We are having a party this weekend, to celebrate me completing my PhD. It took seven years part-time and the end of it feels like a great excuse for a party. I have spent the last 24 hours using every available minute to pull together the party music – I’m trying to put together a … Read more
Last night I spent the evening at our local Borders store, browsing and reading and drinking coffee. Oh, and way too much cheesecake. I bought the most amazing CD. It’s an album by Okna Tsahan Zam. He plays the dombra, which is beautiful to hear, but it is his voice which is breath-taking. I know … Read more
I’ve just come through a grumpy weekend. Things are bugging me! On the plus side, I bought an album of remixes yesterday which is brilliant. I’ve been listening to loads of music by Miles Davis over recent days – Bitches Brew, In a Silent Way – both of them in the Complete Sessions format which … Read more
There are some amazing places to listen to music on the web. I’ve been dipping into London’s own Resonance FM (http://www.resonancefm.com) for a while now. They broadcast across London and live on the net. There is also an archive service to listen to material online, and download in some cases. The schedule includes a vast … Read more
Having returned recently from a holiday in France, I find myself struggling to make good use of time. If I was as wasteful with other areas of my life, it would be a criminal offence! Last weekend I went on a spending spree, and bought some of the Led Zeppelin back-catalogue which is missing from … Read more
I thought it might be useful to post a link to a detailed website about Scott Walker and his pretend brothers. This site contains a heap of information about Scott’s musical career. Interested? Click on the title for this post to link to the site, which is called Montague Terrace after a song title from … Read more
I’ve read so many people saying positive things about Scott Walker. He has influenced so many of the artists I like. And I really loved the popular tracks by the Walker Brothers. And yet, over a year ago I tried listening to ‘Tilt’ – the difficult album from the 90s. I didn’t get it! So, … Read more
This is my first attempt to produce something on the blackberry. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s a great way to comment on the move. Just a case of getting used to the keyboard! Well, what have I been listening to recently? I heard my first album by Sonic Youth – … Read more
Listening to ‘Music for Airports’ by Brian Eno. I must have listened to this album hundreds of times over the last 25 years. It still weaves a magic, creates a mysterious atmosphere that makes working easier. I’m reading a book by Michael King at the moment – “Wrong Movements: a Robert Wyatt history” which is … Read more
Spending far too much time surfing on the net (who doesn’t given the chance!) Out there is just about anything you want to find out about. A few years ago, if I wanted to know what had happened to a particular band or musician it was near impossible to find out. If there was no … Read more