Hey Hey My My

Will Never Die

And Roll

Rock


You know when you are driving out in the desert with your beloved family, in a well-dodgy, toyota cressida, decades past it's sell by date, or scrap by date, passing date palms until you see no other forms of life.


You come across this huge rock with writing that is not even arabic, it looks like aramaic or ancient ethiopean & you spend so much time crawling over every inch of the rock, until that usually so-reliable cressida decides to dig itself into the sand.

You have to believe we were not alone on that rock, there was someone who got that car out of danger & us back to civilisation.

Sleepwalking Through the Mekong



The current coverage of the 60s greats at Glastonbury makes you forget that the last time you were in Glastonbury, you had met up with a friend from Goa in '73 & had hitch hiked with your pregnant wife & slept in what was someone's outhouse.


Indeed let us not forget those lonely bedsits, eating only brown rice & listening to Al Stewart, Roy Harper, Michael Chapman, Bridget St John, Donovan, Dylan & of course CSNY & the Dead.


'We Are Ugly, But We Still Have the Music' (Leonard Cohen)

The picture at the top shows you where I wish to live & the one below shows my current residence.

Beatle Bones & Smokin Stones


I have been a massive fan of Big Blood forever, but hearing them singing Captain Beefheart's 'Beatle Bones & Smokin Stones' just makes you wish the 60s lasted forever.

Keep On Rocking in the Free World


Been poorly lately, but I held it together to enjoy 60s Glastonbury. Disproving Neil Young's theory that it is better to burn out, than to fade away.


Crosby, (displaying that big moustaches are all the rage), Stills & Nash took you back to the Marrakesh Express. Awesome - doesn't do them justice.

If you can listen to the first 2 CSN albums without smiling in amazement, there is something wrong wid you.


David Crosby's 'If Only I Could Remember my Name' is still my favourite 30 odd minutes of heaven.

Rust Never Sleeps


Finally got up with Neil Young's superb & slighlty crazy 'Rust Never Sleeps'. The concert is way up there among the stars.

Land of 1000 Dances Meets Death by 1000 Cuts

If you are seeking a bit of peace & tranquillity along the lines of Koan period Eno, then look no further than Jacob Newman’s ‘Buddha Machine’ available from www.archive.org.

He has taken the original Buddha machine sounds & bent & twisted then into a beautiful album of epic stillness.

When you feel it is time to float & dream in your own isolation tank, just put it on & drift out from the shore.

Death Is Not the End

Our door into that other dimension may not be like Imax, big screen, surround sound. It may not be that dramatic, multi car pile up or to be eaten by lions or struck by lightening.

It may be like Marlon Brando in the ‘Godfather’ just slipping away among the tomatoes, while playing games with the grandchildren.

Or it could be a ‘freak accident’ to a freak in another part of the garden.

The Sixties: a Primer

The recent ‘Wire’ Comus article has prompted me to give a very personal guide, to the mostly, forgotten bands of the 60s UK and the record labels that produced quality, timeless music.

John Peel would call these bands ‘progressive’, but they should not be lumped into what we now think of as ‘prog’. They were totally different. Many of them had a fair element of jazz on board and I think this is what made them timeless. See what you think:

· Affinity

· Titus Groan

· Comus

· Pete Brown & Piblokto

· Quintessence

· Soft Machine

· Third Ear Band

· Michael Chapman

· Roy Harper

· Warm Dust

· Traffic

· Delivery

· High Tide

· East of Eden

· Edgar Broughton Band

· Tyrannosaurus Rex (pre-electric)

· Family

· Incredible String Band

· Forest

· Jan Dukes De Grey

· Magna Carta

· Shirley & Dolly Collins

· Principal Edwards Magic Theatre

· Occasional Word

· Liverpool Scene

· Nirvana (UK)

· Clouds

· Blossom Toes

· Bob Downs

· Colosseum

· Cressida

· Gracious

· Dr Strangely Strange

· Juicy Lucy

· May Blitz

· Groundhogs

· Nucleus

· Amazing Blondel

· Dando Shaft

Labels include: Harvest, Island, Dawn (Deram) & Vertigo

Hugh Hopper (ex Soft Machine) R.I.P.

A Series of Remarkable Co-incidences


Just finished Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 'Half of a Yellow Sun' that I enjoyed more than the previous title 'Purple Hibiscus'

It was such an enthralling read, almost as much as 'The Book Thief'.


However in 'Yellow Sun' there are a few references to High Life music of the time (late 60s Biafra War) & Rex Williams in particular,

I switched on my gramophone to listen to an African Compilation: 'Wanna Do my Thing' & there it is : Rex Williams..................

sock it to me.....outasite............

The Repeating Thoughts of Old Zinng Zanng

I came across the above album by Gillicuddy. He is in fact one Andi Rohden. It is one of the best things I have heard for a while.

In addition the album title must be in the long list of bizarre album titles alongside:

Peril Hill – Scream at the Jackdaw: Make Him Stop.

V – We Are Crossing Fences Through Rocky Fields

Firesign Theatre – How Can You Be in Two Places at Once & Nowhere at All

suggested uses for the buddha machine 2.0 (greatest misses #13)

Lost in the post-holiday malaise...

Suggested Uses for the Buddha Machine 2.0
by Jesse Jarnow

FM3's Buddha Machine 2.0, an ugly plastic box that emits nine different ambient loops and which looks like a transistor radio, was practically designed for urban life. Inspired by the drone boxes at Buddhist temples in Asia, it is a chilled escape from Twittered-out internet devices, mp3 players, stray noise (cultural or literal), and even well-meaning friends.

The new edition of Christian Virant and Zhang Jian's Buddha Machine (first issued in 2005) is the post-holiday balm to end all balms. Because now it has pitch control. Armed with a headphone jack, a small tinny speaker, nine new loops, and a nearly infinite life from two AA batteries, the Buddha Machine--$23 + shipping from Forced Exposure--and its flexibility might be your new bff. (That or the $3.99 iPhone version, modeled on the original, which is also pretty rad, albeit too quiet.)

Suggested uses:
1. Put on before sleep. Place on pillow next to head.
2. Turn on in pocket while out and about, surruptiously adjusting as needed.
2a. With friends, keep volume low, free of detection. They will wonder why you are glowing.
2b. On subway, keep volume louder. The Buddha Machine is an interesting gauge of ambient noise.
3. For street use, try headphones. Though each track is a short loop, extended close listening creates illusions of developing pieces of music, replete with movements and sections.
3a. The Buddha Machine occasionally picks up interference from passing cell phones, like speakers at a club. But it also sometimes adds layers of localized static, like sonic dirt, which is kinda cool.
4. In noisy environment, such as a bar or party, crank Buddha Machine, press closely to ear, close eyes. Listen to the ocean in the seashell.
5. Different loops for different occasions. Each is named ("Mao," "Li," etc.), but better remembered by one's own mnemonic: the piano-bells, the downtempo one, the ice fields, etc..
6. Add new layer to whatever music is playing. Use pitch control to match key.
7. Go to LaMonte Young's Dream House. Upon exit, use pitch control to match drone, carry vibe home with you.
8. Float downstream. It is not dying, dude.

Farewell My Lovely


As my next door neighbour practice dance in the garden over the hedge, I am reminded on those scenes in one of my favourite films ' Farewell My Lovely' starring Elliot Gold.

You know where the dancers keep chatting to him in states of undress while he wandering about looking for his cat............

Even My Animal Friends Were Upset

Gardens Are Dangerous Places, Discuss

Quiet Music


As a Librarian, I enjoyed Momus' Epiphany article in last month's 'Wire' mag.


There is surely a space for quiet music in this noisy world. The link took me to his space on live journal (a good place to hang out) & I smiled when I read that someone had opened a Twitter account in his name to spoof his work.

Fake Twitter accounts are one of the many interesting subjects I had discussed with my neighbiur 'over the hedge'.

The Last Great Wilderness

I watched this lost classic movie again recently. I may have mentioned this film on this blog previously & I do believe the copy I had has taken legs.

The soundtrack is what I enjoyed the best, by fellow librarian Stephen Pastel & I do raise a smile when I see Bill Wells wearing earings & a dress.

Inside the Technicolour Dream SynSyndicate

Sometimes you need that bump on the head to let you see things more clearly.

I finally got around to listening to Bobb Trimble’s ‘Life Beyond the Doghouse’ a psychedelic classic? It is just ok.

What has really turned me around lately is: v – ‘we are crossing fences through rocky fields’…..i have a feeling I mentioned this before………perhaps that bump

yn

Devil’s Pulpit

My watch stops, photographs blur or contain numerous orbs, the micro-climate creates an unquenchable thirst & dehydration, clear thinking does not work & after stepping into the water, I expected to be covered in leeches……………..