It's been a long time since then. I am now back. I improvised some lyrics and played guitar. here are the lyrics. I will put an MP3 up of the song.
Nest High
Nest high
In the tree
Big black bird
Because then
You’ll bring us
A good summer.
Get stuck on the edge
Of the weir
Little leaf
Because then
We shall have
A fine autumn.
Blow through
This glass
Little wind
... then
There will be
A still winter.
Rage and burn
You tiny spark
Bush-flagration
Clear the ground
and clear the people
Make way
Mei kwei, mei kwei,
Nanananana
Mei kwei, mei kwei,
Nanananana
Make way for
Our dark spring.
.
19/11/2008
09/05/2008
Number Eleven
I have just listened to Portishead P3 for the first time. The playing appliance is good. It has deeply resonant speakers with good top and uncardboardy middle. The CD was on at 37% volume, which is pretty loud in a small soundproof box. I listened through. The track I'd heard before, Machine Gun on Jooles Nertherlund, sounded so much better cranked up on a good system. Don't get me wrong. Our TV-combi has a splendid audio contraption. No, it wasn't that.
Live show digression - that ol live sound recording problem: PAs + ambient sound mixed 'correctly' = perennial nightmare. I was surprised to see that they played the clapped out drum machine parts live on midi pads. The studio CD was perfectly produced, of course. Therein lies the impossible comparison. Why do bands like this feel the need to perform live? No deviation from the CD apart from a few over-dubs. And it must be acknowledged that the 'live' show is not exactly dynamic. I expect they get paid well.
Back to listening to the CD - the machine gun track stuck its neck above the shoulders of the previous, impressive nonetheless, pieces. I was not tempted to turn up the volume though, because I was engaged in another project. I simply listened.
The final 20 seconds had me reaching for the volume knob, regardless. I shoved it up to 42% (considerably loud) at exactly the point the CD finished. Now that: I call a good album.
Number Eleven refers to Nigel Tufnel's volume knob, and is only coincidentally related to the fact that this is the eleventh posting.
Live show digression - that ol live sound recording problem: PAs + ambient sound mixed 'correctly' = perennial nightmare. I was surprised to see that they played the clapped out drum machine parts live on midi pads. The studio CD was perfectly produced, of course. Therein lies the impossible comparison. Why do bands like this feel the need to perform live? No deviation from the CD apart from a few over-dubs. And it must be acknowledged that the 'live' show is not exactly dynamic. I expect they get paid well.
Back to listening to the CD - the machine gun track stuck its neck above the shoulders of the previous, impressive nonetheless, pieces. I was not tempted to turn up the volume though, because I was engaged in another project. I simply listened.
The final 20 seconds had me reaching for the volume knob, regardless. I shoved it up to 42% (considerably loud) at exactly the point the CD finished. Now that: I call a good album.
Number Eleven refers to Nigel Tufnel's volume knob, and is only coincidentally related to the fact that this is the eleventh posting.
17/04/2008
Five Authors not in search of a Critic
The illustrious and industrious Michael Lewin has alighted upon 5 debut novelists, including myself, with the hope of developing a creative insight into the forms and raison d’être of the contemporary novel. In particular, he will be focusing on our individual motivations, justifications and aspirations for the works. Does the e-slaught of modern media render the novel vagrant? Do we have the balls to use paper anymore? Why write a novel at all? These and many more questions will be addressed over the coming weeks.
Michael himself is a rising star in the Critical Firmament, having sharpened his considerable teeth on the current popular music scene, he is now lunching on Notion Magazine and TVBomb. In his own words, he is a ‘Man of Letters and Would-be Wealthy Dilettante’. May the would-be submerge within the wealth.
Michael himself is a rising star in the Critical Firmament, having sharpened his considerable teeth on the current popular music scene, he is now lunching on Notion Magazine and TVBomb. In his own words, he is a ‘Man of Letters and Would-be Wealthy Dilettante’. May the would-be submerge within the wealth.
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