As the time of year for Poland’s finest music festivals is upon us, it’s as good a time as any to reflect on what a miserable experience an outdoor festival can be. Knee deep in a violent blend of mud,… Read More »Middle-aged Memories of Music Festivals
My first experience of Spiderland was in late winter, early in 1998; a natural consequence of my blooming love for Glasgow’s Mogwai and Falkirk’s Arab Strap. I found the music to be astonishing and this seminal album by Louisville band… Read More »To be retained #2 – Slint, All Tomorrow’s Parties. 2005.
It starts early, at school. Back in the dark days of the mid-eighties, when teachers were less – let’s say – enlightened as they may be today. Those were the days of jumpers for goalposts, chalk on blackboards, and ‘right… Read More »To Be a Southpaw
I was fascinated by silence as a child. That is not to say the times in which I was quiet were plentiful; even when I was wee it was difficult to shut me up, much to the eternal frustration of… Read More »The Sound of Silence
Names. To a band so titled, or indeed to their audience, a name can mean everything or it can mean nothing. Names can be serious, political, witty, pithy, nonsensical, knowing, ironic, or just ever so simple. After the first few… Read More »What’s In a Name?
I have many lovely memories of R.E.M. Not least, of course, my 2012 visit to Athens, Georgia and the self-led R.E.M. walking tour of the band’s home town, to such places as the 40 Watt Club, Weaver D’s and Wuxtry Records.… Read More »To Be Retained #1 R.E.M – Road Movie
The 8th of June, 2022. An unremarkable afternoon as summer was just beginning. I was in the midst of my bout of COVID, a few days before I travelled to Leica in London for Bruce Gilden’s masterclass. Seemingly out of… Read More »The Delgados. January 2023
As today is Valentine’s Day 2023, it seems I would be missing a trick not to resurrect an apposite blog post from my long gone music website about some records I’ve released on Valentine Records. As today is Valentine’s Day… Read More »Valentine Records – Valentines Day Nostalgia
Last month, I prefixed my first Christmas in Scotland since 2019 with 3 ferocious nights of live music. Two of my all-time favourite Scottish bands, Idlewild and Mogwai, were playing over 3 successive nights. Idlewild were belatedly celebrating the 20th… Read More »Idlewild and Mogwai. December 2022
Though largely forgotten about now – even by members of the group themselves – my first band in Poland, the Post-rock effort, the Frozen North had an exciting first year. Recording, radio, TV, wee festivals, TEDxWarsaw, and other bits and… Read More »Marain (a tribute to Penderecki)