"The erection at the hanging and the tearing off of heads..."

My favourite Shriekback song and quite possibly the greatest Shrieksong (although arguably) ever recorded. I used to have this performance on DVD, but my stupid arse lost it, and I've since been begging Jimmi B to lend me the DVD I made for him so I could make myself a copy to no avail. This is not the complete performance. If it were, you could see the makings of an entire ritual being performed onstage, which is oft typical of Shriek performances.

You can actually see the cone of power being raised here, which I find to be utterly amazing since one usually has to be physically present for such a beholding to be experienced. The song itself was written by Barry in response to an hallucinogenic experience Vivienne Kent and he had out in the forest. When I first heard the song, my first impression was that of mythically pure Cadmus. Turns out, I was right. Essentially, the song is about lycanthropic Vampires scoping out their next brunch. Of course, it's all done in "good fun." Yeah...

So, behold the glory that is "Despite Dense Weed." By all means, pass it on. Nothing would make me happier than to see this Shriek song made desperately viral.

More Blood Crown

 

Who are these people? asked Cadmus, who stood beside the dream Kelat a ways away from this fascinating scene.

 

The High Priestess and Priest sitting before the altar are my parents, Cadmus. Kelat replied.  Before me, my mother was Kelat'menan, the Mother of Memory, for her tribe.  She was seeress, mother, grandmother, matchmaker, adviser, songstress and protectress of her people. There was none greater or more beloved than she.

 

But what of you?

 

What of me? Kelat replied bitterly.  I was nothing compared to Pretani. Am nothing compared to she who led two thirds of our tribes to theTarliman after its discovery by Ladnor.  She who travelled onward to settle in what would become the holy island of Meyhelahn, where still she dwells today, looking upon her daughter enslaved by bloodlust.  No, my son, I am nothing like Pretani Preallanua, Pretani Land-dancer.  I am...nothing.....compared to her.  Nothing. 

 

No

 

But she named you Memory.  She knew that you would follow in her footsteps and become a Mother of Memory  yourself.  You may not dance the land, or have found magickal strongholds to protect the faithful, but you are Mother to us, the Darklings of the Earth.  You are our Mother of Memory, despite my discomfort in saying such a tfing.  What was your full name, Mother of Memory?

 

Kelat paused, looking upon the sunlit ritual calling for a gentle starsun and abundant harvest.  Would it surprise you, Darkling Chylde, that this Mother of Memory fails to recall the entirety of my cognomen?  In those days, names could go onward for what seemed like days, the utterances demanding many pauses for breath.  The tradition continues in what is now known as Wales.  But I do remember a bit of it:  Lhihlhishian an'Dharwen'na ap Kelat Sheshanna'dah mar'hahiah Kessilon'mhriah Chompatta-zhah Chiams'rhawhna.  It roughly translates as Lhihlhishian, daughter of the high Mother of Memory, a child dedicated to Kessilon the Star Goddess, She of the Chiamsa mane and Princess of Chompatta, the multi-handed.