Category: Music

Music is a huge part of my life so it’s almost certain that this category will have a lot of stuff in it.

Moog Soundlab residency: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Performance

Posted by on in Events, MusicLeave a comment
Moog Soundlab residency: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Performance
Moog Soundlab residency: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Performance

After being at one of these performance I’d booked to go again, expecting, not unreasonably, for it to be of a similar format to the previous Moog Soundlab event at the Ace Hotel in Shoreditch. I was wrong. At least, I was for the most part wrong. It was similar in the sense that there was the same enormous (or at least enormous by my standards) Moog modular rig being used. However, I was different in more or less every other aspect.

To illustrate I took a photograph of the letter that every received (on their chair as they arrived) and were asked to read.

Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Performance
Moog Soundlab residency: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Performance … the letter

I think you’ll agree that this is really quite unusual. As were the two glasses of gin that did arrive and were, at least to my taste, nothing like the gin I’m used to.

In fact, as an event it was more like something I might see at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, rather than in London, so from that perspective, I loved it.

Listening to old songs …

Posted by on in MusicLeave a comment

I’ve been listening to a lot of my ‘old’ songs. Stuff I recorded on old analogue gear, like my Fostex X-15. Those old recordings were made my bouncing loads of tracks from one side of the tape to another. So the quality wasn’t brilliant. With some tracks it was pretty bad in fact, but, even then, some of those tracks were great songs.

I been really enjoying listening to these songs, and they remind me about what’s important in music. It’s about making songs that mean something, that are good and that stand the test of time. I think that once in a while it’s important to be reminded about that kind of thing.

I like to think that I can make some more songs that I can feel that good about again. That’s my plan.

Moog Soundlab residency: Dave Colohan

Posted by on in Events, Music, SoundsLeave a comment
Moog Soundlab residency: Dave Colohan - The Modular
Moog Soundlab residency: Dave Colohan – The Modular

This was a lovely little event, and when I say little I really do mean it. The audience was tiny in a tiny little basement bar at the Ace hotel in Shoreditch. It’s a nice venue though. The performance lasted a hour and was very interesting and used a lot but not all the equipment.

More modular stuff
More modular stuff

I find it interesting to watch a modular performance like this to see how the music is actually generated and sustained. It isn’t like normal performances at all of course. Quite different indeed.

Modular beauties at Moog Soundlab residency
Modular beauties at Moog Soundlab residency

The arrangements were lovely, with people’s names on their booked seats.

My seat at Moog SoundLab
My seat at Moog SoundLab

And on each seat was a thing called a “dream machine”, which was a strange light contraption sitting on a turntable. It made an interesting effect though.

Dream machine at Moog SoundLab residency
Dream machine at Moog SoundLab residency

So it was an enjoyable evening, good fun, interesting to watch and different environment too.

Dave Colohan performing
Dave Colohan performing

So there is something new coming from Mr Sylvian

Posted by on in Music, PeopleLeave a comment
Playing the Schoolhouse by David Sylvian
Playing the Schoolhouse by David Sylvian

Well this is great news from Confrontrecordings …

“Scheduled for a mid-September release on Confront Recordings; Playing The Schoolhouse, a new CD EP length composition by David Sylvian recorded in March of this year in Norway. Based on an improvisation by Jan Bang and Sylvian it also features contributions from Otomo Yoshihide and Toshimaru Nakamura. More news to follow soon. www.confrontrecordings.com“

I was really pleased to hear this. His last work with Jan Bang was amazing, although it required some very close and concentrated listening. However, it was immensely worthwhile. I’m hopeful that this will be the same.

When will David Sylvian do something new?

Posted by on in MusicLeave a comment

It has been a long time now, since he produced anything new. I wonder if anything new is going to come along from him, or if his work really is going to vanish away. That would be a real shame of course. I’d like to see a new album. Maybe not as difficult as Manafon, but something a little closer to what he did with Nine Horses, or indeed Rain Tree Crow.

To be honest I’d be happy with anything really. I’d just like to think that he hadn’t run out of ideas, or wasn’t going to produce anything new again. That would be the real shame in my opinion.

Seeing Melle Mel at the Jazz Cafe

Posted by on in Events, Friends, Listening, MusicLeave a comment
Melle Mel at the Jazz Cafe
Melle Mel at the Jazz Cafe

I love going to the Jazz Cafe, it’s a great venue and very convenient too, except when there’s a tube strike and I have to walk there from Borough Market, which took a lot longer than normal simply due to the crowds in London. Anyway, that’s my rant over with for now anyway.

Melle Mel and the Furious Five at the Jazz Cafe
Melle Mel and the Furious Five at the Jazz Cafe

I went to this gig with a couple of mates who were, to be fair, more interested in it than I was. However, I do tend to go along because it’s always good to see friends, and you never know if you’ll see something amazing or not. Luckily for me, this was the later.

It was a great gig. Lots of tracks I remember in the set, and a huge amount of energy in the performance. The audience loved it and it was a great evening. So I’m really glad I went.

Melle Mel at the Jazz Cafe August 2015
Melle Mel at the Jazz Cafe August 2015

WOMAD memories 3: The Portico Quartet

Posted by on in Events, Festivals, MusicLeave a comment

The first time I saw The Portico Quartet was at WOMAD a few years ago. They were amazing and made a really big impression. Of course, now they’re no longer the Portico Quartet, and they’re just Portico, which is fine. Their music is quite different now, but I still like it. However, for me I think it lacks the impact of the first time I saw them live at WOMAD. That was amazing.

Aswad at the Jazz Cafe

Posted by on in Events, Friends, MusicLeave a comment
Asward at the Jazz Cafe, 1st August 2015
Asward at the Jazz Cafe, 1st August 2015

Whilst I wasn’t a massive fan of theirs in their day I still liked a few of their tracks, so when the opportunity to see Aswad came up I thought, why not? I’m sure it might be a pleasant evening out. Well, it was much more than that in the end. In fact, it was an excellent evening out all in all.

The sound in the Jazz Cafe in Camden was excellent and Aswad were on brilliant form. They put on a great show and kept the crowd moving throughout the performance. I’m so glad I went now. I had a fantastic time, and I think I’d see them again given the chance.

Asward at the Jazz Cafe, 1st August 2015
Asward at the Jazz Cafe, 1st August 2015

Rail Ale 2015

Posted by on in Beer, Events, Food, Friends, MusicLeave a comment
Front of the Rail Ale train, 31st July 2015
Front of the Rail Ale train, 31st July 2015

It’s been a couple of years since I was on the Rail Ale train. It’s a lovely evening on the bluebell railway in Sussex and well worth trying out if you’ve never been. The format is simple. Steam train + Real Ale + Sausage and Mash supper + Jazz band. Easy.

The Rail Ale train, 31st July 2015
The Rail Ale train, 31st July 2015

The atmosphere is lovely, especially if you have a really nice sunny evening to enjoy as well. The crowd is all there to have a good time and enjoy the beers, of which there were many, and all good in terms of those I managed to sample.

It isn’t the cheapest evening out, but as an occasional outing it’s well worth the money, and of course, as the Bluebell railway is a charity I don’t begrudge them the cash.

A beer voucher from Rail Ale, 31st July 2015
A beer voucher from Rail Ale, 31st July 2015

My favourite ale of the evening was called “Piston Broke”, which seemed apt in some ways for a pleasant evening of beer and music.

A great night out all in all.

WOMAD memories 2: Nouvelle Vague

Posted by on in Events, Festivals, Listening, MusicLeave a comment

Another great memory from WOMAD days was of Nouvelle Vague. I went to see them in the Big Red Tent and thought they were amazingly good fun. I subsequently bought quite a lot of their tracks. I say their tracks, of course for the most part they are covers, but what excellent covers they are. Truly inspired.

I’d like to see them again, I think they had a good stage presence, but I need seem to see them on anywhere. I think I’d go if I had the chance.