Music and poetry have mixed together with mixed results since the ‘60s. SUN RA, THE DOORS, LOU REED, PATTI SMITH, RICHARD HELL, SACCHARINE TRUST, X, THE MINUTEMEN, KING MISSILE, BONGWATER, BASTRO and plenty of others have tried.

Nothing here is sung - it’s all spoken word. “Insert Your Hometown Here” is short little ditty about the longing for a new place to live. “Deathstyles Of The Poor And Pathetic” could sum up the V.P. sound with one piece of music. Hardcore metal parts, acoustic interludes and a wall of noise are just some of the musical motifs that pop up in this 15-minute song. You would think that such an epic track would be saved for the middle or towards the end, but The Vox P. crew have figured if you can handle this then the rest should be gravy. “Someday I’ll Die Sad And Lonely” is the overall sentiment here. “Divine Interrogative” questions the existence of God in a more low key manor. “Walking Wounded” describes most of us. All the narrative here is straight ahead. There is nothing stream-of- consciousness or really weird.

“River Of Life” is much more uplifting despite it’s wavering tone. “End Of Days” is a doomy instrumental that has a busy bass line. “Chains” has got the fuzzbass, drone guitar and the repression. The chains represent the problems us poor folk have that keep us down. Money and opportunity being the main issues. “Night Vision” has a second vocal that actually sung and sounds like Perry Ferrell. It’s musically more noisy than most of what’s here. “Dead Dog Epiphany” has some sadness with these sorts of lines; “If the moon wasn’t so bright, I wouldn’t have to think these things. If the dog at my feet was only playing dead, I could smile. If the wind would just change direction, I could stop breathing death”. These are spoken over one loop of sound on the entire piece of music. “Battered” has tom drumming mixed with guitar drone and a story about a storm. “Inquiry” has more actual singing and some emphasis on acoustic guitar. “What do I do? Where do I start? Or am I too late.” does little to brighten anyone’s day but ends “Pathos” perfectly.

- Herring

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