Loving... "if it carries on like this we're moving to Morecambe" by the fierce and the dead

Matt Stevens is an awesome guitarist. Fact. He is also represents a new music business... one in which interaction between the artist and the fan is based on a real relationship.

With this in mind, it was a real honour for me to be given the opportunity to review the fierce and the dead's new album "if it carries on like this we're moving to Morecambe"... an album I have anticipated ever since I heard "part 1".

"Flint" starts of in a cacophony of sound then breaks into a wonderfully vibrant backbeat and some slick guitar playing... before ramping up with a deep, fuzzy bass and some layered chords. What an opener... moving and powerfully persuasive... drawing the listener into the album.

The album then moves to "Part 2" which suggests a continuation from the opus entitled "Part 1" that was released last year. Matt's signature guitar style comes out... underpinned by some seriously rock solid and dependable bass and drums... before going crazy in a moment of bombastic euphoria. The listener is then brought back to earth: the jazz is back and we are lost in the hypnotic swirls of sound that Matt is renowned for.

Next up is "the wait" which begins with a more languid style of layered guitar sound... before bring in funereal keys and a slow, melancholic clapping in the background.

"HR" is piece that drips with anticipation... the chords and percussion build towards a seemingly unknown or unseen destination... joined by the bass before powerful layers of dissonant guitars bring the piece to it's climatic conclusion for the listener.

"Hotel no6" contains some wonderfully haunting ambient drones, found sounds and sustained guitars... which work together synergistically to create an atmosphere reminiscent of an HP Lovecraft short story.

The listener is then jolted into the now with the powerfully fuzzy and frantic "landcrab" with it's intense and incessant punk rock styling. Pow!!!

After the feedback dies away... some crisp bass comes to the front... accompanied by a jazzy backbeat and some equally crisp guitars. As the layers become apparent... the listener is surprised by a wondrously bright and hopeful saxophone solo. I think "daddie's little helper" could be my favourite track as it builds in intensity to for a crescendo of sound before opening up for some more seriously soulful and freeform sax.

"Woodchip" feels different... more closely aligned to the electronic soundscapes of the ambient movement than innovative rock... with wave upon wave of drones... at under 2mins, it is but a taster... some ginger, so to speak, to cleanse the palate before the meaty sustenance of "10x10" is delivered with it's fat backbeat and chunky baseline.

Matt delivers haunting layers of guitar over which he plays his trademark swirling style before building into something stronger and more powerful... with a skittering guitar solo and the ever insistent backing that builds and grows... before dropping into a chasm of subtle piano keys and sustained guitar drones.

This however is just the calm before the storm... with the band bringing their wall of sound back to the delight of the listener.

The last track "Andy Fox" is melancholic in comparison... with sparse piano keys played to the backdrop of droning guitars. The piano is accompanied by some sensitively played bass to set the scene before the drums and guitars break in... creating another intense and cinematic soundscape... with some fabulously slow and funereal saxophone accompaniment... playing that just reeks of emotion and lost.

For me, as a listener, this is one of the best albums I have heard in 2011. The soundscapes are truly magnificent... and credit goes to the band as a whole for their efforts. Whilst this album confirms Matt's status as a truly great guitarist... it also confirms the abilities of Kev Feazey and Stuart Marshall on bass and drums respectively.

My only criticism is that the album is too short. At 38 minutes it leaves me wanting more... and I have taken to including the singles in my playlist to give me more. This is, however, a very slight criticism... because it is very easy to press play and start again on what is a very varied and pleasurable journey.

I am grateful to the band for the opportunity to review their album. I did, however, order my own copy of the, now sold out, initial release of the album... because I believe it to be that good... and because I believe the band to be worthy of my support. I ask you to do the same... with the confidence that you will not be disappointed!

I received my copy today and its going straight into rotation.

Tx

http://www.fierceandthedead.com/
http://thefierceandthedead.bandcamp.com/

I want a Brompton...

This looks cool! I want a Brompton.
Tx

The patina of experience

I love second-hand Levi's. Its my thing. Well... OK... its one of my things.

I really love the worn nature of denim... the feel of age... the wear of wear... I love it. I don't think you can authentically provide this "first hand"... it comes with time.

For some denim aficionados (aka nerds!) the patina of wear is as important to them as the rigidity of new is for others. I'd love to be able to afford heavy weight Japanese selfedge denim spun on ancient looms... but I can't... and, to be honest, I'm not sure I'd really like it anyway. I have a few pairs of dark new Levi's that are lovely... but I do prefer the wear of wear.

The patina is an important concept for me.

Patina (noun)...
1. a film or incrustation, usually green, produced by oxidation on the surface of old bronze and often esteemed as being of ornamental value.
2. a similar film or coloring appearing gradually on some other substance.
3. a surface calcification of implements, usually indicating great age.

It is the pattern that comes with age and wear... and it is something I value.

I love to see the points of fading that come with time. I love the imperfection... I see it as the ultimate form of customisation. These jeans are uniquely mine... because I rescued them and am wearing them.

I think I'm obsessed!

That said... it got me thinking about experience. I spoke recently about experience and differentiation and the subject is still in my mind.

Our experience is like the patina of faded and worn jeans... it is something that is uniquely ours. It can't be faked... it may look like it but it won't feel like it. It is something that comes with time, effort and activity. Jeans don't fade or get worn without activity. You can wash them with stones etc but the patina most coveted can't be made... it is something that becomes... something that occurs... and it is something uniquely ours.

This is why all experience... whether good or bad... should be cherished because it contributes to our patina... it builds who we are.

Tx

...and nobody does whole-of-life blogging anymore

"Nobody wears a watch any more.

Nobody wears a tie either.

Nobody shops at a bookstore, at least nobody I know..."

Seth Godin :: Marketing to nobody

"...and nobody does whole-of-life blogging anymore."

The last bit was mine... albeit I think Seth would approve. I hope.

I've sought counsel from the wise... received comments and tweets from the insightful... and come to realise why I blog: Its not for you... albeit I love it that you read... its for me. I blog for me. The ol' nanolog is my journal. Its my place to record all the things that inspire me. It was on the 12th September, 2005; and it still is today.

That said... I am going to start posting my more in-depth theological thoughts over at the website for the something beautiful podcast. Why? because I think focussed works over there... and I'd like to work with the community that we've built up over the years. Please, if theological is your thing, pop over the the website... and join in the conversation.

Everything else... in its vivid 3D technicolour glory... will continue to be dropped here.

Thank you for sticking with me... and joining me on this journey.

Tx

Made me smile :: "Key of Awesome"

All I can say is... you are welcome!
Tx

PS... this is all Miriam's fault. She introduced me to Key of Awesome.

Five from bandcamp #9 (for Music Monday)

First up... we have my dear friend Drew's latest album :: the future beyond our eyes :: which is an interesting slice of electronic ambience that reminds me, in part, of the driving dissonance of Bitches Brew and the drones of Music has the right to children.

Its a real grower that isn't necessarily instantly accessible. But then... it deserves a couple of repeated listens to get - the skittering beats, for example, come in and out of space and time... and the drones seem, at times, endless... but, with time and patience, these synergies become apparent and their contradictions become cherished... and the listener is rewarded with something beautiful... like the first rays of sunshine... and the sweet refrains of the dawn chorus.

Pay what you want.



In keeping with the dissonant theme is the second album from another dear friend :: 62204 by Artificial Sun Project :: which brings to mind the awesomeness that is Aphex Twin.

The beats are thick and the synths are strong on this album... which shows great progress and promise-fulfilled. What's more... the sonic soundscapes, samples and overall electronic ambience are both deafeningly dissonant and wonderfully creative... giving me a real yearning to experience this album played live.

Underneath the soundscapes... there are really strong and catchy melodies. And it is these melodies that elevate this album into the important category.

Pay what you want.



Back to more languid shores with Cast of the Moon by nemean lion (from Future Recordings). Their post-rock soundscapes make for a wonderous listening experience... with pianos and guitars providing the bedrock of their sound... and a faithful appreciation for ambient drones adding a richness to their wall-of-sound. Lovely!

Pay what you want.



Everything resembles you by the eternal twilight is simply breathtaking. It is everything I adore about post-rock... elegant drones underpinning a mournful guitar... found sounds from the natural world... melodious piano and immersive drumming... ethereal vocals and metallic guitars... wow! This is one awesome album. Well recommended.

Pay what you want,



Lastly... for now... we have the wonderfully titled monod kinetics from the equally wonderfully titled my cats a stargazer... with a collection of truly beautiful ambient soundscapes. Their sound is infused with the most exquisite drones, elegant piano refrains and gracious vocals... along with rhythmic guitars and melodious synths... which makes the experience of listening to the album a lasting moment of euphoric joy.

Pay what you want.

Is whole-of-life blogging dead?

This morning I posted this tweet...

"Wrestling with the idea that "whole-of-life" blogging is dead & wondering whether it's time to quit. Anybody had any thoughts on subject?"

...and was bowled over with the responses from some dear friends... and I am grateful for their comments.

However, I think I phrased my question incorrectly... because I've been considering quitting whole-of-life blogging... not blogging in particular.

Let me explain.

What you get on here in a very consistently inconsistent manner is me. The ups and downs... the likes and the dislikes... the joy and the pain. You get the whole of me.

You get my photography... you get my love of music... you get my life with Olly and the kids... you get my obsessive geekiness... my ideas and musings... and you get my broken, imperfect faith.

My question is... do you want it all? Do you want the whole of me?

I have noticed my page-views slipping and it got me thinking... maybe there is too much me in this blog? I look to other blogs... the ones I aspire to... and they are less personal and more focussed.

More focussed on their particular subject of choice.

I think my main themes are music... faith... and, recently, me whinging. Is this what you want? These things are seasonal... as my mate Andy put it. Maybe its time to move on?

Do you want a bit of everything... or do you want me to focus more on a particular subject?

I would be grateful if you could let me know.

Tx

Some thoughts on "Love Wins" (part1)

I have split this post into two parts... and hope to post the next part later in the coming week.

Now... before I discuss some thoughts I have had on Rob Bell's book... "Love Wins"... I just want to lay out my perspective... and please note - I have disabled my comments on this post because I'm not looking for an argument!

I believe we engage with content from a point of subjectivity... and my subjectivity is inclusion. I believe that the "whosoever" can come to God... and that this is a message of inclusion. I do not believe the good news to be one of exclusion but one of inclusion.

I want love to win. I want as many people as possible to be part of God's kingdom... and I want that now.

This is what I want. As such, my reading of "Love Wins" comes from this bias.

I would also point out that I am not a theologian and have little interest in discussing concepts for the very sake of discussion. In fact, I think there is too much talk... I'm more interested in genuine application. I'm not in seminary... I'm in the real world.

As such, I approached the book with a degree of trepidation... anxious about the hype that came from both the "for" camp and the "against"... especially the "against". I am a big fan of Brian McLaren and am used to ignoring the vitriol that comes from people who don't get him. I have developed, I believe, a degree of discernment when it comes to his, and similar, writing... and getting to the crux of the argument.

But the "against" camp went nuts... bordering on blaspheming the Spirit in their very personal accusations against someone (Rob Bell) who I and many others have a lot of time for.

That said... I did something that I believe a lot of the "against" camp didn't do... I read the book and in it I found a very intriguing and compelling argument for love... and for the assertion that it will win, in the end.

I believe that for us to enter into life in all it's fullness... and participate in God's plan for this world... we need to decide to. I believe in intention.

Intention is deliberate... it is meant.

I believe we must intentionally follow Jesus for us to live lives to their fullest... lives filled with love.

As such... the first chapter of "Love Wins" made for interesting reading because in it Rob Bell questions our current understanding of this decisive moment... and of our understanding of who Jesus is.

But then... grace is not something we can "do" anything about... other than to accept and to trust.

It's all about trust... and it's in the 7th & 8th chapters that this becomes evidently clear...

"...we create hell whenever we fail to trust God's retelling of our story." (p173)

"...our invitation, the one that is offered us with each and every breath, is to trust that we are loved and that a new word has been spoken about us, a new story is being told about us.../


...Jesus invites us to trust that the love we fear is too good to be true is actually good enough to be be true.../


...Jesus invites us to become, to be drawn into this love as it shapes us and forms us and takes over every square inch of our lives. Jesus calls us to repent, to have our minds and hearts transformed so that we see everything differently.../

this invitation to trust asks for nothing more than this moment, and yet it is infinitely urgent." (p195-196)

In-between, Rob Bell talks about Heaven... as a place that comforts as well as confronts. He talks about Heaven as "the world to come" and not some "other place"... a real place where God's will and only His will... will be done.

As such, it becomes infinitely more important to consider how we participate now. God is actively looking for passionate people with whom to partner with... people who will take seriously their responsibility to love one another and to love the earth on which we reside.

"Jesus teaches us how to live now in such a way that what we create, who we give our efforts to, and how we spend our time will all endure in the new world." (p44-45)

In doing so... he highlights the oxymoron of current Christendom:

"...those who talk most about going to heaven when you die talk the least about bringing heaven to earth right now.../

and

...those who talk most about relieving suffering now talk least about heaven when we die." (p45)

***to be continued***

Some pictures from Olly's garden

I have been enjoying using the big zoom (70-300mm) on my Dad's Canon EOS 350d... and am quite pleased with the results.

Enjoy

Tx

Currently listening to... "helplessness blues" by Fleet Foxes

There is a comfort that comes with familiar things and my first listen to the new Fleet Foxes album was that... a wonderfully familiar & comfortable experience.

The vocal harmonies are there. The acoustic guitars are there. The feeling of summer... is there.

It feels familiar... and could easily be an extension of their previous album. This isn't a bad thing but a tremendous achievement. They have struck audio gold and have found more... in the same vein.

I am very impressed. This album will be on heavy rotation in the days, weeks, months and, dare I say, years to come. Love it.

Tx

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