'Inviting the Light' – Patrick Jones
patrickjones3.bandcamp.com/

‘Inviting the Light is a journey through the immortal soil crossing the infinite sea where swimming brings fear as the door to new dawns and pain transforms in strength and human scars into shields with Palestinian lost eyes far in the sky watched by a traveler soul glued to his mother’s skirt and his penknife without letting them go.’

Jose Cifuentes, Chilean exile

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If nothing else, perhaps the past weeks have taught us to value the power of words and their allies in music.

The loss in close succession of Shane MacGowan, Benjamin Zephaniah and R*E*P*E*A*T collaborator Combat Tim ruthlessly beats home both the transience of life, but also the lasting, inspiring, motivating power of art. These three creatives used their lyrics, both with and without the uplifting alliance of music, to make the world a better place, and we and the world are all better off for their creations.

 

Perfect timing then to appreciate, value, enjoy and spread the word about Patrick Jones' new and timely hybrid collection of poems with music, 'Inviting the Light'. This comprises a physical booklet of poems that explores grief, loss, healing, gratitude, resilience, awe and transformation, alongside a digital album release with the words set to ear catching music created by two exciting young musicians, Ethan Jones and James Jones. Both formats work together to increase the poignancy, power and impact of the bundle.

“To sing.
Just. For. The. Singing”

I love the way the booklet is set out: DIY, typewriter font, nothing allowed to distract from the words, recalling Patrick's earliest work with an added impact that comes from experience, empathy, understanding, concision and interaction. Turning each page is an addictive act of discovery as each poem, each phrase, each word, screams silently and eloquently for attention. And then they're each given new animation by their musical accompaniment : imaginative, modern, unexpected and gripping, feedback counterpointing cellos, rock guitar berating electronic beats, all inflecting each poem with a new way to be appreciated.

“Holes can be healing”.

Themes personal and political mingle, clutch and capture each other, the one being stronger for the other. Patrick is no elevated ivory tower artist but an activist poet, involved in the anti racist and pro Palestinian struggles (amongst others); alive to the miseries of the world, he will not let them rest. His pieces about personal loss, including two which happen to be amongst my favourites of his recent work “You (For My Father)” and “Marcescence in Spring (For my Mother)”, gain added impetus by their juxtaposition with political themes, underlining the profound truth that “a way out is also a way in”.

What a perfect read to start a new year. Love as an act of resistance. Inviting in the light. Poems which carry tomorrow in their today.

“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”

Rosey R*E*P*E*A*T

The booklet and album are available separately or as a bundle. Limited to 200 copies each numbered and signed.50 % of proceeds will be donated to Unicef Gaza Emergency Appeal.
https://patrickjones3.bandcamp.com/album/inviting-the-light

Ethan Jones plays Swansea Elysium with his band on February 17th, tickets here

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