In-Depth Study and Analysis of Track 9: “Hashish Poem”

Track Details:
• Title: Hashish Poem
• Duration: 2:52
• Music By: Bill Laswell
• Read By: Nicole Blackman

Lyrics:
“Swear off wine and drink from the cup of Hadal. Amber-scented, smearing tied-green, look: It is offered to you by a slender, Turkish gazelle. Who sways delicate as a willow bow. As he prepares you, you might compare it to the traces of fine down on a blushing cheek. Since even the slightest breeze makes it move. As if in the coolness of a drunken morning. When silvery pigeons with whispering branches. Filling its vegetal soul with their mutual notions. How many meanings it has… Significance is unknown to wine. So close your ears to the old censor slander.”

Full Lyrics Breakdown:
• Transcendence and Spiritual Offering:
“Swear off wine and drink from the cup of Hadal.” Rejects wine, a symbol of mundane pleasures, for the “cup of Hadal,” a vessel signifying hashish’s spiritual and transformative properties.

• Sensual and Natural Imagery:
“Amber-scented, smearing tied-green, look: It is offered to you by a slender, Turkish gazelle.” Draws on sensory imagery to depict hashish’s appeal. The Turkish gazelle personifies it as elegant and mystical.

• Transformation and Physical Sensation:
“As he prepares you, you might compare it to the traces of fine down on a blushing cheek.” Evokes the delicate and ephemeral nature of the hashish experience.

• A Dreamlike Morning:
“As if in the coolness of a drunken morning. When silvery pigeons with whispering branches.” Paints a surreal environment blending reality and imagination.

• Mystical Interpretation and Critique of Society:
“How many meanings it has… Significance is unknown to wine.” Emphasizes hashish’s depth of insight, contrasting it with wine’s superficiality. Rejects societal condemnation of hashish.

Thematic Exploration:
• Altered States of Consciousness: Explores how hashish blurs reality, offering profound insights.
• Nature and Mysticism: Depicts hashish as a bridge between natural and spiritual realms.
• Rebellion Against Norms: Challenges societal values regarding altered states of consciousness.
• Duality of Pleasure and Insight: Intertwines sensory pleasure with intellectual revelations.

In-Depth Track Analysis:
• Historical and Cultural Context: References the historical mystique of hashish and its use in Sufi traditions for spiritual transcendence.
• Spoken Word Performance: Nicole Blackman’s voice invites introspection, heightening the track’s ethereal tone.
• Musical Composition: Bill Laswell’s ambient soundscape enhances the reflective and surreal qualities of the poem.

Emotional and Psychological Impact:
• Mystery and Introspection: Creates a meditative atmosphere, encouraging self-reflection.
• Curiosity and Wonder: Inspires awe, blending rich imagery with layered metaphors.
• Ambiguity and Depth: Encourages listeners to explore the duality of transformation and disorientation.

Connection to the Album’s Themes:
• Mysticism and Rebellion: Reflects themes of spiritual exploration and societal defiance.
• Historical Resonance: Grounds the track in historical narratives while engaging modern reflections.

Reflective Questions for the Listener:
• How does the imagery in “Hashish Poem” shape your understanding of altered states?
• In what ways does the combination of spoken word and ambient music enhance the thematic depth?
• How does the track challenge societal perceptions of psychoactive substances?

Conclusion:
“Hashish Poem” is a meditation on altered states, blending sensuality, mysticism, and cultural critique. Nicole Blackman’s spoken word performance paired with Bill Laswell’s soundscape invites listeners to explore perception, consciousness, and the transformative power of hashish. It enriches the album with its introspection, rebellion, and transcendence, encouraging deeper engagement with its themes.