Various - The Fire This Time

'The Fire This Time'is an audiodocumentary about the 1990-91 Gulf War on Iraq.

In April 1999 Grant Wakefield and Miriam Ryle travelled to Iraq intending to update Ryle's 1994 documentary 'Voices From Iraq'. They shot footage of the life in and around Baghdad, and filmed several interviews (including one with the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Hans Von Sponeck). On their return they offered the unedited footage to BBC and Channel 4. It was refused. Upon this, Grant Wakefield searched for another way to share the collected material with the public and decided to make an audio CD. The documentary tells the story of Iraq, and its appointed role in the geopolitics of the West, from the colonial times at the beginning of the 20th century, till the period of the embargo at the end of the nineties. The documentary consists of three parts: part one 'Plans'; part two 'The Fire Comes'; and part three 'One Nation Under A Seige'.

The audio project exists out of two cd's. The first cd is the actual audiodocumentary. The story is narrated by Grant Wakefield, and complimented by a clever collage of samples from the collected footage, interviews, newsbroadcasts, and official (government and military) statements. The music was provided by various electronical artists, and Grant Wakefield mixed his narrative over it. The second CD is the instrumental version of the songs used for the first disc. Almost all songs are previously unreleased (the exeptions are listed below).

THE FIRE THIS TIME
Conceived, edited, produced and directed by Grant Wakefield.
Written and researched by Grant Wakefield and Myriam Ryle.
Pre-mix by Grant Wakefield and Matthew Williams. Final mix by Dave Pemberton at The Strongroom - assisted by Patrick McGovern.
Mastered by Chris Torpe at Serendipity.

Notes on some of the songs:

CD1-02: The Playground
Ashra
Original version 'Six Voices' appeared on 'Walkin the desert' (1989)

CD1-05: Counting on New Friends
Orbital
Original Version 'The Box' appeared on the album 'In Sides' (2001, Sony).

CD1-06: The Whore Of Babylon
Pan Sonic
Originally appeared as 'Uranokemia' on 'Osasto e.p.' (1996, Blast First)

CD1-08: Nails In The Wall
Speedy J and Kait Gray.
The Speedy J song originally appeared as 'Terre Zippy' on 'A Shocking Hobby' (2000, Novamute)
Vocal effects are by Kait Gray.

CD1-09: Say Hello To Allah.
Aphex Twin. Remix and additional production by Black Lung and Francois Tetaz.
Original Version of the Aphex Twin song appeared as 'Come To Daddy' on the 'Come To Daddy' e.p. (1997, Warp)

CD1-10: Church Bells.
Textures by Speedy J, Bass Communion and HIA. Samples and loops from 'Conoid Tones' by The Higher Intelligence Agency. Samples and loops from 'Sickness' by Bass Communion. Samples and loops from 'Manhasset' by Speedy J from 'A Shocking Hobby' (2000, Novamute). Oil fire recorded by Alton Walpole. Mixed by Grant Wakefield.

CD2-09: Call To Prayer.
Recorded in Baghdad and processed by Grant Wakefield.