The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Vintage synth heaven…

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Found this of interest, so thought I might share for anybody interested in retro synths.

The team at Analogue Solutions have recreated a live Pet Shop Boys performance from 1986, using all the original equipment.

Gear: Yamaha DX1 Yamaha DX7 Emu Emulator II Technics PX1 Friendchip SRC Fairlight CMI II Fairlight CMI I (upgraded) 3x Zoom R8 16 9″ CRT monitors

I can’t even imagine to think how much this equipment would have cost in 1986?!

Here is the recreation – played live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSNe3C9n23o&feature=youtu.be

And here is the orignal performance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbiSNE54c30

Here is the background from Analgue Solutions;

“I remember watching The Pet Shop Boys performing Opportunities back in the 1980s live on the BBC. It was entirely live despite what some people might think. In recent years I always thought » Continue Reading.

Strange encounters

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Funny little thing happened yesterday. So I’m minding my own business yesterday afternoon in my local city centre boozer in Leeds. I’ve managed to sneak off from work early, so I’m enjoying a quiet pint to kick start the weekend. My attention is soon caught by the lady sat next to me; you don’t get many deep American accents in the West Riding – usually just the normal Yorkshire twangs. She’s most upset at how cold it is. And she wants a small cider – “not a big one in those huge glass cups”, she instructs her acquaintance, on her way to the bar. She catches my eye and we smile at each other. Now my curiosity is doing overtime. Who is this lady? I recognise her from somewhere – is she in a soap opera or a forgotten 80s band? Can’t place her. She looks well, although she has that appearance of somebody who’s obviously had a ‘bit of work’ done. Eventually I realise who it is – but only when I ask her what brings her to the UK, to Leeds and to my local pub. “I’m here to see a special performance by my late husband at » Continue Reading.

The island of Crete – anybody got any recommendations?

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So I’m visiting Crete next week. Booked completely on a whim, I’m spending seven days in Heraklion in a couple of simple hotels. I’ve been so busy working and trying to buy a house that I have done virtually zero research! Was just wondering if anybody here had visited? And if so, any recommendations on where to visit? I’m planning on hiring either a moped or a car, so I’m more than happy to travel about – but I’m assuming it’s a small island anyway… Thanks in advance.

Ray Donovan season five.

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Anybody else a fan and looking forward to season five? For me, this is one of the best tv dramas of recent time, but doesn’t seem to get the recognition like Breaking Bad etc. Previous four seasons currently back on Sky for anyone slightly interested.

Pet Shop Boys. Nightlife: Further listening 1996 – 2000

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What does it sound like?:

The main album is loosely conceptual – with a theme throughout that all the songs take place at night. It starts with the pulsating ‘For Your Own Good’ – somebody wanting to go out, and concludes with “Footsteps’, where somebody is waiting for their lover/partner to come home. In-between you get a bit of country (‘You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You’re Drunk’), the BBC radiophonic workshop (‘Radiophonic’) and a Kylie duet (‘In Denial). The 2017 remaster brings enhancement – particularly with the new vinyl pressing of the original album. The CD version come with two additional disc of b-sides, PSBs own remixes and demos from the 1996 to 2000 period, highlights include a duet with Elton John and a version of ‘New York City Boy’ called ‘Paris City Boy’, sung entirely in French. ‘Nightlife’ is a fabulous mix of lush strings (the Craig Armstrong produced tracks) and banging beats, produced by either David Morales or Rollo, of Faithless fame. They dressed up for this album, famously with crazy wigs and costumes designed by award-winning theatre designer Ian MacNeil. It wasn’t to everybody’s taste, but I actually think this one of PSBs » Continue Reading.

Abbey Road

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I’m not, by any stretch, an avid Beatles fan but I’ve been listening to the remastered version of Abbey Road on Spotify this week, and it struck me what a phenomenal record it really is. Such an innovative record – I find it hard to believe that it was recorded before the 1970s! The production is faultless, and the vocals are, to my ears, the best of any Beatles album. ‘Something’ and ‘Here Comes The Sun’ are works of genius by George Harrison. I think ‘Something’ is actually one of the best records ever written – it’s just amazing. And the medley on side two just works so well – it had the potential to be a self-indulgent disaster, but it’s just so ahead of its time and different. That iconic cover too.. Anyhow, just ordered it on vinyl, a great album from start to finish.

Top 5 Oasis songs

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It’s Friday, sun’s shining. Bit of fun. Liam’s in the news. We are all thinking about Manchester. Was never a massive fan, but when they were good – damn they were good!

Talk Tonight Listen Up Slide Away Wonderwall Gas Panic!

Music to cry to

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Apparently having a good cry to music makes you feel better. I think I agree.

What brings a tear to your eye? I don’t mean because it is so bad!

For me, it’s Morrissey’s ‘I Know Very Well How I got My Name’ but I have no idea why – it’s just that ‘You think you were my first love…’ line.

Also, ‘Goodnight, Travel Well’ by The Killers, as it reminds me of my mother passing away.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/13/music-cry-tracks-tears-songs-weeping

New season of The Trip (very minor spoiler alert)

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Currently laid up with a virus – so have spent the last few days watching the new season of The Trip. It’s on Sky Atlantic this time, meaning you can watch them all when you want, as they’ve added them to anytime. I believe it may also be available on Now TV, for those who refuse Murdoch’s offer of entertainment. It is good, but not as good as the previous two seasons. Seemed to be missing something this time around. The ending is, frankly, bizarre. Anybody else watched?

Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones

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Was thinking of buying a pair of these. Does anybody own them? I’ve always been really sceptical of wireless headphones from a sound quality perspective, but I’m told these headphones have to heard to be believed. Don’t want to fork out £330 if they are naff!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bose-QuietComfort-Bluetooth-Cancelling-Headphones/dp/B01E3SNO1G/ref=s9_simh_gw_g23_i1_r?_encoding=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=B8VZRC5PDGB6N6277KDE&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=16f14aeb-bd11-4e9e-8c26-9ca0139074ee&pf_rd_i=desktop

Anybody had experience of paying a debt back to the UK tax office?

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Not a huge amount, but large enough, it seems I’m due to pay the tax office some money due to a genuine oversight on my part in tax year 2015 and 16. Waiting for the final bill before I discuss ‘a payment plan’, but was just wondering if anyone had any experience/dealings of such a situation, and if so, how they found it?

Red Cross steeping to in to help NHS hospitals

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Not normally overly political, but is anybody else completely shocked at the news the Red Cross volunteers are having to step in to help the NHS? When you think of the Red Cross, you think of war-torn regions, refugees, humanitarian crisis etc. To think, in the day and age, this government is not intervening with additional funding, and instead allowing this to happen. The mind boggles…. What a disgrace Jeremy Hunt really is.

What does it mean if a vinyl is warped?!

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I keep reading about warped, and just this week I sold some vinyls on eBay and somebody has informed me the record they bought from me is warped. The record in question had never been played or left the sleeve in 20 years, so I don’t know if that is what caused it. What does warped mean and how can you tell when your record is indeed, warped?!

The vinyl quality – rip off?

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Just taken delivery of the latest Peter Gabriel vinyl reissues of his albums ‘So’, ‘Us’ and ‘Up’. They are genuine things of beauty; I don’t pretend to know what a half-speed remaster on 180gram vinyl can truly offer. However it did get me thinking, if this level of sound quality can be achieved on vinyl, then is a great deal of the stuff we are spending our hard-earned on sub-standard? The albums were about the same price as any new vinyl release, but are very clearly superior in sound quality (at least on my system). Surely every record we buy now should be at this level?