Thankfully, there aren't many people around at the moment, as the christmas holiday seems to have been extended, otherwise this morning's journey would have been hell. My first train of choice terminated unexpectedly, and for no good reason. The second train was full, but I managed to squeeze on the third. Well done, Northern Line.
A great selection of music today in my 'Not Classical or Spoken' playlist. Just right:
A Play Within A Play - Jon & Vangelis,
Cerco la Lingua - Premiata Forneria Marconi,
Hey! Luciani - The Fall,
Lilac Wine - Jeff Buckley,
Pseudo Silk Kimono - Marillion, the Fish era,
Tumble Down The Years - Marillion, the Hogarth era,
Birds Don't Sing - Paul O'Reilly,
Sanctus - The Enid,
Loved By The Sun - Tangerine Dream, featuring Jon Anderson,
Run Through The Light (Single Version) - Yes, not featuring Jon Anderson,
Hello Earth - Kate Bush. Oh man, this is beautiful,
Hold On - Chris De Burgh,
I Don't Know - All About Eve,
NY3 - Robert Fripp,
T - 1; M - 4.5; D - 3
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Friday, 4 January 2008
Sunday, 30 December 2007
Winterval
Well, I thought I'd break my self-imposed silence just to offer some kind of review of christmas itself...
Of the two or three presents I requested, I received none. Instead I got another iPod (the 160Gb one, which is nice but superfluous), and the Laurel and Hardy box set (again, nice, but the 'Sapphire and Steel' or 'Dr Who Dalek' box sets were what I actually wanted). Ho hum.
The family was low-level ill - colds, mainly - for most of the time, so we didn't get out much. This meant we were left in the clutches of the TV, my music collection and the various toys and books my son got for christmas. TV has, in general been absolutely dreadful. The only saving grace was the Dr Who episode, but even that was pretty flat.
The saving grace, for me at least, was the radio.
Here's what I've recorded (with my HiQ software) so far this holiday:
22Dec - The Wooden Overcoat, Radio4,
24Dec - The Charles Hazlewood Christmas Show, Radio2,
24Dec - Jeeves Live, with Martin Jarvis, R4,
24Dec - The Count Arthur Strong Christmas Message on You and Yours,
24Dec - The Best of 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue', R4,
24Dec - MR James at Christmas, R4, and 25 - 28 Dec
24Dec - The Nine Tailors, R4, and will record all 10 episodes,
25Dec - News Quiz of the Year, R4, via Podcast,
25Dec - 84 Charing Cross Road, R4,
25Dec - Count Arthur Strong Radio Show, R4. Not a Christmas special, unlike last year, so rather odd scheduling,
26Dec - A Night in the Ukraine, R4, the Marx Brothers in a Chekov play,
26Dec - Current Puns, R4,
28Dec - Count Arthur Strong Radio Show, R4, the first of a new series,
28Dec - The Now Show, R4, via Podcast,
28Dec - Mark Kermode's film review of the year, R5, via Podcast, featuring the 'Pirates' rant featured here and available in glorious video here,
29Dec - Genesis Live, R2. I already have a low bit-rate recording of this, but need to use my upgraded software to creat WAVs and edit tracks,
29Dec - Dracula, Episode1, World Service. I'm not sure when Ep2 is, but probably next week.
Still to do:
30Dec - All's Well That Ends Well, R3,
4Jan - Count Arthur Strong Ep2 of the new series.
Plus, a word of warning. I saw few films this holiday, mostly kids' stuff (The Grinch, Shrek), but two in particular stayed in mind.
One, on DVD, after the GLW persuaded me, was 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' and was everybit as dreadful as Mr Kermode said it was. Unplotted, random scripting and scene-changing, just awful.
The second, at the cinema, was 'St Trinian's'. I thought we'd stopped making - and funding via the Lottery - crap such as this after the disaster that was 'Sex Lives of the Potato Men'. We only saw it because the screen for 'I Am Legend' was full. I'm booking in advance next time.
Happy New Year to all.
Of the two or three presents I requested, I received none. Instead I got another iPod (the 160Gb one, which is nice but superfluous), and the Laurel and Hardy box set (again, nice, but the 'Sapphire and Steel' or 'Dr Who Dalek' box sets were what I actually wanted). Ho hum.
The family was low-level ill - colds, mainly - for most of the time, so we didn't get out much. This meant we were left in the clutches of the TV, my music collection and the various toys and books my son got for christmas. TV has, in general been absolutely dreadful. The only saving grace was the Dr Who episode, but even that was pretty flat.
The saving grace, for me at least, was the radio.
Here's what I've recorded (with my HiQ software) so far this holiday:
22Dec - The Wooden Overcoat, Radio4,
24Dec - The Charles Hazlewood Christmas Show, Radio2,
24Dec - Jeeves Live, with Martin Jarvis, R4,
24Dec - The Count Arthur Strong Christmas Message on You and Yours,
24Dec - The Best of 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue', R4,
24Dec - MR James at Christmas, R4, and 25 - 28 Dec
24Dec - The Nine Tailors, R4, and will record all 10 episodes,
25Dec - News Quiz of the Year, R4, via Podcast,
25Dec - 84 Charing Cross Road, R4,
25Dec - Count Arthur Strong Radio Show, R4. Not a Christmas special, unlike last year, so rather odd scheduling,
26Dec - A Night in the Ukraine, R4, the Marx Brothers in a Chekov play,
26Dec - Current Puns, R4,
28Dec - Count Arthur Strong Radio Show, R4, the first of a new series,
28Dec - The Now Show, R4, via Podcast,
28Dec - Mark Kermode's film review of the year, R5, via Podcast, featuring the 'Pirates' rant featured here and available in glorious video here,
29Dec - Genesis Live, R2. I already have a low bit-rate recording of this, but need to use my upgraded software to creat WAVs and edit tracks,
29Dec - Dracula, Episode1, World Service. I'm not sure when Ep2 is, but probably next week.
Still to do:
30Dec - All's Well That Ends Well, R3,
4Jan - Count Arthur Strong Ep2 of the new series.
Plus, a word of warning. I saw few films this holiday, mostly kids' stuff (The Grinch, Shrek), but two in particular stayed in mind.
One, on DVD, after the GLW persuaded me, was 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' and was everybit as dreadful as Mr Kermode said it was. Unplotted, random scripting and scene-changing, just awful.
The second, at the cinema, was 'St Trinian's'. I thought we'd stopped making - and funding via the Lottery - crap such as this after the disaster that was 'Sex Lives of the Potato Men'. We only saw it because the screen for 'I Am Legend' was full. I'm booking in advance next time.
Happy New Year to all.
Friday, 21 December 2007
Mr 9 'Til 5
Final day until Jan 3rd. I might keep the blog going if anything interesting happens of the festive period, but for now I'lll sign off with today's playlist and my thoughts on this year's music.
As I was in no rush to get to work early, my son and I were mucking around at home with my guitar and listening to some PFM, mainly 'Maestro della Voce', which on the 'pfmpfm.it' CD is superb.
The rest of my commute was just more PFM. Not particularly festive, but splendid nonetheless:
Sei, from pfmpfm.it,
Jet Lag, from Jet Lag,
Passpartú and Le Trame Blu, both from Passpartú,
Is My Face On Straight, from L'Isola di Niente,
La carrozza di Hans, from pfmpfm.it, and
Paper Charms, from Chocolate Kings.
T - 3; M - 4; D - 3
As I was in no rush to get to work early, my son and I were mucking around at home with my guitar and listening to some PFM, mainly 'Maestro della Voce', which on the 'pfmpfm.it' CD is superb.
The rest of my commute was just more PFM. Not particularly festive, but splendid nonetheless:
Sei, from pfmpfm.it,
Jet Lag, from Jet Lag,
Passpartú and Le Trame Blu, both from Passpartú,
Is My Face On Straight, from L'Isola di Niente,
La carrozza di Hans, from pfmpfm.it, and
Paper Charms, from Chocolate Kings.
T - 3; M - 4; D - 3
Thursday, 20 December 2007
Gentle Blues
Two days and counting...
No blog yesterday, as I was at my son's nursery nativity thing. Splendid fun.
Walkin' Blues - Robert Johnson,
Story of a Man a Woman, Pt. 1: She Thought I Was Stanley Clarke - Stanley Clarke,
Emergency 72 - Turin Brakes,
Höga Berg Och DJupa Dalar (High Mountains And Low Valleys) - Ranarim,
The Easy Blues (Jelly Roll Blues/Gentle Blues) - John Martyn,
Beyond The Seventh Galaxy - Return To Forever,
Babylon Sisters - Steely Dan,
Highway Song - James Taylor,
Never Any Good - Leonard Cohen,
Hallucinations - Tim Buckley,
Hazey Jane I - Nick Drake,
Cucumber Slumber - Weather Report,
Poor Boy - Nick Drake.
T - 3; M -4; D -3
No blog yesterday, as I was at my son's nursery nativity thing. Splendid fun.
Walkin' Blues - Robert Johnson,
Story of a Man a Woman, Pt. 1: She Thought I Was Stanley Clarke - Stanley Clarke,
Emergency 72 - Turin Brakes,
Höga Berg Och DJupa Dalar (High Mountains And Low Valleys) - Ranarim,
The Easy Blues (Jelly Roll Blues/Gentle Blues) - John Martyn,
Beyond The Seventh Galaxy - Return To Forever,
Babylon Sisters - Steely Dan,
Highway Song - James Taylor,
Never Any Good - Leonard Cohen,
Hallucinations - Tim Buckley,
Hazey Jane I - Nick Drake,
Cucumber Slumber - Weather Report,
Poor Boy - Nick Drake.
T - 3; M -4; D -3
Monday, 17 September 2007
Change Changing Places
Well, I'm back.
While I've been away, the Danny Baker 'All Day Breakfast Show in Color' has been and gone. Very strange. I think Wippit isn't helping at all - it's awful. I've been listening to a load of old Baker & Kelly R5/Talk/Virgin shows, too. The unfolding tales of Joanne are excellent.
Sad to hear of Joe Zawinul's death. Weather Report are a favourite band of mine, although mostly for the expert bass playing of Mr Pastorius, I must admit.
I could barely face the morning commute today. God how I hope my job application comes through.
Love And Affection - Def Leppard
In the Flat Field - Bauhaus
Spindrift - Rush
Marathon -Rush
Eleventh Earl Of Mar - Genesis
Spiral Galaxy 28948 - Hawkwind
Got A Suitcase, Got Regrets - Tom McRae
The Planetist - Wigwam
Fine Lines - John Martyn
Song Slowly Song - Tim Buckley
Let Down - Radiohead
I've been listening to a lot of my folk/jazz/blues stuff while I've been off, as that was most palatable to the other occupants of the house. The recently-purchased 'King of Cards' by Tom McCrae went down very well, too. Doesn't quite match 'Just Like Blood', but very good.
T -3.5; M - 4; D - 2.
While I've been away, the Danny Baker 'All Day Breakfast Show in Color' has been and gone. Very strange. I think Wippit isn't helping at all - it's awful. I've been listening to a load of old Baker & Kelly R5/Talk/Virgin shows, too. The unfolding tales of Joanne are excellent.
Sad to hear of Joe Zawinul's death. Weather Report are a favourite band of mine, although mostly for the expert bass playing of Mr Pastorius, I must admit.
I could barely face the morning commute today. God how I hope my job application comes through.
Love And Affection - Def Leppard
In the Flat Field - Bauhaus
Spindrift - Rush
Marathon -Rush
Eleventh Earl Of Mar - Genesis
Spiral Galaxy 28948 - Hawkwind
Got A Suitcase, Got Regrets - Tom McRae
The Planetist - Wigwam
Fine Lines - John Martyn
Song Slowly Song - Tim Buckley
Let Down - Radiohead
I've been listening to a lot of my folk/jazz/blues stuff while I've been off, as that was most palatable to the other occupants of the house. The recently-purchased 'King of Cards' by Tom McCrae went down very well, too. Doesn't quite match 'Just Like Blood', but very good.
T -3.5; M - 4; D - 2.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
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
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
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
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
Friday, 17 August 2007
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?
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?
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
Hold On To What Is Yours
A brief respite in Italy, which was just great.
No CD-WOW Porcupine Tree CD waiting for me, though. It came out on Monday but CD-WOW seem to import it from Hong Kong. New Rush and Tom McRae albums next.
Back to the Northern Line, with two thirds of my focus being on getting a new job...
New purchases, either download or CD:
Hold On - Yes, 9012Live,
Eddie Are You Kidding? - Frank Zappa,
Toy Boat - Yoko Ono/Antony and the Johnsons,
TNK - 801
Rainy Night House - Joni Mitchell,
The Unknown - Conspiracy, probably the best from a poor album,
The Next Life - Suede,
Summer Ride - Brian Eno, from the Curiosities Vol2 album,
Footsteps - Eno/Cale,
Gone at Last - Paul Simon,
Everybody Knows - Leonard Cohen,
Ritz - Cockney Rebel,
Baby's on Fire - 801,
Closing Time - Leonard Cohen,
Track 2 - Vangelis., from 'Sexpower',
Little Black Rocks in the Sun - Add N to (X), first heard on 'Mixing It' many years ago,
Sleeping Pills - Suede.
Looking forward to the new 'Where's the Skill In That?' tonight, if I can stay awake...
T - 4; M - 4; D - 3
No CD-WOW Porcupine Tree CD waiting for me, though. It came out on Monday but CD-WOW seem to import it from Hong Kong. New Rush and Tom McRae albums next.
Back to the Northern Line, with two thirds of my focus being on getting a new job...
New purchases, either download or CD:
Hold On - Yes, 9012Live,
Eddie Are You Kidding? - Frank Zappa,
Toy Boat - Yoko Ono/Antony and the Johnsons,
TNK - 801
Rainy Night House - Joni Mitchell,
The Unknown - Conspiracy, probably the best from a poor album,
The Next Life - Suede,
Summer Ride - Brian Eno, from the Curiosities Vol2 album,
Footsteps - Eno/Cale,
Gone at Last - Paul Simon,
Everybody Knows - Leonard Cohen,
Ritz - Cockney Rebel,
Baby's on Fire - 801,
Closing Time - Leonard Cohen,
Track 2 - Vangelis., from 'Sexpower',
Little Black Rocks in the Sun - Add N to (X), first heard on 'Mixing It' many years ago,
Sleeping Pills - Suede.
Looking forward to the new 'Where's the Skill In That?' tonight, if I can stay awake...
T - 4; M - 4; D - 3
Friday, 20 April 2007
All My Friends
Friday, and a long weekend in Italy to look forward to.
My wife managed to corrupt my 250 Gb external disk during transfer of music from my 80 Gb drive, by turning the PC off mid-way, so I had to spend an hour last night reformatting and re-loading overnight.
The train on the platform had broken doors, so was 'removed from service'. This meant a 15 minute wait before the next one turned up.
My posting of a link to the Marillion Forum resulted in many more 'hits' as usual - almost up to 100. One person suggested I give the SR solo in Marillion's 'The Other Half' another go, so I did. It's pleasant, as most of SR's solos are, but it's simple, repetitive and doesn't make my heart leap as say 'Easter' or 'This Strange Engine' do (among many others). Sorry, but I don't get it... it's nice, but not special.
More recent stuff:
Alien Afternoon - Genesis,
Calling All Stations - Genesis. I didn't expect to like this album, but I think I do (though see below),
Congo - Genesis. Not good, perhaps better as an instrumental rather than with these ridiculous lyrics,
No Such Thing - Marillion, still my second or third favourite from 'Somewhere Else',
Hug Air A' Bhonaid Mhoir - Julie Fowlis, from a Mark Radcliffe Session last week. There are a bunch of accents to go with some of those letters, but I can't find them on my keyboard,
She's Not Dead - Suede,
All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem,
Soon - Yes,
Everybody Knows - Leonard Cohen,
Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell. There's a new 'Tribute To...' CD out on Monday. From the 'Where's the Skill In That' airtime, it sounds like a good one (although the Independent review is tepid). On the back of a more recent WtSiT playlist, I might also invest in the new Papa Bear as well,
Intervention - The Arcade Fire,
Turn It On Again (live) - Genesis,
Master of the Universe - Hawkwind,
Create and Melt - Dali's Car. I can't believe I've found a copy of this album in digital form. I still give my LP the occasional spin,
Judgement of the Moon and Stars - Joni Mitchell,
then Marching Into A Bottle, Giddy and Everybody, from the solo Alan White album 'Ramshackled'. I must have passed up buying this LP a dozen times over the years, but it's suprisingly different from his 'Yes' stuff - quite funky, althought the singing's a bit dodgy.
Waiting for the new Porcupine Tree album 'Fear of a Blank Planet'. I hope CD-WOW don't screw this one up, too. There'll be a BBC Radio 6Music session next weekend, which I'll try and record somehow. I haven't heard any of the forthcoming album, and I was forced to miss the recent in-store show in Camden Town 'Fopp', but I expect somthing along the lines of 'In Absentia' and 'Deadwing'. The days of 'The Sky Moves Sideways' and even 'Lightbulb Sun' are gone. Not entirely a good thing, IMO, but I think I see what they're doing.
T - 3; M - 4; D - 3. Train too full for comfort...
My wife managed to corrupt my 250 Gb external disk during transfer of music from my 80 Gb drive, by turning the PC off mid-way, so I had to spend an hour last night reformatting and re-loading overnight.
The train on the platform had broken doors, so was 'removed from service'. This meant a 15 minute wait before the next one turned up.
My posting of a link to the Marillion Forum resulted in many more 'hits' as usual - almost up to 100. One person suggested I give the SR solo in Marillion's 'The Other Half' another go, so I did. It's pleasant, as most of SR's solos are, but it's simple, repetitive and doesn't make my heart leap as say 'Easter' or 'This Strange Engine' do (among many others). Sorry, but I don't get it... it's nice, but not special.
More recent stuff:
Alien Afternoon - Genesis,
Calling All Stations - Genesis. I didn't expect to like this album, but I think I do (though see below),
Congo - Genesis. Not good, perhaps better as an instrumental rather than with these ridiculous lyrics,
No Such Thing - Marillion, still my second or third favourite from 'Somewhere Else',
Hug Air A' Bhonaid Mhoir - Julie Fowlis, from a Mark Radcliffe Session last week. There are a bunch of accents to go with some of those letters, but I can't find them on my keyboard,
She's Not Dead - Suede,
All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem,
Soon - Yes,
Everybody Knows - Leonard Cohen,
Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell. There's a new 'Tribute To...' CD out on Monday. From the 'Where's the Skill In That' airtime, it sounds like a good one (although the Independent review is tepid). On the back of a more recent WtSiT playlist, I might also invest in the new Papa Bear as well,
Intervention - The Arcade Fire,
Turn It On Again (live) - Genesis,
Master of the Universe - Hawkwind,
Create and Melt - Dali's Car. I can't believe I've found a copy of this album in digital form. I still give my LP the occasional spin,
Judgement of the Moon and Stars - Joni Mitchell,
then Marching Into A Bottle, Giddy and Everybody, from the solo Alan White album 'Ramshackled'. I must have passed up buying this LP a dozen times over the years, but it's suprisingly different from his 'Yes' stuff - quite funky, althought the singing's a bit dodgy.
Waiting for the new Porcupine Tree album 'Fear of a Blank Planet'. I hope CD-WOW don't screw this one up, too. There'll be a BBC Radio 6Music session next weekend, which I'll try and record somehow. I haven't heard any of the forthcoming album, and I was forced to miss the recent in-store show in Camden Town 'Fopp', but I expect somthing along the lines of 'In Absentia' and 'Deadwing'. The days of 'The Sky Moves Sideways' and even 'Lightbulb Sun' are gone. Not entirely a good thing, IMO, but I think I see what they're doing.
T - 3; M - 4; D - 3. Train too full for comfort...
Thursday, 5 April 2007
Farewell, Mark Radclife
Well, at least from my point of view. The chances of my catching him between 8-10 pm are negligible.
A 'Mark Radcliffe-styled' Playlist today, made up of artists I've discovered on his programme plus some of his recurring favourites:
Glorious - Captain,
Fix You - Coldplay,
It's A Sight To Behold - Devendra Banhart,
Life In A Norhtern Town - The Dream Academy,
My Sweet Rose - Jim Moray,
Hug Air A' Bhonaid Mhoir - Julie Fowlis,
Somewhere In Between/Nocturn/Aerial - Kate Bush,
Golden Skans - Klaxons,
Roscoe - Midlake,
You Have Killed Me - Morrissey.
Asleep Under Eiderdown - Pure Reason Revolution,
Virginia Plain - Roxy Music,
Sweet Scented Figure - Scott Matthews.
T - 4; M - 4.5; D - 4
A 'Mark Radcliffe-styled' Playlist today, made up of artists I've discovered on his programme plus some of his recurring favourites:
Glorious - Captain,
Fix You - Coldplay,
It's A Sight To Behold - Devendra Banhart,
Life In A Norhtern Town - The Dream Academy,
My Sweet Rose - Jim Moray,
Hug Air A' Bhonaid Mhoir - Julie Fowlis,
Somewhere In Between/Nocturn/Aerial - Kate Bush,
Golden Skans - Klaxons,
Roscoe - Midlake,
You Have Killed Me - Morrissey.
Asleep Under Eiderdown - Pure Reason Revolution,
Virginia Plain - Roxy Music,
Sweet Scented Figure - Scott Matthews.
T - 4; M - 4.5; D - 4
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