Calm down, Dave! There was snow lying in the garden this morning!
So – whatever season we have jumped to, come away in, gather round the fire, help yourself to a warm drink and a hot snack and please share what you have been enjoying reading, watching, listening to, and all that.
Seen
Nothing musically this month, but TV-wise have been ploughing on through Mr Mercedes on Netflix. I’d repeat what I said last month…it’s enjoyable, if sometimes preposterous stuff, with some terrifically likeable and well outlined characters, but nothing compares to the consistently high quality of the first series.
Heard
“Murmurs” the second album by Butler, Blake and Grant (Bernard Butler from Suede, Norman Blake from Teenage Fanclub and James Grant from Love And Money) is a fabulous little gem, a melancholic but uplifting set of covers of songs by their respective bands. It’s a sort of almost Americana acoustic type of record, with some beautiful arrangements and harmonies, and to these ears, better than their already pretty good debut.
“Trixies” by Squeeze…all I can really say it hasn’t grown on me yet. I’m giving it time because I generally see myself as quite a big fan, although I often tend to like the albums others might not, such as “Ridiculous,” “Some Fantastic Place” and “Play.”
Read
“Punk-The Last Word” by Chris Sullivan and Stephen Colegrave is pretty much its title…at 625 pages this is very detailed stuff and surely has a claim to be pretty close to definitive. Sullivan was certainly there, and was involved, but his constant hipper than thou themes of “well I was always a soul boy me, and punk was all over by early 1977 anyway” can grate at times. Get past that though, and you have a very thorough breakdown which takes into account both USA and English versions of punk.
AOB
Mrs L and I went on a 12 day cruise to the Norwegian Fjords, a place I’d always wanted to visit, possibly not via this method but as it was quite a straightforward way to see some of the less easily accessible parts of the country we decided to go for it and try to embrace the cruise spirit. Observations…firstly, at 58 and 53 we were definitely at the younger end of the demographic. Secondly, I have NEVER seen so much food consumed. Really, some people should have taken shovels, it would have made their meals quicker.
Finally, and very sadly, my dear old Dad died at the age of 82. Since 2020 he has had a quadruple heart bypass, at least two strokes, sepsis and leukaemia, all of which he fought off bravely but in the end it was another bout of sepsis and a dose of pneumonia that got him. I’m going to miss the strong, stubborn old git more than words can say and we are all devastated. He was much more than a Dad, and although it had increasingly been on the cards for a while, for me at least it definitely hasn’t properly sunk in yet. The funeral is in the second week of April and I don’t think it’ll sink in until then.
Re. cruise, who did you go with @nick-l? Mrs. T’s mates organised a trip this summer on a monstrous 5000 passenger boat in school holidays which sounded like hell on earth to me and I refused to go. I rather like the idea of a small locally run one with about 80 – 100 passengers max.
Sympathies for your dad. Hits you hard in my experience.
Hi @Twang , It was on the Aurora, one of P&O’s large cruise ships. Around 1500 capacity I think but I’m not 100 % sure about that. This being a trip in the school term, there were no kids but then this was sold as a no under 18s trip anyway. We wouldn’t have signed up otherwise. I’m currently unsure whether or not I’d go again…I’d probably be prepared to grin, bear and tolerate the cheesy entertainment (wife has a much higher tolerance de fromage than me) but I don’t think I’d go for any longer than 7 days next time.
We went through the Fjords over Cap Nord with Hurtigruten in a February. The boat provides supplies to all the small coastal villages. Frequent stops meant that people could disembark and dog sleigh, visit the ice hotel, fish on a frozen lake, drive a 4×4 through the snow or feed reindeer…then catch up a couple of stops up the coast.
The Northern Lights filled the sky every night.
Capacity was a few hundred. And, yes, there was plenty of food but you don’t have to eat it all.
My favourite holiday ever. I’m built for Norway.
Sounds great. Hurtigruten is who I looked at.
Another vote here for Hurtigruten. No cheesy entertainment, a lot of Norway.
The one caveat I have is that their ships are small – you really do notice the movement when they’re on the open sea.
Ta for the tip. I don’t get sea sick but Mrs. T does big time. A dreadful day whale watching off Maine springs to mind. She was green faced for about 48 hours afterwards.
It can be quite pronounced. The giveaway was the captain’s request that we make our cabins ‘sea safe’ ie no objects liable to fall over and roll about. I found myself holding on to a fixed point, waiting for the point where I could swiftly move to the next handhold and daisy-chaining my way back to the cabin. Kind of fun – but not if you’re prone to sea-sickness, I imagine…
Just cancelled my booking ..
We weren’t far out to sea for long. 😲
By cancelling your booking, you’ve cancelled the boaking!
Ta for the info. That probably does it for us. My cousin did a Rhine cruise which looked lovely, stunning scenery and endless picturesque towns with magnificent beer and sausages. And no waves!
I’m one of those fortunate folk who doesn’t get seasick. Once went from Santander to Plymouth across the Bay of Biscay, and it got pretty rough. Went down for a full English because hungry, and the only other bloke in the restaurant said to me, ‘I see you’re a sailor.’ Smug mode…
Nothing better than a good fry-up! When I make the crossing to Heysham, I’m first in the queue
Sorry to hear about your dad Nick. Lost mine in 94 my son will be here later in the afternoon and we’ll probably talk about him at some time. Still missed.
We did the Norwegian cruise ten years ago when I retired. You’re right about the food, boarding was staggered we got on later in the afternoon it appears people had started eating as soon as they boarded in the morning. Piles and piles of food on plates quite staggering. I went on deck late one night to see if there was any chance of the Aurora no luck but I found they were serving food until two in the morning. Some were still eating, I didn’t join in.
My condolences.
The pain will pass but the memories never will. “Not forgotten, but remembered” as someone wise once told me.
18 years since my stepdad left us, but he’s always around. Two weeks ago, I gave his memorial bench, up in the Felbrigg woods, a scrub and a coat of teak oil. It sounds crackers, but I often pick up a ringing phone and expect him to be on the other end…
Sympathies for your loss – my parents are at a similar age, and have just signed and submitted the Power Of Attorney papers for them.
No issues to report just yet, but signing that paper, and hearing of your loss, brings thoughts a bit closer.
And thanks for the heads-up on Chris Sullivan book – me off to investigate
I took over my father’s financial stuff last summer after he was hospitalised after a third mini stroke and sepsis and we realised that we didn’t know where any of his paperwork was (and it was paperwork, nothing digital, just envelopes in a box file). It took months, with some building societies needing to be visited in person and all of them wanting slightly different documents and ID. We now have a minimum of telephone banking for all of them and most have on line access. My wife is a whizz with a spreadsheet so we have order for once. However, it seems that every couple of months, an account needs to be updated or moved and I’ll have to deal with self assessment tax soon. It’s been a lot of work, made more difficult by him having an old style Enduring Power of Attorney whereas I believe the newer ones allow a single code when you want to activate them. Also, we eventually gave up trying to explain that he was mentally capable but would never leave the nursing home again because some institutions said that the EPA was only for mental incapacity (a grey area) but they didn’t ask for medical confirmation, just ticked the box when we said he wasn’t mentally capable.
My condolences to Nick and those of you who still miss loved ones.
I’m so sorry to hear about your Dad Nick, it seems like he fought quite a battle, may he rest in peace.
Sorry about your loss Nick. It may take longer than you think for it to sink in.I lost my dad in 2016 and I still think about him now as if he is still here.
Lost mine in 1997. Same thing.
Sorry about your dad Nick. My old fella departed in 2010 my mam followed him two years later. I miss them both more than words can express.
Can I add my condolences, Nick? No set pattern for coming to terms with this and of course everyone is different. My dad was killed two years ago nearly to the month and, while not being the most demonstrative of families, I think we’re all still in shock.
Condolences, Nick.
Condolences from me, too. I find myself turning into my dad, though I am considerably older than he was when he died.
Thanks for these very kind words everyone. I’m starting to be of the view that it’ll never “sink in” as such but that we will just somehow, in time, learn to live with this new situation. The football team we support is planning a tribute and minute’s applause before kick off next Saturday…my son and I are going to be in absolute bits.
So sorry about your Dad Nick, and the grief you will be feeling now. I think you’re right; it doesn’t exactly sink in and that sense of loss is always there in the background. But in my experience in time you learn to live with it and to take comfort from the fact that whilst your Dad may not be there any more, the memories and the closeness you had will never leave you, and that’s a precious thing.
Read The Wrecking Crew by Kent Hartman. Mildly entertaining easy read. I’ve sorted three crates of books to go to the next car boot we do and found loads that I either haven’t read or haven’t finished so I’ll be busy for a while.
Saw Merry Hell in The New Forest. Very good, even though there was no drummer but it was a benefit for the town Corn Exchange and the audience were generally much older than us. Also, it was seated and I think Merry Hell benefit from a lively standing crowd.
Struggling to find a decent series to watch.
We did make a rare excursion to the cinema to see The Bride, which I quite enjoyed, despite it being described as “a mess” by some critics. It looked great and didn’t take itself too seriously. A cross between Bonnie and Clyde and Young Frankenstein.
AOB: spoke to a Financial Advisor who said we can retire whenever we want to so the equipment needs to be gone by the end of the year.. I know I’ve mentioned this a bit recently but knowing we can has made us decide to, rather than thinking we may have to hang on for a couple of years more. I might freelance a bit after that but I’m not looking for work, anything that comes up that I fancy, I may do. We’re planning to put the house on the market next spring so plenty of odd jobs and clearing of clutter to do before then. I’ll be glad to be rid of the responsibility of the business, having given far too much time to it in the past. My brother and his wife both had strokes in the last 18 months (he’s ok, her not so much) and I’m determined to have a few decent years while I can, not be found at the bottom of a truck ramp, under a flight case.
Congrats. Our IFA came round with a review last week: our pensions and whatever made twice as much last year as I did. She wants us both to retire this time next year.
Despite recently going three days a week, I can’t quite get my head round having no paid work at what will then be 57 years of age. Mind you, with my boss gone, I might not have the choice when the next round of cost savings comes around.
That’s where my head is at too … you will have income, but not have to work … eh?
Do you want to check the numbers again?
Busy month.
Travelled to Newcastle for a tribute concert for a Geordie folk musician George Welchmuch love in the audience for him. Several ex members of Hedgehog Pie appeared individually. The highlight was Maestro and the Sinners. Maestro was a chap who looked like he’d wandered in off the street and played the most amazing violin, turns out he’d been lead violinist with the Northern Symphony Orchestra. Superb variety of music.
Down to Pontefract for the Cat Club’s Thursday album with Jude Rodgers talking about Marianne Faithful’s Broken English.She acknowledged the cheer when she mentioned The Word. Interesting insight into Marianne’s record and her life.
Back up to Newcastle we’ll actually nearer Morpeth for another memorial this time for an ex-member of my wife’s old morris side who’d died suddenly. Much music and dancing, one of the friends was Sandra Kerr who was the voice of Madeleine in Bagpuss.
The following weekend up to Stockton-on-Tees to see the Rheingans Sisters.. I’ve seen them in large concert venues this time was in a room that held at most 45 people. I’ve been in larger folk clubs. I sat at the front as I’d forgotten to take my hearing aids. When I say the front I was practically on stage, and when I say stage I mean the floor. Another excellent musical night. The whole set was their latest album, the poster in the bar said “Trad Folk” which I saw later had been amended to ” experimental trad folk”.
Last weekend up to see Plumhall with extra bass and drums. Not sure if it would work but luckily it did.
Read Bob Mortimer’s Avocado Hotel did my usual crosswords puzzles etc.
Watched The Other Bennett Sister enjoyable and passed the time.
Month started with an emergency visit to hospital in an ambulance with a severe nose bleed. My blood pressure was very high which was partially a cause. Made a decision to make some lifestyle changes and they are already bearing some fruit in that BP has lowered a fair bit. Only managed one short run in the month mainly because of extreme cold, but got in quite a few walks.
After my nose issue which happened at work I worked from home for a couple of weeks as I had some sort of trauma and embarrassment about going back. That was unsatisfactory and after two weeks (and another minor nosebleed) I decided to go back to the office. Was welcomed back with open arms. Things are pretty full on at the moment.
Listening was mainly excellent new Squeeze album as detailed elsewhere, along with usual Springsteen, Beatles, Wilco related stuff and many podcasts.
Didn’t read anything substantial, didn’t go to any concerts or to the cinema . Watched the brilliant Aftersun again on television, plus various other Pluto stuff (a free streaming service with 100s of mainly archive channels)
Mixed month for Welsh sport, rugby team finally won a game (convincingly), but the football team failed to make it to the World Cup, at least I don’t need to find $2000 to see them play Canada in Toronto in June.
Month ended with my 64th birthday (much Beatles related hilarity) and now it’s Easter and some slight signs of spring finally happening here. Happy Easter!
Belated Happy birthday @dai!
Thank you!
There have been three superb Jazz releases in March that have dominated my listening.
Gabriella Cavassa’s Diavolo is spellbinding, modern vocal jazz. She has a brilliant quintet backing her with Jeff Parker and Josh Redman, including a couple of guest spots. A mixture of originals and standards, she tells her own story with conviction.
Tomeka Reid is a cellist. She combines beautifully with Jason Roebke bass, Tomas Fujimara drums and Mary Halvorson guitar. Dance! Hop! Skip! is the quartet’s fourth album and their best blend yet. Halvorson is such magnificent side man. It is such a fun album, enough to lift a dying spirit.
Live At The Village Vanguard Vol 1 by the Immanuel Wilkins Quartet only came out last week but it sounds tremendous. This is questing, cerebral, emotional music. Micah Thomas is on piano, Ryoma Takenaga on bass and Kweku Sumbry drums. Their connection is intense. There are two more volumes to come, a total of thirteen tracks recorded 15th and 16th May last year. I can’t wait.
Speaking of can’t wait, Jeff Parker ETA IVtet dropped a teaser for their new album last week and sounds equally as brilliant as Way Out Of Easy.
I feel I’ve already heard three of my albums of the year.
Funnily enough I put the Gabrielle Cavassa on pre-order this very morning.
Saw Bondi Cigars Sydney based blues band led by Shane Pacey formerly of this parish. Pretty good in a comfortable shoe sorta way. Seen them a few times.
Hothouse Flowers also pretty good but lacking the big gospel sound of days of yore.
Lots of different music foraging for my radio show. Currently going down a rabbit hole of Lou Reed bootlegs via streaming services. The deader you are the more there are.
Started Johnny Cash the life by Robert Hilburn. So far so good.
Plannning a Japan holiday later this year so watching some Japanese stuff on our multicultural channel. 3 star bar is a delightful short series.
Enjoying a beautiful warm still autumn so plenty of walking and even a few beach swims before the chill hits. Managed a 120 minute bush walk with the ankle holding up well after the tree calamity of last October.
Reading
By way of getting in the mood for the summer, I’m taking my time through The Power And The Glory, Jonathan Wilson’s “new” history of the World Cup, which confirms that dubious administration, politics, controversy and international enmities have been ingredients in pretty much every tournament. I feel I’ve got the wrong edition though, as the update after the upcoming tournament will have so much more juice in it
Watching
I’m very surprised there wasn’t more noise on here about The Ballad Of Wallis Island, given its subject matter about a guy hiring a folk/pop duo for a reunion concert on a remote island.
I was certainly charmed by it – it’s theme of a rather odd – even difficult – individual’s pursuit of an unlikely dream reminded me of another small scale British gem, Brian and Charles from a few years back. (One of my hobbies is putting together future double bills to enjoy). And you know that one thing that Tim Key does that sometimes annoys you. Well, right here, in this film, they’ve found the perfect use for it. All is forgiven, Tim!
Esteemed Podscarf The Harry Hill Show continues to delight. I’d recommend the John Cooper Clarke episode if you were just dipping a toe in.
And I’m getting a lot out of the specialist guests.
Years back, while stuck watching one of those afternoon yapping shows which are usually a parade of micro celebs peddling stuff or themselves, they had the lady who flies the coast guard rescue helicopter on talking about her job and I was instantly hooked.
I remember thinking “why don’t they have more of these people on TV?” Harry’s experts not only have much to say but there’s something about their “I’m not really comfortable in this situation, but I’m game to try” personalities which makes you appreciate them more.
Also up on YouTube are all the new TLC episodes of Mock The Week. If you were fed up with it or never liked it, well, it’s exactly as you remember, except a little longer – now with some audience involvement.
My 🎶TV highlight of the month🎶 is Steve Carrell vehicle Rooster, one of those gentle, quirky comedies that the Americans do so well.
Of no interest to you, but I googled the attractive actress who plays SC’s daughter and, true to form, she is English.
Listening
Difficult second albums are back back back!
As, yet again, are the eighties.
Real Name Rachel Keen has, as been observed, gone all Terence Trent D’Arby, right down to the running commentaries on her own songs, while the artwork for the latest Brigitte Calls Me Baby records is like a pastiche of eighties styles, font and all.
As with many of the albums I bought on spec back in that golden age, the really good songs are doing all the lifting, with a few that are quite skippable.
But the record that IS nailed to my digital turntable is the first in twenty years by eighties janglers Heavenly, called Highway To Heavenly. The playing, harmonies and production are as if unearthed from the past, all the more so as they sound so young on this.
And the songs are largely ace. Here’s the opening track (do not adjust your set – those lines are in the vido):
(Heavenly – Scene Stealing)
I had no idea there was a new run of Mock The Week – thanks @Sewer-Robot. Same as it ever was, in a good way. The audience participation might not last long…
This is off the cuff so may be far from comprehensive, but …
Read
I took a Flashman novel, Royal Flash, on a short trip to Edinburgh as holiday reading. You probably already know if you enjoy these books, but if you don’t I would recommend them to anyone who like a historically detailed romp centred around a shameless cad (who nonetheless always seems to come out ahead of the game).
I’m halfway through Alan Bennett’s latest collection of diaries ‘Enough Said’. Even before Covid lockdowns Bennett’s age and health had decreased his mobility but his observations and memories are as sharp as ever. He’s also franker about sex and sexuality than I remember him being before. Perhaps because he is, or so I would assume, beyond his life of sexual activity, but time and again younger people whom he encounters are described as sexy.
Seen
We binged on the Duffer Brothers’ latest ‘Something Very Bad is Going to Happen’ and enjoyed it while still being quite glad when the unrelenting grimness came to an end. The second series of Last One Laughing was pretty dire, and we only laughed once ourselves (Sam Campbell being interviewed by Richard Madeley).
As for nights out … we went to the world premiere of a new play, The Manningtree Witches, based on AK Blackmore’s novel (to be fully honest this was on 28 February). It’s a book and play which seeks to reclaim the female victims of Mathew Hopkins, pointing out at the end that their names have largely been forgotten while Hopkins’ is world famous. The cast, in particular Lucy Mangan in the lead role, were excellent but the real star was the dramatic staging.
Next up was Ross Noble at the London Palladium. I’ve seen Ross better and I’ve seen him worse, but always find plenty to laugh at. I booked the Royal Box, actually some of the cheaper tickets, just because I could. These turned out to be seats to be seen in rather than see from, but the real difference is that you feel the audience laughter coming towards you rather than from behind which gave the show a distinct feel.
On that short trip to Edinburgh we went to a production of The Importance of Being Earnest that was so poor we left at the first interval. What is it with Edinburgh? I can think of 4 times I have ever left a show early and 3 of them were in Edinburgh.
Steve Knightley played Colchester Arts centre on my birthday in 2020, and again 6 years later to the day. Last time our attendance was followed almost immediately by the Covid crisis, so anything other than a plague would be in improvement. Steve is one of my favourite singers, and on this Sacred Spaces tour his songs were accompanied by Daniel Salvatore on Handpans, adding a beautiful shimmering effect.
A few nights later we were back at the Arts Centre for a comedy night headlined by Dylan Moran. The whole bill was excellent, but my other half was so taken in by Morgan’s rambling drunk routine that she though for much of the set that it was genuine. Earlier in March I went for an MOT followed by a blood test at my doctor’s. All was well, but I couldn’t help recognising a bit when Moran told us the worst thing about each decade of your life. ‘Your 50s? That’s when you start spending all your time at the doctor’s. “What’s your very favourite thing? Stop it!!!”’
Finally, in what I realise now was a busy month, and I’m not counting bands in the local pub and the like, was The Grand Babylon Hotel, a play adapted from an Arnold Bennett novel. Very good it was too, with talented cast spinning a farce out the comings and goings of the guests, staff and owner(s) of the eponymous establishment.
Prompted as much as anything by Neil Young’s boycott of Amazon Music I finally bought Archives Volume II this month despite already having the standalone CDs that were released from it. It’s all top stuff of course, arguably from Young’s most consistently listenable and imaginative period, and has been on heavy rotation now for several weeks. I wanted it especially for Dume, but all the CDs are worth having and it’s now available at a much more realistic price.
Retirement has enabled me to read a lot more, and one of the most enjoyable rediscoveries has been Georges Simenon’s Maigret novels which I’ve been reading in publication order. The Judge’s House was the most recent one I read, which means I’m about a third of the way through. Simenon wrote dozens of other novels of course, and I’ve been dabbling in a few of his ‘romans durs’, which Penguin are steadily publishing in new translations. The Hatter’s Ghosts is a splendidly macabre tale that gets inside the mind of a murderer. The Krull House is a dark and sordid tale about sexual assault and murder amongst a family of pre-war German emigres living in rural France. The Cat is a fabulous story of an elderly couple trapped in a relationship of mutual loathing, while The Man from London follows the misfortunes of a railway signalman who witnesses a murder. All of them are fabulous reads.
The Man from London, like many of Simenon’s novels, has been filmed, most recently in the bleak apocalyptic style of Hungarian director Bela Tarr, but previously in a 1940s Brit Noir adaptation as Temptation Harbour starring the wonderful Robert Newton, which I sought out and watched this month. I’m a big fan of British noir flicks from the 40s and 50s and went on a bit of discovery spree amongst some obscurer gems this month. Best of the lot were Dear Murderer from 1947, Cloudburst from 1951 and The October Man from 1947 starring John Mills as a murder suspect living in a claustrophobic boarding house. Fabulous stuff.
Heard – as usual I’d like to suggest a few Australian jazz records that might appeal.
1. Barney Mcall – “MonK KnoW”
Pianist Barney Mcall’s take on Monk. Check out the tracks featuring guest tenor player Julien Wilson (track 2, “Ugly Beauty” and track 9 “We See”
https://extracelestialarts.bandcamp.com/album/monk-know-explorations-of-thelonious-monk
2. Guitarist Hilary Geddes – “Redleaf”
She’s a talent, as a composer and guitarist
https://hilarygeddes.bandcamp.com/album/redleaf
We’re on season 2 of The Pitt, the medical drama starring Noah Wyle, previously on ER as they used to say. Probably the best medical drama ever made. It’s brilliant. Remiznds me of those US dramas of the past that had a liberal tendency but this avoids too much sentiment as MASH had at times.
The Capture is still pretty great. Holliday Grainger adds a lot.
I am enjoying The Sofa by Wolf Alice. A fine single.
Had no idea there was a new series of The Capture. Excellent news!
I’m really enjoying this new season of The Capture.
Killian Scott should be the next Bond.
Yeah, I love “The Pitt”, but I find some of the medical terminology that they bandy around rather … baffling.
Some strong scenes of blood, guts and bodily fluids also. Best not to watch while eating your tea. Removal of impacted faeces anyone?
Films we enjoyed included the Testament of Ann Lee, which had a great score by Daniel Blumberg ( who won an Oscar for the Brutalist; the very beautiful and intriguing German film, the Sound of Falling; and the Hail Mary Project, which was an enjoyable romp with some poignant moments.
Musical departures from the usual Baroque fair included the estimable Ute Lemper running through her repertoire of Weill and his contempories. Also the marvellous Colin Currie Quartet, playing some ferocious, melodic, challenging and quite brilliant percussion pieces by Steve Reich and Julia Wolfe. Music that made most prog and much jazz sound like Chuck Berry by comparison.
On more familiar ground, we saw beautiful performances of Handel’s late opera Imeno, Monterverdi’s L’orfeo and a very inventive modern updating of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, set on the south coast. ( NB it cost £75 each to see all three of these, demonstrating Opera doesn’t need to be expensive).
We also went to an afternoon show of Italian folk tales ( in Italian with subtitles), staged by the local Italian community. Dozens of people on stage, with lots of experimental theatre popular songs and trolls,
At the professional theatre, we saw Easy Virtue by Noel Coward, which I liked, but the humour hasn’t aged well. Michael Praed was in the cast, who I think, I last saw playing Robin Hood on telly an age ago
Yes. Caught Colin Currie at a mini Reich festival in Manchester a couple of years ago. His devotion to the cause is striking. For sure, this will happen with other musicians, but he seems to understand Reich’s musicality intimately, as if he has climbed inside it to discover the inner workings.
Yes, musicality was a word my wife used after the show. Something one might have expected from the marimba and vibes based numbers, but also there in spades on the pieces using drums alone.
Seen
Had a busy week with gigs on three consecutive nights. David Byrne’s show was as stunning to look at as you’d expect, and musically impeccable so it feels mean spirited to say that for me there was something – maybe spontaneity – missing. Still very glad I saw it though. The night after, Eric Bibb was an enjoyable night; he’s still in fine voice at 74 and it was great to see Robbie Macintosh on guitar. Best of the three was the following night, Opera North’s production of Benjamin Britten’s opera Peter Grimes. We’d seen the production when they last took it out some years ago and it was every bit as magnificent and powerful this time as it was then.
And just the other night saw Waiting for Godot at the Liverpool Everyman with Matthew Kelly and George Costigan in the main roles. I’ve seen the play a few times over the years but I’ve never seen it done as well or as enjoyably as this.
Read
A couple of music books. Robert Hilburn’s biography of Randy Newman published in 2024 was a disappointment. He had access to Newman himself and many of his closest collaborators and friends so gets some insights but it also means it’s all a touch hagiographic and bland. And for a major American rock music critic his musical analysis is woeful. On the other hand Ian Leslie’s John and Paul: a Love Story is terrific. He has a particular take – essentially the Beatles’ greatness was built on Lennon and McCartney’s friendship/love, closeness, understanding and mutual dependence – and it sometimes feels as if he is over-interpreting both events and songs to fit this thesis. But it’s very well written and argued and there are plenty of genuine insights. It’s one of the most enjoyable Beatles books I’ve read.
Heard
Nothing new really, but, unsurprisingly given the above, there have been plenty of outings of records by Beatles, Randy Newman, Benjamin Britten, Eric Bibb and David Byrne/Talking Heads.
April already … I have the feeling 2026 is about “existing” rather than “living”.
What have I done? Nothing really … Eat, Sleep, Drink, Work, Repeat
Heard
Nothing new, apart from re-issue of Carter USM Straw Donkey singles compilation.
Have started going back through my “Best Of The Year” lists and re-discovering long-forgotten and not heard for a while stuff.
Wreckless Eric’s Construction Time And Demolition deserved it’s place, not convinced that the Parquet Courts – Sympathy For Life or Sports Team – Gulp! were as great as I thought.
Read
Mojo
Seen
The Capture Series 3, still not sure what is going on to be honest (I think it makes sense) … maybe the whole series is a Deep Fake, and like the Booby Ewing in the shower thing will be revealed over the closing credits
Grace – another series of John Simm being John Simm and limited facial expressions solving crimes and misdemeanours in Brighton
Comic Strip Documentary celebrating 40 years – not all the films worked, but the hit rate was quite high. And the content of many of those films has crept into my lexicon alongside Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, The Young Ones, and Bottom where there will be an appropriate quote for any occasion
Research:
Have decided my next car will be a hybrid, but not a Plug In – I’m looking at the self-charging versions.
(not a “mild hybrid” cos that really does seem a pointless exercise)
And I want it to look like a car, not an SUV
Narrowed down to 3 so far: Lexus, Honda Civic, or Toyota Corrola.
Lexus may be too pricey, and I’m not enamoured by the Toyata, so will probably be the Honda … or I might just buy a Ford Capri, run around in that for a couple of years, and then start being sensible again.
OK, so this will be notes for both February and March, as I wasn’t in the right head space to write anything last month. I’ll try to be fairly brief, but it’s not a sport I excell in, so…sorry in advance!
Seen:
Mainly old b&w Swedish films, some I knew and love, but a couple of new finds as well. A brilliant Hasse Ekman film that combined melodrama, noir thriller and frank discussions on some hot topics of the time – very interesting and one of his I’d never seen before. I haven’t officially decided to begin my Ekman project, but this became available and now I’m even more tempted to watch all (well, most) of his films this year.
Read:
Finally, my reading slump is over! After averaging one book a month since December, the ketchup effect finally happened a couple of weeks ago.
But just before it did I had a final DNF of a very short book that everyone raves about. I got through perhaps half of Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq (also a well-known throat singer and artist…) before putting it down. I can see why people like it, but it wasn’t for me, mainly because I hated the poetry parts of it.
But then I picked up Question 7 by Richard Flanagan and loved it – it’s very much a “me” book; blending history and memoir, in an essay style that lays a puzzle of short vignettes and slightly longer texts, building a fascinating story of the unfortunately again topical subject of the nuclear bomb. In some ways it partly reminded me of Han Kang’s books about the massacres in Korea, in its dissection of a topic, looking at it from different angles. Brilliant.
Next up I read Kathleen Hanna’s memoir Rebel Girl, which was another really strong autobiography & reflection on a musical movement. I’ve said it before, that reading female memoirs is nine times out of ten a depressing experience thanks to the inevitable sexual abuse/assaults/rapes – this one must be the worst one yet in that regard. Jesus…she really went through some horrendous shit! It’s a miracle that she came out of it so strong, happy and sane, and that this book is such a page turner and inspirational, rather than depressing, despite all of those horror stories!
Then I picked up the Alba De Céspedes novel Forbidden Notebook – one of those rediscovered older novels that publishers love to find and reappraise. This one is set in Italy and the notebook is written by a wife and mother in her forties, where she tries to make sense of her conflicting thoughts about her family and the life she’s trapped in. I loved it, it’s a slow burn with an unsatisfactory conclusion in many ways, but so true and very well written.
After that I turned to a newer novel called The Names by Florence Knapp (I believe it’s her debut novel, showing much promise for the future). The story of a family centered around an abusive husband is told from three perspectives/alternate realities, depending of which first name the mother registers for her newborn son. It’s an interesting premise and executed mostly very well. There was more than enough “feel-bad” to offset the “feel-good” tendencies of some of the writing, but if you don’t mind a bit of melodrama it’s a very gripping story. I’ve heard some say that they found the three storylines confusing, but I didn’t have that experience at all.
Then I read the newest short story collection from Samantha Schweblin (Argentinian turned German) called Good and Evil and Other Stories. This was only partially successful for me; there are two longer stories in it that I thought were masterful, but the other stories didn’t scratch any itch of mine. Still worth it for those two (and a third one that was quite good).
Now I’m a little more than half-way through a biography of the famous Swedish nature & animal painter Bruno Liljefors, richly illustrated and written in a quite entertaining tone/style – the problem is that I’m still getting quite bored with his life…bar a dramatic wife swap (from one sister to another) it’s not that interesting. He paints, he exhibits, he moves houses, he fathers lots of children, he sells art for big bucks but overspends and needs to be rescued by his rich friends, over and over again. I’m hoping for a dramatic disaster or something soon (mean, I know) so I want to finish the book and can start reading something more exciting!
Heard:
Gorillaz – The Mountain is definitely my favourite album from them, and soundtracked most of my February. So many great songs, and just the best vibe from start to finish (including the bonus tracks of the Deluxe version).
I said after hating their previous album last year that I would stop buying albums by The Delines, but I couldn’t help myself and bought new album The Set Up anyway… Thankfully, it’s much better than last year’s “effort”. Still, I’m not loving it enough and I probably should just stop giving them more chances – I have really liked them in the past, but now they mostly annoy me. The energy is too low and depressing, it’s not what I need at this point in my life. Not saying it’s bad, just not the vibe I crave.
I can’t remeber if I’ve mentioned the three disc comp Musik Music Musique 1979, but if I didn’t, it’s synth pop from the year 1979 by both well-known and obscure bands & artists. A lot of it is more interesting than actually good, but there are some real gems here. If synth pop is your jam and 1979 was as important to your musical development as it was for me, I’d say check it out.
De La Soul are as brilliant as I wanted them to be on latest album Cabin In the Sky, which came out on streaming at the end of -25, but the CD turned up this year. I listened to half of it just once on Spotify back then, but was distracted and didn’t click with it – the album really kicks into gear after the first few tracks as well, so I’m glad I gave it a new chance and bought the CD.
If you ever loved DeLa, you’ll love this one too – also a big Hip Hop Hooray for them owning all of their own music now – finally!
Mitski’s new album Nothing’s About to Happen to Me is a mixed bag, and I’m still struggling to really get into it. Much like The Delines its vibes are feeding my darker moods, that doesn’t need feeding at this time. But there are definitely some nice tracks here, and I go back to them now and then.
Iron & Wine has the album Hen’s Teeth out, and it sounds better than he’s done in a minute…I had almost given up, but this restored my faith in him again. Some really lovely songs and recordings, bringing a smile to my face.
I’ve enjoyed Chantal Acda in the past, so when I found a new album from her together with Bruno Bavota (me neither…), called Safer Places, I took a chance. I’m not convinced yet, there are enjoyable parts but a lot of it is a bit dull and depressing. But some of it has grown on me, so I’ll just have to try some more. Some lovely arrangements here, but it’s an album for specific moods only, I feel.
The new album from Courtney Barnett – Creature of Habit is bloody brilliant however, and fits my every mood! This is the kind of raw but cute indie rock-vibes that I love. I can see myself in a fast car on the motorway, open windows and stereo blasting this on eleven (the fact that I don’t have a driver’s license or a car, or even friends with such items, is neither here nor there…) Something about (parts of) it makes me think of the late great Divinyls, but bar the aussie accent I couldn’t tell you why. But it’s a real pick-me-up, especially on the rockier tracks.
The new album from Robyn has arrived, and Sexistential is an interesting album, if not in any way perfect. The vido games/sci fi/techno noises generously sprinkled into the production can be a bit too much at times, but at the same time they are sometimes the most interesting things about a few of the tracks. A few classic Robynesque melodies and lyrics that speak loud and clear without embarrassment (if you cringe; it’s on you, she clearly don’t give an F).
Her voice is as good as ever, and once I got used to the soundscape it started to grow on me, and now I like all of the tracks. Good energy, especially on the clubbier tracks.
Another Swede that has been waiting years between albums and has a new one out, finally, is José González, releasing Against the Dying of the Light. His albums can feel a little same-y but this is definitely one of his better ones. Some gorgeous songs, different types of energy, sung in different languages, although most of it is very much the sound you know and hopefully love.
A grower for me.
I saw that James Blake had a new album, Trying Times, out, and had to purchase it. And it’s a pleasant surprise – I had for some reason imagined that I had fallen out of love with his style of music, but no. These are some really beautiful tracks, as well as some unexpectedly moving lyrics. Soulful, is the word I want to use. Secular hymns of love, is another way you could describe most of it. Whatever you call it, it’s quite lovely.
And, finally (!!), I’ve never been a fan of Harry Styles (nor, indeed, One Direction) but I bought his latest album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, on a whim anyway. I can appreciate some of it but mostly I find it a bit bland over all. Not least the lyrics. It has a few redeeming tracks that are good solid pop, if not any kind of future classics, but I was surprised that it was all so very safe and bland. The way people talk about him I had imagined his music to be a bit more experimental/cool/catchy. False advertising!
AOB:
I had to swap to my new computer a few weeks ago, when the old one started to restart endlessly, and holy moly do I hate it! I’ve now developed an unhealthy rage against all of the tech bros who are bored at work and feel the need to entertain themselves by changing things that didn’t need to change… 😉 At least from my perspective (old, tech conservative, hating to learn new skills) that’s the only explanation I can imagine for some of the madness that this new technology and software has presented me with… Oh well, I tackle it one problem at a time, and this time next year I’m sure I’ll be fully fluent in the latest versions of all things computer! 😀
Truthfully, it didn’t help that everything else went wrong around the same time, so I’ve had a lot on my plate to deal with, and my energy is very low. Continued health issues didn’t help either.
Still, things can only go up from here I guess, and once I get through April’s many appointments and urgent errands, things should be just fine once more.
No Easter celebrations this year, due to most of my family going through their own little crises, and that was fine by me. I had a nice piece of smoked salmon yesterday, that’s enough Easter for me!
A brilliant Hasse Ekman film that combined melodrama, noir thriller and frank discussions on some hot topics of the time …
Sounds wonderful @Locust. But what was the name of it? We Scandophile cinephiles need to know these things in case it appears on SVT play or at Filmhuset.
It’s called “Egen ingång” and although I wouldn’t put it in Ekman’s top ten, I was pleasantly surprised by it. Not least because it’s a fairly late one (1956).
@Locust totally agree with you re Gorillaz -a beautiful sunny album, very uplifting in these crazy times.
Country Bernett is an odd one for me – I absolutely loved her debut album which I played relentlessly at the time of its release. The subsequent albums disappointed me. However I have heard a couple of tracks from this new album and I think added to your positive review I am likely to take the plunge.
@SteveT, if I remember correctly (can’t check due to the computer situation; not giving me access to my music library at the moment) I had the same experience with Courtney Barnett – I haven’t heard Country Bernett though… 😉
I think I might have skipped her previous album actually, due to disenchantment, but this one has a Praying Mantis on its sleeve, so I had to buy it, of course (anything in the same ballpark as a locust and I’m in…) Glad I did!
Well, the most relevant thing I guess is that after a long time away, I seem to be drifting back to lurking here recently and have even posted a coupla things.
Today (and for the last few weeks) I have been mostly listening to The Limiñanas. They are a one-trick pony, but they carry out that trick with such panache, I am sold. I am still playing Instant Holograms on Metal Film, which I think is up with the best stuff Stereolab has ever done.
I caught up with quite a films from last year: The Secret Agent, Sirât, and Sinners – all worthy of their praise. On Saturday I saw the 25 year re-release of Amelié, which still charms enormously, despite making Emily in Paris seem like a documentary.
Since the start of the year, I have working my way through Anthony Powell’s magnum opus, A Dance to the Music of Time. I read two or three of the novels then read something else then come back for more. Currently, reading book 8, The Soldier’s Art. The writing is wonderful as it documents the petty bureaucracy of the army and the sudden tragedies of wartime London; lightly witty and sprinkled with aphorisms. Before I went back to Powell, I read Fear and Loathing in Fitzrovia by Paul Willetts. I picked it up largely because of the title but also because it is the bio of someone who inspired a character in DTTMOT. Julian Macclaran-Ross was a tragic Zelig-like figure, a seedy alcoholic writer living off his wits, fueled by booze and amphetamines, hustling in the pubs and drinking clubs of 1940s and 50s London. Aclaimed at the time, all but forgotten now
Huge fan of Dance to the Music of Time – I have read them all twice now and definitely want to go back for another spin some time. I love how characters come in and out, as they do in life, and the way he uses a handful of set piece scenes in each novel to create an overall sense of his life at that period. I read McClaron-Ross’s novel Of Love and Hunger a few years ago – doesn’t quite suggest the lost genius some consider him to be, but certainly worth a read if you haven’t already.
The metaphor of the title really works with the structure and content doesn’t it? I read the first book in my 20s but didn’t take it further until now. I think it resonates more when older. I notice the turn-of-the-century Channel 4 adaption – in only 4 parts- is is available to stream. It has a very good cast, but I wanted to finish reading it before checking that out. I noticed Simon Russell Beale is playing Widmerpool, which seems inspired. But -apart from the stockiness -I cant help feel Michael Gove would have fitted him perfectly.
Michael Gove as Widmerpool is inspired! The tv series is a decent fist at an almost impossible job and I enjoyed it having read the novels – but not sure how good it would be if you hadn’t. As you say it has a stellar cast – with all sorts of people turning up. I enjoyed seeing a very young Nicola Walker appearing briefly as Gyspy Jones for example. Right call to finish the books first though.
Another big fan of The Liminanas – I have most of their albums and their sound is quite addictive.
Ah glad to see I am not alone. Everything about them just locks in doesn’t it?
Spring has sprung an uplift in mood, chez Retro, praise be, all credit to sunshine and strong meds!
March is a month of birthdays here, mine and hers, edging ever closer to that next milestone with a zero in it.
This also got me out to that Manchester, and a return to their urban Folk Fest, held across the avo and barista coffee strewn streets of the Northern Quarter. A grand few days, if not quite up to the standard of last years shindig. I fear the organisers have become more opportunistic, cramming in more and more shows, making it seem even better value. However, this led more to clashes and decisions having to be made on the hoof. More choice became fewer shows actually or able to be attended, partly as there was a greater proportion of “bigger” theatre shows, with supports as part of, rather than a mass of shorter smaller performances. Nonetheless, some cracking shows, with Rachel McShane (and her Cartographers) and Brown Horse the best I got to. Nick Harper surprised with a steaming “tribute” to the various singers who came to visit his Dad, Roy, back in the early 70’s.
And a word of caution around current trendy folk collective, Shovel Dance Collective. Having found their last album to have some moments of merit, I had higher hopes than they delivered. Indeed, such was the self-indulgent folk as performance art for people who don’t actually like or appreciate the genre, it was torture, as they patted themselves effusively on their own backs, whilst they ruined a few tunes and songs, in those brief moments when anything became recognisable through the murky sound. Vile. The packed Halle St Peter’s audience of top knotted nose ringed fauxkies loved it!
After watching a fascinating documentary series on shrooms, roots, cacti and other psychedelic ingestibles, I was bought a copy of Carlos Castaneda’s Teachings of Don Juan, which is much more readable and entertaining than I expected, if also having me wonder whether old Charlie Castanets had been the victim of an elaborately set-up ruse!
Seen a couple of films, three actually, if yet to brave a cinema. The new Frankenstein, by Guillermo Del Toro was gloriously hammy and indulgent. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man hit a well needed spot, after a few glum days, and was wonderful nonsense. Had good expectations of the latest Juddering Thighs/Wuthering Heights, but, after a very Peaky Blinder style opening, it steadily descended downhill, until, 2/3 of the way through, it became standard bodice-ripper and dull with it. A shame.
A decent month? Less so, as it ended, with Wilma, our faithful nemesis of a Jack-Schit, collapsed her spine 2 days before Mrs Path’s birthday, becoming part-paralysed. a night at the vet hospital was followed by the decision all dog owners dread having to be made. A lovely prima-donna of contrarianism, she was a month shy of 14.
we had to make the same decision last month about our lovely dog who coincidentally was exactly the same age as yours. It was the right thing to do for her, but it’s shit, isn’t? Still sometimes go into a room expecting to see her curled up on the carpet….
14 months on, I’m still expecting the oldest to be waiting impatiently when I return maybe having left a small present on the kitchen floor
This….
I refer the honorouble gentleman to the August 23 Blogger Takeover following Sidmouth of that year.
“In a whole week and more, I owe it to somethingorother to make time for the obscure and the risky in the schedule, usually to be found in the Cellar Bar at Kennaways. So, what to make of the Shovel Dance Collective? (Why do people have to be in ‘collectives’, rather than just ‘bands’.) From the off, they were not for taking prisoners, opening with a long and austere ballad, accompanied by frenzied harmonium and cello, while 60% of the band looked on as if this was the most normal thing in the world. The ‘Dance’ in their moniker, I assume was tongue-in-cheek. I have no doubt that they could all play their instruments, and the vocals were good technically. But, and this is a ‘but’ that I keep butting up against, so many folk musicians now are using their considerable skills to play drones or long-repeated figures, which does create great texture, but couldn’t we also have some melodies please, with grace, phrasing, beauty? They mentioned that this was their first folk festival booking, and I couldn’t help wondering what or where on earth was their target audience, and just how many phone boxes would it require to contain it.”
Sadly, the collective paucity of phone boxes nationwide now means they can aggregate a fan base, and thus reinforce the innate prejudice that exists still around folk. See also Brown Wimpenny……
Retro and Chesh – thank you. Your respective paragraphs on The Shovel Collective have expressed my feeling about this whole movement (using the word advisedly) far more eloquently than I have managed in the past. I like folk – but I don’t like whatever this kinda thing is…”hybridisation folk”, maybe?
The Shovel Dance Collective audience await the band’s festival arrival.
we had to say goodbye to our dog this month as well. At almost 20, she had just run out of road. Probably the most awful decision I’ve ever had to make in my life, I miss her terribly.
Heard:
Lots of new music this month.
Got very into the recent MONO Live in Tokyo album. Tremendous stuff, listened to consistently across the month.
As advertised elsewhere, big fan of the new Amanda Bergman album. Tremendous voice. Capped off by seeing her play live in a tiny room above a pub in Islington. She was great.
Really into the album just released by Fazed On A Pony (swan). New Zealand band, sound a tiny bit like a very mellow Pavement. Would recommend.
Also enjoying the new Converge album (Bad Faith) and Strictly 4 The Scythe by Denzel Curry and The Scythe. Both noisy and parent-scaring in the grand tradition.
Huge love for the album by Snocaps that came out at the end of last year. Waxahatchee and her twin sister together producing some very early-90s sounding college rock/indie. Has been getting a lot of play at home, reckon some on here would enjoy it too.
But the best thing I’ve heard this month, the album with which I’m currently completed obsessed, is My Ghosts Go Ghost. Experimental Hip Hop with doomy, gothic production. The most interesting thing I’ve heard in a while, can’t get enough of it.
Seen:
Project Hail Mary – Thought the book was dreadful, but really enjoyed The Martian and have a lot of faith in Lord & Miller as directors, so had been looking forward to this. It’s great fun. Bit too long, but a rollicking good time of the sort cinema should really deliver more of. Wonderful karaoke scene too. Would recommend.
Crime 101 – Enjoyed it, but feel like we’ve seen these re-heated Michael Mannisms many times before. Still worth a watch.
Cold Storage – Amusing enough splatter comedy that made me wish I was watching Bad Taste instead.
Last One Laughing 2 – Expectations were high for this in Casa Little, but it proved a mixed bag. Unsurprisingly lacked the magical chemistry of season 1, but still delivered plenty of laughs – the animal impressions section was about as good as this show has ever got. Thought there was a clearer sense this time of a narrative being forced, but still enjoyed it greatly. He’s an acquired taste, but I find Sam Campbell very funny indeed.
Swingers – Went to a screening with a bunch of old friends and relived our collective youth. A movie that meant a huge amount to use growing up in terms of its depiction of male friendships in all their silly sweetness. Now looks a billion years old, as do most of my pals, but the love remains.
Probably missing a bunch of other stuff, the start of March feels like ages ago.
Read:
The Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie – Was recommended the First Law trilogy by a work friend and absolutely loved it. Final book delivered on all the build up in spades and was a pleasure to tear through. Not normally a big reader of fantasy, but will explore some more Abercrombie after this. No idea why it hasn’t been turned into a movie/tv.
Against The Gods by Peter L Bernstein – Wonderful book on the history of man’s relationship with risk and probability. Another recommendation; someone I sat next to at a work dinner was raving about it and mailed it to me the following day. Really interesting, insightful book that made me think differently about our relationship with maths and chance. May re-read it soon.
James by Percival Everett – Another recommendation from someone aware of my deep love of Twain and particularly Huck Finn. I have to say I didn’t think think this was very good; a tiresome reworking of a classic to better fit contemporary political mores. Predictable and regrettably shallow.
Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks – Yet another recommendation from someone I ran into via work. Thought it was great fun; I really enjoy 80s/90s sci-fi written right before it became clear to us all broadly what the shape of the future would be. Will do Player of Games soon.
AOB:
Went to a Drum & Bass night for the first time in a very long time with a big gang of pals. Danced to LTK Bukem and Roni Size until 5am. Spun me right back to being a teenager, sneaking into club nights, stood with my eyes closed feeling all that energy moving around me on the dance floor. Bukem the better of the two, for anyone who’s counting.
Single best thing I saw/heard all month is this. Video of Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk recently joining Fred Again onstage at Ally Pally for two of the best hours you will ever hear. Some of my mates were at this – just absolutely mind blowing. Got a bit emotional even watching the video. God, if music isn’t completely magical.
Beyond that, I’m doing the London marathon at the end of the month, so have been doing a completely absurd amount of running. Has been a lot of fun, but now looking forward to the day itself, and to getting the time and sleep back once it’s over.
Seen
Two excellent NTLive films at the lovely Broadway Cinema in Letchworth – “Othello” with David Harewood in the title role and Toby Jones as a superb sneaky little shit Iago. Also saw The Audience with Helen Mirren playing the Queen through all her Prime Ministers. Has she ever been bad in anything? Binged a BBC interpretation of The Little Drummer Girl on iPlayer – excellent. Also just finished Southland on Netflix – hard boiled gritty cops in LA etc but well done. Solo viewing I’m rewatching Fauda which has extra resonance given the situation in the Middle East at the moment.
Went to see The Hanging Stars at the terrific Bear Club in Luton. Good but not quite as good as I hoped. Cosmic country apparently. More power pop than Gram Parsons though. Also went to the spring concert by the Hitchin Chamber Orchestra – pieces by Finzi, Mozart, Haydn and Adam Carse. The HCO are lovely and we have friends in the ensemble. Always a lovely evening in our 11th century church.
Read
Read “Revolutionary Ride” by Lois Pryce – long distance motorbiker Lois tours Iran a few years ago on her own. Her other books are excellent too and thus one is no exception, especially given the danger of touring there and chatting to the locals. She comes back in one piece loving the people and the country if not the regime. Currently reading “Out” by Tim Shipman – the third in his definitive books about Brexit. His day gig at The Spectator gives clues as to which way he rolls but he tells a great story, has unimprovable sources and is able to treat the outlandish behaviour on both sides with a dash of ironic humour to lighten what is hardly a fun tale. This starts with Boris Johnson winning the Tory leadership through to Kier Starmer’s eventual general election victory. I have to have regular breaks so I’m also reading “The Anglo Saxons – a history of the beginnings of England” by Marc Morris – simpler times in some respects but plus ça change in others.
Heard
Had a nice binge through my Gillian Welch CDs. What a superb catalogue. I’ve been investigating the roots of British Folk Rock beyond “Liege and Leif” – especially like the first Steeleye Span album with Gay Woods also on vocals. Her album with hubby Terry are rewarding listens too.
Other
My band did their first gig at delightful village festival in Thriplow near Royston. A fine time was had by all. It’s on YouTube for the curious.
I’ve been rear ended twice by gits who then refuse point blank to take responsibility so finally I got it together to install a front and rear dash cam and wire it all into the car electrics. I was unreasonably pleased with myself when it all worked.
I think dashcams are starting to become essential driving equipment, these days.
I don’t see how anyone can refuse responsibility for rear-ending you, unless they can prove your brake lights were defective or you reversed back onto them.
I assume you took loads of photos, of both vehicles, location, who was driving or riding in the other vehicle etc. for your insurers after those incidents.
You’ll be getting loads of unsolicited calls from Claim Management Companies now.
Yes lots of photos and video. He said “you slammed on mate” i.e. I braked right in front of him (hmmmmm. Stopping distance…?). Anyway he caved eventually but a dash cam would have put an end to it.
Anyway, pleased with this…
https://amzn.eu/d/09n6YfyX
@twang That looks good value – currently $89.99 (a mere £47.23) on Amazon Oz. Reviews say you have to put your phone in flight mode though – that would interfere with satnav etc, wouldn’t it?
No it doesn’t and it’s a bit misleading @mikethep.
The reason the camera is so small is because it doesn’t have a screen – it has its own little WiFi network and using their app if you want to look at any clips you connect your phone to it and view clips etc on the phone. In that case you do need to stop the phone doing anything else with the car (I just access it when I’m stopped). But the camera records all the time and you don’t need to phone, app etc for it to be doing its dashcam duties, only if you want to download stuff or change a setting. In practice it’s a non issue.
Thanks, good to know!
Any questions PM me.
Any of us? About anything we need to know?
Bring it on
The answer to that is to get an automatic. They can’t roll back if they are in drive with your foot on the brake when you are stopped which is my default way of driving them,
The Vauxhall Insignia loan car I was given for a couple of weeks, back in 2022 after my car before the car before last got totalled, had an automatic handbrake that stopped it from rolling back or forward when stationary with the clutch depressed or in neutral. Made hill starts an absolute doddle. I was impressed, once I learned to trust it.
I believe Poor Old Horse was originally a Swiss sea shanty, I think that’s what John Tams said when he introduced it once. 😉
Oh go on then Hube. As I said in the intro the origins are unclear. We’re on board with Teams though.
I thought that was a balmoral on your head at first, @twang!
A stomping version of a wonderfully catchy song, @Twang.
And the Thriplow Daffodil Festival looks like great fun.
https://www.thriplowdaffodils.org.uk/
Thanks KFD. It’s absolutely lovely!
“Teams” was Tams until autocorrect intervened.
@Twang Actually now I think about it Tams said it about another sea shanty. However the song is linked to the mummers play a man dressed as a horse (not unlike the Mari Lwyd) would menace the onlookers. I actually had a mummers team called Old Horse (or as some friends called us Old Hat) late 70s early 80s.
https://mainlynorfolk.info/shirley.collins/songs/pooroldhorse.html
Yes I found that page when I was researching the song. The late middle ages generally seems to come back to drinking, harvesting and fertility among the non-church life of the people.
Nice! Good to put a face and sound to the name at last.
Cheers!
Much of the month I’ve been rediscovering multiple interpretations of the piano and chamber music of Ravel and Debussy, my favourite composers, doubtless prompted by the collections of both that @Pencilsqueezer pointed me to last year. All those Preludes and tone poems have been with me since childhood, so well soaked into my DNA. Tomita’s ‘Snowflakes are Dancing’ inevitably ruffled some traditionalist feathers at the time, bringing the Moog synthesizer into the classical repertoire. To me, you can hear the love for the originals all through, capturing the wistfulness, the ambience of La Belle Epoque, the sumptuous melodies.
Another delight is Anders Miolin’s arrangements of Ravel for Ten-Stringed and Alto Guitar. Again, it’s a classic case of thinking you know a piece inside out, but being startled by what else is in there.
Finally, there’s been Colin Matthews orchestral arrangements of Debussy’s Preludes, performed by the Halle. Sometimes, I think I could be satisfied by a very narrow bandwidth of composers.
Bore da Cat. I assume you’re aware of Takemitsu and the positive influence of Debussy on some of his music.
The name and influence I knew, but not the actual music. Thankyou!
Read
You’re Next by Gregg Hurwitz
This is a rollicking thriller, but I found that it suffers from over written action scenes. The really good crime writer (I’m thinking the likes of Pelecanos, Leonard, Willeford) keep the moments of violence short and brutish and are all the more effective for it. But some writers just over cook it. I suspect that Hurwitz aspires for the cinematic, but I just find it a bit clumsy.
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
An undercover agent/provocateur infiltrates a group who may be planning to commit acts of domestic terrorism in rural France. Thoughtful and knotty with a wonderfully unpleasant narrator.
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
Lighter in tone than the Nickel Boys or the Underground Railway but still engaging and he writes like a dream.
Seen
Seven
I don’t think I’d rewatched this since it was originally released back in the 90s, but this still packs a punch. It’s horribly nihilistic and almost dystopian. And whilst it is grim and grisly, it remains a film where you think you’ve seen far more than is shown. Bleak.
The Beauty
Imagine that David Cronenberg crams the X files, Zoolander, Iron Man 3, a tech bro billionaire and a pile of comic books into his body transference pod out of The Fly. He then makes a tv show based on the weird monstrosity that steps out of the other side. That gives a flavour of The Beauty – a wild, unruly beast of a show full of striking images, black humour, body horror and unsubtle digs at the beauty industry.
War Machine
Enjoyable Friday night fare with the bloke out of Reacher duking it out with a maniacal mech.
Paradise
The techno thriller has expanded in scope and cast this time around – although Sterling Brown continues to be an impressively solid lead. It’s hard to review without giving spoilers, so I’ll just say we enjoyed this and are hoping for a third season.
American Fiction
Sterling Brown appears as part of a fine ensemble cast, headed by a wonderful Jeffrey Wright. It’s sort of like Alexander Payne and Jordan Peele became a writing / directing tag team.
Zootopia 2
The original was on hard rotation when it was released and remains something of a treasured film for us. The gang’s all back for the sequel, which is fun but can’t quite reach the heights of the original.
We went to see Seven at the cinema with no idea what it was like and were completely traumatised! It took most of a bottle of Southern Comfort (the only thing we had in) to relax after.
Arf!
SEEN: Peaky Blinders – The Immortal Man was fantastic – a perfect ending but huge anticipation for the next two instalments which have already been filmed.
EPIC – The Elvis Presley film was hugely enjoyable. My wife is the big Elvis fan but I loved this – two things I took away from the film were how playful he was with his band with a great sense of humour. Also I never realised how great a drummer Ronnie Tutt was – exceptional.
On stage we caught David Byrne in Dublin. Very good but just slightly less than the Utopia tour mainly I guess because it had many of the same elements that startled when I first saw them.
Jonny Morgan and the Moral Support. @Carl recommended them to me and so glad he did. They have a great live presence – look forward to seeing them again as they develop but certainly a great prospect.
READ: As mentioned I have just started reading Kevin Rowlands memoir – I really like his writing style and he is very interesting. Only a short way in so I haven’t yet come across his more bonkers traits that @Fentonsteve referred to. Still I am looking forward to his upcoming gigs later this year.
HEARD:
The Long Ryders – High noon hymns. No big departures but all the better for that.
The Third Mind – Spellbinder – shouldn’t really call it Dave Alvin’s Psychedelic band because it is a joint effort but it was his name that enticed me to them. An absolutely top notch band and every release has been excellent. This one is no exception.
Squeeze – Trixies – good but will take more listens for me to agree with the excellent reviews.
Willie Nile – The Great Yellow light – missed this on release last year. Some great songs here.
Booker T and the MG’s McLemore Avenue – inspired to get this after reading about it fairly recently. Love it.
AOB; Can someone filter the shit that comes out of Trump’s mouth so that we don’t have to listen to it?
He is completely deranged.