This is my second reading of the Arch-Drude’s only (so far) novel. The gloss has faded a bit, going into it with vague senses of its wild ADHD-like text. What once felt like drinking from a firehose with references, random associations and vivid imagery, it lost a bit of its breakneck pace. Cope writes with a bit of an elevated, slightly flowery language. Like Cope’s music, it can range from the all-muscle-no-fat pop single to extended, epic jams that bliss out in the reverb and drone. But being familiar with the general plot, the language seemed to slow the pace revealing that some additional editing could have been a choice. So what’s it about, you say? Soccer hooliganism and kidnapping, subsequent revenge, the majesty of a road trip, mystic time travel, destroying a hierarchical social order whilst honoring the mother goddess, agnostic drug consumption, friendship, love. I know, it’s moves in so many directions at once, one should be impressed the threads wove a genuine garment worth wearing. Highly recommended, even if you do not know Julian Cope’s music or other (scholarly) endeavors. He’s a certifiable British National Treasure. Come for the book, stay for the rabbit holes of references to real and imagined history (there are maps of contemporary Sardinia and Western Europe c. 10,000 BCE) — search YouTube or bandcamp for actual recordings made of the songs in the text. The inimitable Copey never disappoints if you can take a joke and ride the rock n roll wave with him.
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#onethreeone #juliancope #archdrude #headheritage #faberandfaber #timeshift #gnostic #hooligan #roadnovel #football #soccer #sardinia #rocksection #cosmic #stoneage #doorways #ex_libris_jz

#SilentSunday

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