Long Distance Runner

“Morphic resonance is a term coined by Rupert Sheldrake  in his 1981 book A New Science of Life. He uses the expression to refer to what he thinks is “the basis of memory in nature….the idea of mysterious telepathy-type interconnections between organisms and of collective memories within species.” 

I was thinking about BNC tonight, Thinking “jeez, they’ve invited me in with open arms and here’s me with nothing worthy to talk about”. Then Benny happened. He happened to me through “a social networking site” and reminded me that I’d taken the blood oath of BNC (“cut the sides don’t touch the back”) and I hadn’t put out yet. Why wasn’t I putting out? So here I am, increasingly convinced about morphic reasonance and putting out, as it were.

It’s weird being back here in the innards of The BNC site, kinda like they’ve left the side door open and I’ve just wandered on through. Even though I’ve been invited in, and I’m currently sitting on my floor in Rotorua, It feels strangely eerie. First off, I’d like to say that I’m somewhat humbled and embiggened (J Springfield) by the glowing introduction that Mr Storer dropped on y’all recently. Here it is again if you didn’t catch it the first time

“NZud Rotorvegas local, and full time SS’er Matty Rayment is a good bloke. He rides a rigid 29er, plays punk music and likes drinking beer. ”

At the risk of appearing somewhat of a fraud I feel I should clear some things up. The first part up to being a good bloke is all true. Yup, all-single-all-rigid-all-29er-all-the-time. Okay, I’m a good bloke as well. The second part, well… I used to play in a punk band, but they moved overseas. And then I moved from the smoke to here…By this time having sold all my gear to buy bikes. I also work, study and have a family. As for the Rotorua punk scene? Hmmmmm. Not so much. I don’t like drinking beer. I love it. Jesus, I adore beer. But I don’t drink it much anymore for a mix of reasons, the main one being my kids don’t give a fuck if I’m hung over or not ” It’s six AM, and we’d like breakfast, please”.  Sounds pretty sad don’t it? I do however ride my bike a whole lot, think about why I (We) ride a whole lot and think about (and listen to) music a whole lot. I do race (after a fashion, mainly against the clock) and feel somewhat out of step with other’s at events (is it because I’m medicore? maybe…)I also believe that riding bikes and music, “punk” music if you will are intrinsically linked.

BNC and I were meant to be together. I love the “everyone welcome” ethos and the apparent (distinct) lack of pretension. What grabbed me initially though, was that the kit that Benny was sporting at the NZud SS champs had a record label on it. Right on the chest. A DIY record label at that.  You had me at Hello.

Which lead me to think about the ‘scene’ (be it music or bikes) and all this talk of the DIY, the independent and the generally more thinking man’s (or woman’s) approach to life and how to live it. When I get down this track I’m always drawn to what is, in my opinion the pinnacle of independence, the DIY and the resistance of the thought that “one good idea sandwiched between ten thousand bad ideas will translate”. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you Dischord Records. Soak it up.

Out of all this glorious, riotous clamour and hiss, the rage and noble stupidity one band for me stands above all. Fugazi. And out of their catalogue, one record stands above all others (for me). It is my number one bike riding-est record of all time. RED MEDICINE.

Red Medicine was recorded by Fugazi in January 1995 and released on the above Dischord records on June 12 1995. There were no singles off the album (Fugazi don’t play that) No Videos (see former). I vividly remember the first time I heard Guy Picciotto  sing “You should pay rent/in my mind/say like the french say/bonsoir regrete” It floored me, and my path was pretty much set from then on.  

Fourteen years later, that song, “Do You Like Me?” remains the most romantic thing I have ever heard, and when Brendan Canty’s bell and the Dictaphone mic guitar squall that opens the song hit every single time I get that same thrill. It helps to let me know that I am alive. On the bike this record helps me up the hills,(and down them for that matter) . Ian Mackaye’s harmonised cries of “I don’t wanna be defeated” during Bed For The Scraping gets me to the church on time. 

In short, the record is big, sexy, strident, noisy, dynamic, affirming and intelligent. You’ll read a lot of stuff about how this album was their move from “hardcore” to “art rock”, and yes.. if you wish to put some labels on it that make this stuff easier to disseminate then yeah, I guess. To me, it sounds like people making something that was great and exactly what they wanted to make. Two very precious commodities in today’s day and age. This was a record that was released independently by a band that put on their own (exclusively all ages) shows, didn’t sell merch…. hell, they didn’t even have a light show. They believed all that stuff detracted from the music.  

This is an album that starts all sexy, gets loud(er) goes noisy in the middle (Joe Lally’s contribution, my number one bass playing man crush idol ever), then there’s a dubbed out sax instrumental, then finishes on an upward tragectory that STILL TODAY, RIGHT NOW AS I TYPE (I got it on the headphones) MAKES ME WANT TO INTERNET SHOUT, RUN AROUND, KICK THE TV WITH BOTH FEET AND JUMP OUT THE WINDOW (in a good way).  I can’t do it. I’m sorry, I tried not to but I’ve degenerated into an almost evangelical rant, but sod it to hades, I’m amongst friends, right?

SO…

I emplore you . Listen to Fugazi. Find some (here’s a clue. ITunes) put it on and go for a ride. or a walk, or sit down and listen to it. If you don’t know them (and/or you think that Blink 182 invented Hardcore in 1998) It will present a different (and hopefully refreshing) way of thinking about how music/art/bikes/whatever is presented. If you do like it, hopefully it will become a new soundtrack to your ride (It’s pretty much the soundtrack to my life), it lends itself well to scenery. If you don’t like it, hopefully it will challenge you a little, give you pause, and make you think. If you do know Fugazi (and I believe that many o’ the BNC’ers do) put ‘em on anyway. Treat yourself.

This post might make you think about “what does Fugazi have to do with Bikes?” “how does this relate?” “ Where’s the red ano?” “Who the fuck is this guy anyhow?” But, you know what? It just does, in my mind it fully relates. To me riding bikes and music/art like Fugazi is about thinking about things a bit more, and thinking about things a bit differently. Look at this site, the inclusive nature of BNC (another precious commodity in a sport which is known for it’s Internecine bloodletting) Then look at a band like Fugazi and tell me there is no commonality there. Thinking rules, thinking about stuff differently rules (and is challenging and scary at times). Arriving at one new thing, i.e. Fugazi#, a different bike, be it fixed, free, geared, single, cruiser, downhill or cross will hopefully lead to other new things. And by doing new things we’ll learn and grow. Awesome. 

#Or anything else for that matter.