HAKIM BEY T.A.Z. 1994

Here's an unusual spoken word, ambient record I have not heard since the 90's. Hakim Bey was a supporter of poetic terrorism, a method of creating entities outside the societal norm and performing and creating actions of unusual and creative purpose. Performing harmless pranks on unsuspecting people, or posting random acts of artwork in public, creating a pirate radio station (I had one), leave little fetishes around for people to find (I had a friend do this. He would leave little items in soapboxes in bathrooms, college libraries, anywhere he chose), post a plaque of an event you experienced, or participate in a myriad of other actions that will have a desired effect on people, that is poetic terrorism. Entities such as Burning Man, and the Anonymous Hacker movement can be described as examples of their own kind of poetic terrorism.  There are an unlimited number of things you could do to participate in poetic terrorism and have fun in the process. We used to do this back in the day but I will leave it to your imagination. In my opinion, poetic terrorism should not be designed to injure or terrify anyone and no one should ever be hurt physically or emotionally in the process of participation in poetic terrorism.

Here is Hakim Bey's website which explains more about poetic terrorism. I do not agree with everything he believes or promotes and I Hate the 90s blog is not an endorsement of Hakim Bey, however  his site is an interesting and informative and often humorous read.

Discogs

AllMusic Review by Victor W. Valdivia 

On T.A.Z., writer Hakim Bey reads excerpts from his book of the same name, a work detailing his beliefs that ancient philosophical concepts (such as the Chinese secret society known as a Tong), coupled with modern elements, will return humanity to enlightenment. So it makes sense that Bey's readings are accompanied by backing tracks assembled by legendary producer Bill Laswell. Laswell, as shown by the other, wildly divergent releases on Axiom, has always grafted modern urban sounds and ideas with ancient Eastern musicians and instruments. For T.A.Z. (the title is short for "Temporary Autonomous Zone," Bey's term for a Tong), Laswell constructed ambient, sparse music fusing the sounds of Chinese musician Wu Man with cult guitar hero Buckethead, as well as frequent collaborator Nicky Skopelitis. (Buckethead fans should be forewarned that he plays gentler, more melodic music in the style of his album Colma rather than his usual rapid-fire soloing) The music serves to showcase Bey's voice, which remains at a soothing cadence. His voice never wavers, even when he rabidly excoriates the veneration of police in popular culture, as he does in "Boycott Cop Culture," or when he exhorts listeners to perform pranks in the name of civil disobedience in "Poetic Terrorism." Though the album can be riveting, it has flaws. Sometimes Bey shows off his articulateness excessively, causing his meaning to be totally lost. It's also true that he falls into the danger of preaching to the converted; listeners who are already inclined to agree with his views on society and culture will feel confirmed, while others will simply dismiss him outright. Still, those looking for a modern equivalent to classic albums by the Last Poets and Gil-Scott Heron should seek T.A.Z. out.

Tracklist

1	Chaos	6:04
2	Poetic Terrorism	4:22
3	Amour Fou	4:57
4	Immediatism	13:35
5	The Tong	12:48
6	Boycott Cop Culture	10:38