Zero Zero

We are lucky to be living in an age of musical composing/performing geniuses. We have the likes of Yuki Kajiura, Jean-Michel Jarre and Joe Hisaishi, for a start – and we have Mike Batt. Now, Mike is often criticised simply for having written The Wombling Song – but that is as silly as having a go at Neil Innes for doing A Way With Words or Ralph McTell for Tickle on the Tum.

One of Mike Batt's masterpieces is Zero Zero, which he devised, composed the music for, performed in and co-directed, back in 1982. It had (and has) many prophetic elements, and was very well formulated. If you pay really close attention to the song lyrics, you'll probably be startled to discover a lot of material meshed-in with the underlying story that will get you thinking anew. I bought the album more-or-less as soon as it came out, and it is here with me today.

Mike has generously posted a video of the entire performed work, on his YouTube channel, and permitted it to be shared – so reserved forty minutes or so, and let yourself venture into the world of System 605 and Zero Zero...

'Secret Police' by Miku

This is the Project DIVA version of Secret Police, given the googoo888 treatment – so expect top-notch quality, English subtitles and lots of costume changes. This definitely needs to be viewed full-screen and in as high a resolution as your system can handle.

Although this song is, as always, a sheer delight, and is great fun if taken as a parody, it does also carry a powerful message and might make you think. That I'd count as being A Good Thing in itself; but for now, simply enjoy this excellent performance...