“…it’s gonna be a strange year, I can feel it in my bones…”

Last year was a telling time for me. Certain things came to a head, ended… and so began a new phase. By the end of the year, during the time ‘The Pros and Cons…’ was being released, I had written a heap of new material. All of which came to me without any conscious thought, it was a straight forward reaction to particular events that had occurred and how I felt toward them – cold and clear consequences that crashed down and revealed reality.

From black to white – self-centred storm dweller turned horizon wide human. Illusions shattered. By November 2010, clarity had made its presence very known to me, for the first time in many, many years. By January 2011 I had been re-accquainted with the observatory perch that I had once occupied, from which I had fallen sometime back in 2005.

Until now, my albums have been co-produced with the assistance and support of The Murderbirds and other talented folk such as Jim Riley, Julian Whitfield and Barrie Guard. Any efforts of mine to produce material completely by myself have only ever appeared as b-sides, free downloads, and on collections such as ‘Old Books …’ and ‘Original Sins’. When it came to these new songs, their very nature insisted that I approach them alone.  Thus, with all I had to hand, I set about putting together my first ‘proper’ collection of home-recordings.

In the domestic setting of my front room, February and March saw these 11 tracks move from conception to birth. I had no endgame in mind. Each of these songs led me wherever they wanted to go. I fed them exactly what they wanted to the best of my abilities, giving myself to them without questioning their intention. It was an enlightening process, albeit frightening all the same. For the vocals, however, I required the assistance of Jim Riley. So in the first turns of April I went to Ranscombe Studios and in one hazy day laid down the lead vocals before returning to my front room and mixing the material. As quick as the change in me had first occurred, this record had been completed.

The title of this album, ‘WAITING FOR THE POST-MAN‘, is taken from a poem and painting by my good brother, artist and poet, The MRS. I got the next best thing to his own permissive blessing for use of this title, so I thank his mother very much for that. This album will be released by Beast Reality on Monday 20th June. Further information on content and format will be provided shortly and pre-orders will be accepted prior to the release date.

All the best, Lupen Crook

Update: the album can now be ordered from the website shop.

Hey all. Hope this finds you well. Myself and Hg have been busy sorting out the next release via Beast Reality. News of that will be coming pretty shortly. Went back down to Medway this week, showcased my new material for the first time supporting Smoke Fairies at the splendid Royal Function Rooms (see a review here).

Beforehand I guided Hg around the mean streets of my beloved home town – he got behind the lens and took some new press shots of this scrappy old face of mine. We also shot some video footage in the places I used to pluck away and lose days – the haunted areas which are documented on my forthcoming release – Chatham’s dirty mile and other main veins that run like rats through the towns.

Next week I’ll be heading down to Margate to play at Dean Fragile’s venue, celebrating the 1st birthday of ‘The Bracket’. Rare performances from my good f(r)iends Wolfgang Riot and Boat of Garten (previously of Sparrows and Screaming Keith), so expect the raw and uncensored of whatever goes on in their head – we’ll find out.

Currently one of Chatham’s best bands, Theatre Royal will be playing as well, check out my favourite song of theirs in the video below or follow this link to hear their debut album and find out more about what they are up to. Jake Boyd will also be performing, so all in all its gonna be sweet night – all going on at The Bracket in Margate next Wednesday – 1st June, from 8pm onwards. Its FREE ENTRY. Gonna be wicked.

A few years back, the man I now know as Hg eerily walked towards me and threw words over tongue in the way of conversation. One of the many things we discussed was my artwork. What Hg suggested was a website to showcase this work, and though I nodded in agreement, we were soon distracted by other crooked items of interest. Nevertheless, the idea continued to linger and in the first few months of this year the time finally felt right to make good that intention.

For the last few months Hg has been building blocks out of binary codes, creating a spider web fit for this job. Meanwhile, I’ve been gathering the real-life evidence. I’m excited to say that www.brokenarts.co.uk is now live!

I think Hg has done a sweet job, so a massive thanks to him, and I really do hope you all enjoy the artwork on show. Let me know your thoughts and feelings in the website’s GUESTBOOK, I’d love to hear from you! Information regarding every piece of art can be found at the bottom of each image. All work is for sale unless otherwise stated, so if you are interested in a particular piece, or want to commission me for something else you have in mind, please get in contact and I’m sure we can work something out.

x

All the best, your curious pest, Lupen Crook.

Ears filter the sounds of my child’s mania, no good news on television, and the sound of sirens roaming the streets in search of a saving grace – or does it all squish together and make with my own distortions. Mixed up and getting set, dazed through to night spent crafting this document. Today it feels complete, I hope tomorrow feels the same.

In a few days I trickle back to Medway, to Ranscombe studio’s, where I hope Jim Riley will make sense of my experiments – and so here’s a piece about the man himself, just in from Medway Broadside …

JIM RILEY – LOCAL LEGEND

x

Keep well
Lupen Crook

All in or around the Medway Towns on Saturday night should check out this event at Poco Loco, supporting a very worthy cause.  Wayward wandering takes me north rather than south this weekend, so I was unable to make this gig, but no doubt fine performances from The Flowing, Jamilia and Didi Bergman will make it a cracking night.

x

Lupen Crook

PS – New material in the Post, more info soon-ish.

Whilst oils need a moment to dry their eyes follow me around this basement room, I turn my attention to recording the raw, the near written, and the brand new. Home studio functional, though there is only so much I can do to make latency an experimental advantage.

In the meantime I’ve tripped across London hand in hand with Lady Haze, met with a Dragon and witnessed windows open where before there had only been walls.

Myself, Tom, Clayton and Bob continue to search, sound discoveries each step of the way, and so it seems concrete plans are beginning to hatch.

Next I will waste some well deserved and much needed wonder with Hg, catch a breath before attentions are drawn toward more Beastly matters, mad hatters, and the breaking of Arts.

So on it flows.

x

Lupen Crook

A fork appearing in the road, picking it up … it looks like a split hair, but it’s not.

One prong is clearly crooked, the other I can’t describe. I take it to them. We look at it, scratching our heads, sniffing for clues. We aren’t sure, but there’s a feeling that it won’t be long before the true identity of this path becomes clear.

Fingering the fork, examining the nerve endings, new beginnings, crooks and crannies.

On the side that is definitely skewed … oils prove a glowing trial of my patience, thief of sleep and mess maker. It would be safe to assume I am Knave in Sane once again. Musically, the last few months of solitary writing have ensured my picked bones are now composed. Backwards to go forwards, and so I return to the nerve centre. I travel alone this time, in search of skeletons, happy accidents and soft light.

As for the other … our experiments continue. It maybe a masquerade, or perhaps a Heretic’s Ball. Sharp eyes and time on all our parts will undoubtedly tell, sooner or later, what this is and what it is to be called. For now it remains nameless, and so free from the fates.

Keep wells and spells

Lupen Crook.

In the last few days, £147 was donated to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedlic Studies (MAPS), the charity chosen by Ben W, the winner of the box set auction that took place in in December. MAPS have passed on their thanks to Ben, and I too would like to thank all those who took part in the auction, especially Ben for this contribution. MAPS is an organisation Ben clearly feels strongely about, and for good reason. Here’s what he sent over about his decision to donate to MAPS – give it a read, its fascinating stuff, and well worth a moment of your time . . . .

“The charity I’d like to support is the Multi Disciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). This is an American based organisation that are funding and sponsoring psychedelic research all over the world with the ultimate goal of introducing drugs such as MDMA, LSD and cannabis into mainstream medical use as bona fide psychotherapeutic treatments. They are a registered 501(3)(c) non-profit organisation, which is the American equivalent of a registered charity. They rely solely on member donations to fund their research and with less than 6000 members worldwide they need every bit of support they can get. I have been a member and a regular donator for many years and over that time I have seen some amazingly exciting progress. When I first started supporting MAPS they were fighting simply to be able to conduct their research at all; today they are actuallycarrying out trials under FDA Investigational New Drug applications and the goal of introducing these important treatments is closer than ever.

The importance of drugs such as MDMA to the psychotherapeutic process cannot be understated. MDMA was first used as a treatment by Dr. Leo Zeff, a psychotherapist, in the 1970s. The success of Zeff’s work prompted other therapists to begin investigating its potential, with the most notable work being performed by Dr. George Greer between 1980 and 1985. Part of Greer’s method for assessing the success of the treatment was to allow the patients themselves to be the judge of whether the MDMA assisted therapy sessions were beneficial, as well as making his own observations. An overwhelming majority reported major benefits and there were never any serious ill-effects recorded as a result of these sessions. Alas, just as the treatment was gaining real traction among therapists, in mid 1985 the drug was classified as a Schedule 1 substance in the United States. This meant that the DEA had determined, without the oversight of medical opinion, that the drug was of absolutely no medical or therapeutic value and it additionally made it illegal to use for any purpose including further research. So, despite the fact that professional psychotherapists were lining up to laud its therapeutic benefits, the DEA simply ignored all professional opinion and stifled a genuinely important therapeutic drug for political reasons. Needless to say, it is exactly the same situation in the UK; our government restricts these treatments on entirely political grounds and similarly schedules them as having “no therapeutic value”. Frankly, it’s disgusting.

It was one year after the criminalisation of MDMA in the US that MAPS was formed with the ultimate goal of righting this wrong and reinstating MDMA and other valuable therapeutic drugs to their rightful place in the therapist’s toolbox. Drugs such as MDMA, LSD and cannabis have been successfully demonised and repressed by governments the world over and the real victims are the doctors and therapists who have lost hugely valuable tools. Numerous governments, ours included, have proven time and time again that they will not listen to reason and will not take the advice of medical professionals when setting drug policy. I am of the opinion that there is only one answer left – real research and real results.”

I was genuinely excited about Bens choice, and this impassioned message that accompanied his donation. If anyone else is interested in finding out more, visit the MAPS website, http://www.maps.org

Love and Luck,

Lupen Crook

I am very pleased to announce that I will be performing five acoustic solo sets on behalf of ‘Crisis At Christmas’ over this Festive Period. ‘Crisis’ is the national charity for single homeless people. They are dedicated to ending homelessness by delivering life-changing services and campaigning for change.

‘Crisis At Christmas’ will take place in 8 venues across the capital. With over 8,000 volunteers, it is the largest volunteer led event in the UK providing companionship and support to alleviate loneliness and isolation and help people to take their first steps out of homelessness.

Whether you may require support yourself or would like to find out about becoming involved as a volunteer, visit this website for more information  CRISIS.org.uk

xxx

Love and Luck, Lupen Crook

Of the limited edition ‘Pros and Cons …’ Handmade Box-sets that I made, one was kept back for a very special purpose. Last year I supported the  YOUNGMINDS charity with the ‘Curse Of The Mirror Wicked’ EP release, for it was a cause close to my heart. Today I’d like to give you the opportunity to make a donation to a charity close to your heart.

The very last handmade box-set will be auctioned starting today. The auction will run for 5 days, closing on Monday afternoon just before 2pm . The highest bidder will receive the boxset and the money from that sale will be donated, on behalf of you, to a charity of your choice.

The auction is being run on eBay and the listing is HERE.

When I decided to support YOUNGMINDS it was important for me to know where the donations made via the sale of the EP would go, and so if you have specific ideas or preference about what and where your contribution would be best spent, please let me know and I will make it happen. Unless you state otherwise, your chosen Charity will be informed of your kind contribution and I’ll ask for written confirmation from them of the amount donated.

THE BOX SET contains . . .

1 x CD Album ‘The Pros and Cons of Eating Out’

1 x  7 inch Vinyl ‘World’s End / Devil’s Son’. Hand numbered and hand flicked with enamel and acrylic paint.

1 x CD compilation ‘Original Sins’. 17 previously unreleased tracks, hand numbered and handmade cardboard sleeve.

1 x Crooked Cutlery. Knife and Fork hand crafted by myself and Lucy Langridge.

1 x ‘SEXTRACT’ a 5 x 7 inch Original Painting, Acrylic and Glitter on Mounted Canvas

1 x Menu of box-set contents

All presented in a handmade numbered box, with the option of your name or a name of your choice written on the inside lid.

Yours SINcerely

Lupen Crook