Current Listening Habits

Ok Ok I know its been a while since my last blog but alot has happened in that time. Relationships have gone and new ones have arisen, priorities have changed in life, friends re found, generally things have got a hell of alot better, ignoring the broken wrist that i am currently nursing. Anyway enough of all that stuff, lets think music, my true passion in life after all.

To say things have changed in my musical preference would be an understatement, I still love all the older stuff from the 60's, particularly Joe Meek produced stuff - Still my personal favourite is Screaming Lord Sutch. Thanks to re finding my best friend from years back I am being introduced to yet more material (you know who you are) which again proves to be interesting and exciting.

Another influence in my life has come from a predictable source, the new woman in my life. I have been introduced to far more commercial stuff, ranging from Jay Z, Alicia Keys and Leftfield. That's something has always run through my musical taste, I have never been anchored down by one genre, I always prided myself on my openness to accept new music.

The soundtrack to films has also introduced me to new stuff, whether it be the haunting soundtrack to 'Moon', magnificently put together by Clint Mansell; or the A R Rahman composed soundtrack to 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

2009 has also provided a plethora of new sounds. Florence + The Machine are an obvious highlight, still listening now in fact, Bat for Lashes album 'Two Suns' also triumphed. As did Camera Obscura's 'My Maudlin Career'. I also really enjoyed Cerys Matthews' 'Don't Look Down'.

Something that I have found recently, through the help of my Ipod, I have revisited a number of artists that I used to listen to religiously. This includes Motown artists including;

• Stevie Wonder - Highlight - Uptight (Everything is Alright)
• Marvin Gaye - Highlight - Whats Going On
• Temptations - Highlight - Get Ready

Also on heavy rotation is Johnny Cash's American Recordings series of albums, this is partly due to the soon to be released final album in the series.

So what for 2010? Well early favourite is Ellie Goulding, along with Mary Epworth and The Jubilee Band -can't wait for the album Mary/Will! Also another band which I'm really excited about are The Joy Formidable, which I'm hoping to catch live later in the year.

Telstar Review

I don't often feel compelled to write film reviews, mainly because I don't really know what I'm talking about when it comes to films. I have no idea about the technicalities of film and how the different shots work. Its quite embarrassing to admit it, having done media studies degree in my younger days, it all seems have gone from my mind. However there is always a first time so here goes-

I bought a film recently that I had a biased interest in already, I've loved the produced music of Joe Meek for several years now. When I found out there was a film coming out of the his life story, Telstar I desperately wanted to see it. Of course it had such a limited release, you could only really see it in one place - London or those other big cities, from which I live miles away! I inevitably didn't get round to it, so the DVD was mine from Monday.

Telstar covers the life of Joe Meek, a Producer extraordinaire from the early 1960's, responsible for acts such as The Tornado's, Heinz and Screaming Lord Sutch. It begins in the early years of RGM Records, 1961 and goes all the way through to his tragic death in 1967.

Con O'Neil plays Meek, fantastically so. He is hilarious one moment, from swearing profoundly, to hideously depressing as the film builds up to the fateful ending of Meeks' life. Kevin Spacey provides brilliant suppport as Major Banks, the man with the money behind the Meek dynasty. Other support from Ralf Little, James Corden and Justin Hawkins as my personal favourite act 'Screaming Lord Sutch', all bolster what is a great debut from ex Lock Stock man Nick Moran.

If you're a fan of music in anyway, you can't help but be charmed by this movie, and also touched by the sad tale of such a genius.

Cornwall Coastal Walk August 2009

Apologies for the lack of postings of recent. What can I say? Mundane things go on, however amazing things also happen as well. I refer to my walking expedition in Cornwall. We would cover a distance of 42 miles, from St Ives all the way round to Penzance. To say I was confident would be stretching things a little, however I was looking forward to seeing some of the magnificent scenes and of course the achievement would be great.



After setting off at 7.30 am we walked through the town of St Ives and found the nearest pastry selling shop and stocked up, we were always thinking where the next meal would come from in order to keep the strength up. Clearing through St Ives we started the Coastal path, which we would stay on for the next 42 miles, some of the scenery around this section was amazing. We carried on to Zennor where we would have our first meal stop, after completing 6 miles.



After a fulfilling meal we carried on and passed through Pendeen Sands where we made the fatal mistake of walking down to the beach to go in the sea, fatal because you have to walk back up to the path, but it was worth it. We also walked through the spookily abandoned Tin Mines near to Botallack, which was the location of a our first camp site. I was relieved to get there as we had covered about 16 miles and feet were beginning to ache.



Day 2 began very overcast and misty, after a good nights sleep mainly through necessity rather than comfort, and soon enough we reached Cape Cornwall, or so the sign said as I couldn't really see it due to the fog (see below). The morning session of walking seemed to go pretty quickly and we seemed to reach Sennan Cove really quickly. Feet were still in tact at this point, but this would not last forever.



After leaving Sennan Cove, Lands End was in sight when the pain began in the feet. I really doubted whether I would finish the whole walk at that point, however after stopping for what seemed an eternity I carried on, and eventually met up with my co walkers who had carried on without me, great mates I know. We made it to Porthcurno Beach after seemingly going up and down about 30 hills at just the right time, its the first beach in this really great photo I took.



Having reached Porthcurno we had another mile to go until we stopped at Treen at another campsite, where we ate as much as we could to re energize. The feet were in pretty poor order by the time we stopped, however we had covered about 14 miles and I was told the third and final day was the easiest so spirits were high. The next morning we started early again and had to crack on further than we had previously to make it to Mousehole, where we would be about 3 miles from our finish line. Mousehole was reached after about 5 hours, both feet and right leg was beyond damaged by now and so a well deserved break was had and of course the obligatory Pasty.



After leaving Mousehole we started on the last 3 miles. Feet were beyond painful but it was the thought of finishing that kept me going, that and wanting to get the huge rucksack off my back which I had been carrying for 3 days. After about an hour and a half of walking along what seemed to be the longest road in the world, we made it to Penzance and eventually made it to the train station ready to get the train back to St Ives. We finished with time to spare and got back to St Ives at about 5pm, it was incredibly hot, and even though my feet were covered in blisters and I was burnt to a crisp I still felt that I had achieved something that I had never done before. Heres the parting shot from St Ives, what a brilliant adventure!

Snowdon - 30/06/2009

I have never been one for hiking and all that sort of stuff. In fact I've not really bothered with anything remotely outdoorish. However, I have come to that point where I think I should give things a go, and see if I like it. That has led me to Snowdon, and what an amazing place it is. We travelled up there, eager to find a signpost saying 'THIS IS SNOWDON', however we could not find one. In fact looking at the breath taking country side I could have easily said that it could be one of many mountains in the region. However after finding out which it was, our journey began.



We took the path from Rhyd Ddu, one of the more trickier paths, it totals 7.5 miles (there and back). Its anticipated that the route would take 6 hours in total. We started early, 7.30am to be exact, which was a good idea considering the weather conditions that were ahead of us on the day. The early going was fairly steady, and I was quite pleased with myself in keeping up with my co - climbers. However after a while the path became incredibly steep with the rocks flown around the place which made up the ever decreasing path. However with every step there were incredible views.



After around 2 hours I was beginning to feel the pace which we had made. As I looked up at the final two ridges towards the summit building, it never crossed my mind that I wouldn't make it. Yeah, it was getting difficult, and my water supply was decreasing fast, however I'd come all this way and desperately wanted to know what views would await me at the top. I ploughed on and made the best progress I could.



And so after 3 hours walking, I made it to the top. The summit is 1,085 metres above sea level, of which I ascented 895 metres. A good days work really, and amazing views. The next challenge is a 40 mile walk around the coast of Cornwall, which I'm gonna do in aid of something special, more details to follow. And just in case you don't believe me.......

Music downloads vs real music

After debating the point with various people, by various I mean one (you know who you are) I felt it necessary to debate the downloading of music versus going in a shop and actually buying it.

When I first starting my music loving career, not sure of the actual age but it was probably about 13/14 ish, I would go into the then plethora of record stalls and purchase enough vinyl to floor a kitchen. I remember with fondness in going to such places as 'Bob Records' (never did meet Bob) and that other one behind the library in the little shopping arcade thingy - I can't remember the name of the place - obviously not as catchy as the shop run by Robert. In the early days my main shopping tactic would be to buy as much AC/DC as is humanly possible and then buy the odd Iron Maiden record.

As my tastes began to develop I moved up the spectrum of record buying and started to shop in 'Wayahead', more and more CD's crept their way in as I was turning into a Britpop type person. When I was off to University I found another such indie dungeon in Stoke On Trent and would complete my collection even further, this time tinged with psychedelic 60's stuff. After turning into a southerner I would regularly travel into the capital and visit such gems as Fopp, Sister Ray and Rough Trade.

Then I decided to invest in an Ipod, I'd never understood Ipod's however a bloke at work told me about all the wonderful things they could do. In an instance I was transfixed by the little thing, and I couldn't import all my CD's quick enough. For me its a truly amazing invention, if you're a music lover, then the accessibility to your collection is incredible. Being able to purchase a new song is incredibly easy as well, may be i just enjoy the simple life?

Coupled with this argument, is the other side. The death of independent record stores. I remember I used to love the feeling of going into a record store with no idea what to buy and then hearing a fantastic album and tentatively going up to the bloke behind the counter to find out what was playing. I still remember finding out about Rilo Kiley like that, for reference Reveal Records - Derby.

However looking back, those shops are now closed permanently - Bobs Records, The shop I can't remember the name of, The other shop in uni days which I can't remember the name of, Reveal, even Fopp has closed in Camden.What a sad outlook it is, I do still try and keep my hand in tho, must plan a trip to Fopp in Cambridge! Who knows what I'll hear there!!

Why don't I read anymore?

Having looked over my blog page, one thing struck me. I have not listed any books that I am currently reading, the music, pod casts and film are all there, but no books.
It then came to me that I don't really read anymore. What a sad state of affairs this is! Don't get me wrong I have never really been a big reader, in fact I remember at school struggling to finish one during a Read-a-thon. Really showing my age there, perhaps schools don't do that anymore. However I remember in my late teens reading a large amount of books. An early favourite was Nick Hornby. High Fidelity being my favourite as I remember.
I also loved reading horror books as well, strange I know. This brings me onto the subject of my favourite book ever, 'I am Legend' by Richard Matheson. For saying it was written in 1954, I think the vision of the author was incredible. Especially when considering it came a full 14 years before George A Romero's Night of the Living Dead film, which is lauded for its visionary status in relation to horror. Please don't watch the film with Will Smith and make a decision from there, I urge you to read the book first...
However, its very sad that I am not a book worm anymore, maybe its finding the time and effort to reintroduce my life back to books. It seems that music and other forms of entertainment are taking over, perhaps the Internet is to blame.

Just a reflection that I thought was worth mentioning.

My current music obsession

Over the years of being a music obsessive there have been many favourite bands of all time. I remember when I was at school and just getting into music when I had the typical first love - Heavy Metal - I remember going to various market stalls and buying every bit of vinyl I could get my hands on, and what band was my favourite - AC/DC!
I don't really know what it was about the Aussie rockers that I loved, maybe it was the great tunes they came up with. Perhaps it was the dominate vocals of both Bon Scott and Brian Johnson? Who knows but I think I had every album they ever made and then some as well!

Moving on towards the end of my school days, and merging into the Brit Pop days, was my interest in the Manic Street Preachers. I think I was a convert from the Everything Must Go era, and so I again worked backwards and quickly owned everything they had done. I was never really one of those yeah 'I knew them at the beginning' people, as if I had I would have been about 12 years old!

I then graduated up the music ladder onto university and naturally I moved to America where I have never really looked back since I'm afraid. I was introduced to The Velvet Underground by a friend and then that took me into the 'I own expensive 7 inch singles you know' area. There were other bands I loved from that era, Screaming Lord Sutch, Dusty Springfield, Vanilla Fudge and The Monkees, however the VU were fantastic I thought. I quickly became familiar with the back catalogue through the excellent Peel Slowly and See boxset. What a band!

Then onto the last few years and its been Ryan Adams and The Cardinals that have float my boat! I think I found him myself through plays of the Gold album, probably through plays of New York, New York. However the later stuff that he has done is just incredible to me, culminating in Cardinology last year, where the single Fix It sells the album on its own.

So that's got us right up to date with the obsessions, but the strange thing is I still love all the other bands, yes even AC/DC!!