The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

Menu

Navigation

Gina Lollobrigida, 95

by 21 Comments

Obituary

Those of you who have been following my rolling avatar changes over the previous few months may be aware that about 95% of the pictures were of Gina Lollobrigida, a curious coincidence. Another proper star from old Hollywood dies – however, post acting, she had a further career as a photographer and sculptor. Indeed, she used to say that her acting career was an accident – she was on the path to be an artist when she was stopped in the street and offered a film role.

Lulu

by 12 Comments

I note from the BBC website that Lulu has been sworn in as President of Brazil – that’s a big career arc for a wee girl from Dennistoun…

(Ed: spellcheck required)

Brain-Scouring Music

by 39 Comments

The recent political issues/machinations/farce have prompted me to to seek out loud music – I feel like I need the surface of my brain scoured clean (rather than listening to relaxing, uplifting, beatific music).

Very odd – not like me at all. Sign of the times?

Pixies.

Return of the Son of Randomiser!!

by 65 Comments

Well, ok – if my eyes don’t deceive me, it’s been nearly two years since we last did the randomiser dance (although it has appeared in Another Place, unless my memory is false and foamy). My memory may well be a bit foamy, since I opened a new bottle of Oban 14 year old. But I digress…

So you know the drill – set to random and list the first five off the top of the deck with NO filtering – I’ll put my fabulous five non-chill filtered toons in the comments.

No cheating, mind…

Record Covers

by 72 Comments

Some record covers reflect well on the music and encourage you to listen to the contents. Some have the opposite effect and might stop you from buying an album, because of the negative association of the cover image. Truth is that most covers are produced by an artist or designer who (most likely) hasn’t heard the music – so any apparent association between the cover image and the music is after the fact and in the head of the purchaser. For example, Storm’s story about the sleeve design of DSOTM: he hadn’t heard the record, he turned up with five or six options for the band to review – he tried to push them toward an image into which he had put some time and energy, but they chose the prism. Now it’s inseparable from the music.

Any other curios, negative or positive associations – or sleeve images that just don’t fit the music at all?

Fracture

by 72 Comments

If anyone has ever worshipped at the alter of Starless and Bible Black: further, if anyone has scratched their head or damaged their tendons in the pursuit of Fracture…Mr Fripp gives a demonstration of a small part.

But it crosses my mind: if Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads, in order to gain his blues guitar playing ability – what multi-fingered Lovecraftian nightmare did Mr Fripp meet?

Psychedelic Giveaway

by 5 Comments

Afternoon all. In the spirit of the recent “headphone giveaway” by Sir Pencil:

if anyone would like a free (used) copy of Martin Strong’s Great Psychedelic Discography, PM me – first past the post, etc.

I was going to give it to the local chazza, when I remembered the number of groovy, laid-back, good-vibe psychedelicists who frequent this site – thought it might find a more appropriate home…

Peace: out

Some late night listening

by 38 Comments

I’ve just watched/heard this for the first time, completely by accident (I was looking for something else). I was so impressed that I have to share. Smoky, late night jazz, if that sounds like your idea of a good time at the witching hour…

Has anyone been watching the Proms this year?

by 50 Comments

I’ve just finished watching the BBC Philharmonic playing Sibelius’ second symphony, led by a Finnish conductor, Eva Ollikainen. I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise that a Finn can produce something so special with Sibelius – but that was a remarkable performance. Sibelius is my all-time favourite composer, but the second symphony has not been one of my favourite pieces to date (I prefer the “chillier” symphonies); but she turned it into something else – I was quite emotional by the end.

On Friday, I watched the Oslo Philharmonic, also conducted by a Finn – Klaus Mäkelä – playing Tapiola. The big hit of the night was “superstar pianist” Yuja Wang playing Liszt’ first piano concerto and that was amazing. However, I’d have traded it to hear that orchestra with that conductor play an all-Sibelius program, maybe with the violin concerto and the fourth or sixth symphony.

Anyone else been watching or listening this year? Anyone make a point of catching them every year? Has anything caught your ear this year?

Borgen’s Back…

by 8 Comments

Fans of Borgen will be pleased to learn that it’s back – on Netflix, starting on 2nd June. They’re being coy about describing it as a fourth series, preferring to call it a “stand-alone” project – I confess I’m not sure what the difference would be and I don’t really care. Borgen was one of my favourite series of the last ten or fifteen years and I hope this new “project” will be as good as before.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/may/30/borgen-again-the-most-prescient-show-on-tv-is-back-and-still-working-its-magic

Jazz on BBC4

by 12 Comments

I’m just watching a recording I made from BBC4 the other night – Ella Fitzgerald on the Beeb from 1965, in glorious mono and black & white. First few numbers were backed by the Johnnie Spence Orchestra – and who should pop up as a featured, name-checked soloist but Tubby Hayes! How’s about them apples, Nadine?

This has been a public service announcement.