Revealing Corridors of Time Provoking Memories

So, the last week of my current career begins, and presages the start of my new creer in teaching. I didn't picture it all ending like this 15 years ago, I must admit...

Some downloaded stuff from BigO and then a shuffle of my ever-expanding iPod:

The Revealing Science of God,
The Remembering (Parts 1 & 2) - both Yes, from a "Tooleman Presents Yessongs 2" CDR,

Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers,
Invisible Carpet - Ozric Tentacles,
Black Mountain - Nick Drake,
Girls Get the Bass in the Back (Hey Baby remix) - No Doubt,
A Day Like Today - Tom McRae,
Batteries Not Included - Jethro Tull,
Let There Be Light - Mike Oldfield,
Catch - The Cure,
Zero - The Smashing Pumpkins,
Satan Is My Motor - Cake. My band, from many years ago, played a great cover version of this song - great fun.

Then, for the walk to work, the Freak Zone Podcast. A vast improvement over the first one I encountered.

Lots of good stuff out or coming out soon - Angus and Julia Stone, Mike Oldfield, Billy Bragg, Dream Theater, etc. - don't know where I'm going to get the money from, though!

T - 3; M - 3.5; D - 2

Sleepwalking Through the Wreckage

So much stuff to do today, which probably means I'll spend the whole day surfing the net and staring out of the window...

Cloudburst Flight - Tangerine Dream,

Piano Phase (Steve Reich) - Group 180,

Burned By The Fire We Make - Adrian Belew,

We Do What We’re Told (Milgram's 37) - Peter Gabriel,

Larks' Tongues In Aspic (Part IV) - King Crimson,

Variations on the Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression - Frank Zappa,

Pushit - Tool,

Tales Of A Damson Knight - National Health,

Rhythm In Gold - Jethro Tull,

Sleepwalkers - Van Der Graaf Generator. There's a new album - Trisector - out now, which I haven't got round to hearing yet, although the reviews have been favourable. You can't go wrong with VdGG, surely?

When I See You Again - Fleetwood Mac. My girlfriend and Uni walked out on me as this was playing on my stereo all those years ago.

T - 4; M - 3.5; D - 3

Seconds Out

Well, my second and last commute this week turned up the usual dross. However, my spirits were lifted by aspects of the overnight cricket (291-5 at close) and a chance to catch up with colleagues.

Some recent downloads from BigO and FreeAlbumsGalore:

Ambulance Blues - Neil Young, Live in Amsterdam, 2008: Solo Acoustic Set,
Vampire - Peter Tosh, from Equal Rights Demoes,
A Man Needs A Maid - Neil Young,
I Like It, I Love It - Lyrics Born, from an Anti- Digital Sampler Spring 2008,
In The Street (Studio Rehearsal) - Big Star, from Nobody Can Dance,
Seeing People You Know - The Young Republic,
4 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails,
You Get What You Deserve (Live) - Big Star,
Down By The River - Neil Young.

Then:
TMS: Day 1 (2nd Test) NZ v Eng, 13 Mar 08 BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra Podcast

T - 3; M - 4; D - 3

We Lay Down And Wept

After 5 days away, a return to a day of despondency and cleaning up in preparation for the final curtain. I have another interview on Friday, which I desparately need...

Some ambient to accompany some reading, then a recent download from BigO:

Dem Wanderer - Eno, Moebius, Roedelius, Plank,
The Dance No. 3 - Laraaji, from the excellent Virgin Ambient Volume 2 - Imaginary Landscapes,
The End Of Words - Material,
Nuages - Ryuichi Sakamoto,
Sandtreader - Harold Budd. The SamadhiSound Podcast interview was interesting, but seems to have been the last in a very short series, for now, at least,
Pearls & Tears - Andreas Vollenweider,
forages in pine trees - chefkirk, a FreeAlbums Galore download (Music for Elevators), where you can now find links to Radiohead remixes and the new Charlatans album. Remember, if you find an artist you like, support the artist by buying their CDs,

Castles In The Air - Don McLean, Live at A & R Studios, NYC,
Winterwood - Don McLean,
Babylon - Don McLean, with rather tedious audience participation.

Just a comment, too, on the FreakZone Podcast. See also: All the best Freaks are here, please stop staring at me.

Much better - 30 minutes instead of <20, and the witty banter was replaced by interesting banter. Perhaps the Professor simply cared more for the chosen genre of music this week - it seemed like it. Perhaps they read my comments...

T - 4; M - 3; D - 3, although by now, I'm kinda past caring.

The Long March

Another trek into more futility. Today and tomorrow should do it for this week.

'Electronic' music today, although I tend to go my artist rather than individual albums or tracks, so many of these are un-electronic:

Opus 4 - The Art Of Noise,
We were poor... - Paddy McAloon, from his superb 'I Trawl the Megahertz' album,
The Model - Kraftwerk,
Ask The Mountains (Extended Version) - Vangelis with Stina Nordenstam,
Twenty Eighth Parallel - Vangelis,
Equinoxe 4 - Jean-Michel Jarre,
Hearts - Jon & Vangelis, from a 'Change We Must' live/demo CD, I think,
P.S. - Vangelis,
Sharkey's Night - Laurie Anderson,
Movement 5 - Vangelis,
The Tao of Love - Vangelis,
Part 2 Fais Que Ton Reve Soit Plus Long Que La Nuit - Vangelis. Despite my extensive Vangelis collection (probably about 30 LPs and 15 or so CDs), I was unware of this until recently, and managed to find this MP3, clearly taken from an LP, if the pops and crackles are anything to go by. An interesting historical record.

T - 4; M - 3.5; D - 2

Hurting In A Different Way

Well, I wait for ages, and then two jobs come along at once: an interview the week after next, and a place at a University course, if I want it, in September. Decisions, decisions.

A spectularly futile day awaits today, as I've been told 'it might be good' if I come in. Unlikely.

Basin Street Blues - Jimmy Smith,
Princess Of Light - Robert Miles,
One Inch Rock ('68) - Tyrannosaurus Rex,
Come On Back - Caravan,
A Forest - The Cure,
House - Marillion, easily the best track on the .com album, and continuing a tradition of superb, extended final album tracks,
Radioactive Toy - Porcupine Tree,
Reunion - Patrick O'Hearn,
Sex Machine - Sly & the Family Stone, an extended jam and not really, IMO, particularly sexy.

This, however, is:

Half An Hour Is For Free - The Devil In Miss Jones (featuring Fats Bob Trumpet),
The Porn King - The Funky Filter,
Hatesex - Mr. Juno,
Suck My Disc - SonnyJim

T - 4; M - 4; D - 3

Living Here In Joytown

Well, after a day off, nursing an injured shoulder compounded by lugging IT gear around on Monday, a return to the futility of 'work'.

I've just swapped to my 160 Gb iPod, as the 60 Gb is becoming too difficult/time-consuming to manage properly (my home library is approaching 120 Gb), so I've got my whole library with me today. 'Not Spoken or Classical':

Beachball - Chef, from an r.e.m.IX remix album found here.
As You Are Now - Suzanne Vega,
Stay Hungry - Talking Heads,
Circle Dance - John Renbourn,
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles,
Valedictory - Gentle Giant,
Joytown - Kevin Gilbert,
I've Been High - Her Space Holiday/Marc Bianchi, from r.e.m.IX again,
I Feel The Earth Move - Carole King,
This is No Rehearsal - Porcupine Tree,
Pearl-2 - Judee Sill,
Johnny On The Monorail (A Very Different Version) - The Buggles,
Burning Bridge - Kate Bush,
In Dulce Jubilo - Mike Oldfield, via a 'Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers' CD with a brutal edit,
Electricity - Joni Mitchell,
Down Through The Night - Hawkwind,
La Villa Strangiato - Rush, from a 'Pink Pop' festival concert, recorded from my cassette collection.

If I leave home at 9, I can be at work at 10.30 and miss all the drones on the Tube. I can miss even more if I stay home, but I'm going to have to show up for a few weeks more...

T- 3; M - 4.5; D - 4.5

Last Stand

Monday morning. A ridiculous trek to find that, yet again, my boss had decided to 'work from home'. Arsehole.

This morning's shuffle of 'Not Classical or Spoken' produced this prog-heavy selection:

My Fairy King - Queen,
Then - Yes,
Cat`s Squirrel - Jethro Tull,
Year 2000 Non-Compliant Cardia - Mogwai,
A.W.O.L. - Robert Wyatt,
Vincent - Don McLean,
For Free - Joni Mitchell,
Blood - Kleshnikoff, from Plague Songs,
Aspirations - Gentle Giant,
No One Can (Album version) - Marillion,
Achilles' Last Stand - Led Zeppelin,
Two Hearts Beat As One - U2, from their early 'good' period,
Lucky Seven - Chris Squire. Bliss.

T - 3; M - 4; D - 4

Let Me Take You Far Away

Well, I've been ordered to come in again, despite the fact that NONE of the Senior Management will be around. I'd better be a good boy, I suppose.

Stick It Out - Rush,
Bridge (live) - Marillion, from the single CD Alone Again In The Lap Of Luxury III
Holiday - Scorpions,
Baby Can I Hold You - Tracy Chapman,
Vote For Miles - Miles Davis,
Star Spangled Banner - Jimi Hendrix, Live At Woodstock 1969
Win Fall CD 2088 AD - The Fall,
Every You Every Me - Placebo,
Behind the Lines [Live] - Genesis, from Three Sides Live
It's You - Talk Talk.

T - 4; M - 3.5; D - 2

Brooding on the Infinite

Well, my company limps on into oblivion. There is now a good chance of being paid my notice period and at least some redundancy at a 'future time', so I've still got to wander in occasionally.

This morning some recent downloads found on FreeAlbumsGalore, as mentioned the other day.

As my iPod is almost full (and my home library now extends to 120 Gb), I didn't have time for a drastic cull of it's contents, so just transferred a few albums:

Music for Elevators Vol. 1 - Various Artists,
Sun Ra and The Blues Project do Batman and Robin,
Early Japanese Electronic Music - Various Artists, from 1956, and
Stay EP - Wil Deynes.

oiece - skylined, from MfE
The Riddler's Retreat - Sun Ra and the Blues Project,
tram14 - popcrash, MfE,
Batman Theme - Sun Ra and the Blues Project,
Better Way - Wil Deynes,
Nervous - Wil Deynes,
Joker is Wild - Sun Ra and the Blues Project,
Stay - Wil Deynes,
Batman and Robin Swing - Sun Ra and the Blues Project,
Variations on numerical principle of 7 - Makoto Moroi+Toshiro Mayuzumi, from EJEM,
fahrstuhl zum schafott - tomoroh hidari, MfE,
Batman and Robin over the Roofs - Sun Ra and the Blues Project,
Works for musique concrete Y - Toshiro Mayuzumi, EJEM,
triangulo - mendigo, MfE.

All in all, very interesting. The 'Elevator Music' is very good, although it would cause me to linger in the lift, rather than use it simply as a means of transport. There are 2 other Volumes available through here.

The Sun-Ra music is good fun, although some pieces seem to be going through the motions. On balance, pretty good grooves.

The Japanese music is fascinating, sounding a lot like Vangelis's 'Beaubourg' twenty years later. Lots of bleep and buzzes, and sampled speech, with occasional rhythms trying (and failing) to break through.

The Wil Deynes is less interesting, being straight forward rock/pop in a James Blunt-ish vein. It'll probably sound better in Summer, but it didn't fit well in this morning's playlist.

Today's title comes from a Round the Horne CD set I found here. Whilst a lot of it has aged, especially the musical interludes, it still has its moments, particularly the Julian and Sandy sketches and the double entendre overload. "It's all that larver bread you've been eating...".

T - 4; M - 3.5; D - 3

When Does Reason Stop and Killing Just Take Over?

A trek to work today, to get the meltdown of my company confirmed.

Lots of Prog, from what I call 'The Big Four'. King Crimson, Yes, Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd. Whilst not all albums from all these bands can be classified as 'Prog', they're my favourite bands.

I suppose the second division of prog-related favourites includes bands like Marillion, Rush, Van der Graaf Generator, Genesis and Gentle Giant, plus, at a pinch, Led Zepellin.

I'll have to come in tomorrow as well... Balls.

I Don't Care Any More

I was recently introduced to 'Blubster', a peer-to-peer file sharing thing for music.

Probably of highly dubious legality, although I've heard conflicting advice on the 'net. It comes with oodles of spyware and pop-ups, so, if you're interested in installing it, be very careful. It downloads and installs itself, and by all accounts is a bugger to un-install, so be absolutely sure you want this thing on your home PC. I have it on an old laptop.

For my taste, there's not much there of interest, as it depends absolutely on the taste of the other users.

Anyway, for the journey into oblivion, a playlist of recent acquisitions from this service:

Long Way to Go - Cassie. I'm not sure how this happened - I think it was supposed to be the Phil Collins song,
Cinnamon Girl - Neil Young,
Cortez the Killer - Neil Young,
Cocaine Eyes - Neil Young,
The Drums of Gauamela - Vangelis, from the 'Alexander' soundtrack,
Karma Police - Neil Young & Eddie Vedder,
Keep on Rocking in the Free World - Neil Young,
Rachel's Song - a remix of the Vangelis track,
Land of Confusion - Genesis, as I have very little 80s and 90s Genesis or Phil Collins,
Do You Remember? - Phil Collins, ditto,
She Rides a Harley Davidson - Neil Young,
Roxanne's Veil - Vangelis, with Vanessa Mae,
Titans - Vangelis, from Alexander again,
Thrasher - Neil Young,
True Colours - Phil Collins, although a different mix from the one I remember
I Don't Care Any More - Phil Collins.

T - 2; M - 3.5; D - 4

Away, Away, Away - Look to the Future Day for Hope

Well, I'm still turning up for 'work' although I'm not sure why. Apparently, if we turn up this month, there's more chance of the administrator looking kindly on us, or something.

From the 'All music between 3 and 8 minutes long' playlist:

Kometensmelodie - Kraftwerk, from Autobahn,
In the Morning, Tamelin, from an 'Independent' freebie CS, years ago,
Flying Dutchman - Jethro Tull,
Unknown Soldier - Weather Report,
The Big Money - Rush,
Slang of Ages - the 'Dan,
The Start of Something Beautiful - Porcupine Tree,
Throw Down the Sword - Wishbone Ash,
Pilgrims - Van der Graaf Generator,
Zion's Blood - Lee 'Scratch' Perry,
You Don't Need Anyone (Moles Club Demo) - Marillion,
Seasons - The Notwist.

T - 4; M - 3.5; D - 3

"But is it worth it, all that time wasted?"

"... Time we could've spent completely nude, bare, naked"

An early start today, for no good reason.

Lots of Prog, Rock and Rock/Pop in today's playlist:

Whiskey River - Budgie,
Every Fold - Wigwam,
Seven On Seven - Robert Fripp & Andy Summers,
General Crossing - Jethro Tull,
Ghosts - David Sylvian & Robert Fripp, from 'Kings', which appears to be a Russian bootleg: the title 'Ghosts' is rendered "God Saved My Life"...
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd,
Incommunicado (Album Version) - Marillion,
Tinto Brass - Porcupine Tree, the XM version,
Pig - Soft Machine,
Bringing Down The Light - David Sylvian & Robert Fripp. There are few sounds better than Mr Fripp in full flight...
Seven Wonders - Fleetwood Mac,
Snowbound - Genesis,
Baby Lemonade (Bonus Track - Take 1) - Syd Barrett, from Barrett,
Villanova Junction - Jimi Hendrix Experience, Live At Woodstock,
Sexual Healing - Kate Bush. Nowhere near as good as it could have been - all rather mechanical, not help by the synth bass and generally soulless vibe. Strange.

The end of days could just be around the corner, as my company has until this Thursday (!) to sort out some sort of loan to carry it through a merger. If it can't find it, then it's all over. I have an interview on Thursday...

T - 3; M - 4; D - 4

Embracing the Spreading Haze

Well, the interview yesterday went well yesterday, as the storm clouds gather over my present company. Not long to go now.

Countermoon - Donald Fagen,
Joanna`s Theme - Herbie Hancock,
It's All But An Ark Lark - Cocteau Twins,
Elephants - National Health,
Drive - The Cars,
Working All Day - Gentle Giant,
No Not Now - Frank Zappa,
Orange Appled - Cocteau Twins,
Charlie Freak - Steely Dan,
Bicycle Riders - Vangelis, from a Blade Runner Private Release CD,
I Want To Be Alone - Decca single, 1965 - Vashti Bunyan, from Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind: Singles and Demos 1964-1967,
Gold For The Price Of Silver (Erot Collaboration) - Kings Of Convenience, from Versus,

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

Faults of Civilisation

Today has surpassed the all-time record for utter futility. I left the house at 9.20, was delayed for no apparent reason on the Tube for 30 minutes and arrived at 'work' at 10.45. Who noticed or cared? Nobody. What have I got to do today? Nothing. Here I am, with a brain the size of a planet...

Madame Butterfly - Malcolm McLaren, after Double Dutch was played on last night's Radcliffe and Maconie R2 show,
Double Dutch - Malcolm Mclaren,
Rainy Taxi - Porcupine Tree, from Staircase Infinities,
Prologue - Kate Bush, from Aerial: A Sky of Honey,
Silent Hedges - Bauhaus,
Alone Again In The Lap Of Luxury (Demo) - Marillion,
He Was My Brother (Previously Unreleased) - Simon & Garfunkel Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M (Remastered),
Cruel Sister - Pentangle,
Where We Would Be - Porcupine Tree,
Invisible Answer - Epsilon Indi ,
Misty Coast Of Albany (Live, Cafe Au Go Go, New York, 16 August 1969) - Tyrannosaurus Rex,
In Dark Trees - Brian Eno,
Answered With a Smile - Sunday All Over The World,
Double Bass - Van Der Graaf Generator,
Chariots Of Silk - Tyrannosaurus Rex,
Heroine - Suede,
Bigmouth Strikes Again - The Smiths,
I'd Rather Be The Devil (Live) - John Martyn, from the re-mastered Solid Air CD.

I have another interview tomorrow, so maybe that'll cheer me up before the weekend.

T - 1.5; M - 4; D - 4

Size of Sorrow

Some recent acquisitions from the dreaded W*ppit. Hell, I've stumped up my £50 for the cancelled ADBS, so I might as well go on a magpie-like trawl through the database of rather odd obscurities they have:

Piggy - Sigue Sigue Sputnik,
Blistered Heart - Badly Drawn Boy,
Ray Of Light - Sigue Sigue Sputnik,
Oceans - Gary Numan,
Don't Let Me In - Steely Dan, from something called 'Old Regime',
Pissing In The Wind - Badly Drawn Boy,
Size Of Sorrow - Tears For Fears,
Fall In A River - Badly Drawn Boy,
Metal - Gary Numan,
Everybody Loves A Happy Ending - Tears For Fears,
Asylum - Gary Numan.

A pretty uninspiring selection, I have to say, although it is my fault, of course. My mood was lightened by Episode 4 of the current series of Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show, broadcast last week and ripped with HiQ (see previous posts). If anyone wants some of these, leave a message here somewhere, and I'll get back to you somehow.

T - 3; M - 3; D - 3. Rather average day, really.

Thinking Sessions

Monday, and after the unpleasantness of the end of last week and the continued Tiscali incompetence, a return to 'work' accompanied by some BBC Sessions:

Back Side of the Moon (Tranquility Lunar Orbit) - The Orb, from Peel Sessions,
In Fear Of Fear - Bauhaus, more Peel,
Glorious Fool - John Martyn, from an Andy Kershaw session. Recent news about him (AK) is depressing,
A God In An Alcove - Bauhaus, Peel,
A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld (Loving You) - The Orb, Peel, all 20 minutes of it as we waited for the Piccadilly train to move,
Mo Ghruagach Dhonn - Julie Fowlis, from a pre-Radcliffe/Maconie Mark Radcliffe session,
Paper Aeroplane - Angus and Julia Stone, ditto,

T - 2.5; M - 4; D - 4, especially the rather attractive young girl who shared the long Piccadilly Line wait with me...

Highest Colours Touching Others

An empty Tube train today, which was pleasant, although another day of indolence and downloading music and audiobooks beckons.

Rock, Prog and Rock/Pop today:

Drum Folk - Greenslade,
Evensong (Arr. for Saxophone) - The Enid,
Turn Of The Century (live) - Yes,
Danza Dei Grandi Rettili - Banco del Mutuo Soccorso,
Working Man - Rush, with that great crunching gtr riff at the start,
The Song Of Solomon - Kate Bush,
I'm In My Car - Chris Rea,
Bobby Brown Goes Down - Frank Zappa,
FM Reprise - Steely Dan,
Come Home - Placebo,
Green Flower Street - Donald Fagen,
Slippery People - Talking Heads, with a great Tina Weymouth bass line,
Mango Surprise - Jethro Tull, from the lacklustre 'J-Tull.com' CD,
A Promise - Echo & The Bunnymen,
Cover My Eyes (Acoustic Version) - Marillion,

T - 4; M - 4; D - 3

Sit Back, Relax and Count the Stars

More 'Not Classical or Spoken' today, which threw up an acoustic-guitar dominated playlist:

She Chameleon (Demo - Previously Unreleased) - Marillion,
Apocalypso - Mew,
Shaolin Temple - Prince Jammy,
Smiling Stranger (Instrumental) - John Martyn,
Window - Genesis,
The Weight Of My Words - Kings Of Convenience,
Starship - Turin Brakes,
Beverley - John Martyn,
80 Days - Marillion,
Garden of my Childhood - Andreas Vollenweider,
Apogee - Jethro Tull,
City Of Angels - Nik Kershaw,
Chiefs And Indians - Caravan,
Orange Skin Food - Soft Machine,

So laid-back was I that I almost fell asleep. Nothing to do all day but stare out of the window and listen to music.

T - 4; M - 4; D - 3