What I am listening to today?

* Loving “Holdi Your Colour” by Pendulum. This album’s has received some fab reviews and definitely lives up to the hype – they have brought drum and bass back onto my radar. Fantastic. Have to stop dancing when it’s on at work or in the car.
* Enjoying “Takk…” by Sigur Ros – Real progression from “()” – almost radio-friendly. It is so atmospheric and projects a scenic beauty that is partly unique to Sigur Ros and also partly unique to the album itself. Wonderful.
* Nuyorican Soul – I have always wanted to check this album out but only recently got it. What have I been missing for so long? It is vibrant and upbeat and lovely. I was familiar with their cover of the Minnie Ripperton classic “I am the black gold of the sun” but the rest of the album was a mystery. Not any more – what a wonderfully vibrant celebration of life. Makes me happy!
* “Multiply” by Jamie Liddell was a real find – Although he is on Warp, his is the music of Al Green and Marvin Gaye… He has an amazing soulful way of singing that is refreshing and new. Great promise – I would love to hear him live. Think it would be a special experience.
* Another modern soulful experience is “Be Bop A Nui” by Brother J. He is part of Fat Freddy’s Drop from New Zealand who stormed this year’s Big Chill festival. It is soulful and downtempo and very special. It also cost me a £1 in Fopp!!! Yes, one quid… The cost no way represents the quality – a real steal!

My wife in Hospital...

Got up at a ridiculous time this morning – 0545hrs. We needed to check into the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank at 0700hrs. Made it in for 0710hrs… would have been nearer to 0705hrs if I wasn’t such a woos and asked at reception where the Hospital is… You see there is a Best Western Hotel next to the Hospital and the reception is for the Hotel… its almost as if the Hospital is an add on.

Anyway, we got into the Hospital and wow… as Hospital’s go, it’s a belter. Clean, quiet, so much space… My wife has her own room with a big TV. All the staff my wife has spoken to were great. Polite but friendly, informative without being arrogant, warm;

My wife was dreading the backless gowns and paper pants. I have to say this was the first time I have seen my wife in a backless gown and stockings and the blood hasn’t boiled. I don’t even know where to begin about the paper pants… all I can say is “wow”!!!

We then chilled until my wife was given a “jelly” (tamazapan… I know, I’m from Lanarkshire). Apparently it didn’t affect my wife but I have to beg to differ… it was one of the funniest things I have seen in a while – my wife on a downer – duuuude!!!

Jayne then came for my wife and took her on a bed to Theatre. That was about 1030hrs. I was told to come back about 1230hrs-ish.

I made some calls and went out… Needed a coffee – felt a bit dopey myself. Our pal, the Nurse, and another old friend are staying over to help look after the girls while I am in Clydebank. The girls stayed up late playing with their mobiles while I updated our old friend’s iBook (she doesn’t have broadband so I did all the updates for her). It was great to see my wife talking Bluetooth and wi-fi and Apple and “gigs” (Her latest thing is to moan about not having enough hard drive space). I was in geek heaven!!!

Anyway, went to Partick. Thought I’d try and find a Starbucks or a Costa. Instead I found the “Beanscene” across from the Kelvingrove Museum. Wow! This place is great… really is! It’s how I would do a coffeehouse. Minimal furniture in browns and woods, with great tunes playing – they have their own record label called Luna Records (www.lunarecords.com). KT Tunstall & Lisa Loeb have been on so far. It’s got that guitar-orientated vibe. They have wi-fi too but at £3 an hour it’s a bit steep. Their latte is great – reminds me of a Caffe Nero latte – rich and frothy but not too milky. I grabbed a bagel and cheese too. Really like this place. Takes my mind off worrying about my wife.

Convergence...

Interesting post on iLounge (formerly iPodLounge...) about convergence of tech.
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/ipod-chief-talks-convergence-ipod-sales/
I think the whole convergence thing is hype. It is a way of creating demand that isn't there. However, if done right then it is a good thing. Until recently, I would carry my SE P800 around with me along with my iPod. If I wanted music I'd use the iPod... if I wanted a phone or an organiser I'd use the P800 (Although I sync my iPod I only reference the calender on rare occassions). The P800 even had this funky app from Metro that could give me directions on subways in Tokyo, London and even Glasgow. I would never dream of using the phone for photos - it was just too awful to use.
I now have a K750i and am so impressed with the photos that I regularly upload to flickr images captured by my phone. I used it at the Miffy exhibition when my Kodak's batteries died. My phone has replaced my camera.
I also use the phone to listen to Chris Moyles - I now no longer need to carry around a radio (something I have done since 9/11 when I couldn't get the news online). The K750i will never replace my iPod but it cuts down the amount of stuff I carry. Its the two thing scenario - two hands / two things... I have my phone & my iPod.
I want things to do what they do well... and I believe the K750i does the phone/camera/radio very well and the iPod does the music thing well (6,051 songs to date) so I think convergence can work.

Broadcast @ Glasgow ABC

The Broadcast gig was pretty good... not great but pretty good. The whole evening was fab - met my pal at Queen St station and went for food in Wagamama. Food was, as usual, excellent.

We then took the car (it was wet!!!) to Sauchiehall St. The concert was in the ABC which is a converted cinema. I was suprised as to how great the venue was. Wooden floors, comfy leather sofas and stools. A raised area with booths, cream leather sofas and long wooden tables. It felt more like a club than a gig... almost felt like you were in the Bronze in Buffy and were waiting for Willow and Zander to appear.

The support band were called Things in Herd - they are on Fence Records - their sound is very new folk - delicate and downbeat. The guitarist chap and the keyboard girl sat and played... the 2nd guitarist stood but it was an electric guitar so he is excused. The music was lovely and we didn't feel awkward about sitting down to watch them. I will check them out.

Broadcast then came on. Its now Trish, the singer, and the bass player (with 2 hired hands - drummer and keyboard player/guitarist). They had great visuals and played the new songs well. The new material is very rhythmic, groove orientated... and sounded good. But I missed the Broadcast I know and love...

Broadcast was/is the whole group... not just Trish. It was also the retro future graphics and the look of the band. The hired help didn't quite look the part...but played their socks off and kudos to them for that. We missed the magic of being transported away with the otherworldly projections and space music. The spark just wasn't there.

Not to say they weren't good... they were. They also weren't as muso and arty...which meant the music wasn't as dissonant as before - the noisefests were still noisey but not as long or drawn out. Come on, let's go wasn't as good as I have heard it performed - best was when I heard them at the Garage.

It was a great night. It was fantastic to see my mate and catch up... and thanks to his generousity, I have some new tunes to mull over.

There may not be a 6th Broadcast gig for a while but I definately will be going back to the ABC, its a great venue and the star of the evening.

Broadcast & Wagamama

Going to see Broadcast tonight at the Glasgow ABC on Sauchiehall Street. Going with my mate from Rockstar North.

Been big fans of the band for a while - try to catch them whenever they tour. Seen them 4 times already. I love their sound... the Ha Ha Sound if you like... its unique. They are on Warp but not the typical Warp product. Electronic. Female vocals. BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Lovely.

As a result, I am presently listening to Broadcast's first 2 albums on the iPod: the noise made by people and Ha Ha Sound. I haven't purchased Tender Buttons yet but have the single "America's Boy" which I downloaded from iTunes.

Hoping to go to my fav food place tonight too - Wagamama. I love their food and have had some special meals with special people there. They spoilt my girls when I went there with my wife - they gave them T shirts and really looked after us. I love it there.

What I am listening to today?

Tunage on the iPod today...
1) Sweetback by Sweetback - One of my all time fav albums by Sade's backing band. Lovely, lush ambient soulful beats with Amel Larrieux and Maxwell signing at various points. It is such a sensual album, full of texture and meaning.
2) The light at the end of the tunnel is a train by Whitey - I am really enjoying Whitey's vibe - big beats, fat electro baselines... real rocking stuff.
3) The Impossible Thrill by Alpha - tried to have a nap and this album is so delicate that it works when you want to relax. This Alpha album is on Melankolik with Massive Attack and the first Craig Armstrong album. Truly beautiful.

Sunday's my havin' some fun day...

Took the day off from church today... Need a rest... Its the "September Weekend" in the Glasgow area and, as a result, people take the weekend off. We don't normally but we were late back from Cowdenbiza and we were all pretty tired... I'm glad God doesn't take a day off... but hey, that's for another time. Listened to the New Christian Manifesto podcast on the iPod so wasn't too pagan today :-)

Been taking it easy. Had a lie in... which is a rare occurence. My girls were reasonably quiet... this allowed us to chill and doze and enjoy the warmeth of being with the person you love. Sweetback was playing on the iPod which made it a magical hour or two.

We got up and went to the Miffy / Dick Bruna exhibition at the Motherwell Heritage Centre. I was disappointed not to see the Miles Davis art show but this more than made up for it. I love Dick Bruna's art. Miffy is universally recognisable - iconic... and the exhibition really takes the time to show his work, predominately with Miffy, but also shows some of his work with the Black Bear Books. His covers were really special. The colours he uses and the deliberateness of his work is amazing - nothing is there that shouldn't be when he draws Miffy. Every line has a purpose. His success is in the simplicity of his work and that makes it unique. I'm going to go again... definately. I've posted some pics in Flickr so take the link on the left to my photostream.

After the exhibition, we had lunch then watched one of my fav films... You've got mail. I love the bit where Kathleen is telling Birdie that she has to close the shop and Birdie exclaims that "its the brave thing to do"... I really relate to that - to the world out with my present employer... Scarey but brave... Nora Ephron is a genius.

What am I listening to today?

I'm using various tools to feed my need for tunage today...

Listened to Chris Moyles on Radio 1 on my K750i this morning. I then switched to my iPod when we went underground and I lost the reception (must have looked a right geek swapping one set of headphones for another)

On the iPod, I've been listening to Banned in DC - Bad Brain's Greatest Riffs (powerful stuff) and Tatako Minekawa's Fun9 album (I love the track Spin Spider Spin).

On my WMP (shooosh... don't tell the Cult of Mac but I do use WMP at work) I have been listening to the following:
* Space Jungle Luv by Oneness of JuJu - lush mid 70's soul/jazz/funk with an African vibe - beautiful and funky!
* The Music According to Lafayette Gilchrist by Lafayette Gilchrist - one of my random purchases in Fopp a while back - great jazz in a "new be bop" style that was produced by Vernon Reid from Living Colour.

I love music... its my thing...

The art of Miles Davis... and I can't go!!!

I love Miles Davis' music - I especially love his work with Gil Evans especially Sketches of Spain. I also dig the fusion stuff - I've mentioned my fondness for Bitches Brew in a previous entry.

His art is in Edinburgh this week for a stop-over before it goes to Russia. I would have loved to have checked it out but I can't get to Edinburgh before it shuts at 1900hrs tonight. It is open tomorrow but I am committed to seeing my friends in Cowdenbiza.

Ah well...

http://entertainment.pipex.com/Pipex/News/Story_Page/0,13319,5301_702524,00.html

The Ring (continued)...

I am worried... I actually chose to listen to the Die Walküre (The Valkyrie) section of Wagner's The Ring.

I think I am getting it... although what it is, I have no idea!!! I still think of Elmer Fudd though.

"Kill da wah-bit, kill da wah-bit"