ROCK AT NIGHT PREMIERE – WEIMAR’s “The Tatterdemalions” – Worldwide release on November 10, 2023
Weimar’s new video release, “The Tatterdemalions”, brings to an end their run of promo videos to accompany the highly acclaimed “Dancing On A Volcano” album, completing the project of rendering the whole album in episodic video form.
“The Tatterdemalions”, the closing track of the album, presents itself musically in the form of a mediaeval chamber march, accompanied by a set of lyrics attacking the hypocrisy of religion and celebrating the delinquent underdogs and non-conformists of society. The song is written in the key of D minor, one of a few modern key signatures that represent near-survivals of a mediaeval tuning system known as modes. D minor, similar to the old Dorian mode, is the last key signature of Chopin’s 24 Preludes of Opus 28 on the traditional order of the modern building blocks of music. Traditionally the order is perceived as a metaphor for a human being’s passage through life from birth to death. D minor is thus often known as Death Minor, Destruction Minor, Devil Minor, Doom Minor or Damnation Minor. Despite the supposedly morbid nature of the scale, Weimar vocalist and lead songwriter Aidan Cross considers the song to be a celebratory number that ends the album on a high:
“It’s about celebrating the underdogs of society, the disobedient, the ‘thought criminals’, the true rebels who resist the pressure to conform to rigid beliefs and systems of thought, who throw off the shackles imposed on them by the powers that be and stand up against oppression and injustice. While they are looked upon as scoundrels and delinquents by society, it is these individuals who bring about genuine progress. A running theme throughout the album is artificial facades and superficiality, devious and abusive characters masquerading as affable and respectable, and The Tatterdemalions is about exposing and dismantling these pretensions, revelling in the glorious imperfection of true humanity and embracing true authenticity, living in the moment in our march towards death. The mediaeval premise of the song draws parallels between mediaeval religion and superstition and the rigid, cult-like systems of belief, pseudoscience and groupthink being enforced on contemporary culture. The historic parallels with oppressive religion are alarming and The Tatterdemalions carries a strong message of resistance that is urgently needed in modern culture, as the world seems to be more or less sleepwalking towards its own destruction.”
The song’s video reflects its subject matter with its images of mediaeval scenery, scribes, death and decay, together with classic prints and engravings such as Gin Lane and Southwark Fair by William Hogarth, depicting decadent London street scenes, aside 20th century imagery of Berlin cabaret and London’s legendary Blitz Club. It is a shout out to the rebels and non-conformists who have made their mark throughout history, and an incitement to resistance in the face of oppression in the modern world.
As “The Tatterdemalions” completes the run of videos to accompany the “Dancing On A Volcano” album, the album is now available to experience in full visual form as “Dancing On A Volcano: The Movie”, consisting of 12 videos in total, including the short Prelude that opens the album (itself consisting of the same drum rhythm that opens and closes The Tatterdemalions, thus serving as a bookend to the album). Viewed in sequence, the videos present Weimar’s album in filmic format, recurring characters, themes and scenes between songs noticeable as the videos absorb the viewer into Weimar’s inner world.
With the “Dancing On A Volcano” project now complete, Weimar are currently working on material for the follow-up album. Details at the present moment are top secret, but Aidan Cross has revealed that the album will be “stylistically very different, but still very Weimar” and will be building on themes only touched on in “Volcano” such as apocalypse and dystopia, serving as a sharp commentary on the way society and the world are heading. Weimar will release more details in time about the new album, via their official website and social media.
ROCK AT NIGHT EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE
WEIMAR’s “The Tatterdemalions”
Tatterdemalions
The touch of skin, the deadliest sin
He’s purified under the lock
In the tower he’ll stay, scrape up earth every day
From the grave in which he shall rot
As they hide away, to live is to decay
Virtue leads to the fate of Job
Their bodies enmeshed in pleasures of the flesh
‘Til they’re exposed and brought down by the mob
Abiding like fools to their punitive rules
Don’t deny the freedom of vice
The bricks and mortar of existential slaughter
If you think they’ll hold me then think twice
The hung, drawn and quartered of London Town
We’re lost but far from alone
There’s no shame to be bound to this destitute ground
Among the Tatterdemalions
SPOTIFY
Dancing On A Volcano’ LP is available everywhere, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. It can also be ordered on CD directly from the band.
SOCIAL MEDIA
I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
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