Beyond the Gilded Cage

Last day before my break. I've filled my iPod with favourite tracks and lots of comedy (Baker & Kelly, Chris Morris, Lee and Herring, all sorts of stuff).

Limelight - Rush
The Camera Eye - Rush
Witch Hunt - Rush
Vital Signs - Rush
Damage - David Sylvian & Robert Fripp. Man, this is beautiful,
Reel Around The Fountain - The Smiths
Funeral March - Jah Wobble
Ride (Mono) - Caravan

Well, that's it. No more commute for a while, and hopefully when I get back I'll have a different job.

T -4; M - 4; D - 3

An Old Day Now

Only 2 days before my holiday starts. I'm still waiting for the job offer, but it may take a while. In the meantime, a laid-back start to the day:

Floating Seeds - Ozric Tentacles

Man With An Open Heart - King Crimson

Toxygene (Toxic Genes Mix) - The Orb

Don't Hurt Yourself (Single Edit) - Marillion

Rain And Snow - Pentangle

Catch The Wind - Donovan

The Modern Boys - Suede

Pilgrims Frogress - Greenslade

With A Gun - Steely Dan

A New Day Yesterday - Jethro Tull

Astral Traveller - Yes; The DVD from the Chris Squire 'Fish out of Water' re-issue is good fun. The video is basically a live/mimed performance of a couple of the songs. It's spoilt by the poor lighting, though and lack of focus on the main man.

T - 4; M - 4; D -3

Baker and Kelly Upfront

Another pleasant surprise. Between babysitting, a message from Danny Baker arrived in my iTunes Podcasts regarding Baker/Kelly footie podcasts. After listening to the stuff I found on Cook'd and Bomb'd recently, I might consider this.

However, if this to be £2 a week to go with the £2 ADBS (> £200 year!), it might be too rich for me, especially as I still haven't (bothered to) figure out Wippit.

It seems that the Ladies' Bras thing has disappeared without trace, too. I wondered how much of this is down to people like me who simply can't be bothered to go via Wippit.

Market Square Heroes

A pleasant surprise on the BBC website - Marillion and Fish getting together on stage - the third lead, would you believe? It must have been fun, and I'm glad they seem to have buried their demons:

The classic line-up of rock band Marillion have performed together on stage for the first time in 19 years.
Singer Fish, who went solo in 1988, was joined by his former bandmates for one song at a festival in Buckinghamshire.
Fish described it as "just five guys doing a one-off and having a brilliant time together", and stressed that it would not lead to a full reunion.
The quintet, who had 1980s hits such as Kayleigh and Lavender, played their debut single Market Square Heroes.
The gig took place at the Hobble on the Cobbles event in Market Square, Aylesbury, where the band formed, on Sunday.

The song came at the end of Fish's solo set. Guitarist Steve Rothery, bassist Pete Trewavas, keyboardist Mark Kelly and drummer Ian Mosley all took part in the surprise performance.
Fish told the BBC News website: "It was great. It was just a load of fun. But nothing should be read into it. I think it just proves that we're actually friends.
"There's always been these rumours that there's some sort of animosity between us but that went a long, long time ago."
The crowd let out a roar when the singer told them: "I want to produce some old friends of mine."
One fan, Helen Vought, said: "The crowd went mental, jumping up and down and cheering and screaming.
"It's something that I never ever thought would happen - and it did. There were literally grown men crying at the front of the audience."
Fish, whose real name is Derek William Dick, said he suggested the performance after seeing Marillion live in Glasgow in June.

Mark Kelly and Steve Rothery played at the gig. The band kept going after Fish left, with Steve Hogarth replacing him on vocals.
Although they never recaptured the commercial success they enjoyed with Fish in the mid-80s, they have retained a loyal support and have regularly appeared in the UK top 40.
Fish said he did not want to take part in a full reunion because Hogarth "does a great job with the band".
"What they do is completely different," he said. "I've got a new album called 13th Star and anybody that listens to that will understand that I'm worlds apart from what the Marillion guys do.
"We forged different paths over the 19 years."
He is due to tour the UK in September, followed by dates in Europe until mid-December.
Marillion released their 14th album, Somewhere Else, in April and will tour the UK and Europe in November and December.

Lack of Sleep

After a sunny Bank Holiday, what should have been a return to the daily grind (and waiting for a job offer) was disrupted by my son having a fever overnight. So, a day of cBeebies, jigsaws, building rockets etc. etc. Still it's more productive than actually being at work these days.

Pain and Heaven

How closely these things are separated. If I get the job I went for yesterday compared to if I don't.

While I pondered my future, some recent CDs and then 'Shuffle All':

Come Into The Garden -Nick Drake
Mountain Bird - Cherry Ghost
4 A.M. - Cherry Ghost
Do You Ever Remember? - Nick Drake
Here Come The Romans - Cherry Ghost. On it's own, I like it. In the middle of album, I don't - it destroys the mood.
Elukka - Alamaailman Vasarat, a free download from somewhere... Finnish avant-garde jazz/fusion.
Ascent from the Circle - Andreas Vollenweider
Coda: Marine 475 - King Crimson. Great, just great
Cover My Eyes (Pain And Heaven) (Mike Stone Remix) - Marillion
Amelia - Joni Mitchell
Altoloma 5 Till 9/ Altaloma 98 - Premiata Forneria Marconi
All The Young Dudes - Mott The Hoople
Cathedral Walls - Marillion
One More Try - Wigwam

I listened to last Friday's Mark Kermode podcast (although it wasn't Mark) and was pleased that they've dropped the very irritating ad for football in the middle, although they still persist with the superfluous jingly music at the end.

A Bank Holiday, then three days at work, then a 2-week holiday to come. Apparently there are Tube strikes planned for when I'm away. Well done, everybody.

T - 3; M - 3.5; D - 4

Falling Down, Down, Down

Another miserable "Summer's" day. Still, I had my recent CDs to cheer me up.

Cherry Ghost's new one (I realise that ths is probably the latest review in the world) is very good, although there are a couple of odd Status-Quo/blues songs in the middle which I didn't like much. Strange that 'My God Betrays' isn't on there, too - it sounded great on the recent Janice Long session. Overall, a pretty decent 7/10 on first listen.

Nick Drake. Listen to Nick Drake always brings a tear to my eye. What was and what could have been are so difficult to think about. He'd be almost 60, now, and who knows...

Black Mountain Blues - Nick Drake
They're Leaving Me Behind - Nick Drake
Come In To The Garden - Nick Drake
They're Leaving Me Behind - Nick Drake
Time Piece - Nick Drake
Poor Mum - Nick Drake (actually, it's his mum, Molly)
Winter Is Gone - Nick Drake
All My Trials - Nick Drake (oh, man is this great - a duet with Gabrielle, his sister)
Kegelstatt Trio - Nick Drake

Then, as the background Tube noise became too much for the fragility of these recordings, a switch to my next recent purchase - Chris Squire's 'Fish out of Water'.

Hold Out Your Hand - Chris Squire
You By My Side - Chris Squire
Silently Falling - Chris Squire
Lucky Seven - Chris Squire
Safe - Chris Squire
Lucky Seven (US Single Edit) - Chris Squire. In these dumbed-down times, it's difficult to imagine anyone putting out a single in 7/4.

Fabulous jazz-tinged prog-rock by the master of the Rickenbacker. Such joy and exuberance.

Job interview tomorrow...

T - 3; M - 4.5; D - 4

I Did All My Best To Smile

Northern Line chaos this morning. The elastic band broke.

I'm becoming increasingly fed up with work and the weather and the sheer desparation of it all.

Still, Amazon came good with my Cherry Ghost, Nick Drake and Chris Squire CDs. Are you listening CD-WOW? Four days it took, not 5 weeks.

Shuffle All:

Song To The Siren - Tim Buckley
Forsaken - Dream Theater
White Rum - Various Artists, from the first Trojan Dub Box Set (Disc 1)
Cold As Ice - Caravan
Unwritten Answer - Epsilon Indi
Harold Budd - Rothko
Hands - Andreas Vollenweider
You Don't Need Anyone (Moles Club Demo) - Marillion
South Side Of The Sky - Yes
Wedding Nails - Porcupine Tree, from XM
Just For The Record - Marillion
Polonaise - Jon & Vangelis
Lady Writer - Dire Straits
Misunderstanding [Live] - Genesis

Apparently, the Sunday Times made Robert Fripp's latest release CD of the Week. That cheered me up. From DGM Live:

Sunday Times CD Of The Week All Over The World
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Sun., Aug 12, 2007

Who’d a thunk it - Robert Fripp’s latest album grabs the CD of the week accolade in the Sunday Times! Giving it a fullsome five stars here’s what reviewer, Mark Edwards, has to say.

"Even if you think you don’t know Robert Fripp’s music, you do. That unearthly guitar sound that swoops and soars through Bowie’s Heroes – that’s Fripp, played through Brian Eno’s sonic treatments. Fripp and Eno developed this “You play, I’ll tweak” system, which they called Frippertronics. More recently, Fripp has evolved the idea alone. These days, he calls the results Soundscapes. Churchscapes are Soundscapes performances in churches. There, that’s the terminology sorted. Fripp plays slowly evolving improvisations next to a huge rack of effects processors covered in lights and dials and buttons, but I strongly suspect that this is all for show and, hidden round the back, he has a small box with just one button on it, and that button is marked “Wow!”. I would suggest that you turn out the lights, put on the headphones and lie back in wonder."

Here Comes Fussyboots Now

As another week stretches before us like a great shoe with its lights on ((C) Danny Baker), I have an interview later in the week. In the words of Paul Chisnell of Haze 'a jolly important job with lots of jolly money'...

First, as it's Monday morning, a return to 1997 for some Baker & Kelly Up-front Radio shows. Very poor sound quality - like having perpetual tinnitus - but very funny. Check out the Iranian National Anthem as Children's TV Theme.

The 'Ladies' Bras' download is available for download for today, but I don't have time at present to figure out Wippit's odd ordering system.

Some 'folk and blues and jazz' from my Auto-Playlist:

Simple Twist Of Fate - Bob Dylan
Phoenix - Judee Sill
Hallucinating Light - Roy Harper
Ups And Down - Steeleye Span
Kiss - Judee Sill
Two Against Nature - Steely Dan
Ghost Of A Shark - Tom McRae
Harry`s House, Centerpiece - Joni Mitchell

The Independent has gone mental again. Some idiot reactionary fundamentalist reckons he's right and everyone else is wrong and The Indy reports it verbatim. Isn't this treason? Still, it's got a good crossword.

T - 4; M - 3.5, but wasn't really concentrating; D - 3.5

Ladies' Bras Update

The Latest Danny Baker 'All Day Breakfast Show' Podcast features a live studio version of Wibsey's 'Ladies' Bras', in anticipation of the release on Monday.

I subscribe via iTunes and got it automatically. I can't see it on the Wippit website, though.

Speaking of which, if the cost is to be 79p, why can't Wippit process anything less than £1? 'Do you wish to purchase this product for £1?' my arse.

I still haven't got a clue about Wippit. Plus, I'm going to be away when the ADBS goes colour. Will any purchased MP3s still be there when I get back?

Cook'd and Bomb'd

Fridays are becoming increasingly hard to deal with. I just know that I'll get to work and my boss will be 'working from home', but the CFO will be there to check I don't leave at 4.59 instead of 5.00. The good news is that I have an interview next week...

I've downloaded a whole load of Baker & Kelly Radio 1/5live and Talksport/Virgin MP3s via Cook'd and Bomb'd HERE, which, if the quality's pretty terrible, are good fun.

The Nightfly - Donald Fagen
Whatever Would Robert Have Said - Van der Graaf Generator
The Power - Suede
Silver Bullett The Observer All Stars, from the Trojan Dub Box Set Volume 2

I had some writing to do this morning, so removed my iPod. God, it's quiet on a Tube train.

The Independent reported today that the listening figures for Radio3 has gone through the floor. It's still 'bedding in', apparently. Idiots. Hardly a surprise, as I suggested here and here, amongst many more posts.

The Independent really annoyed me by replacing the usual 'Great Works' art appreciation thing by Tom Lubbock (who's away) with some garbage 'picture' by someone called 'Sean Scully' and proceeding to describe this juvenile crap in glowing terms. I don't know who you are, Sue Hubbard, but it's neither big nor clever.

T - 3; M - 4; D - 4. Get me out of here, someone.

Telepathological

From the Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy:

... Kakrafoon has a sentient species known as the Belcerebons. Sentenced by Galactic Tribunal to be telepathic, the only ways of blocking out these messages is to either talk constantly about anything and everything...

Well, today, I was plagued by several groups of women who did nothing but chatter inanely. I was tempted to ask them to shut up so that I could listen to my iPod... First a gaggle of hags on the Northern Line, then two different groups on the Piccadilly. For God's sake.

Folk today, for no apparent reason than I've just added this Genre from my home library to my iPod:

Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young
First Breath - Richard Thompson. This, from 'The Old Kit Bag', is just superb.
Dealer (1st Alternate Version) - John Martyn, from the fabulous 'One World' re-issue.
Crayon Angels (2) - Judee Sill
Emoni Ennen - Värttinä. Just great a capella singing
Songs In Red And Gray - Suzanne Vega
Strange Feelin' - Tim Buckley
New Nothynge - John Renbourn
My Man On Love (2) - Judee Sill
O Death - John Renbourn
Voices - Nick Drake
Rainbow River - Vashti Bunyan
Luka - Suzanne Vega, from the recent Radcliffe and Maconie session,
Ploughman Lads - Nic Jones
Human Remains - Tom McRae
See Saw - Devendra Banhart
Never Any Good - Leonard Cohen

After CD-WOW completely screwed up my order (delay after delay after delay - I'm not going to use them again), they should arrive from Amazon before the end of the week - hurrah!

T - 4.5; M - 4; D - 1

Passage to Bank OK

More miserable weather to accompany my miserable journey to work.

I just missed the Charing Cross train, so had to get on the Bank one. Another slow, interminable journey. At least I can get my money back. It takes a while, but 'I can't complain when the cheques come through'.

Peeping Tom - Placebo. I'm a recent convert to this band. The lead singer has a very good voice, but the music's interesting too,
Scared of Girls - Placebo
Black Market Blood [Hidden Track] - Placebo
Second Sight - Placebo
Protect Me From What I Want - Placebo
I'll Be Yours - Placebo

A switch to Shuffle All for the Tube journey:

Your Move (Single Version) - Yes
Raindance - Gryphon
Into The Lens - Yes. The Buggles' version of this song is very fine, too,
Just Let Go - Pepé Deluxe
Stone Thrown - Turin Brakes
Where Will You Be - Yes
A Passage To Bangkok - Rush
One Of These Days - Pink Floyd
Watching You Without Me - Kate Bush
The Happy Couple - Michael Hedges
Sheep - Pink Floyd
Toxygene - The Orb
Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station - Frank Zappa. Which I might just do, if my job hunt doesn't come up with anything soon,
Dominoes (Bonus Track - Take 2) - Syd Barrett

T - 1.5; M - 4; D - 3.

Prophet Margin

A return to the Chris Squire/Danny Baker interview from last Friday. Mr Squire mentioned that the re-released CD/DVD was available in autographed form from his own web-site. It is, here, but it's got a heavy price tag of £25 + VAT. Rather a lot, I think, 'collector's item' or not.

Particularly as it's available here at considerably less (sans autograph, of course)

Also, was it just me, or did he seem to have partaken of a couple of cold drinks?

I loved the bit when 'Peter of High Barnet' rang in. A regular contributor to Danny's show, it was Pete Banks, the first Yes guitarist. He asked about the forthcoming 40th anniversary gigs, and whether he would be invited. Chris mumbled something about it all being undecided, but I think the answer is 'No'. Rather cruel of Danny and his team to put him on the spot, but good fun.

Fish Out Of Water

Tuesday seems to have taken the Northern Line by surprise.

It's not Sunday:
"Tomorrow is the one day I would change for a Monday
with freezing rains melting and no trains running
and sad eyes passing in windows flimsy
and my seat rocking from legs not quite matching..."

For my rainy walk to the Tube station, a recording of last Friday's Danny Baker interview with Chris Squire about the re-release of 'Fish Out Of Water',

A switch, while waiting for a train, to another Yes alumnus:
Ooooh Baby - Alan White
One Way Rag - Alan White
Avakak - Alan White
Spring: Song Of Innocence - Alan White
Giddy - Alan White

An odd album in the context of 70s Yes - very different from any of the other solo LPs from other members

Shuffle 'Not Classical or Spoken':

A Place to Call My Own - Genesis
Waiting Phase Two [Live] - Porcupine Tree
The Gumbo Variation - Frank Zappa
Ascension Day - Talk Talk. I just love this album,
Never Forget - Fleetwood Mac
Am I Very Wrong? - Genesis
The Living Years - Mike & The Mechanics

T - 2; M - 3.5; D - 2

"Mick Jagger is monogamous, year-on-year"

Thanks to Mark Kermode for supplying the headline for today's post. It comes from his discussion of 'The March of the Penguins' in the latest Radio 5 podcast, and it made me laugh out loud. Worringly, Radio 5 have chosen to put an advert for some football thing in the middle and played ridiculously loud music over the last 30 seconds and Mark's review of Surf's Up. To make matters worse, the last 10 seconds of the Podcast consisted solely of this inane jingle, so it wasn't as if it was out of time, or anything. Please stop doing this.

I've found (via the Cook'd and Bomb'd forum) some old Baker & Kelly Football shows from Radio5 and TalkSport, which I'm enjoying at the moment. The sound quality's a bit ropey, but it's still great to hear this combination again - they kept me sane towards the end of my PhD write-up.

Panty Rap - Frank Zappa
Radio Free Moscow - Jethro Tull
All My Love - Led Zeppelin
Tundra - Jethro Tull
Coyote - Joni Mitchell
Certain Surprise (Live At Regent's Park, 1978) - John Martyn
(Ein Klein) Heldenleben - Gryphon
Spanish Castles In Space - The Orb
Titanic - Francesco De Gregori
Blessed Relief - Frank Zappa
Albatross - Fleetwood Mac
A Fire In The Forest - David Sylvian
The Gunfighter - Harold Budd
The Man's Too Strong - Dire Straits

To do this week: apply for job, listen to the end of the last Test, finish a couple of Reports and record ths Armando Ianucci shows from last week's BBC Radio 7.

T - 2. Time stood still on the Misery Line, as a normal 30-minute ride took twice as long.
M - 4; D - 4.

The Cuervo Gold, The Fine Columbian

Friday at last. Only three weeks to go 'til my holiday. With regard to the 'All Day Breakfast Show', which has been excellent this week (did Baylen really say 'meeting people from behind a hole in the wall - it wouldn't be the first time'?), I'm gonna pay for the first three weeks and then have a break. If I feel like it when I get back, I'll continue.

I see England lost the toss yesterday and with it any chance of a win or draw at the Oval. The weather's been really cruel to them this series.

A fine relaxing commute today. Not even the peculiar woman in gloves who always looks agitated could put me off...

Some laid-back 'Jazz, Folk and Blues':

Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan,
Furry Sings The Blues - Joni Mitchell. There was a good article in today's Independent about her new forthcoming album,
CoolTide - John Martyn,
Bandaged By Dreams - David Torn, Mick Karn, Terry Bozzio. I just love the bass playing here...
Paprika Plains - Joni Mitchell ... but I love this more. After the voice/piano, in comes Jaco with a fairly simple fifths/octaves bass-line, but it's just great,
One World (Live At Regent's Park, 1978) - John Martyn. Beautiful,
Black Comedy - Miles Davis. Oh man,

T - 4; M - 4.5; D - 4

Drama Queen

Another laid-back start to the day. I really should be feeling more anxious about my job situation, but can't seem to get too worried.

After the latest ADBS, featuring Wibsey of 'Ladies' Bras' notoriety, a relaxing Shuffle All playlist:

Machine Messiah - Yes, from the overlooked 'Drama' album
Silver Springs (rough) - Fleetwood Mac, from the double CD 'Rumours' re-release
Run Through The Light (Single Version) - Yes
Neurotica - King Crimson
Freefall - Vangelis
Velmwend - Ozric Tentacles
The Battle Of Epping Forest - Genesis
Alpine Tragedy / Sisters - Landscape
Outside In - John Martyn. Man, this is great.

I was sad to hear of the death of Tommy Makem at the weekend. I used to listen to a lot of my dad's LPs when I was a kid, including the TM and Clancy Brothers stuff. The Irish Republican stuff largely didn't register until I was older, but I just loved the music and the banter on the live albums.

Sad to hear about Bob Harris, too. A 'Whistle Test' hero and, with Fluff Freeman a great promoter of prog in the dark days of the synth-pop '80s. Get well soon, Bob.

On a more positive note, the Third Test starts today. The weather looks too good if India bat first, though.

While I remember, my iPod seems to be cutting of the last minute or so of the last few ADBS editions - is it something to to do with this 'ShrinkMyiTunes' they're being sponsored by? It's currently recorded at 40 kbps, and it's showing. It seems to work ok on my computers...

T - 4; M -4; D - 4. Potterwatch seems to have petered out completely - perhaps carrying such a large book is too much in the Tube. I had the same problem with the awful 'Jonathan Strange' book.

The Ladies' Bras

The 'All Day Breakfast Show' have teamed up with the 'Dirty Fan Mail (/Male?)' and 'Wippit' to put out the "Ladies' Bras" single. It's only about 40 seconds long, but is amusing, at least on first listen.

In a slightly juvenile way, it would be 'funny' to have this enter the charts, if anyone really cares about charts these days.

See also:

http://blacklineblues.blogspot.com/2007/07/adbs-ups-and-downs.html
http://blacklineblues.blogspot.com/2007/07/como-tose.html
http://blacklineblues.blogspot.com/2007/07/everyone-bras-pants-zappa-potter-and.html

Ride A White Horse

After the latest ADBS Podcast, which was particularly funny, I was in a good mood. Plus, the Tube was working properly. Work is going very badly, though, and I fear that it's terminal. Ho-hum.

T. On A White Horse - Eberhard Weber, a great jazz/ambient double bass player. I saw him solo in Cambridge about 15 years ago, and was very impressed, particularly by his real-time multi-track composition.
The Following Morning - Eberhard Weber. This album is just sublime,
Dance of The Deer - System 7. Some Steve Hillage techno.
Planet 7 - System 7
Somewhere Else - Marillion. I think this album is gradually growing on me, but I still have an issue with the production,
See It Like A Baby - Marillion
A Voice From The Past - Marillion
Most Toys - Marillion
No Such Thing - Marillion
Anesthetize - Porcupine Tree. Wonderful. If you want to hear how production should be done, this is a good place to start, IMO.

T - 4.5; M - 4; D - 4 - I must have had my Sex God aura with me, as I exchanged admiring glances with at least three young ladies at various points of my journey. Potterwatch is still bumping along at 3 or 4 a day, this time 2 male, 2 female.

Hell Is Other People

I had a day off yesterday, so was feeling really relaxed. Until the Tube threw one of its 'special services' at me.

Several things should have lifted my mood:

I saw the Simpsons Movie at the weekend - good, but not great. There's the Matt Groening interview with Danny Baker here in MP3 format, but I haven't listened to it yet.

I've also found this forum on 'Cook'd and Bomb'd' discussing the ADBS. I agree with much what is being written about the subscription and Wippit in general.

The third pleasant surprise was the return of the free (for now) ADBS. This will be the last week before going to £2 a week. I think I'll give it a go before I go on holiday. It will have to be at least three things, though - every day, funny, and at least an hour long - if I'm going to stick with it.

As it was, the Northern Line just made me feel angry. All Tracks tured up this prog-heavy selection:

World`s End, A) The Last Children - Pendragon
Jean The Birdman - David Sylvian & Robert Fripp
No Luck With Rabbits - Porcupine Tree
Cat Food - King Crimson
Heavenly Bank Account - Frank Zappa
Disengage - Robert Fripp
City Of Love - Yes
Riverman - David Sylvian & Robert Fripp
Street Spirit (Fade Out) - Radiohead
Trinity - Fleetwood Mac
Harry`s House, Centerpiece - Joni Mitchell
Shadows And Light - Joni Mitchell
For Everyone - Yes; a demo of 'Starship Troopers'

T - 1.5; M - 4; D - 3; Potterwatch 2. To be honest, the number of adults reading this latest book is a lot less than with previous books; I remember a few years ago when you couldn't get on a carriage with at least 6 people (usually 30-something females taking a break from 'chick-lit') reading it.

He Used To Cut The Grass... He Was A Very Nice Boy

"Yes...he used to be a nice boy...He used to cut the grass...But now his mind is totally destroyed by music. He's so crazy now he even believes that people are writing articles and reviews about his imaginary guitar notes, and so, continuing to dwindle in the twilight realm of his own secret thoughts, he not only dreams imaginary guitar notes, but, to make matters worse, dreams imaginary vocal parts to a song about the imaginary journalistic profession..."

Frank Zappa. Substitute references to journalism for 'science', and that's a pretty good summary.

For the first time ever, I was asked to 'Turn It Down'. In the middle of Marillion, as well. Tempting as it was to 'kill all humans', he was probably right.

Oh well. Shuffle all, this morning:

Iranian Female Olympic Table Tennis Team Theme - Muslimgauze
Goodbye Blue Sky - Pink Floyd
He Knows You Know (Manchester Square Demo) - Marillion
Cafffkaff, The Country Psychologist - Wigwam
Time Was - Wishbone Ash
Lilac Wine - Jeff Buckley
I Need You Tonight - ZZ Top
Jewish Princess - Frank Zappa
Europa (Blue) - System 7

Excellent stuff.

Three adults, all reading different Harry Potter books, and all with their lips moving. Wonderful. We'l have the ruler moving down the page next.

T - 2.5; M - 3; D - 3. Weekend Ahoy!

Picking on a Fretless Bass

A depressing morning. Here I am, brain the size of a small planet, a PhD scientist, stuck in a tedious job in Central London for a failing company, and facing the same old commute for no good reason other than being seen to show up.

Folk and guitarists to cheer me up and mellow my mood:

Someone - James Taylor
Woh, Don't You Know - James Taylor
Fanfare - James Taylor
Chili Dog - James Taylor
Instrumental II - James Taylor
Hymn - James Taylor
New Tune - James Taylor
Jig - James Taylor
Nobody But You - James Taylor
One Morning in May - James Taylor
Dance - James Taylor
Love Song (Bonus Track - Take 1) - Syd Barrett
Octopus - Syd Barrett
Guinnevere - Crosby, Stills & Nash (And Young)
The Sky Is Crying - John Martyn
Smiling Stranger (Instrumental) - John Martyn
Rolling Home - John Martyn
Ways To Cry - John Martyn
Keep Your Picture Clear (Home Demo) - Tom McRae
A Poem On the Underground Wall - Simon & Garfunkel
Outside In - John Martyn. I first heard this at a gig in Cambridge 15 yers ago, and it blew me away,
Eibhli Ghail Chiuin Ni Chearbhail - John Martyn
Fine Lines - John Martyn
Bert's Blues - Donovan
Late Night - Syd Barrett, later covered by This Mortal Coil
Baby Lemonade - Syd Barrett

Whether through holiday, illness or indolence, the 'All Day Breakfast Show' is currently on hiatus. I'm not sure this is worth pursuing... We'll see when it returns.

On the subject of James Taylor, I have yet to find a copy (download or otherwise) of 'Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon', which is odd as it contains 'You've Got a Friend', which is one of his more famous songs (albeit someon else's song).

T - 2 more Charing Cross/Bank branch confusion and ineptitude; M - 4; D - 3.
Potterwatch seems to be identifying either 20-something men of 30-something bingo-winged females. This is a children's book, people.

F-F-F-Far Better

After the BBC Radio Cricket Podcast, rounding up England's capitulation yesterday, some Frank Zappa.

In particular, 'Ship Arriving...':

No Not Now,
Valley Girl, grody to the max,
I Come From Nowhere,
Drowning Witch,
Envelopes,
Teenage Prostitute.

Then, more 'F', starting with Francis Dunnery, formerly of It Bites. A very pleasant tune from the soundtrack of Scrubs - Good Life, then

Annie Let's Not Wait - Fyfe Dangerfield, from the Charles Hazlewood R2 Session.

Potterwatch this morning came to 4, although one preson was reading a paperback of an earlier book.

T - 4; M - 4; D - 3.

God's Own County

Happy Yorkshire Day, Internet.