Loving... the latest Twinings advert

I love the interwebs... I saw this advert on the TV and went to check it out. Twinings have really done something special with this ad... the animation... by Psyop... is so spot on and the soundtrack... Charlene Soraia's cover of The Calling's "Wherever you will go"... is just perfect.

Well done to all involved.

Tx

Here's the cover in full:




...and here's the original:

Loving this mix from Jara Tarnovski (Gurun Gurun) for Futuresequence

Mix - Gurun Gurun by Futuresequence on Mixcloud

A truly beautiful and fascinating mix compiled and mixed by Jara Tarnovski from "Gurun Gurun" (a Czech-based experimental ambient quartet) for the inspirational music blog Futuresequence.

Grab some headphones... sit back and enjoy. I am... as I type.

Tx

Tracklisting is as follows

01 Part Timer & Heidi Elva – The Runner (Orla Wren Mix) 

02 F.S.Blumm & Nils Frahm – Licht-Teil

03 Origamibiro – Quad Time and the Genius of the Crowd
04 Radiosonde – Up To the Sky / Altum
05 David Sylvian – Small Metal Gods
06 Marcus Fischer – Wave Atlas
07 Moskitoo – Live In Tokyo (April 10, 2010) (excerpt)
08 Miyauchi Yûri – sievi_
09 Oval – Homesick
10 Murralin Lane – She Was Climbing
11 Louisville – Forest (For Maria Kotalska)
12 Machinefabriek & Gareth Davis – Drape Part I
13 Cyclo. – C3
14 Birds Of Passage – Pray For A Sunny Day
15 Tokyo Bloodworm – Vesica Piscis
16 Kinder Scout – First Half
17 Michael Santos – Alphaville
18 Littlebow – Thjis Drift (Plinth remix)
19 Oldrich Janota – Kde svetla a brizy

Futurerecordings netlabel

One of my greatest joys is stumbling upon something truly special. It seems these days that I'm doing this more and more... especially in the field of leftfield music.

Futurerecordings is a netlabel that specialises in high quality instrumental post-rock and post-classical soundscapes. I have written about a couple of their releases last year and keep going back to them for more. Their roster is tight and tonight I downloaded albums by Twincities and Years of Rice & Salt ... I am, needless to say, looking forward to soaking up their music.

I would heartily recommend checking out Futurerecordings and give their music a chance to get under your skin. You will be glad you did... imho.

I have embedded three albums to give you a taster... the two mentioned above and the awesome "Pacific.Atlantic" by The End of the Ocean... enjoy.

Tx

an open letter of apology to my prog loving friend

I am a prog convert. There... I said it. I love prog and am now not afraid to admit it.

Unfortunately this admission comes twenty years too late for my prog loving friend Robert who turned me on to Tangerine Dream and movie soundtracks but failed to get me interested in prog... apart from "tarkus" by Emerson Lake & Palmer.

Robert was into Yes, King Crimson and ELP... amongst a number of bands that I labelled "prog" and duly ignored.

For, you see, twenty years ago "prog" or "progressive rock" wasn't hip to me. Hip was the post-punk of Fugazi. Hip was the hop of Public Enemy. Hip was the guitar anthems of Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Hip wasn't prog... at least in my world.

In those days I believed the media... a media fuelled by the notion that prog was bad and punk was good... that musicianship and keyboard solos weren't as interesting as three chords and a heavy dose of nihilism, appropriated samples and a militant stance, or a baggy drugged-up funk.

I believed a media who thought "progress" was looking forward to the next new thing... the next new hybrid sound or "place". I remember when Seattle became "the place" for music.

I wasn't alone. I had friends who subscribe to these thoughts too. I wasn't alone like my friend Robert who singleminded liked what he liked... and didn't care.

I doubt I will ever stop looking forward to the next new thing... but my tastes have broadened and I will happily look backwards for the next new thing as well... albeit this "new" should be correctly entitled "new-to-me".

I do this because I've changed.

Twenty years ago I was, at best, youthfully naive and, at worst, youthfully arrogant.

Now... after twenty years of growing and evolving and, dare I say, progressing... I've come to realise that there is only two types of music: good and bad... and this isn't even fixed. Just as there a many emotions... there are many expressions that match these moods.

Take "in the court of the crimson king" by King Crimson. Twenty years ago I hated it... now it fascinates me.

It fascinates me because of it's inventive variety... the soundscapes varying from full-on avant garde rock to abstract ambience with some flute thrown in for good measure.

Maybe it's the "Radiohead effect" where music is seen as not just an instantaneous joy but also a journey... something fluid rather than static? I don't know but I do know I love Radiohead for their inventiveness.

Or maybe it's just that I've grown up and as I have evolved I've become more open and liberal... taking chances... seeking to listen and understand... being prepared to be changed and seeking to sometimes avoid stuff that "always works" in favour of taking risks and putting myself "out there"? I don't know but I like the me of now in that regard.

Maybe I just don't have anything to prove anymore... that I don't need to be "seen" to like something and am accordingly free to like whatever it is that I like? I like to think I am defined by my freedom to choose my own path rather than the labels I place on me (or allow to be placed on me)... I just wish others were as gracious.

Or maybe it's the fact I see the world from more of a post-modern perspective... where there is more than one "right way"... that there isn't just one style of music but many?

To be honest, I don't know for sure... but what I do know for sure is that I should have done this twenty years ago. Prog should have been a welcome addition to my listening experience... but it wasn't. I won't let that happen again.

I guess that's what they call experience... and hindsight.

Sorry Robert!

Tx

James, Social Media and 'just doing my job'

This morning... in our church gathering at the Salvation Army in Bellshill... my father-in-law James (pictured) collapsed. It turned out afterwards that it was due to having low blood pressure and being too warm. He's home and under the intense scrutiny that is my mother-in-law.

At the time it was awful! Olly and I got such frights and... well... it was a roller-coaster in the emotions department.

That said... today Social Media - predominately Twitter and Facebook - once again proved their mettle. Both Olly and I were inundated with so many messages of support... so much so we were almost constantly looking at our iPhones.

Ping! Ping! Ping! goes the sound of friendship and concern... and it was a welcome sound and pleasant distraction when we were waiting in the ghastly waiting room in Wishaw Hospital.

Social Media is considered a lesser form of friendship by some. Whilst there is nothing like a visit or a phonecall at times of stress... a tweet or a Facebook message is a valued message. Its like an instant 'greetings card' that expresses the sentiment of 'hey... you are not alone in this'. This can not be decried and must not be undervalued.

Yes... not all my 'friends' and connections sent me messages but I was more interested in those who did... and I was surprised who actually did... than those who didn't. Social Media isn't a numbers game. Its about connections and conversation... with Twitter being about 'discovery' too. That aside... I was touched by all the messages we received and I extend my thanks to everyone who took the time to connect.

What I was also touched by was the attitude of both Stephen (Gemma's partner and Doctor) and Adrian (our Minister).

Stephen was the first to James and took charge. He was a reassuring presence among a number of reassuring presences - we are blessed with a considerable number of folks from the medical profession in our church. Stephen isn't a regular attender but chose to come today of all days... coincidence? I don't think so.

Anyway... Stephen downplayed his efforts when we got a chance to speak with him after James was admitted. To him this was what he did as a Doctor... what he was trained for... his 'bread and butter'. For us... for the family... it was far, far more.

Similarly... Adrian visited the family in the ghastly waiting room and spent time with us. Time he needed for travel to Paisley for an event that our kids' choir was participating in. He spoke to us and showed his concern in such a practical manner... again, to him this was what he did as a Minister... what he was trained for... his 'bread and butter'. For us... for the family... it was far, far more.

I guess the point here is to never underestimate what you do... brief messages mean a great deal... and doing what you do... expressing your concern in practical ways... showing up, so to speak, and doing your job when it counts... may be your normal response but for those who receive this compassion in action... its far from normal and it is greatly appreciated.

Tx

Thank you Steve...

These are my current companions...



and here are Olly and my sister with theirs in 2005.



Here's Dayna watching Podcasts on my iPod in 2005...



and again in 2010... this time on her own MacBook.



I've queued in the rain...



and have proudly worn the t-shirt.



My daughters only know Apple...



and their first phones were iPhones.



I can carry my whole record collection in my bag...



and Apple products have accompanied me to hospital.



I have spoken in my local Apple Store about my involvement in a new school of photography...



and I even used to have an Apple sticker on my work's Thinkpad before it blue-screened and died.

So when you ask me why I am sad today... maybe you'll understand.

This isn't a consumption thing... or a materialism thing... its a design thing... its a quality thing... its about wanting the best and being able to have the best.

Thank you Steve... your drive for the very best... your ability to think differently and make 'things' that mattered to me and to my family... 'things' that, I'm not ashamed to say, have changed my life... 'things' that have helped me... my wife... my we'ans... communicate, consume and create.

I never knew you but I have felt your influence... the tangibility of your pursuit of excellence in the 'things' you put your name on... ever since I got my Bondi Blue iMac back in the late nineties.

Thank you!

Tx

Steve Jobs' Stanford speech...

Think Different!

Steve Jobs thought different

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Latest poster... West of Scotland Divisional Youth Band and the Kirkintilloch Band in concert

I'm delighted to show you my latest poster... one for a joint concert between the West of Scotland Divisional Youth Band and the Kirkintilloch Band... which is based around this picture of my friend Cameron Laird.

If you are free on the 12th of November and fancy something a bit different (that is unless brass *is* you thing 24/7) then please come and hear the band. I love their enthusiasm and their renditions of "Concierto de Aranjuez" (Suzanne Dow is brilliant on flugel horn) and Morten Lauridsen's "O Magnum Mysterium" melt this non-bando's heart.

I'll be there... taking photos and also partaking in a wee bit of A/V - I've been asked to take on their visuals and I've accepted. Looking forward to it albeit I need a doohickey for my MacBook Pro to connect with a projector.

Tx

Portal 2 Soundtrack... available for free

The soundtrack to Portal 2... along with some ringtones... is available for free ((here))

The three volumes make for interesting listening... and are well recommended.

Tx