+++ seka - sister vol.3
streetdate: August 18th

Third volume of the much acclaimed benefit compilation, containing, mostly exclusive or rare songs. For those who do not know, or can't remember;

Seka ["Sister"]: affectionate Serbo-Croatian term; SEKA abbreviation of seminarna kuca ["House of Seminars"]; also a House for Seminars and Recreation for traumatised women and children living in the war areas of former Yugoslavia on the Adriatic island Brac (Croatia); where women and children of all ethnic and religious groups can meet during holidays in an atmosphere of respect, openness and mutual understanding - as one grass roots contribution to a peace process; from the first 5,000 copies sold we will donate the equivalent of EUR 0,50 per CD to SEKA Hamburg e.V., and from 5000 units on the amount is increased to EUR 1,00 per CD.

During the past years the SEKA project has helped numerous women and children, who were traumatised during the Balcan war, by offering theraphy and recreational stays, and by aiding them in generating new energy and hope to face their daily struggle when returning to their homes. SEKA started as a result of the relationship between the women's co-operatives working in the Hamburg area (Sukaina and SEKA Hamburg e.V.) and women's projects in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia and Serbia that had been formed in response to the war. The SEKA recreational centre, based on the island Brac in the Adriatic Sea is the centre of the small charity organisasion, and is still in dire need of donations and funds to carry out their program for the year 2003 and beyond.Twah! Has already supported SEKA with two highly acclaimed benefit compilations, and now it's time for Seka ["Sister"]: Vol. 3. From each CD sold a portion of the proceeds are being donated to the project. Just like they did on Vol. 1 & 2, Twah! Has brought together handpicked songs by artists representing the No Depression scene; From the young & wild, the country rockers, the folkpunks and big city cowboys, all of them dwelling on the bleakness of everyday life, in which every songwriter's looking for a glimmer of hope, successfully avoiding cheap sloganeering. For instance Lonesome Bob, whom Twah! Owner Kent Nielsen caught performing live during the Texan Roots trade fair SXSW: "The contributions of Lonesome Bob, Caitlin Cary, Kevin Salem and Tom Freund were all a direct result of SXSW 2002, where I got blown away by their liveperformances. I actually went there in order to get inspired for the work on Seka ["Sister"]: Vol. 3. The Brooklyn Cowboys, Amy Rigby and Two Dollar Pistols also came about as an indirect result of the trade fair." None of the mentioned artists had to be asked twice before submitting material for the album, some with a highspeed vengeance like the Brooklyn Cowboys, while others like Amy Rigby submitted quiet and laid back tunes. And who else can be heard on the album? Well here they are, all in one glance: Shawn Sahm (USA), One Bar Town (D/DK), Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons (USA), Maria Solheim (N), Kevin Salem (USA), Naked Raven (AUS), Caitlin Cary (USA), Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing (AUS), Lonesome Bob (USA), The Men They Couldn't Hang (UK), The Popes (EIR/UK), Michael Weston King (UK), Andy White (EIRE), Equation (UK), Danny Barnes & Thee Old Codgers (USA), The Brooklyn Cowboys (USA). Sounds good? Of course it does, especially considering the fact that many of the songs were contributed exclusively for this album.

Uli Lemke (Blue Rhythm)

More information about the seka-project: www.seka-hh.de