Despite its very obvious natural beauty, I\u2019m not much of a fan of living in England. I\u2019ve posted before that the small-minded \u2018islander\u2019 mentality of at least 52% of the population disgusts me and I\u2019d rather be elsewhere. In many ways, Covid-19 has been a dream for the politicians and policy makers who survive on a diet of anti-immigration rhetoric. Because now \u2018we\u2019 can close our borders to refugees, asylum seekers and people who can help to strengthen \u2018our\u2019 cultural identity by bringing new creative ideas. This is England and I\u2019d rather be back in Spain.<\/p>\n
\u00a0![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sonicbreakfast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ali_bla_bla.png?w=500&h=281\" "\\"Ali")
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The fabulous Ali Bla Bla tells me that he has found temporary respite in Kyiv, Ukraine with his wife and new born baby. He left England last summer and will be coming back in the next few months. \u201cLife has been different here than in the UK, a lot more free.<\/em>\u201c, says Ali. \u201cBeing away has allowed me to have a fresh perspective on whats important in life, as well as time to create. We are coming back in the summer and i\u2019m excited to start rock n rolling a bit more again, even if its with a mask on!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n I could ramble on and on about the glorious week that I spent in Kyiv back in 2017. It really is an impressive city and I\u2019d love to get back to see more. But I won\u2019t. It\u2019s not really the point of this post.<\/p>\n The travel and perspective gained from being abroad seems to have invigorated and freshly inspired Ali. Not that he needs much new inspiration based upon the evidence from recent release, \u2018Island\u2019. Here, we find Ali rapping over a punkish backing. He tells all about his experience growing up as an immigrant in England. It\u2019s a vital and vibrant listen; urgent, informative and politically astute.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the song\u2019s core, Ali is still crying about the state of affairs. This is a man who has recognised that \u201chome aint were the heart is, so I\u2019m trying to find the part where i care<\/em>\u201c. I get that. I\u2019m sure all of us who struggle with the \u2018island\u2019 mentality do. It\u2019s a point that Ali touches upon when we exchange E-mails.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe we are all victims of mental oppression in many different ways, and all of us have to find ourselves through the confusion<\/em>.\u201d, he wisely says.<\/p>\n I hope you all had great bank holiday weekends and the week ahead holds unforeseen pleasure.\u00a0<\/p>\n