Peter Hicks/Sisters of Sedition - Ratbags Revenge

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Peter's latest CD features songs which are all parodies of Australian/Irish/American/English folk standards, with a strong emphasis on satire and humour, sticking the boot (hopefully in a way that will amuse people) into suitably deserving locations. Available now!

"It has long been a puzzling irony - or is it technically a paradox - anyhow, we've all noticed that for a country that produces such crashingly appalling foreign policy, corporate dis-regulation and ironically Dickensian (no, that one really is an irony I'm sure...that a country so proud of having fought to banish the British could establish its own largely impenetrable aristocracy and happily position itself as one of the most oppressive, predatory colonial powers ever...that's gotta be irony...) anyway, Dickensian labour laws...that despite all this, America has managed to create and hold such a fine and worthy musical tradition. More recently, many of us have also noticed that the Australian government is determined to send us all down the same path, and in this observation we are not alone. Peter Hicks and Geoff Francis, two of Australia's songwriting gems, have caught on to this and have embarked on a project to help the unbelievers catch up. Their most recent output towards this admirable goal, The Ratbags' Revenge, is a very gorgeous marriage of the duo's long history of fine and musical political satire and social comment plus Pete's more recent foray into the world of cowboys and hillbilly music via Hobart band Coyote Serenade amongst other musical outings.

In conspiracy with The Sisters of Sedition, Pete and Geoff have produced thirteen sharply biting, no-holds-barred songs recording the Howard government's 'achievements' in immigration, welfare and employment policy along with all the hard work that has gone into deepening the OZ-US relationship not to mention the blossoming love-match between the PM and President. The happy couple are much too shy to speak of their bond, naturally. And so, Pete and Geoff have generously lightened the newly betrothed's load and are making the announcement for them, tunefully and in rhyme on Johnny Went A-Courtin.

The spotlight falls on a few mates as well...sadly Kerry Packer will be unable to join the wedding party due, you'll recall, to his recent demise and the song Kerry Packer Died and Went to Heaven tells of the big man's shock when his attempt at the Pearly Gates fails due to one good kidney but no soul in evidence. That one is set to an original tune but did I mention that all the other songs are set to American, Australian and the odd English traditional folk tune. Hence Old Joe Clark becomes Ol' John Howard for a four minute summary of some of the life and times and dubious colleagues of the PM, with a plea for him to do the decent thing and emulate his infamous predecessor Harold Holt. The Wild Colonial Boy becomes The Alexander Boy - no prizes for guessing what that one's about - and All for Me Grog is now All For Me Job, a rollicking look inside the predictable effects of Australia's new labour laws. The Man Next Door To Me Who Disappeared is a sobering reminder of the legislation that could send anyone of us away for seven years for talking out-of-turn, and Molly Malone becomes a little ditty about our own Senator Mandy Vanstone.

What can I say about The Ratbags' Revenge...it's smart, it's funny, it's chilling, it's depressingly insightful; the Sisters of Sedition do a sterling job in backing the ever brave, ever outspoken Peter Hicks and I think you should buy it. In fact, I think you should buy several copies, and send them to your local members. I'm sure they'll get a laugh too. Review by Sister Sandanista, August 2006.

Peter Hicks and Geoff Francis now have a free "Ratbags Revenge Community Songbook" which contains all the words of all songs on the CD, in PDF format. This can be downloaded by anybody from their web site (whether they buy the CD or not, they are welcome to it). The link is: http://home.austarnet.com.au/glazfolk/images/RatbagsRevenge.pdf

MP3 samples:

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