"Sandinista"

Taken by force from Transafixion. Sidral Mundet on The Clash’s Sandinista! Twenty-six years ago, on December 12, 1980, The Clash released the triple album Sandinista! In 1980 The Clash released their album Sandinista! to mixed reviews. Taking it’s name from the Nicaraguan freedom fighters, it was a more provocative way of saying “power to the people”. The Clash were unabashed socialists who kept up on global politics and human rights abuse. Today, the themes and sounds that come from Sandinista! are remarkably topical. The Clash were style masters known for their great taste in music, clothes and women. They had “juice”, and with 1979’s London Calling were making a fresh and accessible music that would make fans of both Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. This helped record sales and their status amongst the Rolling Stone magazine types, but hurt their credibility with punk purists and the burgeoning hardcore scene. Amongst these forces, which they were very much aware of, they momentarily sidestepped rock, pop, punk and the status quo with Sandinista! Fortunately it was a very long moment; 36 songs on three vinyl Lps. The Magnificent Seven is the album’s opener. A rap inspired diatribe against capitalism and the 9-5 workday, this is their answer to Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues. A time traveling stew of contemporary and historical imagery that is haunting and hilarious, (“…Karlo Marx and Fredrich Engels went to the checkout at the 7-11…”). It is remarkable they would even attempt it on live T.V. Though they speared a hit with a rockin cover of Eddy Grant’s Police On My Back, Sandinista! is largely an exodus into other tasteful musical styles. The Mose Allison inspired Midnight Log as well as a cover of Allison’s Look Here take off from London Calling’s Jimmy Jazz into to a boozy 1940’s style. Along with the tunes Broadway and If Music Could Talk, The Clash reached back in sound and style to a cinema inspired view of New York City where some of the album was recorded. (In Electricladyland studio, made famous by The Jimi Hendrix Experience: a controversial choice in those divisive times , seen as a possible siding with the hippies). The Clash loved American style of the 40’s and 50’s. They used it to artfully create a rebel/gangster look and sound infused with their own English “Rude Boy” thing. What added further interest was their intelligence, political convictions and musical curiosity. Sandinista! is laced with a post-Armageddon mood. The previously released tracks Bankrobber and Armagideon Time/Justice Tonight were the only hints as to how far out The Clash were capable of going. On Sandinista! with the help of Mikey Dread, they layed down their deepest groove ever with One More Time/One More Dub. The Clash had previously turned a whole generation onto reggae with their frenetic cover of Junior Murvin’s Police and Thieves. On Sandinista! they became totally legitimate contributors to reggae and dub style. The instrumental studio creations of Version Pardner, Silicone on Sapphire and Mensforth Hill enter a territory all their own. (Only Clash contemporaries Public Image Ltd. can and will boast of an earlier and more unique take on reggae and dub sound in punk era Britain. PiLs critically acclaimed Metal Box/Second Issue most certainly paved the way for Sandinista!) The Clash were urban warriors in the pop cultural landscape fighting for peace and justice. They were simultaneously of their time and out of time. You could imagine them at union hall meetings in the 1930’s. Their style was something your dad might not like, but your grandpa could dig. Elements of “Clash Style” persist today in a surfer/skater/greaser form but the global vision and political awareness does not. The time traveling sonic landscape of Sandinista! is as relevant today as ever. Nothing I’ve heard of late captures the current socio-political moment better then the track The Sound of the Sinners. I picture the current American president atop a tower of rubble, symbol of a nation wracked with pain, as Joe Strummer sings in gospel style; “. . . After all this time To believe in Jesus After all those drugs I thought I was him After all my lying A a-crying And my suffering I ain’t good enough I ain’t clean enough To be him . . .” Peace, Love, Togetherness and Sandinista Now! Sidral Note: A covert communication from Sidrel thru back channels for a timely posting, to you… the people. “You lot! What? Don’t stop! Give it all you got! You lot! What? Don’t stop! Yeah!”