Tomorrow or the day after next...

Playlist
Brian Eno – Discreet Music
Freddie Hubbard – Greatest Solos
Juicy Lucy – Lie Back and Enjoy It
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Soundingfall
Justin Rutledge – Man Descending
Yes – Going For the One
Brian Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain
Harmonia – Deluxe

Up at 7 and working on mixing acoustic versions of “We Drove” and “Fire in the Clearing”...

Tidying to the sounds of Brian Eno’s “Discreet Music”...



Breakfast to the sounds of Freddie Hubbard...

With the Exec Producer off out late morning, I worked on an idea for a new song and, before I knew it, had written one...

The key was a little low and so I decided to transpose the chords (rather than use the capo)...

In doing so, I stumbled across another chord which just seemed to make the song...

Title? "Tomorrow or the Day After Next" - take a listen (see below) and see if you can guess what it's about...

Upon Anne’s return we swithered as to whether to go over to Dunfermline to support Queen of the South – in the end I decided I wanted to try and record this new song, so we stayed at home...

While I was busy – on a bit of a roll actually, recording the new song and adding acoustic bass to five of the seven songs recorded thus far – Hearts were also busy disappointing Anne with a defeat away at lowly Hamilton Academical...

Wonder of wonders though, Queen of the South won at Dunfermline for the first time in over 50 years, coming away 2-0 winners and moving up a spot in the table to eighth – the revival starts here?

I hope so...

We cooked tonight as, once again we prepared our current favourite, Red Thai Chicken...



Accompanied by Mr Justin Rutledge and, of course, a cheeky wee red...



TV most of the night – Eurovision – upon hearing Lloyd-Webbers ballad, I changed my allegiance from The Twins to Jade as, while the former could have done well on an upbeat number with some kind of choreography gimmicky thing, Jade is the best singer and handled the song the best...

I predict bottom three in May...

Rather predictably, Meg the Black cat remained unimpressed...



Listened back to “Soundingfall” while watching “Holby” – I’m getting there...

All seven of the latest demos are now available to listen to, or indeed download, at the Crispycat Library in the “2009 Cloudland Blue Quartet – Soundingfall” folder...

“Match of the Day” with Eno and Harmonia in the cans rounded off an enjoyable, productive day...

Highlight of the Day : New song, Queens’ win, cooking with Anne...

Blue, white and...

Playlist
King Crimson – Cadence and Cascade (3CD-R)
King Crimson – Epitaph Vols 3 & 4
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Soundingfall
Soft Machine – Man In A Deaf Corner
Rush – Retrospective III
Michael Rother – Katzenmusik
Donlad Byrd – Free form
Dexter Gordon – Clubhouse
John Martyn – Solid Air
Nazz – Nazz
Medeski Martin & Wood – Note Bleu

Awoke with King Crimson still playing in my ears from last night...

Up at seven and wrote up yesterday’s celebrations...

An e-mail from a music buddy offering a possible gig in March led me to listen gain to my new songs – no work done on them now for a couple of weeks...

Finally got round to listening to the 2CD Soft Machine set purchased in the FOPP sale pre-Xmas...

The first disc is “interesting” but the highlight for me is the set recorded at the Paradiso in Amsterdam in 1969 by the trio of Hugh Hopper, Mike Ratledge and Robert Wyatt...

Compiled a mock up of Rush’s latest retrospective album – I have all the tracks though two are labelled as “remixes” and one is live (which I’ve probably got too) – noted also a best of re Medeski Martin & Wood’s five year tenure on Blue Note – again I have all the albums...

A late breakfast once Anne finally emerged from the land of Nod and then we watched the first in the Three Colours Trilogy, “Three Colours Blue” – a tale of tragic loss and unravelling secrets – I love French cinema...

It’s at times like these that I understand why people buy DVDs of films – they take you right out of reality and it was a downer, once the film had finished, to be subjected to every day mundanity of daytime TV...

So I nipped to the shops to get some lunch and, while consuming this we remained inert, watching this week’s “My Name is Earl” before the second film of the trilogy “Three Colours White” – regarding betrayal and equality...

We now look forward to the final part which I hope we’ll watch over the weekend...

Played through quite a few songs in around 40 minutes, as Anne watched even more TV...

Tried to have a look round “Second Life” to no avail but a “gig” via Pol’s site on this virtual planet beckons in the near future – hence the running through of various tunes...

The death at 60 of John Martyn was commented upon in at least three of the blogs I regularly read and I duly downloaded and gave a listen to his classic “Solid Air”...



Very enjoyable...

His appearances on Youtube indicate I bore a striking resemblance to the man, when he was around 30, and I was around 20...

I remember “Solid Air” being popular with schoolchum Rory around the time I was listening to Gary Glitter, T Rex, Mott the Hoople and Chicory Tip – of course he had hip elder siblings...

The one artist he liked whom I could get into was Roy Harper – I have always hated the Incredible String Band though....

So, while John Martyn has always been on the radar, I’ve not really been enticed into buying anything –I think many of his albums are available cut price in Fopp...

No doubt they’ll be flying off the shelves now...

Also downloaded the debut album from Todd Rundgren’s Nazz – interesting, if rather ponderous in places, psychedelia...



A Tonight Special on how the falling value of the pound is affecting holiday makers and people who’ve moved to Spain...

The programme did its best to try and evoke sorrow for them but anyone who bought a house on the Costa Blanca for 300,000 Euros two years ago gets no sympathy from me, pensioner or no, when there are plenty pensioners in the UK who have to put up with life in Labour’s Britain...

Interestingly there was absolutely no mention as to WHY the pound has lost around 30% of its value over the last nine months or so...

Take a bow Gordy boy...

Corrie was watched and enjoyed as was “QI” and the first in the new series of “Not Going Out”...

The news did nothing to cheer me up...

Wrote this up, accompanied by Medeski Martin & Wood, while Anne watched Jonathon Ross...



Highlight of the Day : French films...

Pot, kettle...

Playlist
King Crimson/Robert Fripp – Recent Downloads from DGM
Dream Theater – Systematic Chaos
King Crimson – Cadence and Cascade (3CD-R)

Happy birthday to the Exec Producer!



Unlike last year, we were off out this evening for a celebration, which began with a brisk walk along Princes Street in the chill of the early evening to the Doric Bar where some much anticipated with relish Gin and Tonic was consumed...

Then up to the Royal Mile and to the Whiski Bar and Restaurant – a very welcoming and comfortable place for further G&T for Anne and some Mixed Fruit Cider for your correspondent...



It was ideal as it’s right next door to the chosen restaurant for the evening’s celebration, Dubh Prais (pronounced Doo Prash apparently)...

Here, in what looks like someone’s, slightly larger than normal, front room, we enjoyed some quite superb cooking from chef/owner James McWilliams...



Anne’s starter was a tower of wild mushrooms, grilled with garlic and Ayrshire Bacon on a bed of salad greens, garnished with cherry tomatoes while I went for the haggis rolled in oatmeal, pan fried and served on a creamy leek and whisky sauce...

Oh yes...

For our mains, we both chose the venison - served on a port, thyme and red wine sauce and topped with a guinea fowl fritter with, on the side, the best tasting vegetables I can remember having in a restaurant...

Accompanied, of course, by a tasty Spanish tempranillo...

Here’s how I probably looked to Anne at this point...



After a reasonable period of reflection and chat, we ordered sweets - butterscotch terrine, a caramel mousse with a rich chocolate sauce, for Anne and home made vanilla and chocolate ice cream for me...

Anne's plate came with a sparkler sparkling...



...and was suitably adorned...



Some coffee, home made fudge and shortbread and, by the end of the night we practically had the place to ourselves and had been well and truly wined and dined to perfection...

Tasty...

We wandered back down to Princes Street and caught the bus home to a chilly Crispycat Towers...

An excellent evening...

Highlight of the Day : Anne's birthday outing...

Unable to string three passes together...

Playlist
Rush – Snakes and Arrows
Various – Tighten Up Vol 1
Faust – Faust IV

Rush on the cans today – a much under-rated band in the world of music – superb musicicanship and excellent, thought provoking lyrics...

I stepped up to the bat, so to speak, re the five a sides tonight as numbers had dwindled due to injuries...

Although my toe’s not quite right yet, I took a place in the starting 10, sporting different trainers but took along the trusty Adidas Sambas - just as well, the new(er) shoes were a disaster – as was (as is sadly becoming the norm) my playing...

In the event we only managed to scrape together nine players – I was in the five man team but we were handicapped by not being allowed to score from our own half or without first having completed three passes...

This latter rule seemed to make it almost impossible for us to score, while we leaked goals like an old leaky thing that leaks and, duly, ran out losers...

The journey to and from the debacle was soundtracked by some tasty reggae sounds...

Back home to a lovely tea of steak, onions, mushrooms and fries as we finished off last night’s rose...

Watched “Masterchef” and “Grand Designs” while enjoying a lovely cup of coffee...



“Grand Designs” featured a couple in their early thirties, he a “marketing consultant”, she a “manager” (not for long though as she had a kid a couple of months into the project) who paid £400k for a derelict building and probably another £600k doing it up...

It was beautiful but (as with all these programmes) I was left wondering where in heaven’s name all the cash came from??

Watched the last half hour or so (extra time and penalties) of Celtic joining Rangers in this year’s CIS League Cup Final by beating Dundee Utd...



How galling must it be to score 10 penalties in a shoot out and still lose?

Meg the Black Cat didn’t care as long as the fire was on...



Ended the day writing this drivel to the sounds of Faust – quite weird first time around when I owned it in 1974 along with, mainly, pop singles of the time...

Strangely “normal” to my ears these days though...

I love music...

Exec Producer’s birthday tomorrow – 21 again...

Highlight of the Day : It’s good to be alive...

Neue Ohren...

Playlist
Alice Cooper - Demos 1968-1973
King Crimson - Lizard
The Revolutionaries - Channel One Dub Room 1974 -1980
Donald Byrd – Free Form
Arild Andersen – Hyperborean
Passport – Passport Control
Faust - Faust IV

Woke at around 4:30 and enjoyed a disc of demos by the original Alice Cooper group, recorded from 1968 to 1973 - with some revelations along the way...

A superb download from the Robert Fripp/King Crimson site last night of the song “Indoor Games” from KC’s 3rd album “Lizard” prompted me to relisten to the entire album this morning with fresh ears (it's still available at the moment as a free "hot tickle")...



The download was an early mix with mainly just the bass and drums by Gordon Haskell and Andy McCulloch respectively and a guide guitar take from Mr Fripp...

I’ve had this album for 35 years and last night was yet another revelation...

Listened again too to the “new” Revolutionaries album – very tasty indeed...


Maybe I ought to have a reggae jukebox?

ECM jazz, in the form of Arild Andersen’s “Hyperborean”, soundtracked my into town journey...



On arrival home tonight, a CD from e-bay awaited – a compilation of early to mid 70s works by German fusion band Klaus Doldinger’s Passport – probably best known in the UK for the soundtrack to the film “das Boot”...



It rocks – in a non rock way - and accompanied some tidying and some moving around of wardrobes...

Phone chats with both sisters tonight - Pam is ill and, rarely, was missing a Spurs home game - husband "Tricky Dicky" was off to White Hart Lane with a chum to see his fave team beat the hapless Stoke City...

Salmon on stir fried peppers and beansprouts with chilli jam and soya sauce provided sustenance and was complimented by a lovely bottle of Rose...



Then “Top Gear” and “Oz & James”, before I forewent “Masterchef” to write this whilst listening again to Mr Doldinger’s crazy sounds...

Stumbled across a download of this album I used to have in the mid 70s - the opening track "Krautrock" is 12 minutes of pure delight...



Ended the day with an episode of "Big Bang Theory"...

Nice...

Highlight of the Day : New listening...

Free and fat...

Playlist
Grant Green – The Complete Quartets with Sonny Clark
Acoustic Ladyland – Skinny Grin
Kenny Werner – Lawn Chair Society
Donald Byrd – Royal Flush
Donald Byrd – Free Form
The Revolutionaries - Channel One Dub Room 1974 -1980
Ornette Coleman – Sound Grammar

An annoyance first thing today re the new security software...

There was me thinking I’d downloaded for free...

This morning it was asking me to pay $50 as my “trial period” (erm, one day) had expired...

However, they had a deal whereby if I took a subscription to one of their advertisers, I’d get the software for a year for $0.00...

So of course this was what I did – giving my card details to something called “e-music” which offered me 25 free downloads in a short trial period with them and, so long as I unsubscribed before 2 February, they wouldn't start charging me a tenner a month to download tracks...

And off I went out into the cold morning...



At lunchtime, armed with my “List of Blue Note Albums I Have”, I headed to Fopp and purchased my 200th Blue Note album, trumpeter Donald Byrd’s December 1961 recording, “Free Form” which also features Wayne Shorter on tenor sax and Herbie Hancock on piano – I’m sure you’ve heard of them...

Tasty...

Back home in the dark...



...and, while Anne was off out at Keep Fit with Lynn, I fixed the bathroom door (to the best of my ability – I am an “artist” after all...), did a bit of “book sorting out” and then settled down to finish off this morning’s nonsense...

There were some good albums available via e-music (but then there are also 1,000s of good albums available on MP3 Blogs for free)...

So, to fulfil my 25 track allocation, I nabbed a superb dub album by The Revolutionaries (Sly and Robbie anyone?) and Ornette Coleman’s award winning live LP, “Sound Grammar”, before, sadly, but then they did offer, unsubscribing and saving myself £10 a month...

So I got my security software for free - and two tasty albums as well – much better than paying $50...

Ah the internet – where would we be without it eh?

Later, “Horizon” entertained, with an experiment on trying to make thin people fat by making them eat double their required calorie intake for four weeks...

In between the weekly reports of how they were doing (they were putting on weight, some more than others, and getting fatter, some more than others) various theories were expounded as to why some people (like me, for example) are fat...

The programme came to the rather depressing (for fat people like me that is) conclusion that your body has its own idea of how fat you ought to be and tries its damnedest to make you that fat, no matter what you do...

All fine and dandy I suppose (kind of), and I do believe that genes have a certain amount of influence – after all if they can determine whether you're tall or short, the colour of your hair or your eyes, or the length of your....arms etc, than why not whether you're thin or fat?

Ornette Coleman and Donald Byrd finished off the day, post the watching of the highlights of Saturday's Hearts win...

Highlight of the Day : Free music and software...

Candleman...

Playlist
Dorham/Clark/Gordon/Green – Shuffleplay
Paul McCartney – Memory Almost Full
Alice Cooper – Ballads 1975-2008 (2CD-R)
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Tracks from the Crispycat Library

Late to rise today – 7am...

Listening to all the discs I have on the jazz jukebox by the boys I bought yesterday...

Intended to write this but got caught up in updating my list of “Blue Note Albums I Have” and, before I knew it, Anne was awake and it was time for breakfast...

Weather - bright and cold...

Today we visited Café Citron for a change – they do an excellent bacon roll and Americano deal...

A quick visit to Homebase for new bathroom door handles and to M&S for some groceries, then home – to find the handles will need more work than we thought and the drill needs recharged...

So that’s for tomorrow...

Decided to tidy out the computer room and ended up with a set of very tidy shelves but books all over the floor...

More work for the coming week...

A visit to Italy in late Spring to celebrate 50 years is on the cards...

Spent a couple of hours compiling and burning a 2CD set of Alice Cooper ballads for brother-in-law Bobby who is impressed with “Only Women Bleed” as featured on “The Beast of Alice Cooper” which he recently obtained from Fopp for £3...

To Anne’s mum’s for Anne’s birthday tea which, as it was Burns Night, comprised Haggis, Neeps and Tatties – and very tasty it was too – followed by home made chocolate cake and ice cream...

Bobby fully expects to see a pic of himself lighting the lone candle – he has just discovered the blog (four years down the line) after his cousin revealed how it was he knew that Bob had recently become a convert to Progressive Rock...

So here you go Roberto...

Ollie and Kitty had a good time tonight as we firstly made place names for everyone who was to attend – spelling all their names intentionally wrongly – then making films with the Cloudland camera...

Ollie; Craig; Kitty

Nephew Craig was present for the first time for a couple of months and regaled us with tales of his job at a local hotel, the bar of which routinely runs out of such staples as vodka, wine and beer...

The restaurant meanwhile offers (a) macaroni cheese when they have no macaroni (but they do offer to replace it with tagliatelle) and (b) fish and chips – despite having no fish...

Other stories involved student cooking – he trumped my “spaghetti with a tin of baked beans” by giving us “pasta with Heinz Tomato Ketchup and mayonnaise” – the recipe comprised leaving a wee bit of the hot water in the pasta, adding the mayonnaise and then, only once the mayo has “marinated” the pasta, adding the ketchup...

Back home, wrote this up for the weekend while testing the Crispycat Library following tales from Bob of being unable to listen to tracks – glad to report no problem at this end Bob...

Very late doors a knockback re accommodation – the search continues...

A reasonable weekend all told...

Highlight of the Day : Planning a trip...

Pie in the sky...

Playlist
Various – Best Classical CDs of 2008 Shuffleplay
Michael Rother – Katzenmusik
Various – Is It Rolling Bob? : Dylan Dub
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Discography on Shuffleplay
Peter Gabriel etc – Big Blue Ball
Kenny Dorham – Whistle Stop
Sonny Clark – Loopin’ and Loafin’
Dexter Gordon – A Swingin’ Affair
Grant Green – Feelin’ the Spirit
Dexter Gordon – Clubhouse
Francis Dunnery – Welcome to the Wild Country

Up at 6am and finished off copying the 29 CD Box celebrating Harmonia Mundi’s 50th Anniversary...

Meg the Black cat took over the computer...



Breakfast at home, then played through some songs, searching for ones I know by heart in order to play with more confidence and without my lyrics and music on the stand beside me – despite the fact that very many established artists routinely use autocue for their lyrics...

Made my way into town around eleven and nearly ran over brother-in-law Bobby and nephew Ollie as they tried to cross a road on my route – reversed for a quick chat – admiring their freshly cut hairdos courtesy of the Turk’s Head Barber...

To the library and handed back all the discs taken out three weeks ago and borrowed the Peter Gabriel curated “Big Blue Ball” – tasty...

In Fopp, they’ve taken delivery of a fresh consignment of £4 Blue Note discs and I partook of five, two by saxophonist Dexter Gordon and one each from trumpeter Kenny Dorham, pianist Sonny Clark and guitarist Grant Green...

My first Blue Note discs since September and they take my total from the label to 199...

Enjoyed a wander around town up the mound...



...down the Royal Mile...





...and into Cockburn Street...

This shop used to be Cockburn St Market – where I bought and sold many of my first albums in the mid 70's...



I only noticed once I was home that this exhibition, in the Gallery next door, is the aptly named “Reflections”...



Back to the car and home...

Anne was off to Tynecastle where Hearts overcame bottom of the league Invesrness3-2 losing a 2-2 equaliser in the third last minute and scoring their winner straight from the restart...

Meanwhile, in Dumfries, Queens appeared to have a better performance but were held to a 2-2 draw by Partick Thistle who were, by all reports, saved by their keeper...

I enjoyed all five of the new Blue Note purchases and updated the anti-virus etc software which has been plaguing use of the PC recently...

In the evening, we found ourselves watching the Eurovision Song Contest heats...

Dreadful – but I think the act called “The Twins” has the best tacky potential to do well for the UK...

Andrew Lloyd Webber is unintentionally hilarious...

An Indian Takeaway ruined all our good work of homecooking during the week – it was good, but not as good as Anne’s Red Thai from last night...

"Total Wipeout", "In It To Win It", “Harry Hill's TV Burp”, and a much-better-than-previous-episodes episode of “CSI : New York” entertained, as did two taped “Law and Order”s and then lights out...

Highlight of the day : New jazz....

Shoots and leaves...

Playlist
Allan Holdsworth – Discography on Shuffleplay
Bruford - Discography on Shuffleplay
Tony Williams’ Lifetime – Believe It
Tony Williams’ Lifetime – Million Dollar Legs
UK – Best of
Soft Machine – The Untouchable
Allan Holdsworth – Against the Clock
Brian Eno – Biography Soundtrack (CD-R)
Various Composers – Fifty Years of Harmonia Mundi
Mercury Rev – Snowflake Midnight
Ladyhawke – Ladyhawke
Johnny Harris – All to Bring You Morning
Paul O’Dette – Lord Herbert of Cherbury’s Lute Book
Various Composers – Top Classical CDs Acquired in 2008 Shuffleplay

The “out-there” jazz fusion complications of Mr Allan Holdsworth soundtracked the day today – including his noodlings with Bill Bruford’s band, erm, “Bruford” – plus stints with Soft Machine, Tony Williams’ Lifetime and the splendid UK....

In the garden this morning, the first buds of spring are already starting to show...



These are not though, the green shoots of recovery...

On my way home from town, the dome on Charlotte Square was looking particularly moody...



Early evening was spent in the kitchen assisting Anne with the cooking of tonight’s dinner - her (now signature) Red Thai Chicken Curry....

I was proud to help, chopping vegetables, opening coconut milk and, generally, quaffing fine red wine...

The delightful sounds of Mr Brian Eno helped us along...



The interlude wherein the chicken cooked was nicely timed by Fripp & Eno’s “The Heavenly Music Corporation”, during which period, Anne enjoyed some TV and I perused the latest issue of The Wire...



Despite my partaking in proceedings, the curry was as tasty as ever...



Thereafter, my project for this evening was to rip to the hard drive the wav files for the remaining 25 of the 29 CDs in the “Fifty Years of Harmonia Mundi” box set which must return to the library tomorrow...

By 12:15 am (bed time), there remained just 3 discs requiring attention – while all covers had been suitable scanned to help with the knocking up of covers....

An enjoyable day...

Highlight of the day : Really cooking with Annie....

Please get into the handcart...

Playlist
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Discography on Shuffleplay
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Soundingfall
Various – Jazz Jukebox on Shuffleplay

Lunch with a Russian fund manager today – can’t say fairer than that...

Confirmed we’re going to Hell in a handcart...

In the evening a return to Out of the Bedroom...

Despite getting there at 7:10pm (earlier than a fortnight ago when I was second on the list) I was the 11th performer to arrive, failing miserably to secure a full slot...

And so I was a “squashee” – people who are normally allowed one song and who are fitted in if time allows...

Just as the evening of song started, Mr Stuart Cobley turned up as promised....



The Master of Ceremonies started off the first half slightly early and the evening ran ahead of schedule...

Again a couple of minutes early, I opened the second half and, as things were going smoothly, timewise, I was granted a two song slot...

So I dropped “Twenty Twenty Vision” and went with the two new songs “We Drove” and “Blend”...

As always, I was super nervous and relied on my music and lyrics on the stand to my side...

It went ok though I thought - it will be interesting to see what the reviewer made of my efforts...

Despite my new found conviction to air some CBQ stuff every couple of weeks this year, I think I am probably a studio musician at heart - but you can't beat audience reaction...

For the acoustic version of “We Drove”, I’ve recently added two more chord sequences (merely singing different verses in different keys) but I didn't trust myself to play them tonight...

After hanging around a bit to see OOTB founder Nelson Wright play (sounding like John Cale of all people I thought with his excellent spoken word material)...



...the attendant Creekers headed upstairs for a chat and a drink...



By the end of this, Stuart too believed we are all going to Hell in a handcart...

I gave him a lift out to his home town of Penicuik and, on the way, he told me all about his career as a photographer – which sounds interesting indeed – with much moolah to be made for very few hours’ work apparently...

Drove home to the sounds of the proposed new album and, upon arrival, enjoyed the end of “Question Time” followed by “This Week” – during which we were assured we’re all going to Hell in a handcart...

Highlight of the day : Playing again...

You can't make an omlette - well, actually...

Playlist
Various – The Best Prog Album in the World Ever
Ladyhawke – Ladyhawke
Johnny Harris – All to Bring You Morning
Various – Dirt Beneath the Daydream
Various – From the Velvets to the Voidoids

HMV beckoned at lunchtime today and my pledge to buy fewer CDs this year is as good as down the pan...

Stumbled across (in the easy listening section while looking for Françoise Hardy, even though I knew there’s be nothing new by her) an album from 1973, which I think I still have on vinyl, Johnny Harris’s “All to Bring You Morning” – featuring Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Alan White of Yes...

To make up my “2 for £10”, I picked up the 2008 album from Ladyhawke...



It’s always more satisfying to discover good new music myself rather than read/hear hype, buy and be disappointed...

I have no idea who Ladyhawke is/are – I just saw a video in a breakfast venue late last year whilst out with Anne and I liked what I heard/saw and so it’s been on my radar...

Tonight it soundtracked our cookery session, as Anne prepared a very tasty omelette, fries and green beans dish for us...





...accompanied, of course, by some lovely red wine...





Corrie and Oz & James entertained, followed by some tasty punk rock and some “Sound” from New Zealand by way of the latest free disc from Wire magazine – sounds better than some of the pish they’ve foisted on me over the years...

Played through a few songs in preparation for Out of the Bedroom tomorrow night – not sure yet what I’ll play – a call from Creek cohort Cobblers announced his intention also to attend tomorrow...

Hopefully I’ll play as well as a fortnight ago – here’s the review:-

“Good to see CBQ back at OOTB, although this is the first time that I’ve seen him.

“We Drove”, is a hauntingly minimalistic narrative. I wasn’t entirely sure what the lyrics were about, but lines such as “I’ll see you around/ don’t worry about the money” were suitably evocative.

“Please Stay With Us” also had a unique lyrical style, narrating everyday occurrences in song, with an upbeat tempo. An interesting juxtaposition, but I did prefer the slightly more abstract take to lyric writing he adopted in the first song. Nothing wrong with versatility though.

“Blend” was a strong finish to the set. Fantastic chord permutations made the three chord progression sound new and refreshing, which is by no means easy. The lyrics speak of blending in with the crowd in the chorus, and there are some absorbing lyrical ideas on show.

Hope to hear him at OOTB again soon.”

Indeed...

Highlight of the day : Cooking with Anne...

Twenty years in a box...

Playlist
The Soft Machine – Volume One
The Soft Machine – Volume Two
Soft Machine – Third
Soft Machine – Fourth
Soft Machine – Fifth
Various – From the Velvets to the Voidoids

First off, a couple of treated pics from yesterday that I was unable to upload due to the PC buggering me about...





Today, inspired by last night’s viewing of “Prog Britannia”, I was soundtracked by some top Soft Machine doodlinhgs...

A £3 purchase at Fopp of a 2CD set of US “punk” rock in the shape of “From the Velvets to the Voidoids” occurred...

Some cracking tunes from The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, MC5, Alice Cooper, The Modern lovers, Lou Reed, New York Dolls, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Television, Ramones, Blondie, Dead Boys, The Dictators, The Heartbreakers, Suicide, Pere Ubu, Devo and Richard Hell and the Voidoids – what’s not to like?

And £3...

Tonight, Anne was out at “Slumdog Millionaire” with Lynn...

Took the opportunity to watch “Prog at the BBC” followed by Mark Lawson’s interview with Phil Collins...

Despite the differences in our earnings from our music, it appears we write in exactly the same way – bang a few chords together, sing whatever comes into our heads over that, write down what you’ve sung, sort it out a bit and Bob’s your uncle – like me, he appears to have little idea regarding what many of his songs are about...

Then, another very frustrating evening re problems with the PC – literally, hours of my life wasted...



Not to worry...

Late doors, Meg the Black cat was intrigued by a box containing the original cassette versions of my albums from 1977 to 1996...



Twenty years in a box...

Highlight of the Day : Great music to soothe my frustrations...