Welcome to Crispycat Recordings....

WELCOME TO CRISPYCAT RECORDINGS

We issue the solo and collaborative work of musician, abstract artist and podcaster 

DAVID REILLY aka CLOUDLAND BLUE QUARTET (CBQ)

Over 2.2 Million visitors...

Yesterday? 8,682...

__________________________________________________________________________________

This section is the Cloudland Blue Diary

 The diary comprises over twenty-one years of daily entries, from Sunday 5 March 2005 to Tuesday 26 May 2026

(Please scroll down for the latest posts)

_________________________________________________________________________________

SITE DIRECTORY

To go to another section of the site, click on an icon below

ABOUT    MUSIC    PODCASTS    ART    RECOMENDED LISTENING

                    

__________________________________________________________________________

CRISPYCAT RECORDINGS ON BANDCAMP

To go to the Bandcamp discographies of these Crispycat related artists, click on an icon.

                    

Crispycat Recordings released the first 25 Cloudland Blue Quartet albums (recorded between 1996 and 2012) to Bandcamp in 2013.

A further 8 LPs were released between 2013 and 2019.

Then, with the advent of lockdown, David spent much more time on new Cloudland Blue Quartet works, with the result that, since May 2020, new music has been released almost every month, with almost 100 further new releases having been issued in the last five years.

The current 8 strong pipeline (see below) will take matters to the end of 2026, beyond the 30th anniversary of Cloudland Blue Quartet's debut recordings, pushing the total CBQ releases available on Bandcamp to 140.

Meanwhile, retrospective releases by David's groups Creek, Crazy Wisdom and Capital Models have also been being issued by Crispycat Recordings and these are set to continue, with around 50 planned over the next 18 months or so...

In 2025, Crazy Wisdom and Capital Models also released new recordings, with seven new EPs from Crazy Wisdom and their remastered back catalogue, which you can find here; and, from Capital Models, two new studio LPs, a live LP and an update to their all encompassing "Repertoire" virtual box set, all of which, along with original recordings from 1980 and reunion tapes from 2011, can be found here...

__________________________________________________________________________________

NEWS

CURRENT CLOUDLAND BLUE QUARTET RELEASE SCHEDULE

   

Friday, 29 May, 2026: Drift: A Collection of Slow Songs 1996-2026 (19th in The Collections Series) (Compiled May 2026)

Friday, 5 June, 2026: Dark (43rd in The Soundscapes Series) (Recorded August 2025)

Friday, 3 July, 2026: Music for Guitar and String Quartet in 18 Movements (44th in The Soundscapes Series) (Recorded November 2025)

Friday, 7 August, 2026: Across the Landscape (45th in The Soundscapes Series) (Recorded October 2025)

   

Friday, 4 September, 2026: Broken (19th in The Songs Series) (Recorded November 2025)

Friday, 2 October, 2026: Elevation (46th in The Soundscapes Series) (Recorded November 2025)

Friday, 6 November, 2026: Swan Songs (6th in the GLAM! Covers Series) (Recorded December 2025)

Friday, 5 December, 2026: Disquietmusik X (10th in The Disquietmusik Frippertronics Guitar Series) (to be recorded November 2026)

(All artwork, releases and release dates subject to change)

__________________________________________________________________________________

UPCOMING LIVE PERFORMANCES

            

Next Appearance: Capital Models at The Hop Run at Stewart Brewing, Loanhead

Saturday 6 June 2026 2pm - 6pm

Performances include solo appearances, as Cloudland Blue Quartet, presenting sets of either songs or soundscapes, and group performances, with the current line up of David's 1980 new wave band, Capital Models 

At present there are no plans for his electronic improvisational quartet, Creek, to play live and nothing in the calendar for Cloudland Blue Quartet or vocal/electronic trio, Crazy Wisdom but a gig by Capital Models will take place at Stewart Brewing in Loanhead on 6 June 2026...

__________________________________________________________________________________

LATEST ALBUM FROM CBQ

On 1st May 2026, the dark ambient album, "Cobalt" was released

As always from Crispycat Recordings, this release is entirely Free to Stream or Name Your Price (including zero) to Download (with bonus material)

Recorded in August 2025, "Cobalt" is the 41st Cloudland Blue Quartet soundscapes album - relatively short in comparison to previous releases in the series, it comes in at around 48 minutes, i.e. a (fairly long) single LP.

The download bundle doubles the content though, containing as it does, an alternative version of the album, comprising the initial recordings of the four pieces. At that point , the record was to be called "Dark Slate, Deep Sky", subsequently abandoned for the snappier "Cobalt".

The final album is music in the vein of previous ambient works "Coldclear", "Gewitter", "Mercurial", "Providence", "Like a Sunday", and this year's "Low Peach Winter Sun" and can be seen as a continuation of those

__________________________________________________________________________________

 

NEXT NEW RELEASE

On 29 May, the 30th anniversary of the first CBQ recordings will be celebrated with a new song-based compilation entitled "Drift: A Collection of Slow Songs 1996-2026".  The collection has now been finalised, with an expanded selection of newly mastered songs, taking the total from the initial 20 to 30, one for each year of CBQ activity since 1996.

__________________________________________________________________________________

LATEST PODCAST

Since 2014, David has produced over 750 editions of the "Cloudland Blue Eclectic Selection", his weekly podcast on Mixcloud, reflecting his esoteric taste in music and encouraging listeners to broaden their musical horizons.

Click on the pic below to go to Mixcloud 

Unfortunately, with only the most recent 10 able to be made available, each new podcast replaces the one from 10 weeks before.  

To obtain an MP3 download link for any currently unavailable Cloudland Blue Quartet Eclectic Selection, simply e-mail your request to crispycat@hotmail.com.  

The latest edition was published on 24 May.  2026 Volume 21 features tracks from these recordings...

__________________________________________________________________________________

CAPITAL MODELS TEMPORARY QUARTET

Capital Models are currently in a series of rehearsals with guitarist Martin McQueen, who will dep for John Barclay at Capital Models next quartet gig, in June (see above under upcoming performances)

__________________________________________________________________________________

NEW COLLABORATIONS

David has commenced work on new collaborational projects with Edward Spark, Blue Sun Chasing and Duke Gray of Oddsfiche.  No prospective release dates are yet known

__________________________________________________________________________________

NEW CRAZY WISDOM

Following the reactivation of Crazy Wisdom in 2024 and the release of several EPs and the back catalogue last year, Crazy Wisdom are planning new music for 2026 and the start of this project is imminent

__________________________________________________________________________________

CREEK REISSUES

The re-issuing on Bandcamp of Creek's long-deleted back catalogue is set to recommence in the Summer of 2026

__________________________________________________________________________________

DIARY UPDATES

Note that, in the diary, 150 days, across 6 periods in 4 of the 21 years are, currently, "picture only":-

2016: 15-17 October (3 Days)

2021: 8-21 May (14 Days)

2022: 18 April - 10 May & 6 July - 5 September (85 Days)

2023: 1 - 15 October & 18 October - 19 November (48 Days)

It is always the intention to update "picture only" days with the relevant text but doing so is, of course, subject to opportunity (and, indeed, memory!)

Homeland, cooking and looking (back)...

Playlist

Up just after 7 and I was doing what? I don't know but I certainly wasn't writing the diary...

The views from the office this morning, 26th of May, Tuesday, I stayed in all day...

No you didn't Dave...

Oh yes, I remember now, at 8:20, post breakfast, we set off for the dump with three bags of 40 year old wood chip wallpaper and an old hose...

On the way back, we stopped off at the Post Office to send back the coat rack - I ordered the same model prior to the send off - and the dealer ensured they'd check it before sending...

Back home, caught up with the posting of the daily playlists to BlueSky and the daily CD boxes...

CD Box number 144, which takes me from Martin Taylor through to Stanley Turrentine...

Today, a radio show 2CD set, picked up 2nd Hand in Foyles Bookshop on a visit to that London many years ago. Keith Tippett at the London Jazz Festival 2008, 2 sets, firstly, a duo with Stan Tracey, then "Linuckia" with the Elysian String Quartet...

Very good recording and that also led me to a couple of new things which made their way into the collection today from David Sanchez and Ben Allison, as tracks from them were featured during the recording as they were also playing at the festival...

Then, from box number 145, which took me from Stanley Turrentine to the Marcin Wasilewski Trio...

...I chose Chad Wackerman's "Legs Eleven"...

I bought that one at a gig in 2008 on the Renfrew Ferry in Glasgow by the Allan Holdsworth trio, of which Chad Wackerman was a member at the time...

That was the only CD on the merch desk that I didn't already have, but I asked the three guys to sign the CD in any case. So I've got Allan Holdsworth's autograph on that CD and inside is the ticket for the gig, which was excellent by the way, big man...

Miles Davis would have been 100 today...

In answer to the question "What are your top 5 Miles Davis Albums?", I'd say, in chronological order, these:

"Sorceror"

"Miles in the Sky"

"Bitches Brew"

"On the Corner"

"Big Fun"

And here are my, pound for pound, five favourite live LPs from his catalogue...

OK, make that seven...

I spent some time (as you do) looking back at 26 Mays in my diary and found the following...

20 years ago tonight, Paul Buchanan live in Glasgow...

15 Years ago, on this day in 2011, having enjoyed it very much on the BBC in the 80s, I purchased "Edge of Darkness" on DVD for £3...

15 years later, I still haven't watched it (like so many of the DVDs I own)...

Ten years ago tonight, Sid Smith and I "danced" to "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" at "The 2nd International Conference of the Progect (sic) Network for the study of Progressive Rock, 2016 at University of Edinburgh"...

In May 2019, I was asked "what are the five LPs you've listened to most in your life?"...

I assumed, the longer I'd had an LP, the more I'd've listened...

And so...

Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies

Emerson Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery

David Bowie - Aladdin Sane

Yes - Fragile

Fripp & Eno - No Pussyfooting

Ah the old days...

Also, I was influenced by by a post re "happy separate-the-art-from-the-artist day", to play an old Gary Glitter record...

  ...after all, none of my Phil Spector produced music is in the bin either...

And then, I asked the question "Can we separate the music from the man?" re a few of the prime suspects...

Richard Wagner: Yes, many people believe we can separate Wagner's music from his controversial views and actions. While his music is celebrated for its innovation and emotional depth, his antisemitic beliefs and associations with figures like Hitler complicate the appreciation of his work

Gary Glitter: Yes, many believe it is possible to separate Gary Glitter's music from his criminal actions, as some argue that his songs were popular and influential in their own right, despite his personal controversies. However, his convictions have led to significant reluctance in the media to play his music, particularly in the UK.

Phil Spector: It is difficult to separate Phil Spector's music from his actions, as he is both celebrated for his innovative contributions to music and condemned for his violent behavior, including his murder conviction. Many fans and critics struggle with reconciling his musical genius with his criminal legacy.

Michael Jackson: Many people believe it is possible to separate Michael Jackson's music from his personal life. This perspective allows fans to appreciate his significant contributions to music while acknowledging the complexities surrounding his legacy.

Back to today, and Anne was out at pickleball from 1-2 and then out again later for an early dinner with her friend Gillian... 

So I was left to my own devices...

While she was at Pickleball, I watched the first episode of season one of "Homeland", which was very enjoyable and, then, when she was out for tea, I watched another three, possibly four episodes, before being called out to provide a lift home...

In the meantime, I'd also cooked my own tea, while enjoying the second bottle of the tow Weissbiers I received for my birthday at the start of May...

I made tagliatelli, with red peppers, French sausage, prawns, onions, spring onions and a tin of cream of tomato soup, which gave me a nice sauce...

Yes, yes, I know...

Noted later on, re the popularity of baby's names in Scotchland, that David is not that popular these days...

In 1980, around about 2000 baby boys a year were named David, while, these days, it's down to about 10...

 For Anne, it's even worse - it's down to zero this year and it was only around 200 back in 1974...

But it's surely better to have a name that isn't so common?

Although, obviously, both were far more common when we received our names...

Anyway, tonight we watched a "Bones" because Anne was quite tired after her long dinner engagement...

And that was about it for Tuesday the 22nd of May...

...apart from recording that I picked up a couple of albums by Thomas Stanko, due to his having played the theme tune from "Homeland", plus one by James Muller, the guitarist from the Chad Wackerman CD...

Bed at midnight...

Highlight of the Day: Cooking and looking (back)...

Today's New Music: