The single “Corkscrew Rider” August 16, 2022
A fantasy ride through the average life; 
who really knows if we are living the life we intended? 
Or are we still waiting for someone else to tell us what to do or control the ride? 
Inspired by Ouspensky’s “Strange Life of Ivan Osokin”, Corkscrew Rider is a bluesy, hypnotic confessional, culminating in a manic rant against waste and greed…
”If I had my life to live over again….” 
Well, what would you do?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orZ2AzVs24o

From the new album "Who Will I Be When I Leave" released September 16th on Melodic Revolution Records

CORKSCREW RIDER (single Version)

This song  was recorded before BABBLE morphed into BABAL.
Walpurgisnacht, the night from 30 April to 1 May , is the night when witches are reputed to hold a huge celebration on the Brocken and await the arrival of spring.
Walpurgis night, the night of 30 April (May Day's eve), when witches meet on the Brocken mountain, and revel with their gods
Brocken is the highest of the Harz Mountains of north central Germany. It is noted for the phenomena of the Brocken Spectre and for witches' revels which reputedly took place there on Walpurgis night
The Brocken Spectre is a magnified shadow of an observer typically surrounded by rainbow-like bands, thrown onto a bank of cloud in high mountain areas when the sun is low. The phenomena was first reported on the Brocken  
- Oxford Phrase and Fable
Recorded at Studio Ineffable and the White House, February 2014
Engineer:Martin Nicholls
Karen Langley - vocals, Rob Williams - guitars/synthesis, Paul Smith - bass, Jon Sharp - drums
Langley/Williams

BABAL - THE BROCKEN

“Hello! Here's the second of our monthly improvisations which are free to download (add a gratuity if you wish) .
No overdubs, just as it appeared.
The flow of Langley's poetry/lyrics holds everything together in a tenuous web of expectation/uncertainty.
It is 14 minutes long - if you haven't got the time to immerse then no problem - if you have then enjoy the immersion.”
In the spirit of expansion…..
Often, the music created in improvisation is discounted by peers and audiences alike as being “less” than “real” composition. But is that true? Improvisation, is, in essence an escape from internal restraints.
 In scientific studies, the improvising brain of musicians doesn’t “light up”, opening more areas; in fact, sections of the brain shut down in order for the musician to be free of limiting, unnecessary material. This is the “real” music, the totally free place. 
Too much filtering and organizing squashes creativity into narrow parameters. Disinhibition without drunkenness is the result. Liberation from control is risky and fresh, it enables the space to hear things in an intense, focused way, to feel the changes coming up, to push an idea forward without any self-imposed idea of perfection. 
Improvisation can be the brilliant effect of letting go; forgetting and remembering simultaneously. Natural composition can be the North Face if you want it to be, the death zone where every second above 27,000 feet is the harbinger of mortality, where comfort goes to die. 

Karen Langley 15/1/24

1/2/2024

THE BEST RESTAURANTS

Running in the Gutter”, BABAL’S 13th album, the 1st to be released on Fruits de Mer label Friends of the Fish, definitely hits the ground running and keeps you locked in to their immersive world of intense lyricism and potent musical ideas.
The resulting album is a beautifully crafted selection of hypnotic and rhythmic pieces, each delving deeply into the world we think we know.
BABAL have come up with an immersive, yet accessible blend of songs that illustrate the band’s superlative improvisational skills, whilst still retaining cohesive musical ideas that weave poetry and dynamic vocalizations that are central to the band’s alternative core.
Opening track “One Big Family” is a full-on attack on social media; the rise of the biggest brain-washing experiment in history; “eye sockets sore, mind in chaos, thoughts flying round, like a bird in a cage, manic with facts and terrible rage! Nowhere to go, I can’t turn the page!”.
“The Best Restaurants” is a sharp take on poverty consciousness and opposing huge wealth, and a vain hope that religions may save us, but very probably not.” All I saw was a crowd of starving souls, chewing at their wishes”
“The World that we Know” is a plea for the World to wake up to the real possibility of extinction, “I wanna green world! I wanna green world! I want it to smell good; I don’t want it to stink like it does at the moment! Open your arms and let it in!”.
“Cake Music” is a high-energy satire on the virtues of neo-liberalism, “recycle now and do your bit! Be a match when the fires are lit; move a little closer to the cholera pit! Ha Ha!”
“We shall be Fables” is a sweetly enchanting song that lulls the listener, yet reminds us ultimately of our mortality (one of Karen’s recurring lyrical themes), “life is eating us up, we shall be Fables, when the noon-tide beckons and the reaper reckons; we shall be Fables” It ain’t gonna last forever……..
Title track, “Running in the Gutter” is a truly majestic love song, poignant yet hopeful that love can still make the difference in all our lives; “you won’t applaud, it has a drive, it’s not a lot till love arrives! Love is not a number, it lives, it dies, running in the gutter, it doesn’t strive”. We can all get there, no matter how far down in the gutter we are.
“Running in the Gutter” is available on the Fruits de Mer label, Friends of the Fish, on vinyl, CD, digital download and streaming. Pre sales from 1st July, release date August 8th 2025.
BABAL will be launching the album at the Son Of Sardonicus festival of Psychedelic Delights on Saturday August 2nd, the Cellar, 25/26 Quay Street, Cardigan, SA43 1HU. Advance copies of “Running In the Gutter” will be available at the festival.
“Could it be argued that Crass are joining force with Cardiacs to deliver a Beefheart take on Byrne? Possibly, but instead of attempting to work out the influences and wonder how to describe them, instead say this is classic BABAL with the band putting their troubles behind them and being at full strength and power. Long may they continue as for prog to survive it needs to be as uncompromising and challenging as this.”
Kev Rowland: Prog Archives (author of the Progressive Underground vols 1-5).

Babal - Running In The Gutter - 01 - One Big Family

BABAL have produced what is arguably their finest work to date. "The Circle of Confusion of Tongues" was released on April 18th 2018.
Unusual arrangements encase folklike tales spread across funky jazz plains, anthemic punk-rock style storyboards and bluesy  hang-outs....
By turns, the manic angst and ethereal beauty of Karens vocals  interweave with the exuberant layers of Robs skilful guitars. "The Circle of Confusion of Tongues" has a progressively rich rock sound  enhanced by the brilliant drumming of electronic drum player Jon Sharp, the inventive  bass playing of Ben Balsom and Paul Smith, and the beautiful backgrounds of Zoie Green's keyboards. 
The pieces ride roughshod over bourgeois society and rip into 21st century fears of mortality and where the **** are we going with equal passion... BABAL are wild entrepreneurs of the imagination providing a theatrical illustration of life each time they enter a studio or step on stage.

1. Teeth Of The Universe

Bread and Circuses 2012
Power  concedes nothing without a demand.
THE  ROMANS  gave the masses free wheat and grand spectacle to distract them from their poverty, subdue reason and  reflective thought. It worked . For a time. 
21st Century rulers have a similar problem  with the poor of today and the cracks in their schemes are widening by the day.
Uk band “Babble” and artist john taylor have collaborated on the  “Bread and Circuses” project as their response to the challenges  unfolding as authorities and established ways of thought lose their hold over the sleepers who are waking up in increasing numbers.
Art, music, words and beauty are shining through humanity, giving power back to those willing to reject manufactured culture and apathy. 
“Bread and Circuses” is a reflection of those changes – each song takes an aspect of the struggle to be an authentic individual and explores it with hypnotic music, rich language and song and the powerful original artwork of  Worcester -based artist ,John Taylor
The shows first outing was at the Midlands Arts centre as part of the Birmingham Arts festival and Babble are now fixing dates for next year’s tour . Prior to that, a special  end of 2012 event has been finalised for Saturday November 10th at the Worcester Arts Workshop, Sansome Street, Worcs as a special album launch event of  “bread and circuses”  (triple gate fold digi pak with 16 page booklet of john taylor’s artwork for each song). Come and take a few bites of the bread;  as for  those who ask for more…..learn to bite the hand that feeds you……..

BREAD AND CIRCUSES

4. Psychiatry

3. The Last Tree Spirit

2. Down In The Dark Wood

And the tongues listen..... 
Part 2B of BABAL’s “The Circle of Confusion of Tongues” trilogy moves into epic musical territory with the EP, “The Big Everything/ Beggars to Chance”. (total running time 28:24) 
To be released on February 28th on limited edition (75) numbered CD (MRRCD-22166) and download - with pre sales beginning on 28 January 
“The Big Everything” begins with a bluesy/jazz invitation to experience the grand design of a life imagined. Shifting moods and musical motifs smoothly, this track winds along a tale of desire, yearning and soul-searching. 
At times the piece is almost medieval in tone and colour, moving out towards a dark folk-tale ending. Progressive, cinematic and deeply seductive, this piece links specifically to “The Glacier” track from last years’ EP (Part 2A) 
“Beggars to Chance” is a protest and survive song – backed by tight rhythmic drums, bass, keyboards and guitar synths/solos. 
The plaintive call to arms speaks of dying to life and living in the moment – recurring lyrical themes for Karen Langley in this trilogy. 
The beautiful psychedelic art of Andy White graces this EP, together with the intense, avant garde artwork of Paul Kopal; all pieced together by the skilful Rachel Armour. 
Digested description; A tempestuous Babal-Noir trip; hard-boiled bedlam mixed with transcendental corridors of communication. Musically inventive and arranged and produced with passionate intensity. 
“Here we go, here we go, here we go.......” 
Available in very limited numbered CD (75) -MRRCD- 22166 and digital formats.. 
A full length video of The Big Everything will also be available 
The CD comes with a A4 colour print of the "face melt"cover art and an individual unique surprise too from the Babalonians! 
credits
releases February 28, 2019 

music and lyrics - Rob Williams and Karen Langley 
BABAL : 
Karen Langley - Vocals, lyrics, arrangements 
Rob Williams - Guitars/synthesis 
Jon Sharp - Drums 

Guest artistes: 
Paul Smith - Bass on "The Big Everything" 

Zoie Green - Keyboards on "Beggars To Chance" 
Ben Balsom - Bass on "Beggars To Chance"
license
all rights reserved

https://babal.rocks

Beggars To Chance Final 24bit

Plastic Tapestries

Hamster gone crazy!

100% Hardware Synthesizers.

Mid Life Crisis

Deranged Hamster

BABBLE HAS MORPHED INTO BABAL but also includes music from other projects they have been involved in 