Guitars & Birds & Freedom

Episode 9 explored the nature of freedom by reading the bird poems (sprung-rhythm Petrarchan sonnets) of 19th Century Jesuit monk Gerard Manley Hopkins with some ground-breaking solo improvizations from the late British guitarist Derek Bailey. Added to the mix were some Zappa, Hendrix, and several tracks from DOA's 2008 release Northern Avenger, named after Joe Keithley's guitar.

AS a dare-gale skylark scanted in a dull cage
Man’s mounting spirit in his bone-house, mean house, dwells—
That bird beyond the remembering his free fells;
This in drudgery, day-labouring-out life’s age.

Though aloft on turf or perch or poor low stage,
Both sing sometímes the sweetest, sweetest spells,
Yet both droop deadly sómetimes in their cells
Or wring their barriers in bursts of fear or rage.

(Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1877)

Part 1

1. This Machine Kills Fascists – DOA
2. intro -- M1 – Derek Bailey
3. Human Bomb – DOA
4. Naval Aviation in Art? – Frank Zappa
5. Theme from Captain Black – James Blood Ulmer
6. M2 – Derek Bailey -- As Kingfishers Catch Fire – Gerard Manley Hopkins
7. Revealing – James Blood Ulmer
8. Set Them Free – DOA
9. M6 – Derek Bailey -- The Sea and the Skylark – Hopkins
10. Golden State – DOA

Part 2

1. But Who Was Fulcanelli? – Frank Zappa
2. Flux Capacitor - The Surfadelics
3. M5 – Derek Bailey -- The Windhover - Gerard Manley Hopkins
4. Woodstock Improvization – Jimi Hendrix
5. Last Chance – DOA
6. M7 – Derek Bailey -- The Caged Skylark - Gerard Manley Hopkins
7. California Hardcore Last Chance - DOA
8. M8 – Derek Bailey
9. Villanova Junction – Jimi Hendrix
10. For Duane – Frank Zappa -- outro