Chickens home to roost...

Playlist
Genesis – Platinum Collection
Various – Current Top 20 Albums
Cloudland Blue Quartet - Aftersilence

Up at seven...

The new album will be released on 1 August so initial work started re the sending out of said LP into the world...

Mainly updating the Crispycat Website with more to follow...

Remixed the “Need You Now” cover from yesterday – not quite as bad as I thought...

To Patisserie Florentin for a late breakfast then over to the market....



...very nice but nothing purchased...

An attempt at a new phone floundered...

Out to Loanhead to visit my mum – sister Sheila also in attendance and a good blether undertaken – no pics though...

Six months already since sister Pam passed away – this Wednesday she would have turned 49...

Hard to take...

At Anne’s mum’s, a cake for Bobby – his birthday is two days after Pam’s...





He entertained us with a video of him miming to Celine Dion whilst under the influence of too much red wine...

Meanwhile, the kids were rummaging in the living room cupboard...



 ...and came across some of Mary’s paintings...





...one of which we brought home...



A draw between Spain and Italy, while Eire were thumped by Croatia – tomorrow England enter the fray against France...

Updating, working, sleeping...

Highlight of the Day : New album release date finally set...

New CBQ Album on 1st August...

Today, 10 June, the run up to the release of the new CBQ album, "Starlightnight" begins as, at the rate of a track a day, each of the 52 tracks from the "Aftersilence" retrospective will be featured here until 31 July (NB If you're reading this after 1 August 2012, this countdown will have been removed)...

On 1 August, the new 15 track album will be released...



More to follow regarding formats and special offers...

In the meantime, the full tracklisting is as follows:-

The Ship That Sailed pt 1 5:37
The Actor Takes the Stage 3:10
Everything Will Be Alright pt 1 2:54
Starlight Lake 6:02
Twenty Five Things 3:13
Kindling 3:47
Knowing This Day Would Come Did Not Prepare Me For Its Coming 2:41
Vendôme 7:07
All is Fine 2:45
Vanderhof 4:07
If I Fall 3:16
Starlight Starbright 7:52
Everything Will Be Alright pt 2 2:50
The Actor Leaves the Stage 6:46
The Ship That Sailed pt 2 8:43

Black beast welcomes black beast....

Playlist
Madredeus - Essencia
Madredeus - Essencia (Original Versions)
Madredeus - Palavras Cantadas 1990-2001 (Brazilian best of)
Katy Perry – One of the Boys
Cheryl Cole – Call My Name
2Raumwohnung – Kommt zusammen
Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Need You Now
Various – African Funk
Jeff Beck – Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop
Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
Frank Zappa – Zoot Allures
Various - Shuffleplay Faves
Genesis – Platinum Collection

Up early and seeking out some Katy Perry and Cheryl Cole for yesterday’s entry while compiling a disc with the originals featured on the new Madredeus album, then creating a CD-R of a Brazilian best of found on the net...



This is how I waste my time...

Breakfast with Anne then she was off out dancing for a good part of the day...

Reassembled the studio and worked on a cover of “Need You Now”, as done in by Barlow & Cole last Monday...

The CBQ version may not be much better and may never see the light of day...

In the late afternoon, off out to the motor dealer to acquire the new Cloudland Blue Mobile...

Surprisingly straightforward thanks to having done most of the work beforehand via e-mail...

Meg the Black cat gave it a cautious welcome...



A celebratory Indian meal at new place Spice Lounge Kitchen, still on a tasting menu but tasty nonetheless...



Back home to see our favourites for the Euro 2012 Tournament, Deutschland beat Portugal 1-0...



To bed with Genesis in the cans...

The remixed tracks on this 3CD set are revealing much which was previously obscured...

Liking it...

Highlight of the Day : Better sound system and less road noise...

Fado, funk and talented women...

Playlist
Gene Ammons - Blue Gene
Gene Ammons - Funky
Joni Mitchell - Hejira
Various - Last 9 Months on Shuffleplay
Madredeus - Essencia
Various - A Beginner's Guide to African Funk
Various - A Beginner's Guide to Fado


Dentist first thing - late due to tramworks...
 
When will it end?
 
At lunchtime, to HMV for a browse and, in the "foreign" section, a brand new LP from my Portuguese favourites Madredeus - their first since the Exec Producer and I saw them from the second row in a sold out Edinburgh Usher Hall in May 2005...
 
As you know, it's not often your correspondent shells out fifteen of your English pounds on a CD...
 
To be accurate, there have been three other albums between their 2005 "Faluas do Tejo" and now but those were collaborative works with A Banda Cosmica (I have one and have tonight ordered another)...
 
They now have a new singer Beatriz Nunez (who ably replaces the superb Teresa Salgueiro) and the current LP is reworkings of Madredeus classics, along with one new song (at least it's one I can't find on any of their albums I have - now up to 18 in total, including three - count 'em - 2CD live sets)...
 
Anyway, this discovery led me to take a chance on two 3Cd boxes, one of Fado (in keeping with the Madredeus theme) and one of African Funk...
 
Back home and having listened to these boxes, I can advise they are well worth the 10 squids laid out upon them - the African stuff is great - kind of like reggae but not reggae - I need to do a podcast sometime to let you hear what I'm hearing...
 
To make the day even better, a box had been delivered today with some CBQ goodies - a couple of T Shirts and mugs - very limited!




 
Late on, the Graham Norton Show was good, with Cheryl Cole performing her storming new single - I couldn't care less if she was miming (that's not the title by the way) - the dancing was tip top and the tune (Call My Name - produced by Queen of the South fan Calvin Harris) was too...
 
 

And, for balance, here she is with Gary Barlow murdering "Need You Now" on Monday...



Not that bad, really I suppose...

Also on board were fellow Geordie, comedian Ross Noble - very funny - his story of handing out flyers at the Metro Centre whilst on stilts and not being able to understand why mothers were pulling their children away from him - he was unaware his trousers' crotch had burst and his "bollocks" were hanging out - had me in stiches...
 
And then Katy Perry - another excellent pop artist (in a music not Roy Lichtenstein sense) - God knows how she ever got involved with the talentless Russell Brand - who's on next week - I won't be watching...
 
To bed with funk and fado...
 
Highlight of the day : New Madredeus...

Empty vessels make the loudest sound...

Playlist
Grand Funk Railroad – Mark, Don and Mel 1969-1971
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Starlightnight
The Mars Volta – Octahedron
Tangerine Dream – Box Set 1970-1980
Various – Last 9 Months on Shuffleplay
The Mars Volta – Noctourniquet
Gene Ammons – Jammin’ in HiFi with...
Joni Mitchell - Hejira
Gene Ammons - Blue Gene
Gene Ammons - Funky
Kenny Burrell - All Night Long
Kenny Burrell - All Day  Long

Up early and out almost as usual...



But to Waverley Station and onto a train to Glasgow...





Bummed around some record shops...



...partaking of The Mars Volta’s latest "new prog” epic...

Sauntered along Sauchiehall Street, noting this unfeasibly large cinema...



..and this Mackintosh piece...



....and whiled away the time at Starbucks at the far end...



I’m a sucker for those Dutch biscuits...

Then, to do what had to be done - the third of three things which started almost a year ago - when I was not in the best place to do it - and so it's been done over the last three months really...

Three and a half hours later, I was out and saw this angel...



It was ok – it might be ok...

Good to get it over with...

Time to kill again and walked back along Sauchiehall St in the rain, revisiting the British Heart Foundation shop for a £2.99 Joni Mitchell – hoping I didn’t have it already (I didn’t – for a change!)...

Then, down to Fopp, That’s Entertainment and Missing, copping some tasty jazz at the first and nothing at the other two...

Some funky Gene Ammons and a couple of albums recorded over the Xmas/New Year period1956/57 by Kenny Burrell...

Waited at Queen Street for around an hour and a half ...



...with T Dream in my lugs and caught the 6:30 back to Edinburgh...



...and back out into the rain...







...and a newly coiffured Exec Producer was there to pick me up and take me home...

While I sorted out some stuff re the new car and ripped some jazz, she produced a tasty macaroni cheese from scratch...





She is a top lady!

A relaxing evening of TV – “Corrie”, “Two Broke Girls”, new favourite “Don't Trust The Bitch in Apartment 23” (brilliant) and the last “Big Bang” for now...

Then some last minute listening and loading new things on the jukebox whilst writing this and off to bed...

Mission possibly accomplished...

Highlight of the Day : Getting it over with...

Fail to prepare...

Playlist
Various - Last 9 Months on Shuffleplay
John Wetton - Discography 1982-2011
Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea
Brain Eno - Panic of Looking

Recently I have been working on a non-music related project which comes to a head tomorrow...

I will be glad when it is over and I can get back to this...



Meanwhile, a new Cloudland Blue Mobile is in the offing...

Much stress...

Kind of...

One final day of work, then keeping this up to date...

Pam's legal stuff also progressing...

If you get a chance, check out "Emerald and Stone" by Brian Eno...

Lovely...

Highlight of the Day : Feeling like I'm finally prepared...

Overvalued...

Playlist
Weather Report - Forecast : Tomorrow
Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea
Brian Eno - Drums Between the Bells
Brian Eno - Drums Between the Bells (Instrumental Disc)

Top notch sounds today from Weather Report...



Their box set starts with pre WR tracks from Miles, Shorter and Cannonball Adderley...

The track by the last, featuring Zawinul, led me in search of the album from which it comes...

It's no longer available...

Someone has it on Amazon marketplace for £10,000...

It's not that good...

Anyway, I ended up in Fopp and bought Eno's "Small Craft on a Milk Sea" which I already have as a download but now the physical's a fiver, why not?

I have a collection to maintain...

Of course this meant that, other than another excellent installment of "Silk", Mr Eno soundtracked my evening...

Meanwhile, the pie was a little under the weather and under the chair...



...while Anne did some masterly painting of wood...



Lights out...

Highlight of the Day : Weather Report and Eno...

I thought it was a type of frozen juice carton...

Playlist
Various - Top 20 Albums

To the Western first thing and finally returned my crutches...

Nice weather...



In the evening, following much work, spent the early evening watching the Queen's Jubilee Concert...

Apparently I missed Gary Barlow and Cheryl (just Cheryl, not Cole or Tweedy) murdering Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now"...

I also missed the far too ubiquitous Will.i.am and Jessie J...

Sadly, I did catch Robbie Williams and also Tom Jones...

Kylie was not bad, Elton was ok, Stevie Wonder was excellent with Superstition, dreadful with Happy Birthday, Paul McCartney's fireworks during Live and Let Die were good - he'll be 70 in a few days.  Sadly, it starting to show - still enjoyed him the best though...

Anyway, there you go, you can find them all on Youtube no doubt...

Highlight of the Day : The weather?

Do not beat the beast...

Playlist

Terje Rypdal – Vossabrygg
David Bowie – O Superman
Sombre Reptiles – Poppies
Love Parade – Half the Civilised World
UK – Live in Philadelphia 1979
Kraftwerk – Exceller 8
Eddie Jobson – Theme of Secrets
UK – 2012 Setlist
Asia – Phoenix
John Wetton – Discography 1982-2011

Working early doors...

Found David Bowie covering Laurie Anderson purely by chance when I googled "Difficult Listening Hour" - I am thinking of a possible podcast series...

This led me to my own version from 1986...

Writing up yesterday led me to me and Brodski in 1984...

Anyway, in the afternoon, over to sister Sheila's for Sunday lunch, as the Queen's Jubilee washout played out on the screen round the corner...

Mum, brother in law Andrew, nephew Andy and fiance Tori were in attendance as were Andy's son Kerr and Tori's mum and dad, Jane and Gordon...

Post nosh, Kerr wanted to play and dug out Frustration...



The Exec Producer was triumphant...



Tori was runner up...



even Kerr beat his great uncle...



Then, a football match in the garden...

Cassie the Dog stole the ball and would not give it back...





We were reduced to playing with a squeaking duck toy...

The boy was triumphant again...

So, I showed him wat happens to children who defeat the beast at games...



Back home to our own wee beastie...



...who was a little tired...



More work in the evening...

Highlight of the Day : Meal at Sheila's and playing with the boy...

28 years on...

Playlist
Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare
And So I Watch You from Afar - Gangs
Bidiniband - In the Rock Hall
Brian Eno - Drums Between the Bells (Instrumental Disc)
Cloudland Blue Quartet - Starlightnight
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
David Guetta - Nothing But the Beat
Deus - Keep You Close
Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys
Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Field Music - Plumb
Fountains of Wayne - Sky Full of Holes
Ich + Ich - Gute Reise
King Crimson - Red
Lady Antebellum - Own the Night
Levin Torn White - Levin Torn White
Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
Paul Buchanan - Mid Air
Peter Gabriel - New Blood
Portico Quartet - Portico Quartet
Young the Giant - Young the Giant
UK - Night After Night 2012 Setlist
Bryan Adams - Bare Bones
Terje Rypdal - Vossabrygg
Tomasz Stanko - Leosia
Steve Hackett - The Unauthorised Biography
Vangelis - Spiral
Genesis - Platinum Collection (3CD)
Haydn - Symphonies 27, 88, 100
Haydn - Symphonies 26, 44, 45
Subsignal - Touchstones

Up early and some relaxation time today - kind of...

A good formal breakfast at the table - makes a difference..

Into town, dropping Anne off for some dancing, while I made my way to Patisserie Florentin to meet up with Dr Prog...

I was the man with the gigantic freckly head...



...while Doc Prog was the man making a point...



Post some coffee, cake and chat, we drove over to the Meadows Festival...

This was the stage...



In 1984, this was the stage...





The two musickants thereon, are none other than Count Brodski and your correspondent...

...performing as Love Parade...



Round the stalls with the doc and CDs were purchased...



Back home, they were ripped and listened to...



The John Wetton forum was dropped into, re any further info on UK - they will soon be in Japan...

In the evening, a tasty curry was enjoyed and a Swedish detective series was also enjoyed...

More listening, typing of this and then, bed...

A good day with zero work done really...

Highlight of the Day : Trawling around the Meadows with Dr Prog...

Texting funts...

Playlist
Cloudland Blue Quartet - Starlightnight
Cloudland Blue Quartet - Starlightnight Proposed Extra Remix EP
Cloudland Blue Quartet - Starlightnight Proposed Extra Alternate CD
Cloudland Blue Quartet - Starlightnight Proposed Extra Acoustic CD
Various - Top Twenty Albums

It looks stormy...





...but it was another lovely day today, after two days of almost no-stop rain...

Experimented with the cutting down of the new album to just 8 songs for 34 minutes...

Didn't really work...

Lunch at Time for Thai with chums Neil W, Kris with a K, Spike, Gaz, KT and Bernardo along with, unpictured, Lodger, Baz, JY Johnny and Prog Rock Willie...



A small portion of Red Thai Beef Curry for your corrrespondent - tasty but not up to the standards of the Exec Producer's cuisine...

On the way home, at the bus stop, a number of drivers were seen texting...



Just what is so important for these funting idiots?

At home a delicious lamb casserole started an evening of, mainly, work and zero TV other than half of "The One Show" and a bit of "Corrie"...

Soundtracked by the new LP and optional extras...

Highlight of the Day : Lamb casserole...