Netil Radio Weekly
#043
Words
Hello and welcome back,
It’s been more than three months - more than ninety days - simply far too long - that we’ve been in this arrogant, irrational and criminal war. Many have already forgotten about it, which is no surprise, considering that the European leader supporting Ukraine is Boris Johnson. There’s no point in even attempting to take him seriously. This tokenistic gesture is as much of a farce as everything else he does.
We are blissfully forgetting about the war over here on the island. Many EU leaders would love to be in this position, to get back to cheap gas and dirty money from Russia. We’ve now witnessed the Baltic States teaming up with Finland and Sweden - finally, someone is making a real effort to protect our values.
The war in Ukraine is not a battle between two rival countries. It’s not a defence from the “aggressive west.” It’s not “about Iraq” (or Afghanistan/Kosovo/Vietnam, though it’s not far off Palestine) and definitely not an denazification, whatever that means. The war in Ukraine is a war between two different systems which are about to evolve. On the western side is democracy: human rights, freedom of choice and democratic elections. On the eastern side, the autocracy is dismantling human rights to gain control, freedom of choice is regulated and democratic elections haven’t happened for decades.
So which world do we want to live in? The world where human life means nothing and anyone who has a different opinion is prosecuted? The alternative reality where everything is unquestionable and opposite to the truth?
Or, would we rather live in a world where nothing is perfect and everything is complicated? The world where we have freedom of choice, allowing us to make mistakes in elections, which we are able to analyse and learn from?
Since Brexit, aka the UK's internal attack on democracy aka attempt to hide world’s autocrats dirty money, we are starting to become apathetic and close-minded. We can’t see all the other attacks to dismantle democracy moving us towards eastern models. Baby autocrats like Priti Patel are very busy working on it while the public is busy with never ending partygates, porn in wrong places and Johnny Depp.
The pandemic is over, politicians are more arrogant than ever and it’s been a while since we protested, and there might not be much time until we lose this privilege of democracy. It’s time to face up to the hard part of living in reality - we have to do something.
While you’re dusting up your resistance skills, join us to celebrate 5 years of our existence. We will be celebrating the whole weekend on Netil Market, with an extended licence to chill.
Thank you for reading and stay connected,
Miro
Coming up
We’ve said enough about the birthday weekend, so here are the artists soundtracking the celebration:
✧ Vladimir Ivkovic & Cucina Povera ✧ Jaye Ward ✧ Mr Assister ✧ TSUNIMAN ✧ KT ✧ Tighten Up Crew ✧ Mari ✧ Precious & Lonnie Holley ✧ Brémond live ✧ Riovarni & CR Fredro ✧ Christina D ✧ Angel Hunt ✧ Sassy Wylie ✧ Sacha & Shano ✧ Patricia Doors ✧ Ollie Daniels ✧ Van Dyke Browne ✧ Seyi ✧ Jay Karim ✧ Shimmy ✧ OS Community Service ✧ eddyB ✧ Icarus Blue ✧ Dragos ✧ Peppino-I ✧ Sharifa Maria ✧ Orphic ✧ Tom ✧ Slauka ✧ + more
New Music
Tips from our residents, friends & family
BomboTropics / 3rd Saturday of the month 7-9pm
✧ Vega Trails - Tremors in the Static ✧ new collaborative musical project from Mammal Hands' (+ Netil Radio resident) Jordan Smart & double-bassist and composer Milo Fitzpatrick (Portico Quartet) - it's a beautiful recording, melodic & folkloric - there's so much space and clarity, it's really vivid music - the album has been a great soundtrack for slow & thoughtful spring mornings ..
✧ milo - so the flies don't come ✧ aka R.A.P. Ferreira, released 2015, beats by Kenny Segal - been listening to this a lot this last month or two, nutty rhymes & a nice vibe - yo milo, why do you always rap in passcodes?
✧ Meridian Brothers - Meridian Brothers & El Grupo Renacimiento - and looking forward to this release later in the year "Meridian Brothers & El Grupo Renacimiento' excavates the forgotten sounds of the fantastical 1970s salsa dura group El Grupo Renacimiento. The group identifies as “B-class” salsa whose music explores human struggles in the urban city landscape, with themes such as police brutality, social marginalisation, and addiction.."
Jelly Records stock check / 3rd Wednesday of the month 1-3pm
✧ Excursions in Gwoka Vol.1 ✧ Brasil Novo LP ✧ Saturno 2000 - La Rebajada De Los Sonideros 1962-1983 ✧
Makeda / Tracing Faces / 4th Monday of the month 3-5pm
✧ Nilufer Yanya - PAINLESS ✧ Samora Pinderhughes - GRIEF ✧ Obongjayar - Some Nights ✧
Poem
FLASHBACK LIKE A CARCRASH by Jack Coyle
in a car
or just solo
off a ledge
/
it makes you
appreciate
the way down
/
subtle and
fairly painless
in your sleep
/
hit the ground
once... on t.v.
where i’ll be
/
the backseats
within the tomb
grew older
and bringing
you warm frightening
peace is me
/
your chronic
catatonic
bystander
/
stuck in the
passenger seat
just watch me
/
comfort will
finally be
laid to rest
/
time to go
quickly, we start
from the top
/
a natural
drone, that of a
panda bear
/
you can’t pause
toast! let’s go out
with a bang!
/
after the
after-party
art to dust
/
now confined
architecture
/
where the beats
hit the masses
That’s all for this week
Stay Tuned
NR Team
London’s community voice, broadcast live from a converted shipping container atop of Netil Market - project facilitated and supported by Eat Work Art