One is "in one's head" quite often across the season; days & weeks of shuffling from plant to plant performing tasks affords time to reflect & ponder. As the nature of the work can push one's limits, often that reflection strays.  Over several years of this work, the realisation that music can be a powerful narcotic has taken new meaning.  The right song can give energy - it can lighten the mood, it can calm & lend perspective when that strays. 

 

A quick reflection on the history of work & music reminds us of the power & meaning of music for those actively engaged in back & spirit breaking toil, be it in cotton plantations, square-rigged sailing ships, coal mines or prison gangs.  Human endeavour of the physical kind, whether voluntary or under violent compulsion, has gifted the world some of our most powerful culture - & given relief, comfort, hope to countless individuals no question. This is music while working I'm thinking of not music about working (Billy Bragg, Bob Dylan) or after working (harvest festivals, tarantellas, weird English jangily footed men with broomsticks). Modern ancient working music is surely millions of miles away from the palours of French regency or German courtly gatherings.  By definition music from the fields, mines or ships is a pure refllection of & by the protagonist.  There is ticket to social status, no elegantly severe A&R woman, no wunder-producer, no profit motive directing play.  Just the raw. 

 

And maybe in the contemporary era, music has become divorced from grittier realities in the workplace as the workplace, general, has become less gritty.  It is hard to envisage a genre emerging from the burnout ranks of backoffice public servants or from the overextended board directors.

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My wandering into workplaces that are not anodised by corporate franchisement or wavy-handed brand children, I'm thinking plumbing suppliers, mechanics & the like, if there is music playing it will be Dan, Jana, & Ani's rocl drive hour. Or whatever.  But more often it will be talkbalk - & Mike, Kerry, Leighton etc have nothing to say to working people to give relief, hope or comfort.

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Beyond this relationship between music & wine has