Musings on the byways of popular culture
The title says it all really. The second Egg album, a Japanese National Health, the Camberwell Now album and Richard Dawson and Circle – Henki.
He’s selling his collection. And of course he was absolutely lovely to deal with.
I think a lot of us are often on the lookout for great value equipment to enhance our enjoyment of listening to music.
The Wiim Ultra is excellent value and a very accomplished piece of hifi.
On the back are all the connections you will ever need. Line in/out, Phono in, Optical in/out, HDMI Arc, Sub out, Coax out, LAN, USB and Ground. The front has a large volume/play,pause knob, a headphone jack and a very useful, if small screen. Also included is a fairly simple remote and all the leads (Phono, HDMI, Optical) that you should need.
Set-up is very easy. Connect your speakers, CD player, Turntable etc. You will need powered/active speakers as this is a pre-amp not a full blown amp. Then as with everything nowadays download the app, it finds the Ultra and away you go. Sign into your various streaming apps, it seems to do nearly everything.
The screen helps with navigation as well but the app has tons of options to tweak the sound, outputs, and display etc.
It also offers room correction using your phone (Apple and unusually Android) which had a noticeable positive effect when I ran it » Continue Reading.
The second volume of Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair’s in-depth examination of solo McCartney is now only 99p for your electronic reading device.
Sorted my room of stuff out finally after 24 years of living here. CDs and Books neatly shelved, CD player back working, new speakers sounding fantastic but I would like to play some of my (mainly) 70s and 80s vinyl.
What would the wonderful people on here recommend? And what do you use? Budget £200-£350
Many thanks in advance.
I’ve been looking for some decent CD storage for some time and finally settled on a shelving system from Shelfstore. Very flexible and easy to assemble I would definitely recommend them
A before and work in progress picture provided.
I loved it. With the caveat that there is a lot of bits where the non-fan will get bored. But seeing them do the Third Man theme, Linda and Yoko having a laugh together, Mal Evans hitting an anvil, John and Paul singing Two Of Us at the same mic, George Martin looking suave and Ringo being Ringo is brilliant. Eight hours of this is probably not enough.
Author:Mark Gruenwald, Peter Sanderson/Various
These two books are the definitive history of the respective universes up to the dates of these volumes. The original issues were published 1985-1988 for the Marvel book and 1985-1989 for the DC.
The Marvel volume collects issues 1-20 of the original run. 1-15 take you from the Abomination to Zzzax and appendices, 16-20 are the Marvel Book of the Dead (yes occasionally Comic Book characters die, in fact 5 issues worth). The DC volume is from the Definitive Directory 1-26, an update from 1987 1-5, a further update from 88 1-4 and all the annuals from 1989.
Both books use a similar layout, usually a single page for the character but extra pages for the more important ones. Also there are maps,diagrams and charts of Buildings,Islands, Countries and Weapons. With each description you get the vital statistics of the character, height, weight, powers, strength, nationality, criminal status, first appearance, current whereabouts. And then a potted history, usually a few paragraphs but running to several pages for the more important characters.
Both volumes are beautifully bound and printed with fantastic illustrations and contributions by some of the biggest names in the business. Kirby, Ditko, Miller, » Continue Reading.
Nice little article in The Guardian which was right up my alley. I can’t disagree with much in it, rightly it says (like most things) it all goes back to Black Sabbath. We saw Sunn 0))) a few years and I had to take my glasses off because they were vibrating so much.
Any heavy favourites?
A really interesting tweet. And a lot of work has gone into this. It’s fun imagining what it would have been like on the day, better or worse?
https://twitter.com/verypopularname/status/1282723150938222594?s=19
I’ve been living with this brilliant, stunning track for about a fortnight now and it just gets better and better. I love songs that have had everything and the kitchen sink thrown at them and this definitely fits into that category. It’s a shame he doesn’t do more stuff but this is the song of year, so far.
A great musical start to the year. These two albums I’m sure will be high in the world famous Afterword end of year poll, If there’s any justice.
Keeley Forsyth is a real revelation, the Guardian isn’t wrong, Scott Walker & Nico are in there but it is a lot more to the record than that.
Bill Fay should need no introduction, some fantastic 60s albums, a brilliant and real favourite of mine the unreleased (until 2005) Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and then nothing until 2012. This is his third album in his revival and is another fantastic release. Salt of the Earth in next comment.
Part 3 of my post redundancy life.
I finally started my new job as a Postie last Monday with a days induction in beautiful Croydon. Lots of health and safety (mainly dealing with dogs) then onto a walk on Tuesday with another Postman. It’s a very rural walk or should I say drive out into the wilds of the South Downs. Lots of driving down tiny country lanes, lots of massive country houses.
Had a two hour driving test on Friday and passed (76/80) so after one more day of supervision I was let out on my own yesterday. It was slightly terrifying but I managed to find nearly everywhere first time with only a little bit of driving up and down searching! Today was another level, Wednesday is always the busiest day and I thought I would never finish but I finally managed it. The amount of walking is impressive, 26500 steps today.
It has been lovely being back in work again, the other Posties have been incredibly kind and welcoming. It is hard and fairly complicated work but really enjoyable.
Any downsides? They have Heart FM on the radio in the office in the morning, » Continue Reading.
Just a short post to say thank you. Some of you may remember had I was made redundant at the beginning of August after 30 years of bookbinding.
Well, today I got home to a message from Royal Mail to say I’ve passed the interview I had last Friday and they have offered me a position as a Postman!
I’d just like to say thank you because you all were very positive and offered some very useful advice which really helped.
I’m really looking forward to being a wage slave again and being a postie will be a lovely new challenge.
Again thank you very much.
PS I’ve ordered the Abbey Road special edition to celebrate!
I’m being made redundant next week after nearly 30 years working for the same company. As you can imagine I’m slightly concerned about the future, so any tips for reintroducing myself into the workplace bearing in mind the last time I had a job interview was 1989.
Thanks in advance.
I’m very much enjoying the new and third in ‘Close To The Noise Floor’ series. ‘Third Noise Principal’ focusses on American Electronica 75-84. Some really great stuff on here, and good value for 4CDs worth. And has usual a really informative book in a nice package. Enjoy Craig Leon.
https://g.co/kgs/tcUn8C%20
What does it sound like?:
1.These are two more reissues in Cherry Red series of Residents albums 2.They are released on 25th January 2019. 3.The Commerical Album consists of 40 tracks of one minute each 4.And in a way they are commericals, and were used as such on US radio. 5.Paid for by The Residents 6.According to the Residents you should play each one three times to make a ‘proper’ pop song. 7.But they are still disturbing and brilliant enough if you only play them once. 8.Lots of great guests on this. 9.Definitely Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Lene Lovich and Andy (Sandy Sandwich) Partridge. 10.And perhaps Eno? 11.They call it Pop Satire. 12.It’s Barbra Streisand and John Travolta on the cover. 13.My favourite tracks are The Simple Song and Margaret Freeman (the Andy P one) 14.Some interesting extras but really only for Residents fans (like these things often are) 15.Should this be your first Residents album? 16.Probably 17.Or perhaps Meet the Residents? That was my first 18.Eskimo shouldn’t be your first Residents album. 19.You’ve been warned. 20.Perhaps the Residents masterpiece? 21.But their most non-musical. 22.It tells the story of the Eskimo perhaps more correctly the Inuit. 23.But actually it » Continue Reading.
The third installment of Baker’s autobiography is only slightly less than a pound at the mo.
That is all, thank you.
A follow up to the illuminating Trump thread below, a rather good 90 minute doc to wallow in. Back to a simpler time when Presidents were just lying paranoid crooks.
Especially recommended if you love All the Presidents Men. Watched it this morning and enjoyed every moment.
https://youtu.be/Xo7KWzOgnf8
New Documentary coming from the Beeb about the first five years in Bowie’s artistic journey.
I love this period in his career, in fact I may have been the only one to choose his first album in the great Afterword vote of a while back.
https://youtu.be/6DSP6TDJ_Rw
https://davidbowienews.com/2018/07/bbc-making-new-film-about-david-bowie-to-be-aired-next-year/
Venue:
The Dome, Brighton
Date: 07/04/2018
We are both avid gig goers, sorry I thought I was writing this in the eighties. Truth is we don’t really do gigs, early shifts, elderly mothers, laziness and being a bit tight are the reasons probably why we don’t usually bother. But this was a Saturday night and we both love PSB and Jane Weaver so we got off our arses and made the 20 mile trip and we were so glad we did. After a lovely drink in the bar next to the Theatre Royal (much nicer the the Dome) we took our seats in a prime spot with a perfect view of the stage. Jane Weaver came on at about 7.30 with her band (Guitar, Keyboards & Drums) and was very good. Playing a lot from the last album ( Modern Kosmology) I thought she was a strong and engaging performer only handicapped by the lack of space on stage for her because of PSBs equipment. I felt she wanted to let go a bit more than she was able to. But she has an incredible voice and would work well with a larger and more versatile band. PSB came » Continue Reading.
Forgive me if this has been flagged (unintended pun) up already but these must be unmissable purchases. Three of the greatest albums ever being reissued.
I hate to do this but it’s being reported Jóhann Jóhannsson has passed away at the far too young age of 48, He was a stunning artist and was one of my favourite composers of modern classical and soundtracks.
The end of 2017 is coming fast and end of year lists are starting to appear. Resident in Brighton is my favourite shop and here’s their list, which always interesting and expensive!
Sums up modern America more than The Residents? Disturbing, frightening, discordant but sometimes beautiful.
The new box set on Cherry Red has only reconfirmed my admiration for this band.
Have the best? version of Satisfaction on me.
We finished a new mag at work today. The name did ring a bell. Who said there are no new ideas?
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w540/ip3329/IMAG0167_zps9r85p21r.jpg
