Recorded July-August 1998.

As often the case after I do a concept album that required a lot of care and planning, my instinct after is to something a bit more spontaneous and raw. On the whole Culture Shock is a grungier album. The name comes from the stress people often feel while adapting to new unfamiliar cultures and situations.

Breaking with a long standing tradition the songs were not set in the order they were recorded.

1. Cult of Personality (Aug 9)
This is a cover of the song by Living Colour. Though as typical of my covers in the 90s the music is my own creation, though I did here try to match the original best I could.

2. Third World Child (July 28)
This is inexact a cover of the song by Johnny Clegg (with additional lines from his Great Heart).

3. Listen (Aug 3)
At it barest essence the point of communication is the desire to share who we are and be accepted.

4. Abandoned (Aug 3)
A somewhat bitter song sung from the perspective of a young man to the father who had abandoned his family.

5. Van Diemen’s Land (Aug 4)
Cover of the song by U2.

6. Artificial Joy (July 30)
The bass and drums of this dark techo piece about drug abuse were created using the auto-bass and drums built into my Yamaha synth played at half speed.

7. Forgiveness (completed July 26)
This was a highly ambitious piece, ode to the liberating power of love and forgiveness. This ‘side-long’ number fuses together various sections. It relies greatly on Jon Anderson for lyrics including Change We Must, O’er, Time and a Word, and recurring verses of the poem in the sleeve of Page of Life (Jon & Vangelis). Also included is traditional hymn Jerusalem. The opening instrumental is based on Amazing Grace. The final section is a cover of Love Rescued Me by U2 & Bob Dylan and end of the track is a music box playing a tune from Carousel.