Hitting The Vaseline

Friday. Mmmmmm.....

Rock/Pop (a bit of a catch-all category, admittedly):

Svefn-g-englar - Sigur Ros. This was the very first SR song I heard, at a gig at the Royal Festival Hallages ago, supporting Godspeed You Black Emperor! I still prefer this to their more recent soundtrack-like ambient albums.
Chocolate - Snow Patrol,
These Days - REM,
Electronic Performers - Air,
Serotonin - Nine Horses,
Lay Down Your Arms - Asia,
Burning Hell - REM,
Tiny Little Fractures - Snow Patrol,
You And I, Part II - Fleetwood Mac (surely You and Me?),
From This Moment - Eno/Schwalm,
Fix You - Coldplay. Reminds me a lot of a Porcupine Tree song, but I can't remember which one,
I Second That Emotion - Japan,
Stir It Up - Bob Marley,
Sonnet - The Verve,
Wow - Kate Bush,
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits.

T - 4; M - 4; D - 3.5

Cast Adrift

I understand that the BBC Castaway programme is a ratings flop (see Self-Indulgent Waste of Carbon). Good. I'm with this guy.

Ten... Four... Precisely

The Mark Radcliffe interview with Genesis was interesting, but spoilt by his interspersing it with non-relevant music. One song in particular was dreadful. I'm still gonna miss him when he goes, though...

Everyone - Van Morrison. On first hearing this album (Moondance) I wasn't terribly impressed - I thought it was a bit light-weight. However, I now recognise it for its genius mix of rock/blues/folk/jazz, and its probably my favourite Van Morrison album,
The Gunner's Dream - Pink Floyd. The best thing on The Final Cut. Just beautiful,
Untitled 2 - Sigur Ros, from (),
Coda: Marine 475 - King Crimson,
Amelia - Wayne Cochran's CC Riders, from the superb Punk Jazz Jaco Pastorius compilation,
Pulstar - Vangelis. A true pioneer of electronic music. I must have about 30 LPs of his, mostly from the 60s, 70s and 80s,
The Power to Believe II - King Crimson,
Afterglow - Genesis,
... In That Quiet Earth - Genesis,
Sincerely - fIREHOSE,
You're The One - Kate Bush,
Fire and Rain - James Taylor,
Kiss - Judee Sill. I'm going to miss 'The Sounds of the Seventies' too, when it moves to midnight.

The Danny Baker All Day Breakfast is proving to be less frequent that I'd like, although I guess it's entirely up to him when it's made and released. Still, it's a bit frustrating, as it's brilliant.

T - 4; M - 4; D -3

Once Again I'm Hiding in Backwaters

Had a Report to read this morning, so not much music. I was met at the Tube Station (at 8:59) by a queue of a dozen people at the entrance gates. All were over 50 and were being watched by a couple of Special Constables. Very odd, until I realised they were waiting for 9.00, when, presumably, their tickets would be valid for off-peak or whatever it is. I've never seen this before, but as they were literally standing with ticket in hand at the gate ready to push it through, I had to wait behind them and missed my Charing X train.

No real mood today, so just chose some David Sylvian (DS, Japan, Sylvian/Fripp etc.) to pass the time. My walk from the tube to my workplace was accompanied by 'Brilliant Trees', which matched the sunny weather really well.

Tonight's Resonance FM 'Where's The Skill In That?' aka 'Mixing It' is a repeat of last week's show, so I'll be tuning into the interview with Genesis with Mark Radcliffe on R2. I was a bit worried about this clash dilemma, but it's been sorted out now...

M - 4; T - 4; D - 3.5

Voyage 1034

Another sunny start, and yet another commute to Central London. We have a meeting with 'the boss' to discuss the current challenges facing my company, this may all be over fairly soon...

In anticipation of the new Porcupine Tree CD 'Fear of a Blank Planet', I chose a Steve Wilson playlist. Alongside Brian Eno, this chap has probably the greatest range of styles of music, although they're produced under different names (Bass Communion, PT, No Man, IEM etc.):

Cure for Optimism - Porcupine Tree,
Nine Cats (Acoustic Version) - PT,
Hymn - PT,
All I See - No Man,
Shallow - PT,
BCremix 1.2 - Bass Communion (remixed),
Born Simple - No Man,
Voyage 34 Phase I - PT,
Three - Bass Communion vs. Muslimgauze,
Where We Would Be - PT,
BornLiveDie (intro) - PT,
Sever Tomorrow - PT.

The tube seems to be behaving itself at the moment, so, although I would hardly call this commute a joy, it's tolerable...

M - 4.5; T - 4; D -4

Yet Another Monday

The change of clocks has thrown me a little, so it felt really early today. I listened to the latest 'Mark Kermode' review on my walk to the Tube, then settled down with 'not Spoken or Classical':

Made Again - Marillion. This is a great song, and I did consider playing it at my wedding. It's a little out of place at the end of 'Brave' but it's really uplifting,
Music Promenade - Luc Ferrari, from the OHM+ compilation. Lots of environmental noise and then some chattering electronics. It's funny how one's mind tries to pick patterns out of this type of music, where none exist.
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd, from Pulse,
Black Magic Woman - Fleetwood Mac,
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits,
Jupiter Island - Porcupine Tree, from the classic first album. I know Steve Wilson tends to dismiss most of this stuff, but I love it, particularly for the memories it brings back,
Yet Another Movie/ Round And Round - Pink Floyd,
The Myth of Trust - Billy Bragg,
Be My Friend - Free,
Brother of Mind - ABWH.

T - 4; M - 4; D - 4. Pretty good start to the week, with beautiful sunshine. It can only go downhill from here...

Constant Change Is Here To Stay

First it was Danny Baker, then Mixing It and Andy Kershaw. Now I hear that Mark Radcliffe is to be moved a time when I can't listen to it (8-10 pm), as is 'Sounds of the Seventies' with Steve Harley. Thanks to my new friend 'hydroplane' for teh recent news.

I am getting more and more fed up with the radio. I know that change can be (and often is) a good thing, but the recent changes have, across the board, obliterated my possibilities of listening to favourite programmes live. I know all about 'Listen Again' on the the BBC, but it's one thing to listen to a Mark Radcliffe evening programme live as intended, and another to listen to it on a PC during the weekdays when I'm suppposed to be doing other stuff (i.e. work).

I know Mark Radcliffe has young children, so may have requested this move, in which case good luck to him.

FWIW, here would be my ideal Radio listening - I appreciate that many of the people are no longer with us, but it's just an idea of my mind-set:

Weekdays:
Breakfast - Danny Baker, preferably the old Saturday GLR show, with lashings of Steely Dan, or Chris Morris,
Lunchtime - Old 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue', as on BBC7 but every day,
Afternoon - not really bothered; Radio 5 is okay. Classic drama from the BBC archive, perhaps
Early Evening - more comedies
Late Evening - Mark Radcliffe / John Peel archives / BBC Sessions from the '70s / Tommy Vance-type Rock show

Weekends:
Breakfast - Alan Freeman-type mix of pop and rock, with someone who actually cares about music,
Daytime - Any Questions?, then sport or more BBC archive drama
Early Evening - Stuart Maconie, Late Junction
Late Evening - Mixing It, Andy Kershaw, Resonance FM-type ambient mixes

Summer:
Test Match Special. All the time :-)


For the final nail in the coffin, Jazz FM completed its journey to the nadir, with a re-branding as Smooth Radio, via Smooth FM. Wall-to-wall computer-chosen dross to go alongside Heart, Magic etc. etc.

The Monkeys Seem Willing to Strike up the Tune

Friday at last.

Rock, Prog and Rock/Pop filter this morning, accompanied by a read of the Independent.

A Horse With No Name - America. I remember having a prolonged argument about whether Neil Young was in this band. He wasn't, although this Canadian band sounds similar, but I couldn't convince the other party otherwise,
Planet of My Dreams - Frank Zappa, from 'Them Or Us', one of my favourites,
All Night - Pavlov's Dog,
H Gang - Donald Fagen,
Bungle in the Jungle - Jethro Tull,
Sinister Footwear II - Zappa,
Fie Kesh - IEM, a Steve Wilson side-project. There's a new Porcupine Tree album due out in April, which I'm really looking forward to...
Dreaming - Cream,
Gaucho - Steely Dan,
For Your Love - 10cc,
Days (Demo) - Yes, later reprised in a Jon Anderson solo album,
Verbal Feat - Amon Tobin,
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts 1-7) - Pink Floyd, from the 'Echoes' compilation.

I finally finished Cloud Atlas yesterday. A bit disappointing in the end, as some stories didn't really move anywhere, or finished too predictably. The 'nesting' idea was a good one, but the links between the stories, aside from the common theme, were tenuous.

T - 4; M - 3.5; D -4

Run to the Toilet and You Comb Your Hair Again

Last night's 'Mixing It'/'Where's The Skill In That?' on Resonance FM was splendid, only marred my poor reception here on the edge of London. Great to hear the guys back in action and playing the same eclectic mix.

Speaking of which... Here was today's 'Not Classical or Spoken' playlist:

Once I Was - Tim Buckley,
His Last Voyage - Gentle Giant,
1952 Vincent Black Lightning - Richard Thompson,
Mrs. Bartolozzi - Kate Bush,
Ya Hozna - Frank Zappa,
Fell In Love With A Boy - Joss Stone,
Give Me A Reason - The Corrs,
Rakim - Dead Can Dance,
Looking for Eden - Ian Anderson,
Medieval Overture - Return to Forever,
Babooska Beatbox Demo - Kate Bush,
Wave - David Sylvian,
Chromatic Fantasy - Jaco Pastorius,
Where Is My Mind? - Pixies,
H Gang - Donald Fagen,
Lullaby - A Perfect Circle,
Tinto Brass (live) - Porcupine Tree,
Strangeitude - Ozric Tentacles,
Lazarus - Boo Radleys,
Somebody's Watching You - Sly and the Family Stone,
Rave On - Buddy Holly,
Disco Boy - Frank Zappa,
Projection Esemplastic for White Noise - Joji Yuasa.

That's probably the most eclectic selection I've had for a while - Nice One.

T - 4; M - 4.5; D - 3.5

Flashback

A rather mundane day. For no real reason, I selected my 'Eighties' playlist:

Joan of Arc - OMD,
Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits,
Swing - Japan,
Beauty and the Beast - Stevie Nicks,
Who's Afraid (of the Art of Noise) - AoN,
Hide and Seek - Howard Jones,
Running up that Hill - Kate Bush,
Silent Hedges - Bauhaus,
I Am The Resurrection - The Stone Roses,
Talk Talk - Talk Talk,
Pride (in the Name of Love) - U2,
Good Tradition - Tinita Tikaram,
Enola Gay - OMD,
Why - Bronski Beat,
Games Without Frontiers - Peter Gabriel.

Hmmm... I don't know where that got me.

I See Red

Back to my GP to have my knee sorted out. Apparently the nurse who removed my stitches didn't dress the wound properly. Great.

I've just discovered Danny Baker's All Day Breakfast podcast. Nor dissimilar from his BBC London show, therefore just to my taste... If this gets to be a daily thing, then my future commutes will mostly be spent listening to this, which might change the character of this blog.

Songs on my 'Colours' playlist today. Not an exact science, as words ending in -red (see flowered) also show up. What the hell, it's just an intersting way to do this...

Goodbye Blue Sky - Pink Floyd,
Outside Woman Blues - Cream,
Songs in Red and Gray - Suzanne Vega,
Blue Melody - Tim Buckley,
Fourteen Black Paintings - Peter Gabriel,
Sir Lancelot and the Black Knight - Rick Wakeman,
Flowered Knife Shadows - Harold Budd,
Red Lenses - Rush,
Answered Prayers - David Sylvian,
Black Market Blood - Placebo,
Red Stuff Writhe - Roger Waters and Ron Geesin,
White Russian - Marillion

Almost finished 'Cloud Atlas'. I had very high expectations of this book, which haven't quite been met. The structure of the book(s) is novel, although the overlap between them is minimal and really just superficial. Also, by the time I get to the second half of the first story, I'll have forgotten what's going on. The common theme of man's inhumanity to man, and the dry humour used, is very good though.

T - 4; M - 4; D - 3

Catching Up

A fairly odd weekend, as nothing we had planned to do actually transpired. Plus, I managed to break open the wound in my knee.

I managed to get a copy of the 'Where's The Skill In That?' over the weekend, and took the chance to listen to this excellent show. What are Radio 3 doing?

'The Now Show' podcast followed to round off an unconventional trip.

Most of the management team of my company are in the US, so I wonder who'll be 'working from home' today?

T - 4; M - 4; D - 4

Counting the Ways to Fall Without Landing

Another sunny start, which put me in the mood for some David Sylvian-related music.

Snow Borne Sorrow - Nine Horses,
Laughter and Forgetting - DS, from 'Gone to Earth'. The second LPs a bit 'noodly', but the first one has some beautiful moments,
New Moon At Deer Wallow - Rain Tree Crow. My first ever CD. I resisted CDs for a while at first, preferring LPs, but the clarity of this recording tipped the balance towards digital,
When Monday Comes Around - Nine Horses, from the 'Wonderful World' EP. Not their strongest track, but still good,
The Banality of Evil - Nine Horses,
Money For All - Nine Horses,
Some Kind of Fool - DS,
Ain't That Peculiar? - Japan,
Words With the Shaman Pt2 Incantantion - DS, from the CD remaster of Brilliant Trees. I think I've worn the grooves out on my LP copy of 'BT',
Serotonin - Nine Horses,
I Drink to Forget - Rain Tree Crow,
Brightness Falls - Sylvian/Fripp, from the the original mix of the 'Damage' CD. Apparently this is quite rare, but I think I prefer it to the DS-remix version,
Gentlemen Take Polaroids - Japan,
Wave (version) - DS,
Ride - DS. The first time I heard this, I just had to play it over and over again. Taken from the Everything & Nothing compilation,
Firepower - Sylvian/Fripp, from the the original 'Damage'

A bit of a rush this morning to get in in time to hear the Andy Kershaw 'Desert Island Discs' show. It's really great to hear someone who is passionate about music, rather than the usual parade of actors and has-been politicians expressing their love for Tchaikovsky and the Arctic Monkeys. The treatment of AK by Roger Wright at R3 was (and remains) appalling...

T - 4; M - 4; D - 3, apart from the girl who trod on my dodgy (stitches-free) leg.

I'm as Puzzled as a Newborn Child; I'm As Riddled as the Tide

A fabulous laid-back start to the day, as I had to go my GP for removal of stitches. I seemed to miss the Northern Line 'suspension' (i.e. breakdown) and had a very pleasant journey in.

Work is a complete waste of my time, but at least the travel there and back is tolerable. What a great situation. Ho hum.

A 'folk, guitarists' Shuffle produced some John Martyn, Joni Mitchell and 70s music before it alighted on Tim Buckley. What a fantastic voice, and just perfect for a relaxing sunny day:

'Blue' - Joni Mitchell,
'Harry's House/Centrepiece' by Joni Mitchel,
'Glorious Fool' - John Martyn, from his Andy Kershaw session a while back,
Screw - Curved Air,
Touching Once - Renaissance, then
Buzzin' Fly, Goodbye and Hello, Song to the Siren, Carnival Song, Hallucinations, Happy Time and Morning Glory by Tim Buckley

I remembered the new 'Mixing It' programme (now 'Where's the Skill in That?') on Resonance, but fell asleep after 5 minutes. Idiot. I'd forgotten how radio used to be - miss a programme and it's gone: no podcast or 'Listen Again'. I'll try and set up my PC to record it somehow...

M - 4.99; T - 4; D - 4

So Blue

The iTunes upgrade of my iPod seemed to worked really well. The only change seems to be that, when I'm scrolling down a list (Albums, Songs etc.), I get a big capital letter flashing up to tell me where I am in the list. Seems a bit superfluous, but it might grow on me. The 'Pod itself seems to have got over whatever it was that was wrong with it yesterday - perhaps it knew it needed an upgrade...

Lots of Joni Mitchell today, for no good reason other than I heard 'Casey' on the Mark Radcliffe (currently Tom Robinson) Show last night. The Jaco stuff is just superb, but all of it seemed to fit this morning with the beautiful weather.

Some fool brought a little dog on the train this morning. Predictably, it just got in the way.

My stitches come out tomorrow, so I'll be fully active and less wary of people brushing past my knee.

M - 4.5; T - 4; D - 4

Yes, Yes, Yes

My iPod seems to be experiencing some difficulties. It keeps crashing. I fear I may have to wipe it, restore it, upgrade and re-fill it. The re-filling typically takes about 4-5 hours. Bugger. The iPod is a great machine, but iTunes can be a real pain in the bum for updating, file-swapping etc.

Listening to my new free sampler CD of the Jon Anderson Box Set put me in the mood for some Yes. Despite all my recent talk of 'New Music', Mixing It, Folk etc. etc. this is my spiritual home.

'White Car', from Drama.
'Shoot High, Aim Low' - the stand-put track from 'Big Generator',
'Survival',
'And You And I',
'Nine Voices',
'Angkor Wat',
'Siberian Khatru'

T - 4; M - 4; D - 3

Yet Another Chelsea Monday

After a relaxing weekend spent playing in the park, the return to the drudgery of the commute was improved by the glorious weather. The Feedback thing with the Controller of R3 was utterly useless (... I don't acknowledge his concerns..., I'm right, feedback suggests everything's super). I'm not a huge listener to day-time R3, but the illustrative clips they played demonstrate a drift down into the Classic FM territory.

Anyway, a 'Not Classical or Spoken'. I have nothing against the former, but the noise of the Tube makes 'proper' listening difficult:

Strength of Strings - This Mortal Coil. I once tried to seduce a girl with the 'Filigree & Shadow' LP. It didn't work.
Neon Golden - The Notwist,
Rilkean Heart [Acoustic Version] - Cocteau Twins. A beautiful version,
O Death - John Renbourn, great song from an excellent album
Oleano - The Fall,
Held - (Smog),
Blue & Sentimental - Count Basie,
D.I.Y. - Peter Gabriel,
King Tubby's Patent Dub - King Tubby,
All The Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople,
Open Your Eyes - Yes. 99% of the time I find this album incredibly annoying. This morning, I found this track intersting, if over-long,
Le Clochard - Focus,
Towards the Within - Dead Can Dance,
and, for the walk to work... Miles Runs the Voodoo Down - Miles Davis. Superb.

A busker at my destination station was playing a Chapman Stick and making a real noise... I've seen the Stick being played many times (mostly Trey Gunn and Tony Levin), and I don't think a Tube station 9am on a Monday is the right time for unaccompanied stick. Fun to see, though.

T - 4; M - 4.5; D - 4

Electronic

Another sunny day, this time accompanied by my 'Electronic' filter:

The Top of the Morning - Mike Oldfield,
Eternity & Twenty-Eighth Parallel - Vangelis. I love a great deal of his early stuff (probably up 'til the release of the BladeRunner OST), but a lot of his later film stuff leaves me cold,
Last Rendez-Vous - Jean-Michel Jarre,
Equinoxe Part 2 - JMJ,
Kometenmelodie 1 - Kraftwerk,
Legs - The Art of Noise,
Dwarf Artillery - Bass Communion, from the superb 'Bass Communion' album,
Outcast - Mike Oldfield,
Trans-Eurpoe Express - Kraftwerk,
L'ours Musicien - Vangelis,
Aero Dynamik - Kraftwerk,
Sixtyten - Boards of Canada,
Sunset Door - Mike Oldfield.

Today's 'Metro' had a wrap-around ad for 'Castaway, which just wound me up further and further...

M - 3.5; T - 4; D - 4

... And The Encounter Was Crushing

My leg's healing enough to allow me to walk to the Tube station, accompanied by more Radio 7 Doctor Who...

My subjective prog-tastic selection today:

Lines in The Sand - Dream Theater,
Church of Anthrax - John Cale & Terry Riley. First heard on 'Mixing It', and Sony UK denied all knowledge of it existing on CD when I enquired. I finally found it in my favourite second-hand record shop (Dead Wax) in Huddersfield,
Voyage 34 (Phase I) - Porcupine Tree. Not my favourite 'Phase', but this is a great early track,
Brother Of Mine - Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe. Time has not been very kind to this music. I was very excited when it first came out (buying both LP and cassette, and all the singles), but it's showing its age. I saw them at Birmingham NEC, but was so far away that it was a bit under-whelming,
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt2 - The Flaming Lips. Bit of this record are really good, but other bits are fairly ordinary,
Goodnight Kiss - Dream Theater,
Approachin Pavonis Mons By Balloon Utopia - The Flaming Lips again,
Just Let Me Breathe - Dream Theater,
The Bends - Radiohead. I don't 'get' Radiohead. They're supposed to be the cutting edge of neo-prog/art-rock, but I find much of it very ordinary. Although I've got many of their CDs, I don't remember ever listening to one all the way through, and can't think of any songs off-hand, besides perhaps 'Creep' which my band tried (unsuccessfully) to cover as a ska/two-tone version.

Considering I have 1283 tracks in my self-selected 'Prog' category, this was surprisingly light on the older stuff - Yes, GG, ELP, King Crimson, VdGG etc. etc. Perhaps some of their output comes under different genres...

M - 3.5; T - 4; D - 4

Self-indulgent Waste of Carbon

Apparently the BBC, in their endless drive down-market, will stage their crappy reality TV show 'Castaway' in New Zealand.

So that'll be 13 plebs, plus entourage, plus 'celebrity' presenters, plus cameramen, sound people and production 'team' flying halfway round the world for no good reason. Then updates every half hour in the 'news' (viz. BBC Breakfast).

Cretins.

Mixing It Memories

A collection of music/artists I'd first heard on Radio 3's 'Mixing It' programme, for this sunny Wednesday morning. God I miss it (and Andy Kershaw) at the weekend...

The lateness of the new 'MyXINGIT' show (or whatever it will be called) on Resonance, and the fact that there is no 'Listen Again' facility will make future listening difficult for me, although the reception at the periphery of London _can_ be good. There's no way I can listen on the computer at that time of night.

Traffic - The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys. OK, a non-MI track to start with, just because I love it,
Trains - Porcupine Tree, first heard back in '92 or '93, when 'On The Sunday of Life...' first came out. Their sound has altered significantly over the years, but a new album is out soon which sounds a bit like 'In Absentia',
Heartattack in a Layby - Porcupine Tree again, from the same album,
Sugar Craft - Medeski Martin & Wood,
Tundra 4 - Squarepusher,
Uranokemia - Pan Sonic,
Little Miss Echo - Raymond Scott,
Happy Cycling - Boards of Canada,
Six - Bass Communion vs. Muslimgauze. I have a friend in Brussels who has almost everything Muslimgauze ever did. I find much of hiss stuff a little too clinical, but there is a lot of great music,
Neon Golden - The Notwist,
I Go Solo - Psycore, from a 'Sounds Like Inertia' compilation.

M - 4.5; T -4; D - 4

Siren Call

After my absence from the commute, it was business as usual:

All 3 < x < 5:

Money For Nothing - Dire Straits,
Song to the Siren - Robert Plant,
Desert Song - Dead Can Dance,
The One I Love - REM.
Joan Of Arc - OMD,
Chinese Apples - Witch Hazel,
'Tain't What You Do - Jimmie Lunceford (50 Big Band Classics),
If Ever I Needed Someone - Van Morrison,
Open The Light - Boards of Canada,
Heart and Soul - The Monkees,
Aloysius - Cocteau Twins,
Debora - T Rex,
Sylvia's Mother - Dr Hook.

Over the weekend, I took my grandma's records back home. Lots of dance music and Mulligan and O'Hare-type folk singing. No sign of all the classical stuff I remember when I was growing up.

T - 4; M - 4; D - 3. Got a dodgy leg at the moment, after some minor surgery, and was very wary of people dropping bags on it...