Thievery Corporation’s June release of their sixth album, Culture of Fear, will be met with enthusiasm by old and new fans alike. The album opens up with the psychedelic track Web of Deception which really sets the tone for one of the major themes of the album, a recurrent theme through much of Thievery Corporation’s music: our society and the world is engulfed in a culture of deceit and fear. While their last album, Radio Retaliation, heavily focused on and condemned what the artists see as manipulation and exploitation by global organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (see the track Vampires), this album advises its listeners not to be deceived and lured into what they see as a culture of fear. One of its central messages is to really impart the importance of reflecting on what is truly dangerous and subversive to our culture. Culture of Fear calls its listeners to perceive beyond what the media and the elites that control the global institutions and governments portray as subversive and dangerous to our societies. The greatest threat, at least according to the title track–by far the best–rapped by Mr. Lif, is fear itself. This ambiance of fear is all too often broadcast in our and the greater world culture on the ubiquitous and inescapable screens: laptops, smart phones, and televisions. According to the track, credit card companies and banks (and especially their fine print) are more threatening to the average person than terror squads. That is, it is more likely for a government or international bank or corporation to take something of great importance from you than a vengeful terrorist organization.
The other major messages of this album are perhaps the antidote to this culture of fear: In Take My Soul Loulou Ghelichkhani encourages her audience to “Let the love back in your hearts…let’s try forgiveness…no self deception…little less reaction….little more reflection.” In the reggae-ish track False Flag Dub male vocalist Ras Puma advises society to “Keep your vision clearer.” Finally, the mystical last track of the album, titled Free (perhaps the second best track) listeners are asked to “Go back to the pyramidal tracks of where you know you do not lack the knowledge that has always been imparted to you. Search high and low and sweet you’ll grow. I promise you that it’s not far; just hiding in the heart of the heart….nothing else makes as much sense so I will continue on my mission with the risk—to be free. Come with me…”
Of course all of these messages are enveloped in DJ Rob Garza and Eric Hilton’s familiar yet fantastic blend of electronic, trip-hop, downtempo, reggae, bossa nova and world music with a hint of acid-jazz. Besides the more and less political tracks on this album there are also a couple engaging instrumentals that serve as nice, cohesive acoustic glue—especially Fragments. In short, Culture of Fear gives its listeners a range of issues to consider– all while listening to very catchy and artistic music–and it can be as subtle or overt as you like. Thievery Corporation continues to provide their fans with a rich, creative sound that is a meditation for the ear as well as the mind and soul. Thievery Corporation fans: stay vigilant; stay tuned.
Take My Soul
Such strange ways to show
Who we are, what you know,
Let the love back in your heart
Let’s try forgiveness
No self deception
Little less reaction
Little more reflection
New trails are blazing it
City shows no love tonight
All the sounds come crashing in
Inside and outside
Running through your mind
All the words collide
Nothing left to hide
Come on open your eyes
Take my soul
I don’t need it anymore
Don’t let go
You’re the cure I’m looking for
Take my soul
I don’t need it anymore
Don’t let go
You’re the cure I’m looking for
Old habits creeping up
Floating by riding high
Silver clouds so above
Come on open your eyes
Take my soul
Culture of Fear
Seems to me like they want us to be afraid, man.
Or maybe we just like being afraid.
Maybe we just so used to it at this point that it’s just a part of us, part of our culture.
Security alert on orange.
It’s been on orange since ’01, G. I mean, wassup man?
Can a brother get yellow, man
Just for like 2 months or something
God damn!
Sick of that!
The groom is dead so I’mma rhyme like a lunatic
I do this shit with an unassuming wit
The corporation caught you up bassin’ the tempo
My name is Lif, that’s the intro, now let’s go
The flow of life, throwing strife into the mix
To the big dark condition
And the word is sick
The power’s that be, a power in need
Just speaking about the stressful life I see everyday
And I’m just speaking about the culture of fear
It’s stocked into your ear
Telling us that terrorists are about to strike
Maybe tonight—–riiiighht?
Let me just back up slowly
With critical analysis of those that control me
It used to be that we just had a screen in the rear
On the TV but now we carry screens when we leave
See laptops, smart phones, now we’re never alone
Overstand
Let me make it clear that I do not care for religion
But you’re still my brother no matter your decision
A blonde haired, blue eyed God is overrated
I’m not attracted to the picture that you’re painting
I know that I am young and that I have much to learn
But faith without reason makes me concerned
Believing in one god I’m going to overstand for
For your hope and your fishes for all to see
Beware of the things of society
I could not agree with you more..