City (Gomuk to Benares)

Tracklist –

Mantras (The Magical Formulas of Wandering Monks

The Bells of Gangotri

The Legend of the Ganges

Pungi (The Snake-charmer’s Tune)

Upanishad (Vedic Chants)

Dhol (Divali Percussion at Haridwar)

Nautanki (Popular Theater at Kanpur)

Triveni (at Allahabad)

Ode (to Ganja)

The Bride’s Farewell

Kajari (at Mirzapur)

Nirgun Pad (at Varanasi)

Hori (Raga Kafi)

CD2 – The cities of Shiva in the heart of Bihar (Benares to Jahangira)

Tracklist –

Hanuman Arati (Nocturnal Rite for the Monkey God)

Birha (Portrait of Shiva)

Pachra (Dedicated to Ganja)

Khari Birba (Washerman’s Song)

Kevat Ka Sohar (Boatman’s Song)

Kilona (Song for Children)

Banni Mata Ka Geet (Ceremony of Possession)

Karikha Lal (Tantric Rite)

Sohar (Propitiatory Rite)

Kohbar (Fertility Rite)

Ropni Geet (Seedtime Song)

Kajri Dhun (Shahnai Tune for Dawn)

CD3 – Doorway to Bouches Bengal Ganges (Patna to Calcutta)

Tracklist –

Domui (Wedding Song)

Jatsar (Milling Song)

Viva Geet (Song for the Young Married Couple)

Lori (Cradle Song)

Hori Jogira ( Song for the Festival of Colors)

Ma Melinir Gaan (Maidens’ Song)

Patar Banshi (Karamsha Leaf Solo)

O Doyal (Wandering Bard’s Song)

Manush (Baul Song)

Bhatiyali (Boatman’s Song)

Murshidi (Mystic Minstrel)

Bhashan (excerpt from The Behula Legend)

Kali Kirtana (Devotional Music for the Goddess of Destruction)

Bam Bam Bholanath!

NØ

Any Questions?

For those of you not sure about the plant from Outer Space, here's some handy information.

In the words of DJ Madlib:

"aka Son of Super Ape...All Jamaican sounds: Dub. Roots. Reggae. Good stuff as I would say…a musical disc from the flick of the wrist to make you jump & twist."

Madlib – Madlib Medicine Show No. 4: 420 Chalice All-Stars, Madlib Invasion, 2010.
decryption code in comments

Tracklist –

What Are The Medical Benefits Of Smoking Marijuana?

What Are The Negative Risks Of Smoking It?

What Alternatives Are There To Smokings?

Are A Lot Of Pesticides On Pot?

Where Is All This Pot Coming From?

So What Does The Law Say About These Dispensaries And Their Various Pot Products?

How Much Pot Am I Allowed To Have At One Time?

How Do I Get A Prescription?

Will My Name End Up On Some DEA List?

FYI,

NØ

Happy Birthday Bernie Sanders...Socialist Dub

Back on August 26 I started wading through a folder I had gathering dust called "Musick that Needs Work". I've managed to get nine artists straightened or 'worked' out so as far as TCB, so good. Now I got to the letter E just in time for this week-end’s Dub Excursion.

Featuring an all star cast of heavy JA Dubmeisters: Radcliffe 'Duggie' Bryan & Willie Lindo – guitar; Robbie Shakespeare – bass & guitar; Ansel Collins, Earl 'Wire' Lindo, Harold Butler, & Winston Wright – keyboards; Cedric 'Im' Brooks & Dean Fraser – tenor saxophone; 'Deadley' Headley Bennett & Herman Marquis – alto saxophone; Bobby Ellis, Clive Hunt, & David Madden – trumpet; Nambo & Vin 'Don D Jr' Gordon – trombone; Bertram 'Ranchie' McLean – bass; Count Ossie, Harry Powell, & Uziah 'Sticky' Thompson – percussion; Michael 'Mickey Boo' Richards & Sly Dunbar – drums.

Recorded at Arthur 'Duke' Reid's Treasure Isle Studios & Channel One. Produced by S.E. Pottinger. Mixed by Duke's nephew Errol Brown at Treasure Isle (except track 1-5 mixed by Geoffrey Chung).

Errol Brown presents Dub Over Dub: 27 Track Dub Extravaganza 2xCD,
Heartbeat Records CDHB202/203, 1996.
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Tracklist –

CD 1 –

Sly Special

Revelation Chapter One

Jah Caught Them Dub

Falling in Dub

Woman Iron Rock

Black Cat Version

Over Dub

Dub Outta Control

Dub & Harmony

Love Dub

Strictly Roots

Su Su Mouth

Forward in Dub

Downtown Rock

CD 2 –

Lion Dub

Dub in Peace

Phase One Special

A Living Dub

Shy Nation Skank

Peace & Inity

Dub it in a Dreamland

Chatty Dub

This Yah Dub

Winning Version

Dub Walla

Ital Dub

Socialist Dub

I & I will vanquish Babylon. Truss me,
NØ

From Mike to Dot --- Microdot --- Trip-pop

Dot Allison is a Scottish singer/songwriter. In addition to solo ventures, Allison's career path has also concentrated on collaborative efforts. She has worked with Scott Walker, Massive Attack, Paul Weller, Hal David, Arab Strap, Mick Harvey, Pascal Gabriel, Kevin Shields, Pete Doherty, Xenomania, & Gary Mounfield.

My first exposure to Ms. Allison was when she was fronting the band One Dove in the early 1990s. Although often referred to as a dance act, One Dove's sound was actually characterized by primarily electronic textures with heavy processing influenced by laid back Jamaican Dub & Eno-esque ambience.

One Dove – Morning Dove White, FFRR 162351042-2, 1993.
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Tracklist –

Fallen

White Love (Guitar Paradise mix)

Breakdown (Cellophane Boat mix)

The Goes the Cure (w/Jah Wobble – bass)

Sirens

(The Transient) Truth

My Friend

Why Don’t You Take Me

White Love (piano reprise)

White Love (radio mix)

Breakdown (radio mix)

In 1999 Allison released her debut solo album Afterglow. It is a song-oriented pop CD. Allison penned 7 of the 11 tracks on her debut release.

Dot Allison – Afterglow, Arista 07822-16600-2, 1999.

Tracklist –

Colour Me

Tomorrow Never Comes

Close Your Eyes

Message Personnel

I Wanna Feel the Chill

Morning Sun

Did I Imagine You?

Mo' Pop

Alpha Female

In Winter Still

Message Personnel (Arab Strap remix)

It was followed by the electro & house music inspired We Are Science in 2002. On this, her sophomore effort, Dot wrote all the songs.

Dot Allison – We are Science, Mantra Recordings MNTCD 1028, 2002.

Tracklist –

We’re Only Science

Substance

You Can be Replaced

Performance

Wishing Stone

Make it Happen

Strung Out

I Think I Love You

Hex

Lover

Substance (Felix Da Housecat remix)

We’re Only Science (Slam remix)

Enjoy,

NØ

Fire & Brimstone

On a previous post, Light, Traps & Exploding Wires I posted up the LT&EW album by Juan Maciel aka Naux. On that album on guitar & bass was one Mike Allison. On that post, I wrote: “Mike Allison continues recording today under the moniker Darshan Ambient…”

Today’s D is Darshan Ambient.

Michael Allison had been playing & composing music since the age of 16.  His humble beginnings started in high school as lead singer for the musical Brimstone in the Central Valley town of Modesto, California. At the age of 17 he joined the Los Angeles-based band Skyway. They toured the South & the Pacific North West. Soon after they disbanded, Allison formed a life long friendship with Naux (Juan Maciel) playing in such bands as: Nona Hendryx & Zero Cool (in the early 80s, Nona Hendryx fronted her own progressive art rock group, Zero Cool, which included guitarist Naux, & bassist Michael Allison); Richard Hell & the Voidoids (the Destiny Street sessions featured guitarist Naux & bassist Mike Allison); & China Shop (founded by Naux & Steve Cohen with Richard Edson & Michael Allison as members) in New York City.

In 1984, Allison formed his own band Empty House playing to very enthusiastic crowds in places like CBGB's, TRAX, & The Pyramid Club (where they were the house band performing every Tuesday night).  However, it was through his connection with Naux that Michael began composing music fusing ambient & jazz influences from Brian Eno to Miles Davis.

In 1992, having moved to San Francisco, he began a solo career writing and recording music that soon became  known as Darshan Ambient; releasing several critically acclaimed albums such as Providence, The Zen Master's Diary,  Autumn's Apple,  re: Karma,   From Pale Hands To Weary Skies,  A Day Within Days and Dream In Blue. Allison's music has been used in films, documentaries and television commercials.

Darshan Ambient – Autumn’s Apple, Lotuspike LS-002, 2004.
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Tracklist –

Azure Day

Deep Garden

Pastorale

Acre of Sun

Sea Stars for Tristen

Rain Parade

Pebble in My Shoe

Autumn’s Apple

Man in the Window

Enjoy,

NØ

NOTE:

Right after I posted this, a friend of mine emailed me requesting the China Shop compilation (contains the 1981 Condensed Records China Shop – Atomic Notions EP & 17 previously unreleased tracks).

Steve Cohen (founding member of China Shop) said...

"I'm Steve Cohen. After meeting Naux at the Soho Music Gallery, we started China Shop together. Originally with Richard Edson, who went on to play with Sonic Youth & Konk, before his acting ship came in with Jim Jarmusch’s movie Stranger than Paradise. As for 21 Puffs on the Cassette Masters. Anthology is on hiatus (the company that was selling downloads of 21 Puffs, Anthology Recordings, has since scrubbed their website), so it's ok with me if you'd like to post the entire thing. "

So here it is…

China Shop – 21 Puffs on the Cassette Masters, Anthology Recordings, 2008.

Tracklist –

Fraction of a Second
Monkey Talk (EP track A1)
Newer Homes
Think too Much
Trotoria
KowTow (EP track B1)
If It’s New (EP track B2)
Seems Waiting
Vicious
Walk on Lighting (EP track A2)
Rejection
Atlantis
Time Zones
Nothing
Unsinkable
Fatherless Poems
Vampire Song
Vacation Time
Million Names of God
The Heartache
Vanishing Point

Enjoy,
NØ

The Killer

Dakila was a San Francisco band composed mostly of Filipino-Americans. They began their career as an early Santana cover band called Soul Sacrifice. As Dakila, they were an excellent Latin rock/jazz band with original material sung in English, Tagalog & Spanish.

Dakila – Dakila, Epic KE 31756, 1972.
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Side A –

Makibaka / Ikàlat

Persiguiendo

Make Me a Man

Side B –

Gòzala

El Dùbi

Searchin’ for My Soul

Oye com ova,

NØ