Fiver - Soundtrack to A More Radiant Sphere : The Joe Wallace Mixtape '2022

Tracks list

       “I’ve never written seductive poetry and I have never
written for money. I had an ideal for my poetry. I tried to write things which
would stir people to think and to act. And I feel that it is a responsibility
and I’ve always had that attitude towards it. I’m no longer
interested in myself as far as that’s concerned. I’m interested in
poetry. I rejoice when I see it spreading, where it does spread, if it does
spread. Whether my name is attached to it, it concerns me little or none, none
at all.” - Joe Wallace

This collection of songs and instrumentals were prompted by filmmaker Sara
Wylie, who asked me in 2019 if I might contribute to her film “A More
Radiant Sphere” by choosing five of her great uncle Joe Wallace's poems to
make into song. Wylie’s film explores the historical record and looks at
the way in which Canadian communists like Wallace are largely erased from
popular accounts of the settler state’s formation and body politic.

Born in 1890, Joe Wallace was a poet, a communist and a political prisoner. An
ardent catholic, by all accounts he devoted the same quality of faith to his
communist beliefs. Wallace wasn’t celebrated for his poetry in Canada -
in fact much of his poetry was dismissed for its style by his more renowned
contemporaries like Milton Acorn and Northrop Frye. But he was the most popular
Canadian poet in Eastern Europe and in China from the 1950’s until after
his death in 1975.

I have always felt a song is worth singing for what wisdom one can discover
through its repetition, be that in beauty, prayer or, in time, prophecy. To me,
much of Wallace’s verse is blunt and lacks understanding of nuance, not
unlike some communist thought. But some of his pieces were deeply resonant, and
those were the ones that, when their metre provided, I chose to adapt to song.
Your Arm Is Strong Enough reminds me of the anti-american Canadian nationalism
so common to the leftists of my father’s generation (and still many
contemporary Canadian socialists) who at once reject American imperialism and
make a nation out of Canada while eliding its colonialism. Sacco & Vanzetti is
named for the italian anarchists who were charged and unfairly tried for murder
but really for their political alignments. That said, the poem doesn’t
tell the story of their trial at all, but instead expresses the passion found in
solidarity with one's political idols. I am particularly grateful that one of
the greatest living fiddlers, John Showman, graced this track with his genius.
He also plays on “The Dream We Shared.” That one is a steep lament
and perfect break up song for a movement at the moment when the collective
vision is lost. I chose Working Class Coinage for its play with form and imagery
and drew, melodically, from my own experience of Catholic hymns. To me, the most
prescient of all is Song of the Mournful Millionaire whose verse could have been
written today if it weren’t for inflation, and which I’ll dedicate
to all the space exploring perverts out there, including Elon Musk and Richard
Bronson. The second half of this collection are instrumental variations on the
melodic themes introduced in the first songs. Nick Dourado (piano, lap steel),
Nathan Doucet (percussion) and I composed them to accompany “A More
Radiant Sphere”. I couldn’t ask for more responsive players.

Thanks to Gavin Gardiner who recorded it and then mixed it with me.

- Simone Schmidt 

Voice & Guitar : Simone Schmidt
Piano & Lap Steel : Nick Dourado
Percussion : Nathan Doucet
Fiddle : John Showman

Tracklist:
1 01. Fiver - Your Arm Is Strong Enough (01:27)
1 02. Fiver - Sacco & Vanzetti (01:38)
1 03. Fiver - Song of the Mournful Millionaire (01:40)
1 04. Fiver - Working Class Coinage (01:29)
1 05. Fiver - Rosemary & Rue (01:44)
1 06. Fiver - Golden Guests (02:00)
1 07. Fiver - Too Far, Too Fair (01:41)
1 08. Fiver - If It Does Spread (01:22)
1 09. Fiver - Cargo Of Hollywood Stars (01:13)
1 10. Fiver - Stuff My Vaults (01:32)
1 11. Fiver - Wallace Goes To Russia (03:03)
1 12. Fiver - Drink Less Champagne (01:20) 

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