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

Unemployed

Well, that's it. The recent interview didn't pan out, so, from the end of next week, I'm unemployed. Thankfully I've made a few contingency plans, but it's still pretty shit.

FreakZone: Irmin Schmidt and Dutch Prog rock - BBC 6 Music, Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone
Dancing with the Lion - Andreas Vollenweider,
Midnight Blue - Robert Fripp,
Ballad Of An Elder Woman - John Martyn,
The Silent Sun - Genesis,
Little Boys - Devendra Banhart,
Mellotron Scratch - Porcupine Tree,
The Sorcerer - Herbie Hancock.

TMS Day 5 Podcast. I might be able to enjoy uninterrupted sleep at night, now that the Down Under series is over.

T - 3.5; M - 4; D - 2

Only Immortal For A Limited Time

Another trek in to the metropolis. I should be hearing about the dying embers of my career today...

An odd selection of 'Not Classical or Spoken'. Lots of stuff I didn't recognise, stuff I've probably heard only once or twice before.

Tears For Law (Garrathinya Run) - Yothu Yindi, from Birrkuta Wild Honey
New Times Square - Chris Rea,
No Man's Land - Syd Barrett,
You Woke Up My Neighbourhood - Billy Bragg,
Speed Trials - Elliott Smith, from a Worlds of Possibility compilation,
Behind The Sun - Red Hot Chili Peppers,
Bug Day - The Fall,
Life Is A Minestrone - 10cc,
The Art Of Slow Love [Compiled And Remixed By Youth] - The Art Of Noise,
All I Need - Air,
Dreamline - Rush,
For What You Dream Of (Full On Renaissance Mix) - Bedrock,
Soundtrack 2 / Act 5 - David Page Coffin, from the Caligari: An Exquisite Corpse soundtrack project.

A trip to the East Yorkshire coast at the weekend, to sit on the beach and watch the snow fall...

T - 4; M - 3.5; D - 4

Not Waving But Drowning

After a very tedious week last week, culminating in the Friday interview (which went very well, thanks for asking), a trip to London to see my 'work' colleagues...

... only to find them all 'working from home'.

On the way, some '80s music, bringin back all kinds of memories from my formative years. I have most of these on 7"vinyl:

I`ll Find My Way Home - Jon & Vangelis,
Owner Of A Lonely Heart - Yes,
Psycho Killer - Talking Heads,
King Of Birds - R.E.M.,
Handsome Devil - The Smiths,
Close (To The Edit) - The Art Of Noise,
Madame Butterfly - Malcolm Maclaren,
Drowning in Berlin - The Mobiles,
19 - Paul Hardcastle,
Hide And Seek - Howard Jones,
Painted Bird - Siouxsie And The Banshees,

Then, on the walk from the station through Chelsea, the latest Nine Inch Nails album, from here. Available for free (Vol 1) or various prices for other versions (full I - IV sets). Very good - all kinds of moods, sounding like slowed down King Crimson (tCoL), Sigur Ros and Brian Eno, but also doing its own thing. Recommended.

5 Ghosts I,
4 Ghosts I,
6 Ghosts I,
1 Ghosts I.

T - 4; M - 3.5; D - 1. A real low point. A fidgeting coughing woman sat next to me intent on treading on my foot, and just general dreariness, impoliteness and tedium. A 45 minute drive to Slough might be a very Good Thing if the job comes off.

Capitulation

When I went to sleep last night, New Zealand had declared to leave England to score 300. They (England) then fell to 33-4.

This morning, the rout was complete. This team needs a kick up the arse. Apparently we have some of the top batsmen in the world, but our No.11 lasted longer than most of them.

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

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

R.I.P.

Man, first Jeremy Beadle, and now Miles Kington.

I was never a huge fan of the former, but grew up with 'Game for a Laugh' in the early 80s. I hated 'You've Been Framed', though.
As for the latter, I have been a reader of The Independent since 1986, when my dad said 'he'd give it a try', and have followed his column ever since... First Alan Coren, now him.

Thank You Disillusionment

Late start today. I've brought my computer bag with me for the jumble sale when the inevitable happens...

Some Steven Wilson-related stuff today. If anyone can be described as a polymath in today's dumbed-down uni-dimensional music 'scene', he can. Porcupine Tree, Bass Communion, No Man, IEM, solo work, plus production work with Opeth, Fish and Marillion, and many more.

Chloroform - Porcupine Tree,
Way Out Of Here - Porcupine Tree,
Queen Quotes Crowley - Porcupine Tree,
The Sound Of Muzak - Porcupine Tree,
Third Eye Surfer - Porcupine Tree,
Loss Side 2 - Bass Communion,
Wastecoat - Porcupine Tree,
Ghosts on Magnetic Tape (Reconstruction) II - Bass Communion,
Collapse The Light Into Earth - Porcupine Tree,
Radioactive Toy - Porcupine Tree,
Cover Version - Steven Wilson. There's a box set of all the 'Cover Version' project coming out soon; I've only got the first one, but the set of 6 looks tempting...

T - 4; M - 4.5; 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.

Turmoil

Apologies for my absence on Friday. Some arseholes cut through my garden fence and made off with all my tools from my garden shed. Bollocks. A day spent at home, waiting for Police.

To make matters worse, Tiscali have managed to 'upgrade' my Broadband service and completely screwed it up. Prior to upgrade 24-30 kbps, post-upgrade 5.8 - 6.2 kbps, IF it connects in the first place, which it seldom does. Thanks, guys.

Let Me Take You Down

Well, only four days to go, one of which I have off anyway, so just keeping my head down and turning up.

Captain Carter's Fathoms - Pepé Deluxe,
A Smart Kid - Porcupine Tree,
The Chant - Jelly Roll Morton,
Access Denied - Porcupine Tree,
Terminal Frost - Pink Floyd,
Winter Song - Chris Rea,
La Petite Fille De La Mer - Vangelis,
There Was Sun - Devendra Banhart,
Shrink - Notwist,
Cooltide - John Martyn,
When You`re In - Pink Floyd,
Café Europa - David Sylvian.

The Wippit/ADBS fallout continues, with the monorail salesman claiming contract exclusivity and DB just shrugging. A sad (although inevitable) end.

T - 4; M - 3.5; D - 2

Disappointment Can Wear You Thin

I was away from my computer all weekend, so missed the 'All Day Breakfast Show' announcement HERE. And HERE.

FWIW, I'll add my thoughts in a later post, and just get the tracklist for this morning out of the way:

Telegraph Road - Dire Straits,
Got A Suitcase, Got Regrets - Tom McRae,
Let's Split - Syd Barrett,
Paperback Writer - The Beatles,
Sunny Goodge Street - Donovan,
Ring Out Solstice Bells - Jethro Tull,
Cry From The Street - David Gilmour,
Only Time Will Tell - Asia,
Jack Of Speed - Steely Dan, the best track from a pretty formulaic return album,
Hounds Of Love - Kate Bush,
Birth From Earth - Epsilon Indi,
Photos of Ghosts - Premiata Forneria Marconi. I'd forgotten just how great this is...
Trio And Group Dancers - Charles Mingus. I'd forgotten just how mad this is...

T - 3; M - 4; D - 3

How It Hits You

I feel absolutely dreadful. This blog has taken a rather self-pitying tone lately, I appreciate, but I really do feel awful - cold, tired and generally 'ill'.

Some Christmas music to cheer me up and, whilst it went better than last year, it didn't really alter my mood.

Winter - Paul O'Reilly,
Once In Royal David's City - Gauntlett, from a Classic FM freebie CD,
A Christmas Song - Jethro Tull,
I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day - Wizzard,
2000 Years - Jon Anderson,
Gaudette - Steeleye Span,
As With Gladness Men of Old - Kocher,
How It Hits You - Jon Anderson,
Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen (A Spotless Rose is growing) - Praetorius,
Concerto grosso in G Minor: Op. 6/8, 'Christmas Concerto' - Vivace/Grave; Allegro; Adagio/Allegro/Adagio; Vivace; Allegro; Pastorale - Corelli,
The Holly And The Ivy - Jon Anderson,
The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Snowflakes - Tchaikovsky,
Jack Frost And The Hooded Crow - Jethro Tull.

I need a week of sleeping, and less Southern Comfort...

T - 2; M -3.5; D - 3

Am I Still Ill?

Seemingly, yes.

Still, there's more chance to catch up with the ADBS and rip the latest Count Arthur Strong Show. That and copy a few of the ancient cassette tapes I re-found in the garage yesterday.

Ho hum. Or should that be ho-ho-ho hum?

Normal (grumpy) service to be resumed tomorrow, I hope.

Wippit Out

Well, as the end of days approaches, the Northern pulls out all the stops to make me late for a Very Important Meeting.

Some Jaco Pastorius-themed music today, but focusing on his work with Joni Mitchell (and, since my auto-playlist is not that clever, some of the early non-Jaco JM albums):

Cucumber Slumber - Weather Report,
Edith And The Kingpin - Joni Mitchell,
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns - Joni Mitchell,
Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell,
Twisted - Joni Mitchell,
Amelia - Joni Mitchell,
A Case Of You - Joni Mitchell,
Lucky (Rap) - Joni Mitchell,
Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire - Joni Mitchell,
Black Crow - Joni Mitchell,
Paprika Plains - Joni Mitchell.

On the back of my subscription to Wippit for the All Day Breakfast Show, I've been looking through the database. There's not an awful lot there I'm interested in, to be honest, and I have to say that the download process is one of the least user-friendly and most confusing and time-consuming one I have ever come across. It's taken me the best part of 2 workig days to download about 150 tracks on the toppest speed connection possible.

How Paul Wippit ever became an internet millionare on the back of this is completely beyond me.

T - 2; M - 4; D - 3

Descent into Hell

Where do I begin?

My wife crashed the car,
My weekend out of the country was marred by RyanAir's refusal to treat us as anything other than cattle,
My commute today was marred by incompetence and violence,
My boss has decided to work from home, despite the exhortation for the rest of us to come in in this crucial week.

I need to get out of this soon.

Music?

Well, Mono's 'Walking Cloud and Deep Red Sky', plus a 'Not Classical or Spoken' mix of Bob Marley, Rush and Captain Beefheart, among others.

I did download a whole load of Danny Baker's 'All Day Breakfast Show', having taken the plunge to subscribe to Wippit. I must admit that the iTunes connection worked fine, although the retrieval of the first few (early Sep) issues turned into the usual Wippit-related madness. I got there eventually, but only after a lot of trouble.

T - 1; M - 3; D - 0.5