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On 14
April, 2000, I travelled to record a `calling to prayer`
at a mosque in Croydon. I went by bus (using a half-price
pass) to compare the cost and trouble with that of going
by train. During that seemingly long journey, I thought
of the last time I traversed that same route in early
1978, under Ken Livingstones GLC London Transport, zonal
`Flat Fare Scheme`. At
the mosque prayer was called especially for myself in
a back office. Apart from the phone ringing, this turned
out to be a lot quieter than expected.
I was in a philosophical mind after that engagement:- |
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When walking along Croydon High Street,
by some ambient serendipity, someone approached asking if I wanted
the London Mayoral Candidate Ken Livingstone`s autograph. My reply
was something like, "even better, I`ll interveiw him".
I got out my Mini-Disc recorder and turned it on. Ken Livingstone
was already answering the publics questions, so I just listened.
Standing there with recorder and mini-mike in one
hand, and sipping a can of Tennent`s Super with the other, it wasn`t
very long before Mr Livingstone turned away from his interrogators
to ask me (as can heard in the music), "Are you recording all
of my words for posterity"?, "oh yeah" was my immediate,
affirmative reply.
After the "Mayor to be" left the scene
with his entourage civilisé, I recorded a municipal drum
band further up the street, and some sounds from Surrey St. Market.
I used the samples, and the inspiration of meeting him to create
a piece of music. Which was sent a week later addressed to:- The
Peoples Mayor, Ken Livingstone. I have worked on the music since
By the time I got a (signed for) reply 11 weeks
later Mr Livingstone actually was the Mayor, so he maybe didn`t
hear the tape sent to him. Just in case, I e-mailed a hyperlink
to this page to his office on the Bank Holiday 31 May 2004. The
page received a hit the next morning. No comment was left, but,
you never know.
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