Musings on the byways of popular culture
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After one abortive attempt and significant re-education in modern technology Twang welcomes ColinH to the pod. We discover Colin’s story covering his favourites, writing, making music, Van Morrison and, shock spoiler, he likes the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
http://traffic.libsyn.com/theafterwordpodcast/ColinHcast.mp3
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26/01/2020
Parklife, Definitely Maybe and His ‘n’ Hers played from 25th anniversary vinyl on a top-flight hi-fi in the Courtyard Café, Papworth Everard.
Home-roasted coffee, loose-leaf tea, locally-sourced cakes, full bar including microbrewery ales.
3-5pm, free entry. Well-behaved kids and dogs welcome.
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Year: 2019 Director: Sam Mendes
“From the director of Skyfall” yells the poster and the trailer, which is true but not the point.
The story is simple enough, though I won’t go into much detail because it’s hard to avoid spoilers (steer clear of Wikipedia and the trailer, come to that). Two lance-corporals are given the job of slogging their way over nine miles of what may or may not be no man’s land to deliver a message to a Colonel who is due to lead his men over the top in the morning to chase what he thinks is the Germans in retreat. In fact, it’s a cunning German tactical withdrawal and he’s leading his men to certain death.
The much noted “one continuous take” is a bit of a misnomer. What it actually means is that there are no cutaways back to base, or back to Blighty – the story starts at A and continues uninterrupted to Z, where it ends. The action of the film takes, at a guess, 12 hours, so QED. No matter, it’s a brilliant, continually absorbing and gruelling two hours. There were times I just wanted it all to stop, thoroughly gruelled, not » Continue Reading.
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Author:Bernie Marsden
This book originally appeared a couple of years ago via a Pledge campaign, but has now been picked up by a mainstream publisher, getting a welcome update in the process.
Rather than being a lurid sensationalist expose of rock n roll debauchery, this is instead an honest warts and all look at the author’s days of hard graft on the British blues rock scene. Of course, he’s best known for his work with the original classic line up of Whitesnake in the late seventies and early eighties, before they transformed themselves into the hair metal darlings of MTV as they targeted the lucrative US market. Nevertheless, no doubt the royalties from his co-authorship of Here I Go Again provide a nice annual pension, and there are some interesting insights into the band’s hectic recording and touring schedule in their heyday, and the inevitable tensions it created. The book isn’t exclusively about Whitesnake though, and Marsden has many a tale to tell of life before and after his tenure with the band. There are also interesting accounts of the first gigs and festivals he attended and musical heroes he has met and played with, as well as a chapter » Continue Reading.
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Hopefully this might be of interest to people here who like music from the 1970s. I’ve always wanted to hear music from that time, but not the “gold” stuff you hear on the Now that’s compilations. So each mix compiles 3 songs from each year from 1970 to 1976, comprising of album tracks, A and B sides, and the occasional lesser known hit. My tastes are quite bubblegum, so expect Bowie, Zappa and Fairport rubbing shoulders with Abba, Cliff and Benny Hill. So far I’ve compiled 66 hour long mixes for all to enjoy.
Since relocating recently I’ve found I’m picking up that irritating mobile phone noise on my HiFi- that familiar tick-a-tick-a-tick-a-tick fzzzzzzzz every few minutes. Switched all phones off and it still occurs. I know there are various ways to guard against interference but what puzzles me is where is it coming from if our phones are switched off? Could it be the neighbours phone or some other device? Any mobile phone/tech experts out there can advise?
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If Keir Starmer wins the Labour leadership, popular “disk jockey” and severely-wronged public figure and beat obituarist Paul Gambaccini says he will stand (or run) against him at the next election.
From The Times:
Paul Gambaccini, the BBC radio star, is threatening to stand against Sir Keir Starmer at the next general election in protest at the Labour leadership hopeful’s handling of Operation Yewtree.
The disc jockey, who was arrested in 2013 on false allegations of sexual abuse, blames Starmer, the former director of public prosecutions, for the “torment” he suffered at the hands of the Metropolitan police.
“I can assure you if the Labour Party makes Keir Starmer their leader, I will run against him at the next election,” he said.
Mr Gambaccini claims that Sir Keir, who headed the Crown Prosecution Service from 2008 to 2013, launched a “witch-hunt” against him and the likes of Sir Cliff Richard and Jimmy Tarbuck, “ruining countless lives”.
In 2013, Sir Keir responded to the Jimmy Savile scandal and sex-grooming cases by issuing new guidance to prosecutors to focus on the credibility of allegations, not the alleged victims, when deciding whether to prosecute.
In a valedictory interview on the Andrew Marr » Continue Reading.
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.
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Those of us who are that way inclined can probably agree that Billy Strayhorn was a genius. He became Duke Ellington’s main muse at the age of 23 and collaborated with him for the rest of his life until his early death at the age of 52.
My favourite Strayhorn song, and in my top ten favourite songs altogether, is Lush Life. Top instrumental version is Coltrane’s, top vocal, Ella Fitzgerald or Blossom Dearie, can’t decide. Strayhorn wrote the song, music and lyrics, between 1933 and 1936. That’s 18 to 21…those chords! Those lyrics!
Now this has surfaced – the very first recording, Carnegie Hall on November 13, 1948. Strayhorn on piano, Kay Davis on vox. Another magnificent version to add to the collection. Do give it a listen. H/t to Richard Williams, who retweeted the tweet.
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The wonderful Maria McKee rarely breaks cover these days so I’m delighted to see a solo show announced for the end of March at Earth in Hackney to promote her first album in a decade.
Reading her words in the link and on Twitter it sounds like she’s been through a bit of a journey and has spilled it all out into the songs. Much as I hope she’s OK this is good news, as for my money angsty, howling, Life is Sweet Maria is the best Maria.
(Her Twitter feed originally announced e date as 30 March, but now confirms the venue’s date of 31 March.)
I recently added a new rainwater tank on my property, and Ms Podicle and I are having serious disagreements about the fluid dynamics through said tanks. It hasn’t been an issue up to now due to the notable absence of anything resembling rain in South-East Queensland for much of the year until this week. I’ve had surprising difficulty finding a satisfactory answer on the net.
This is the setup: We have three tanks, A, B and C that are of equal size but at different heights, with A above B above C. We have a top tank A that collects water from the roof which then flows through a bottom outlet into the top of a significantly lower tank B until a float valve shuts off the inlet when tank B is full. The top of B is well below the bottom of A.
A, B and C are the same volume and size (22,000 litres, if anyone is interested) and all have overflows on their tops.
Tank B has an outlet halfway up (bottom half required for fire water) that is at the same height as the top of the lower tank C. This outlet flows into an » Continue Reading.
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What does it sound like?:
Tweeted by Prince (and what could be a greater statement of worth?), this is the 7th album by the artful pop maestros, showing Sunderland remains a centre of remarkable creativity. All those clever oblique pop artists you like; Talking Heads, XTC, Bowie, Ben Folds, Kate Bush, Beach Boys, proper (pre 1977) 10cc, Prince, Todd Rundgren when he wants to play to his strengths … some say they can hear Steely Dan (I don’t hear it, myself) and Pink Floyd (again, “maybe”, or maybe NOT). Beautifully played, composed, and recorded, this is ostensibly a song cycle about life after WW1, but to my ears doesn’t sound like it, maybe as the music is so contemporary. I hear a pile of corking, interesting songs with oblique musical bridges and directions. An gallant song about gender differences here, the 1919 Treaty of Versailles there, air traffic control … this is not “Whitesnake”. I’ve probably listened to it half a dozen times and am still trying to work out how such accessible music slips through given the twists and turns.
What does it all *mean*?
“Record collection rock” has been a working strategy for a number of bands; » Continue Reading.
My pal Brian Houston is astoundingly prolific. I mentioned on the podcast that he has several albums in diverse styles in the can at present, and this is a video for the one that he’s decided comes out next – this time credited to ‘The Presleys’ (a tongue in cheek, I suspect – Brian was often called ‘the Belfast Elvis’ when he first caused a sensation on the Belfast bar scene in the early 90s): an album called ‘Embrace’, with proceeds going to a US homeless charity. I’ll post a link to purchase the album as soon as one is available. Let’s rock!
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*yes I know, it’s only another way of saying ‘guilty pleasures’ but whatever – I’ve always loved this by Ms. Arena (sadly, not married to noted American soccer coach Bruce as far as I know :-))
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This morning, my pal Juha in Turku sent me a link to a short BBC archive film from 1974 about Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, a young photographer from Helsinki who had relocated to the town of Ryker, up there in Geordieland. Gradually she got to know the local people and to take photos of them.
Her pictures of the community are rather wonderful, as is the way she describes the locals. “So gentle and caring.” It was a community which was about to change with the demolition of the terraces and the building of new housing.
A quick Google revealed that she is still living up there and still taking warm, very personal photos. Has anyone heard of her?
And has anyone else been browsing through the Beeb’s archives?
I just found an interview John Carpenter from 1979.
And Miss World putting an ad in a newsagent’s window for a husband
Please share your discoveries with us!
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Off to Walthamstow to see the longlist launch for the Penderyn Music Writing Prize..
Details here.
6th Penderyn Music Book Prize
Now in its sixth year, the Penderyn Music Book Prize celebrates the very best of the years music books. Previous prize winners include Mark Lewisohn, Jon Savage, Daniel Rachel, Stuart Cosgrove and Shirley Collins.
You are all welcome to join us for a very special event to mark the announcement of the 2019 Penderyn Prize longlist.
On the night, four of this year’s fourteen long-listed authors; Will Birch, Mick Houghton, Ian Penman and Tracey Thorn will discuss their writing with fellow author/historian Travis Elborough and we will announce this year’s best music books.
The Penderyn Music Book Prize is the first UK-based prize specifically for music titles (history, theory, biography, autobiography). The prize is awarded at the annual Laugharne Weekend and is sponsored by Penderyn Distillery. The prize is for UK published books only and was launched in 2015. The winner is announced at the Laugharne Weekend each year.
The long-list is drawn up by a booksellers, musicians, journalists and former prize winning judges.
I promise to report back subsequently, whether anyone wants me to or not..
Just ‘out’ today, it seems: a ‘grey area’ live album featuring three US radio broadcasts 1971-72. I’m posting here rather than as a noticeboard item cos I don’t have an image to upload (a required part of posting a Noticeboard item). The 1971 recording, incidentally, is the earliest MO live recording around.
https://music.apple.com/se/album/clouds-of-unknowing-live/1494731602
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I know you guys are aching for the latest Depeche Mode goss – so here it is. They are going to be inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Thrilling news, isn’t it?
Well…this fan says no. Over decades, Depeche Mode’s overall approach has been “punk’ – independent and single-minded, avoiding rock & roll cliches, Even when their excesses became worse than the actual rock bands themselves, their subsequent reflections on that period are along the lines of “what were we thinking? That’s not us…”. When we grew up, we *mocked* the kind of bands that were inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Pet Shop Boys song (deep breath) “How Can You Expect to be Taken Seriously?” addresses that perfectly.
But, hey, they are in the their 60s now. Perhaps it’s a big pay day and everyone likes a pat on the back every now and then. Maybe they will use the ceremony as a platform fior something, who knows.
The online fan groups still have an awful lot of young people on them. They are bickering about whether former band members should go to the event and be recognised too. » Continue Reading.
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This fool thinks electric aircraft are the solution to aviation pollution.
This fool hasn’t stopped to wonder how the electricity is generated in the first place, and how it is then stored in a battery full of elements dug from the ground using deisel engined machines, and how it is subsequently to then be used to power machines made largely of steel and aluminium, also harvested from the Earth using large machines that usually run on diesel, in order to get him from London to Aberdeen more quickly than any other form of transport. This fool is our Transport Secretary. This fool exemplifies the stupidity and cluelessness of the politicians running this country. This fool should get off his over paid arse and fucking well walk from London to Aberdeen.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-51121875/matt-hancock-we-shouldn-t-be-flying-less
Since Christmas and being given a new turntable, I am buying vinyl again. It’s been great seeing proper album covers in all their full LP sleeve sized glory and I can remember artwork playing a significant part in certain LP buying choices…some real stinkers must have put me off. Others would have made the buy much more appealing I’m sure. I can remember thinking like this. However, I sold the vast majority of my vinyl albums about 18 years ago when we had kids and needed the money. As a result I can’t go and check this for myself, but has anyone ever brought any album where you were in two minds whether to buy it, but the artwork tipped you over the edge in persuasion and you ended up unreservedly loving the music?
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The Human League’s third album, Dare, is still a thing of wonder. A perfect marriage of synth adventuring and pop sensibility. But there’s one track that much as I love the album I have to SKIP SKIP SKIP. Because whatever residual affection I might have had for it in the early eighties has been worn away by nigh on 40 years of passive absorption as the only League track that anyone ever plays on radio/every single 80s documentary etc. Luckily it’s tucked away as the last track on side 2, the best place for a mustskippable. We’re not talking about an album with a slightly below par track. We’re talking about a real ‘next’ moment for you.
So, albums you love with tracks you cannot bear. We may have been there before but what the hell it’s the middle of January.
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If you want to know who the hottest musical property in the world is right now, look no further …
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This popped up on my IPlayer album shuffle recently. I forgot how amazing it is. People often talk about “pure pop for now people” but that was just skinny tie / akimbo children’s sunglasses stuff.
William Lyall (ex-Pilot) made a solo album which is like all the most tuneful bits of early 10cc, ELO, Wings, “Hunky Dory” Bowie, Todd Rundgren at his poppermost, and I’m gobsmacked at this. He quite possibly timed this badly given it came out in 1976, and year-zero poonk this is not. But those who like sneaky pop tunes are in for a treat. Sadly, he died of the big disease with the little name in 1989.
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About once a month, Reflexen, the local cinema where I am a volunteer, screens live opera direct from the Met in New York. I’ve not been to one of these screenings yet, but they are very popular. Next up is Porgy and Bess, which is very tempting.
Yesterday evening, I joined Mr and Mrs DuCool at the Bio Rio to see the National Theatre production of Fleabag, Phoebe Waller- Bridge’s one-woman which she very brilliantly transformed into the TV series of the same name.
It is the second time I’ve seen “live” theatre at the cinema, the first being One man, Two Guvnors starring James Corden. I was a bit dubious about whether it would work. Both turned out to be thoroughly enjoyable evenings. Yesterday’s performance was not transmitted live but was a recording. To my surprise, it made no difference.
Thanks to modern cinema technology, people from Kiruna to Katmandu, can now enjoy the latest productions from the stages of London, Paris, New York and Grimsby. What’s not to like?
Has anybody else seen theatre or opera at their local cinema?.
I was telling my local greengrocer geezer about it this morning and he was not convinced that it » Continue Reading.
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There are quite a few artists with alter egos for when they are doing something a bit different to what they’re known for. Paul McCartney as The Fireman, John Lurie of The Lounge Lizards as The Legendary Marvin Pontiac, Phil Collins’ jazz-prog venture Brand X, Anna Meredith’s twin careers as orchestral composer and electronic musician, Jim Mullen as jazz guitarist and his continuing membership of funksters Kokomo. One I discovered just today, rising jazz guitarist star Shirley Tetteh has also recorded some left-field pop as Nardeydey. I expect you lot could name a few more alter egoists.
