A new series of ‘pay what you like’ fundraising releases, Refuge for Homeless Prose, has launched with its first instalment, Circle Breaker. The five-track album, released through Blindsight Records, features music created by Lee Christian of Smilex and Prohibition Smokers Club, backing up ‘words and recitation’ from Richard Ramage of The Anyways. According to Lee, the music is “a heady mixture of Princely industrial groove, World Music art theft and Caravanserai-era Santana”. Over to you, dear reader, to pick that one apart.

All money raised through sales of the album, and future volumes in the series, will be donated to Oxford homeless shelter Oxhop. Oxhop, or Oxford Homeless Pathways, operates a central Oxford emergency hostel and a supported housing project in East Oxford. The aim, as described by Oxhop’s head of fundraising Christy Spenle, is to “assist homeless people in tackling the problems that have led to being homeless and help equip them with the skills necessary to sustain independent accommodation in the future”.

It’s a worthwhile and noble cause: homelessness in Oxford is something that unfortunately doesn’t seem to be going away. Do the decent thing, get your Christmas spirit on and make a donation. You’ll get some tasty music as well as the warm feeling of helping out others.

Internet HyperLinkage:
Buy Refuge for Homeless Prose Vol. 1
Oxford Homeless Pathways
Blindsight Records