I am exactly the right age to be a Star Wars fan, though maybe a year or two younger would have been perfect – but the first time I saw the original three films was on a DVD box set by which time I was obviously […]

1. Fight Club
2. Apocalypse Now
3. Zatoichi (2003)
4. The Blues Brothers
5. Dawn of the Dead (1978 version)
6. Battle Royale
7. Zabriskie Point
8. Oldboy (2003)
9. Taxi (1998 – *not* the American […]

Nice to see Bicycle Thieves there. I don’t think I’ve seen that since watching it at school. It is worth hunting down the 1990’s (I think) pastiche of it, Icicle Thieves. I think its a brilliant film anyway but […]

1. Snapshot – The Strypes
2. The Liberty of Norton Folgate – Madness
3. Inform – Educate – Entertain – Public Service Broadcasting
4. Tekitoi? – Rachid Taha
5. Your Queen is a Reptile – Sons of Kemet
6. Royal […]

I think you have to take it to an opticians to see if it is safe to drive. Something like that anyway. Maybe I have it the wrong way round.

We got round the problem by lending our car to our son so he could get […]

At least Lou Reed’s back catalogue has been reduced to an album. What about acts like Golden Earring?

26 albums, 74 singles, only one song that anybody knows. (See also: Steppenwolf & Blue Oyster Cult)

Mike Oldfield? 26 albums, only one of which is Tubular Bells.

OK maybe 3 or 4 of them are Tubular Bells

I doubt he will eclipse his dad, but Liam Finn is pretty good.

Second that!

According to Spotify, my top 10 artists from the past 10 years are:

David Bowie
The Fall
Yes
Elton John
Dr Feelgood
Kraftwerk
Pet Shop Boys
Genesis
Public Service Broadcasting
Steely Dan

Which […]

I had a look at the website because I was tempted by Osibisa the other day, even though it was a bit short notice and impossible to persuade the Mrs. Tickets for that were £25 standing or £55 for d […]

But knowing our luck, the all-woman government would be Priti Patel, Kate Hoey, Nadine Dorries and Anne Widdicombe.

I don’t know where the idea came from that women are more sensible or nicer than blokes. Has […]

The TV is destined to go wall-mounted. I think I’ll end up with a better soundbar with wireless rear speakers.
I’ve got to the point where my eyesight and varifocals can’t cope with all the connections on the […]

A shame about the limitations. There are lots of places I would like to see, but only very briefly – the Minoan civilisation on Crete, Victorian London, ancient Rome and so on. But I would rather be able to dip in […]

I got to the point where our second bedroom contained all my stuff. it was fine. The Mrs was happy with an uncluttered living room. When children started coming back home to live during domestic upheavals I had to […]

I had a 5.1 amp (actually a 7.1 amp but only bothered with 5.1 speakers) until very recently and a universal player for a small collection of SACD and DVD-As.

When I listen to surround discs I actually sit […]

Sticking to music I would say…

Chris Squire. Yes is just not the same without him.

Paul Hester. I hate seeing people beaten by depression and loved his work with Crowded House. The rapport in the band was […]

The first band I paid to see was the Tubes, but Fee Waybill broke a leg and the tour was cancelled. The first band I actually did see was Yes at the Empire Pool on the Tormato tour.

I went on my own. Nobody […]

I can endorse all of that!

I am a borough councillor at the moment. In fact I am a cabinet member as well. I am not standing at the elections in May because I can think of more fun ways to spend my evenings. […]