Not Alone, Doctors Without Borders – [coll] – [JNANA Records]

Zoltan   6/7/2006   A Library, CD

A 5 CD collection conceived by Mark Logan and compiled by Mark Logan and David Tibet (Current 93) on the JNANA label. The idea to do this collection came after reading a book about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, wanting to do something about it, then picking the agency Doctors without Borders to receive all proceeds from sales. AIDS has been a reality for twenty five years, it hasn’t gone away, however, AIDS is no longer a death sentence, it is a strong reminder of the basic human condition?’My God we are on this planet and what the f**k are we going to do now?. This collection starts here.

NOT ALONE is excellent for so many reasons, there are so, so many interpretations of the subject of AIDS that go way beyond hospice and condolence. Fear, loneliness, regret, tenderness, celebration, knowledge of self, and appreciation of life, the title says it perfectly? simply, NOT ALONE. Organized by flow, not genre or style, each disc is a journey…many tracks were written by the artists for this compilation, many compiled ’cause they fit. You must play something from this collection, all marked tracks (see packaging) are recommended by the reviewer.

Artists include, but are not limited to Antony and the Johnsons, Baby Dee, Michael Yonkers, Faun Fables, Charlemagne Palestine, Current 93, Bill Fay, Simon Finn, Nurse With Wound, Six Organs of Admittance, John Contreras, Matmos, Little Annie, Allen Ginsberg, David Surkamp, Jarboe, Angels of Light, Thighpaulsandra, Alex Neilson & Richard Youngs, James William Hindle, Teenage Fanclub, NQ Arbuckle, Bonnie ‘Prince? Billy, Lynn Jackson, Nurse With Wound, 7 Year Rabbit Cycle, Thurston Moore, Marc Almond, Thee Majesty, Jim O’Rourke, Coil, and Ghost.