My new Filofax Flex Slim and the need to collect as part of GTD

I recently picked up this notebook / wallet combo from Filofax (Flex Slim) from my local T.K.Maxx … it cost me £2 and has replaced my previous wallet. I have it working in partnership with my iPhone5 case … which is one of the wallet types and holds a couple of cards too.

Why swap an ordinary wallet for this notebook / wallet thingamabob? Well … this is where it gets interesting … its all to do with David Allen's Getting Things Done or, more specifically, Leo Babauta's Zen-To-Done update … I need an 'in box'.

I carry a number of notebooks around with me. I have a diary / planner with space for my To Do list … and I have two notebooks for various different notes.

I'm pretty good at keeping lists and work between my diary and a couple of specific apps on my iPhone / iPad / MacBook Pro (namely 'Things' and 'Clear' … with the iOS 'Reminders' app employed at times).

I'm also pretty good at taking notes … and regularly practice taking 'Sketchnotes' at church or when I'm reading a non-fiction book.

Where I fall down is in collecting all my ideas to get them out of my head.

Those familiar with GTD or ZTD will know the following stages:

1) Collect
2) Process
3) Plan
4) Do
5) Review

I noticed recently, as I read 'Zen-To-Done', that I tend to go straight to processing … and don't take the time to collect. I am always processing - taking the ideas and putting them somewhere - and not spending the time collecting. This has become a distraction to me.

Instead of taking time out to process once or more per day … I was continually processing. As such, I wasn't reaping the benefit of an empty head.

In addition, I wasn't taking the time to review … because I was always reviewing … processing and reviewing … and not seeing the benefits of taking specific time to undertake these tasks. As such, the system became the master.

I needed something to collect all my ideas … all the thoughts that run through my head … as well as the things asked of me. But carrying a notebook never really worked … because it was something over and above my wallet. This is where the genius of Filofax's 'Flex' system comes to the fore … it *is* my wallet as well as being a notebook.

Now I carry it about with me wherever I go … and I use the notebook to capture my ideas without processing them. I just dump down the thought and move on … or keep on with what I am working on.

I then take time to process and review … and, in doing this, benefit from a 'change of mental scenery' - I move from one task to another … rather than trying to do a tasking whilst continually working on my lists.

It is early days … I've only had it for 4 days … but already I can perceive a benefit. I works nicely with my diary / to do lists and the apps on my phone … especially when I am at work. It has reduced the need for me to be on my phone which, in turn, has two further benefits:

1) I'm not on my phone and therefore cannot be perceived to be 'on my phone' - folks see smart phones as productivity thieves … and, lets face it, they are probably right (curse you, Facebook with your appealing notifications!!!). If you are not on your phone, you cannot be distracted by it. 

2) It saves my iPhone's battery … which ensures I have it when I need it.

Multitasking is a myth. All that happens is you switch quickly from one task to another. For us to focus and focus with any depth, we need to remove all non-essential distractions … this includes getting all those random ideas that always seem to pop into your head when you want to get deep out of your head … and out of your head quickly. Using a phone as a collection tool takes longer than good ol' fashioned pen and paper … and you run the risk of getting distracted by all the shiny alerts while you are on there.

I think I've found a tool to help me … and for £2 … I'm pretty chuffed about it. We'll see how I get on in the coming months.

Tx

Filofax Flex Slim

Seven questions with... The Sound Logic

When I was approached to listen to "T.S.L." by The Sound Logic ... I asked them to complete my wee blog interview. I've said before how much I enjoy getting under the skin of an artist ... and appreciate it when they relax and tell it as it is.

This is what they had to say ...

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1) Who are you and what do you do?
We are The Sound Logic, a two-piece band based out of Detroit, MI. The band consists of Jeff Knol on vocals/guitar (left) and Yuri Pavlov on drums (right). We do music.

2) What are you working on at the moment?
Currently we are working on promoting our debut self-titled album, “T.S.L.”, playing shows, booking tours, and writing new music for our follow up album, which we hope to have out by summer 2014.

3) Who inspires you?
Yuri - I am inspired by pretty much everything around me. I try to find something unique and musical in my surroundings. As far as music goes, I love watching the classic drummers, Rich, Bonham, Moon, Baker, Blakey, etc., they always inspire me to play better and keep working on new ideas in my drumming. My parents and my wife also inspire me every day, in that they constantly support me in everything I do. Right now, most of my inspiration comes from the city of Detroit, MI. I spend a lot of my time in the city, and love seeing all the people working hard to keep the city going. The Detroit music scene I think is doing wonderful things, not only for the bands and bars, but for the city as a whole.  Whenever there are shows, local or national, in Downtown, people are out and about, spending money within the city. That is inspirational.

Jeff - Inspiration comes from everyone I know, meet, see, and those I’ll never know exist. That is more of the emotional/lyrical aspect of inspiration. To me music paints a picture in the mind and the reverse is true. A brick wall, dark alleys, or a bright city street all inspire music to me. Most of what i see is Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Detroit MI. Those are the places that inspire me the most. In those places the local artists are a huge inspiration. I love an intimate show with a person sharing who they are with me and 10-50 other people. Seeing/hearing their hard work inspires me to be better. This might be silly but new gear is inspiring as well. A new guitar, drum, amp, etc...really just pull me out of musical habits and make my creative brain work in different ways. It feels really cool.

4) What drives you to do what you do?
Yuri - The number one thing that drives me is the love of music. First and foremost, I am a lover of all music, and I love to play all different styles as well. Just knowing that I created something that people care about, and can relate to, is the most gratifying feeling ever. All of our friends and fans that come to our shows also drive me to continue, and for that I want to say “THANK YOU” to everyone that comes out, supports us, and supports the Detroit live music scene.

Jeff - In the early stages of my life with playing music, it was rebellion. Playing guitar was my way of saying f*** off. That morphed into defiance. I used music to share an idea, or give an opinion. It was just part of activism at a very local grassroots level. Then came aggression. I couldn't get my guitar down tuned enough, heavy enough, or play fast enough. From there music turned inward and became mostly self-expression and storytelling. The sound became more bluesy rock and roll. Now that I’ve typed out how music has been a part of me, I’m not seeing how i explained what drives me to it. I think music is what drives me to it. That and I would not know what to do with myself without it.

5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
Yuri - Unity

Jeff - Hope and passion.

6) What role does community play in what you do?
Yuri - Community plays a huge role in what we do. The entire Detroit music scene is one big community, and that community supports us and the other local artists that are playing music for fun. Without a sense of community and family, I think being a local band anywhere would be tough.

Jeff - Community plays THE role. Communities are groups of people and people are what make music happen. Thanks to all the patrons, listeners, critics, musicians, bookers, promoters, bartenders, bar backs, roadies, bouncers, fans, writers, and artists. Keep it alive!

7) What is next for what you do?
Next we are going to continue promoting our debut album, “T.S.L.”,  which will be available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, etc., in June 2013. We will continue writing music for our follow-up album, and will continue playing shows everywhere we can.

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Thanks guys!

I would heartily recommend “T.S.L.” ... have a wee listen below and get your freak on.

I love Stuart Maconie's Freakzone on BBC Radio 6Music

6Music is my fave radio station. I intend on getting a DAB radio installed in my next car ... it's *that* good.

I am a huge fan of Stuart Maconie's Freakzone (Sunday 2000-2200hrs GMT) and Freakierzone (Sunday 0000-0100hrs GMT) on 6Music ... he plays my kind of music ... you know the really out-there prog, psych, folk and soundtrack stuff that I just love.

He has, in the short time I've been listening to his show, turned me on to some seriously great music. His recent Freakierzone with Andy Votel was inspired and has made me want to check out all the artists featured.

I would heartily recommend this show ... get it on iPlayer or on the BBC Radio site >> http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072l4x

Recommended.

Tx

Loving... "TSL" by The Sound Logic

I love a good guitar-orientated freakout every-so-often. It acts as the ginger to my musical sushi ... it cleanses the palate and let's me come back to my sustenance refreshed.

Post-rock ... prog-rock ... maybe some post-punk hardcore ... they all work to varying degrees ... but my ’go to’ is some early/mid Led Zeppelin ... nothing beats some "rock and roll". The combination of Plant, Page, Jones and Bonham has yet to be surpassed in the rock genre, in my opinion. I like my rock raw and with a bluesy bent.

That said ... I've never really connected with bands like The Black Keys or The White Stripes. I love them when they are on the radio but never really explored their sound. That will change, however, after I was given the opportunity to hear "TSL" by The Sound Logic ... a band comprising of Jeff Knol (Vocals/Guitar) and Yuri Pavlov (Drums).

I have been thoroughly enjoying this album since I received it ... it feels alive ... there is a real boundless energy about it ... a jaunty upbeatness that works so well with and complements the rawness of their sound.

And it is to this rawness that I gravitate ... their bluesy garage rock is remarkably vivid and foot-tappingly addictive. It's an up-loud, singalong-while-driving kind of a sound that really scratches that specific itch. I could easily and happily summarise that their live show would be one to behold as a result.

The majority of the tracks follow the same general pattern: raw bluesy electric guitar, deep beguiling baritone vocals & vibrant percussion.

On a couple of tracks, the electric guitar is complemented with its acoustic sibling ... which broadens their sound nicely.

For the most part, however, TSL is pretty much guitar, drums and vocals ... in that order ... and that's what makes it such a compelling listen.

It's not the kind of music you put on when you want to have a Sunday Afternoon nap ... and it's not first-dance-at-your-wedding material either. You will not find the meaning of life in the lyrics or have some Jon Anderson-induced epiphany. You will, however, feel good and, more likely than not, get caught up in the moment and dance around like a loon. This is the kind of blatant good-time music that turns the shiest introverts into folk who dance like Michael Stipe in "Losing My Religion".

It is what it is ... and proudly and defiantly so. This is its charm … and this is why I really dig it.

Tracks like "Red Balloon" and "Call My Name" deserve to be turned up loud and played at 11.

Have a wee listen to three of the tracks in the embedded player and if it's your thing … diaries for the 1st June when the full album is released.

Tx

Loving... the video for "Abraham" by Tiny Leaves from Andreas Theophanatos

Tiny Leaves - Abraham from Andreas Theophanatos on Vimeo.

I am really looking forward to Tiny Leaves' upcoming album on Futuresequence.

The EPs on his own Bandcamp page (http://tinyleaves.bandcamp.com/) as well as the sketches on his Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/tinyleaves) are my kind of sublime ... and this video does his sound justice. It is an utter pleasure to watch. Kudos to Andreas Theophanatos for distilling such beauty.

Enjoy.

Tx

*U*P*D*A*T*E*

Have a wee listen to this:

Loving... "Stories from elsewhere" by Rhian Sheehan

Every-so-often I am reminded of the musical genius of Rhian Sheehan ... this weekend was one such time. On Monday (it was a long weekend) Coldplay's twitter feed linked to this video ... it features the track "Little Sines" from Sheehan's exceptional new release "Stories from elsewhere".



Now I don't say 'exceptional' lightly ... "Stories from elsewhere" is an album I totally fell in love with when I bought it a few months back. It will rank highly in my end-of-year review ... of that I am certain.

Sheehan crosses between electronic and neo-classical with the upmost ease ... in fact, he makes it look too easy ... as if the music he makes is utterly and effortlessly normal rather than being truly extraordinary and exceptional.

The soundscapes he creates are so dense ... they are filled to the brim with sound. Loops. Percussion. Samples. Wonky toy pianos. Strings. Synths. They all come together and work together to make up his trademark walls-of-sound. His music is both light and dark ... quiet and loud ... soft and hard ... and always a pleasure to listen to.

In creating the tracks on "Stories from elsewhere", Sheehan has played with his melodies ... manipulating them in such a manner to make them unforgettable. Take "Little Sines" for example ... I dare you try to listen to that track and not be caught humming it at some point later in the day. This kind of moving melody is his gift ... and it is a gift I will happily receive.

I have heard of comparisons between Sheehan and Sigur Ros ... and whilst I'm not a fan of such comparisons ... when you hear tracks like "A Thimble Full of Sorrow" you cannot help but connect the two. I have yet to hear someone come this close to capturing the sound of "Takk"-era Sigur Ros so effectively. Sheehan nails ethereal. Seriously ... he nails it on this album.

I cannot recommend this album more highly. The music contained on it should be used as the incidental music for some of the BBC's showcase nature shows ... "A Thimble Full of Sorrow" could and should be the new "Hoppipolla". I want to see the majesty of creation accompanied by the music within this release. Only the best will do, afterall.

Have a wee listen to "Stories from elsewhere" to see/hear what I mean.

Tx

Where less actually more ...

My friend, Simon Douglas, tweeted a link to this site (screen grab above) ... which features a press release for a 'Micropub' in his local area.

Whilst I am tea-total the concept behind the 'Micropub' really got me thinking. They have, in many ways, turn their constraints into unique selling points.

It reminded me of this article on PSFK.com :: http://www.psfk.com/2012/04/donut-shop-closes-early.html :: about a donut shop in Chicago that opens at 8:30 AM Tuesdays through Fridays and 9:30 AM on Saturdays and then closes after their last donut is sold ... usually 1 or 2 hours later.

Now ... I am not one to frequent pubs too often but I do go to coffeeshops regularly. I mainly go for two things - coffee and conversation - usually with friends from work or with my family.

As Starbucks have stopped celebrating all their various blends and other providers (aka Tinderbox and Beanscene) only offer one blend of filter ... I go mainly for the conversation these days ... but I can relate to the Micropub's assertion that they are about 'just good ale and conversation'. I get this. I get the need for space(s) set aside for conversation. In fact, I think it is vital.

I do find this 'Micropub' a strangely compelling proposition considering how it  would seek to completely limit my choice ... UNLESS ... I am there for 'good ale and conversation' and 'good ale and conversation' only.

It's like the food and drink equivalent of a Kindle or an iPod Classic ... it does one thing and it does this one thing really well. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles ... no TV or music or hot food ... and focusses on ale and cider predominately.

For a small group of people, this would be heaven on earth ... a peaceful oasis from the noise of everyday life. For others, however, this would be seriously dull.

But that's the point ... they are working to please their niche ... working to appeal to and attract the small minority of folks for whom a pint and a blether in a peaceful atmosphere is ALL they are after. They don't care if you think it is dull ... they don't care because it's not your thing. All they care about is pleasing their niche.

I like that.

I like their boldness.

I like niches.

I am a niche.

I personally think we need more niche products. I think we need more things that do less ... things that don't do too much but focus on doing what they do really, really well.

I wonder what other things would benefit from this kind of 'less is more' approach? Instead of trying to be all things to all men ... maybe we should focus on the niche and serve a smaller group more attentively?

Not to exclude anyone, though. Just a thing that says 'this is what I am ... take it or leave it' ... that then lets the consumer make the choice.

I think this would be refreshing ... and would be real choice.

After all that's said and done, however ... I do think the 'Micropub' would be better with music ... preferably music from weareallghosts and other ambient netlabels ... but then that's just me.

Tx

A couple of recent releases on weareallghosts

New releases on weareallghosts includes a delightful EP from Adam Greenhead aka Coloured Lines ... "Silence in the House of God" features 4 tracks of deliciously upbeat electronic music:

The EP features four wonderfully crafted tracks which are unashamedly electronic in nature, vibrantly coherent in expression, and delightfully downtempo in their presentation.

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We also have the 6th dronescape from Cousin Silas:

His ability to engage the listener in a fully immersive sonic environment truly amazes me. I have all his dronescapes on my iPhone and have been known to move from one to another when I am in need of extended periods concentration and/or escape.

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Enjoy. Tx

"Reach for the Dead" reversed

Wow ... "Reach for the Dead" sounds awesome reversed. The video looks fab too.

Thanks to James for the heads-up.

Tx

Loving... "Reach for the Dead" by Boards of Canada

I love Boards of Canada and have loved them since I heard "Music Has The Right To Children" back in '96. They are one of my favourite electronic duos ... and the fact they are Scottish adds a small modicum of pride too.

That said ... I've tried to avoid the media frenzy of the last wee while: the 12" found on Record Store Day 2013 ... and the announcement that they have a new album coming out in June ... as well as the release of "Reach for the Dead" (above).

Please don't misinterpret what I am saying ... I am trying to avoid the hype so I can come to their music on my terms - I am not trying to avoid BOC.

I listened to "Reach for the Dead" for the first time this morning. I missed it on Zane Lowe's show on Radio1 last night and wanted to hear it before it came on Lauren Levern's show on 6Music this morning.

I love this song. It really sets me up for the album.

I also love that people are really excited for this kind of music ... quirky, off-kilter, glitchy, ambient electronic music ... and I can only hope it will turn folks onto the myriad of musicians that play this kind of music and the labels that support them. It would be a shame if you consider yourself a music fan and *only* have BOC to represent this vibrant and utterly engaging genre (or genres).

What's more ... I really like the video too. It has more lens flare than a J. J. Abrams film ... and looks stunning. It's the kind of video I'd love to make. It has seriously inspired me.

Enjoy.

Tx