Think of this album as a musical ticket around the world for those who can only afford the price of a CD.
There’s a lot of Bob Dylan in the opener, ‘At The Border, Guy,’ with its warm piano chords and troubadour-style vocal delivery. By the second track listeners are whisked off to the subcontinent for the chaotic ‘Bhindi Bhagee.’
The gypsy strings of ‘Bummed Out City’ wouldn’t sound out of place in an 18th century travelling caravan, while ‘Minstrel Boy’ is a 17 minute ballad from the heart of Ireland.
Tribal rhythms, deep choral strains and Middle Eastern influences also weave in and out for various parts of the album, amongst countless other tricks borrowed from cultures all over the globe.
The multiple exotic influences are grounded in a constant folk platform of rich storytelling told in the familiar, bizarrely appealing tones of Strummer’s vocals. Each song, while an adventure in itself, is a different section of the same journey.
It’s a world away from The Clash – virtually the only thing the two bands have in common is the firebrand energy of their vocalist/guitarist.
If London Calling and White Riot were reactions to a Britain gone wrong, Global a Go-Go is Strummer’s irrefutable proof of his musical chops – not that they were ever really in doubt.
What is clear from this album is that Strummer understands music whole-heartedly, to the point that he can take seemingly unrelated bits and pieces from a variety of sources and throw them all together, to produce a fluent, raucous and constantly changeable record.
All The abilities of a truly great talent are on display here, R.I.P. Mr. Strummer.
