The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Jazz daddios.

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This is coming up on that You Tube on the 23rd of this month. It may be of some passing interest for the resident hep cats. The You Tube channel in question is apart from this upcoming showcase of fresh new jazz well worth perusing. Some stunning music for people with functioning ears and minds.

ATM. Streamers

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A lot of my listening is done via streaming. Before the vinyl purists start I know I am evil incarnate but living in an already cluttered one bedroom flat I really do not have the space for a vast record collection so needs must. At the moment I am streaming flac and hi-bitrate music files to my Marantz amp via an Audioengine B1 Bluetooth receiver in Aptx through a toslink connection. When the music arrives through my Dali floorstanders it sounds pretty acceptable but I am wondering if when I can eventually afford it should I invest in something like the Bluesound Node 2I streamer which I could hardwire via Ethernet to my router and so eliminate the need for Bluetooth. Would this improve the sound enough to warrant my saving up the cash to invest in it? Anyone got any idea? No rush as it’s entirely dependent upon my making some sales or getting some commissioned work in which is as always in the lap of the gods. I’m all ears. For the sake of clarity this is entirely a question about streaming sound quality. I have no downloaded music I wish to stream and in a one bedroom » Continue Reading.

What do Artists listen to all day?

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I’ve been practicing again. Small monochrome pieces. Two of them. They are as yet incomplete. Works in progress. Continuations, extensions, ruminations. More shit. Anyhoo I thought it might be of absolutely zero interest to everyone if I told you what music has been keeping me company as I make marks, dots and lines. Started in at 6:00am by mixing up four batches of lamp black. Four different saturations, four different densities of pigments. First up. Poseidon by Lau Nau. Followed by Origin And Echo by Snow Palms. Tea break. Mixed up a small quantity of violet using ultramarine and a touch of windsor red accompanied by Hexadic III by Six Organs Of Admittance. Followed swiftly by The Crowneater the latest album from Alder & Ash. The images are becoming clearer now. I am beginning to see what needs to be retuned. What I need to adjust my thinking towards. This means a slight swerve towards some jazz namely Moving Cities by Antoine Berjeaut and then Swagism from Ghost-Note followed by Do Not Be Afraid by Vula Viel. Lunch. Suggestions for other assorted noises are welcomed. Music definitely influences outcomes.

2019 Best of – The Pencilsqueezer version.

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I’ve not presented a list in the end of year malarkey gubbins for many a moon and I won’t be doing so again this year no siree Bob. However I will submit this wee list of the 2019 recordings that have helped keep me hog’s hairs supple and moist on more than one splattering outing. So without further blather off we go. In no particular order of excellence.

Shake Stew – Gris Gris. Nicolas Parent Trio – Mirage. Greg Foat – The Mage. Greg Foat – The Dreaming Jewels. Cochemea – All My Relations. Alfa Mist -Structurlism. The Comet Is Coming – Trust In The Lifeforce Of The Mystery. The Comet Is Coming – The Afterlife. Ezra Collective – You Can’t Steal My Joy. Joe Armon Jones – Turn To Clear View. Lorenzo Feliciati & Michele Rabbia – Antikythera. 75 Dollar Bill – I Was Real. Matthew Halsall – Oneness. Resavoir – Resavoir. Slow Meadow – Happy Occident. Wayes Blood – Titanic Rising. Fred Pallem – L’ odyssee Remix. Caterina Barbieri – Ecstatic Computation. Michael Kiwanuka – Kiwanuka. Nils Frahm. All Encores. Bersarin Quartett – Methoden Und Maschinen. Jacob Collier – D’jesse Vol. 2. Ruby Rushton – Ironside. Floating Points » Continue Reading.

No Format

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The quite lovely album from Ala.Ni that this song is taken from arrived at my drum yesterday. Inside was a booklet from the French label No Format, Ala.Ni’s label. It contains what seems to me a rather good offer. One pays them either €50 or €60 plus €9 to cover postage and they send you every release on the label for a whole year. That’s €50 for CD or €60 for vinyl. That’s less than £50 for the CDs posted to your door. They have a very interesting catalogue of music to boot. Has anybody availed themselves of this offer? If so how did it go?

An Inadequate Attempt To Put Feelings Into Words.

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My beloved wife Donna passed away on the morning of September 8th 2015. It was the morning of our Silver Wedding Anniversary. During the few short weeks from Donna falling seriously ill to her death the support and kindness Donna and I received from friends was both humbling and a source of much needed emotional and practical help. Mike Hull and his wonderful wife Heather visited Donna in hospital on her birthday. Jolean and Doods are kindness personified as is Tiggerlion all of whom visited my my lass during those dark terrible days. In the days and weeks since I lost my cariad so many friends have been and continue to be so immensely caring and shown such generosity of spirit towards me that it takes my breath away and leaves me touched beyond words. Many have taken the time to telephone me. Lando, Ruby Blue, Minibreakfast, DFB, Whole Hogg, Lenny Law, The Baron, Distracted Dan, Skylarkingmatt, Drakeygirl, El Toro, El Hombre Malo to name just a few. Many more have sent emails and cards. Carolina, Ianess, Steven C… The list goes on and on. Friends have sent me whisky and wine. Lenny Law and Springer Bell have sent me » Continue Reading.

Selfie Sunday.

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It’s Sunday morning. I’ve been awake for hours. The thought of watching a shower of duplicitous ars*warblers on The Andrew Marr Show is making me feel all queasy. So in the timeless tradition of lazy, laid-back Sundays I’m doing this instead. How’s your Sunday shaping up then?

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Unsavoury savoury shenanigans.

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I am speechless. I never thought I would live to see such blatant disregard for decency in public life. Kim Rose UKIP’s parliamentary candidate for Itchen in Southampton has been ‘treating’ contrary to The Representation of the People Act 1983 the good people of Itchen to sausage rolls. It is nothing less than a thinly veiled attempt to bribe the peckish of Itchen with puff pastry encased pigs sphincter. Shocking! Off with her head! Personally I’m anyones for a vanilla slice but I’ve always been cheap. What if anything might curry your favour?

The good buy.

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I’ve just bought a boxset of the first five series of this in a charity shop for £12. I’ve never seen a single second of it prior to purchasing the aforementioned boxset. Is it any good? Will I enjoy it? Any other boxset recommendations apart from the glaringly obvious ones?

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