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10 out of 10
"During times of economic and political turmoil, we have always looked to our songwriters to unite us and give us a common voice for our frustration."
- Press release
Sleep Station is the alter-ego of David Debiak, who over the past seven years has released a succession of concept albums. From a robotics engineer falling in love with his creation to a narrative of World War II, Debiak has affirmed himself as an artist who can readily transmit and communicate ideas and experiences that are rarely put into words. His last record was entitled "The Pride of Chester James", a piano and acoustic-guitar-driven effort that was recorded over the course of three years in a basement with the use of vintage tape machines, Hammond organs, Rhodes, Wurlitzers and vintage amplifiers. The resulting recordings were described as being akin to The Decemberists, Bright Eyes, Ryan Adams, Elliot Smith, The Weakerthans and Bruce Springsteen,
Debiak has now released a follow up to "The Pride of Chester James", entitled "Blood Of Our Fathers". Debiak evidently has an activist streak in him as this record, which primarily deals with the conflict in Iraq, was an entirely self financed endeavour and is free for download for anyone, so long as they 'promise' to vote in the upcoming US presidential elections on November 4th.With regards to his inspiration for the record Debiak stated:
"I did a record a few years back called "After the War", It was about different people’s experiences during the Second World War. Somehow troops serving in Iraq got a hold of it and started emailing me some of the most touching words I’ve ever read."
[.]
"I wanted to reach out to people with these songs and maybe help convey some of those messages."
The result is akin to Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska"; stark and basic tracks that are never the less warm and intimate, possessing the burning spirit that typified Woody Guthrie's style of Protest Folk. Lyrically Debiak could be held contemporary to Eric Bachman (formerly of The Archers of Loaf), as a possible contender for being one of the true great song writers of our time. When it comes down to it spineless whimpering Ken dolls like James Blunt could never muster the integrity to write a record like "Blood Of Our Fathers", instead it is down the true great troubadours of our time, whose fame exists in the less well lit corners of popular culture, to put what many are feeling into words and music.
Debiak prowess as a story teller is good that at some points I questioned whether this was in actuality a pro-war record, the narratives and the opinions seeming so believable.
Was this record in fact a confederate flag waving declaration of Pax Americana?
No, but the songs are certainly convincing.
They do not merely contain the sentiments of those who oppose American's involvement in the Middle East. Instead they are the sentiments and beliefs of the war supporters being used against them. The record thus acts a vehicle for highlighting the absurdity, hypocrisy and harsh brutality of the whole debacle and it is these sentiments that make this both such a powerful and at the same time heart breaking record.
It consequently reminded me of the December 2006 edition of the National Geographic Magazine which featured an article entitled "Iraq War medicine". As the title suggests the piece was primarily about new medical technologies being used in the Iraqi front line to save the lives of wounded American soldiers. It was firstly telling of how disastrously uncritical the National Geographic can be of American foreign policy despite their readiness to judge other nation's governments on their actions at an international level, yet the real clincher came from the accounts of the young American men and women who believed they were partaking in a fair and just cause, being sent to the other side of the world to kill or maim people much like themselves and their brothers, sisters, fathers, fathers, grand parents, sons and daughters, consequently been maimed in the ensuing bloodshed. These young patriots had been told they were doing the just thing and once placed in the eye of the storm they could not possibly second guess what the propaganda they had been fed. Their only choice was to cling onto the belief that this was not a mistake, even when they were lying in a hospital ward for amputees. The over all atmosphere of the Debiak's record is filled with the background noise of these tragedies, repeating over and over the tag line that accompanied Oliver Stone's 1986 film 'Platoon':
"The first casualty of war is innocence"
Of the actual songs on the record I will say little as they speak for themselves far better than I could ever hope to. As it is free for download I will only mention what I feel to be the stand out tracks and encourage you to go and download it for yourself (http://www.eyeballrecords.com/release/390).
"Can’t Shake This Town" pulses with a dark energy in its palm muted verses, yet breaks into brightly strummed choruses. It is vengeful tale of a small town and its pressures digging in deep. The title track "Blood Of Our Fathers" has a haunting, almost whispered beginning and masterful imagery. Yet "America" is the real winner of the record and probably best epitomises the overall intent; it sounds like a good ol' boy Country ballad, waving the stars and stripes in the face of the world, yet it's lyrics reveal how scathing a commentary it actually is, "Thank the heavens we've restored their faith, America has come to make you safe."
The steel guitar drawls in time with smart bombs slamming into weddings processions, artillery barrages levelling orphanages, while young Christians and Muslims blow each other to pieces for no good reason. The feverish patriotism, misdirected faith and the deep rooted belief that restoring peace can only be achieved with the aid of an automatic rifle; all of this and more echoes within Debiak's words. "Love used to grow" is a tale of a soldier trying to rehabilitate himself into civilian life, to learn to be 'normal' again and most importantly learning to love and not to hate, yet constantly being haunted by painful and horrific memories that have put a lock on his heart. "Brownstone mill" is a final longing for home, distant dreams and half forgotten memories of people and places lost amidst the turmoil of warfare at the dawn of the 21st century.
Debiak's record stands out as an instance of brave socio-political commentary and masterful song writing. It manages to truly capture the essence of our troubled times.
Once again, download it now.
Listen : www.myspace.com/sleepstation
Tracklist:
1. Brothers
2. Can’t Shake This Town
3. Blood of Our Fathers
4. Dream of Mary
5. America
6. Leads Back Home
7. I’ve Been Blind Enough To See
8. Where Love Used To Grow
9. Shadow of The Guns
10. Oh Mary
11. Brownstone Mill
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