Sonic Avenger

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2010-04-29T16:09:00.001Z

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Curly Larry & Mo

2010-04-25T11:33:00.023Z

Listening to: Terry Dactyl & the Dinosaurs - Seaside Shuffle

No-one will need reminding that the PM's job is currently up for grabs. Speaking personally, it's a case of which of these three idiots do I want governing the country? Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is currently riding high a wave of approval following his alleged success in the first of the televised leader debates last week. As a result, he can currently be seen on any day of the week touring the nation's hot-spots and sink estates, carrying himself like something akin to Flava Flav. Such is the man's current souped-up confidence in his daft party and their confusing policies. The thought of Cameron taking the lead is just too frightening to contemplate. If there is indeed a god up there, he should look down on our battered little isle and intervene sometime soon. We've suffered enough I think.
Whilst I find the the whole topic of televised political contests like this depressing, I also realise that this is an historic election. Historic because, like the US of A has been doing for decades, we are now truly entering a future where many people will be responding to how a politician looks and sounds, as opposed to what he's actually saying.
Interestingly though, Cleggy's past isn't totally devoid of colourful anecdotes. The public school take on the concept of newspaper-delivery is a novel one it must be said.

RIP Malcolm McLaren

2010-04-08T22:29:00.010Z

Listening to: Nirvana - All Apologies

Saddened to hear of the death of Malcolm McLaren today at the age of 64 from cancer. Saying that, I spent most of the day blissfully unaware of this fact, which is the downside of not leaving the house or turning the TV on all day. I was always entertained by McLaren's eternal art-school provocateur persona, and as a Pop culture commentator there were few to rival him, certainly in his own generation. His modus operandi was the Shock of the New - a rare trait in the field of popular music at any given time, especially now.
Today is also the sixteenth anniversary of the death of Kurt Cobain. For some reason, Nirvana grabbed my attention most when they released the MTV Unplugged album. Some of the songs in that set took on a rawness that was less evident in the original recordings. My favourite is posted up yonder.

Easter y'all

2010-04-05T10:47:00.022Z

Listening to: Roxy Music - In Every Dream Home a Heartache

Once again I find myself in the midst of that annual moveable feast known as Easter. I've never fully grasped the true significance of this holy festival, but like any 8 year-old, am fully aware that it's twin-symbols are Jesus (in returning from the grave mode) and ... er, rabbits. I hereby confess to a lifelong confusion where the aforementioned are concerned, but can confidently report that this has now changed.
Yes indeed, a few hours ago I actually looked it up. In a nutshell, those pesky Christians done stole the whole shebang from them there Pagans who, incidentally, made a lot of sense in my book, worshipping nature an' all. Not the sacrificing people part you understand, just the hello trees hello sky bits.
I have spent much of the past 72 hours in sonic pyjamas watching Easter-themed satellite TV whilst attempting to eat my own weight in chocolate and associated confectionary. I'm almost there where the latter is concerned, but apparently this is an 8-day thing so there's plenty of time yet. For now though I can firmly state that Max Von Sydow is Jesus Christ sent down to us in cinematic form, and for now that will suffice.
Happy Eostre bunnies everywhere.

Election Season

2010-03-28T22:22:00.019Z

Listening to: The Byrds - I Wasn't Born to Follow

G'day my people. Yes, it's General Election season here in Cruel Britannia. For many of us, the downside of this is having Conservative Party leader David Cameron's eminently punchable face earnestly beaming out at us from billboards or TV screens. Speaking of which, here he is getting very confused during a recent interview with the Gay Times. Clearly he should have written his speech down beforehand for that one.
Of course, the problem facing voters nowadays is that it's difficult to tell the difference between the Conservative and (New) Labour parties at all. I'm no advocate of either, but it's frightening to consider just how many disillusioned Labour voters may see the way forward as being via putting a cross next to this idiot's party in the privacy of the polling booth, come the May election.
Remember his Hug A Hoodie campaign of a few years back? He for one hopes you can't.
I can only imagine that Cameron & Co are banking on much of their support coming from that section of UK voters who are too young to remember what a cess-pit their party turned the UK into during the years 1979-97.

Cocaine Cowboys

2010-03-23T19:16:00.012Z

Listening to: David Bowie - Sound & Vision

Last weekend I caught the documentary Cocaine Cowboys on TV (UK readers look out for it on More4). It's essentially about how the cocaine trade shaped the city of Miami in the 70's and 80's. For anyone who, like I did, thinks they've watched or read everything about this area and era of organised crime, I heartily recommend this one.
The reality of the situation and the people involved was far more excessive, scarey, absurd and bloody than even the most pantomime telling of this particular tale could ever be - and I'm thinking specifically of Al Pacino in Scarface here.
You can get the general tone of the proceedings via the trailer up there, and some of the deleted scenes ... and of course kids, there is a moral here: Just Say No.

Northwest Passage

2010-03-22T21:04:00.020Z

Listening to: Santana - Soul Sacrifice

Yes indeed, today the sun doth shine down verily upon the North West corner of the UK. Sonic shorts and footwear are out of mothballs and I'll be giving good ol' Sonic BBQ2 a clean and shine pretty soon too.
Anyhoo, I've just been to hospital for a chat with the very surgeon who carried out this operation on my right knee, some eighteen months back. This was actually supposed to have taken place in March of last year, but for various reasons (including my name getting lost in the system) has happened one year late.
The upside of this hold-up is that my leg has now made a full recovery. In fact, it's in better shape than before my mishap of 2008, although I'd be wise to lay off the breakdancing for a while longer I think. Whatever the case, closure has been achieved on that one.
On another topic altogether, a few people have enquired as to the identity of the gent pictured in the previous post. Y'all can read about him here.
I shall now don some weather-appropriate attire and head off into town to bask in some pre-summer vibes. More later.

The Day Today

2010-03-11T22:37:00.021Z

Listening to: Georgie Fame - Peaceful

Well pop-kids, I've got the Sonic Chariot back, that's the main thing. All being well, it won't be making any more strange noises as I power along Satan's Slip-road tomorrow AM.
Anyhoo, this morning, I took a little excursion on foot into the throbbing heart of Cruel Britannia's City of Culture (2008). I took a few minutes to peruse the mind-blowing bridal fashions on display in the window of the shop on London Road made famous by the TV documentary series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, then continued down this sunny boulevard where, in due course, I was propositioned by a very inebriated gay tramp (U.S. readers: Hobo). He scored extremely low on charm and patter but nevertheless, I wished him good luck on his quest and carried on my merry way.
In the end, the one thing I'd gone downtown to buy (a phone-charger) I completely forgot about, but remembered my Mother's Day card and gift. (This Sunday boys and girls, very important, do not forget).
Tomorrow morning it's back to Chéz Sonique. Hopefully more from there, once I get to the bottom of my remaining tech-woes (see last post).

Rage Against the Machines

2010-03-10T22:48:00.010Z

Watching: Mad Men - The Kodak Carousel

Greetings people. Y'know, during my years here on Earth, one thing I've found is that sometimes, where everyday technology is concerned, once one machine packs up, several other tech-items that you have come to rely on will do the same. In my own case, the Sonic Chariot has been in the car-clinic for most of this week. Numerous problems under the hood need fixing, which won't be cheap.
Now my main computer has decided to mutiny too, and I'm writing this from another machine. I've cleared out a few viral-nasties recently (courtesy of anti-virus app Avast! which I can heartily recommend), however I'm left with one central problem - I can't access this site, or that of my webspace provider. Not sure why this is yet, but it feels strangely specific, even personal I have to say. I've even managed to lose the charger for my mobile phone and am currently using an enormous Nokia from the Cretaceous era until it shows up or I give in and buy a new one. So one way or another, the machines are indeed revolting, and doing so in battle formation. Stay tuned for more war reportage.

Pop Cultured

2010-02-17T22:52:00.016Z

Listening to: Age of Chance - Timeless

In a book-ish frame of mind today pop-kids. Currently thumbing through a splendid volume of music-based photography entitled Pop Cultured by Liverpool camera-meister Mark McNulty. Some essential, often epic, some might say iconic (see above) images and anecdotes contained within these covers I can report.
The best deal on it, I found, was to be had at Amazon. Ordered it yesterday afternoon and it arrived this morning. Yes indeed, we're all living in the Space Age now. So, my robot-friends, put down whatever you're doing, and whether by hover-board or jet-pack, go out and buy this book. Or like me, stay in and buy it.
Whichever, you'll want to thank me later.

Glam-Fix

2010-02-15T17:15:00.019Z

Listening to: Spiderman Theme Tune

It's probably fair to say that I could do with an injection of glamour into my daily existence at the moment. That, and a reminder that the sun is still up there somewhere. I don't mean Caligula-style decadence or anything. A hot country, a sun-lounger, a tall drink and some decent reading matter would do the trick. For now, the nearest I get to a glam-fix is watching Madmen every Wednesday night.
That said, February, apart from being the coldest month, is also the one when thoughts turn to sunnier prospects, and an end to hibernation-mode seems that bit closer. I even bought a pair of anticipatory flip-flops today from Primark. £1.50 well-spent. There's no harm in being prepared I always say.
On another topic, I've had numerous queries concerning the non-appearance of a new Live at Chéz Sonique set. Apologies music-lovers, but the hold-up is due to a few tech-problems I've been having. One was with my domain-hosting company; their server got hacked and they had to change all the log-in passwords. The email that notified me of this got spam-filtered by AOL (see previous post) so I was offline for a while there when I needn't have been.
Also, most of the tracks I use in the Chéz Sonique broadcasts are digital-transfers from my vinyl collection. The software I use for this went into mutiny mode and caused further hold-ups. Yessir, the machines sure are revolting.
Anyhoo, with a bit of luck I'm now on top of these gremlins so another musical despatch from Chéz Sonique will be with you very soon.
Peace, out.

A-O Hell 2

2010-02-06T15:56:00.009Z

Listening to: Stevie Wonder - Superstition

Greets peeps. Well, just when you thought Spring was around the corner, more white stuff falls from the sky and puts everything back a few weeks. On top of this I've been beleagured by tech-problems of one kind or another recently. The battery that powers the Sonic Chariot's engine decided to give up the ghost a few nights back. The freezing fog that had settled around Chéz Sonique probably didn't help matters but it was particularly annoying because the component in question was less than a year old, and I don't like having to walk anywhere if it can be avoided.
I also have an ongoing problem with AOL, my ISP. I cannot get online from my main computer despite the little flashing green light on my wireless router telling me that I actually am. A forty minute pep-talk, paid for by me, with an otherwise very personable AOL tech-chap in India also proved to be a complete waste of time. A new ISP may be on the cards very soon I think. If anyone out there has any recommendations in this area, please let me know.
Aside from these petty annoyances, I'm looking forward to the Spring now. I've had enough of damp and darkness; soon I shall bestride the Earth in sonic shorts, boys and girls.

Sonic Beach

2010-01-16T22:02:00.033Z

Listening to: Black Sabbath - Sweet Leaf

G'day boys and girls. Moving very slowly into January and 2010 over here. Like most other burrowing marsupials, I'm in semi-hibernation mode at this bleak juncture in the calendar, so I'm hardly at my most alert or motivated. Slowly but surely though, this will change.
Sub-zero temperatures haven't helped of course. It's as cold right now as I can ever recall it being, but as y'all know, it's Forever Summer in my mind. This is no easy task I can tell you. I mean, just take a look at that pic up there. A time-worn snapshot of post WW1-era smalltown, hard-times Britain? Nah, a pic taken from the doorway of my local Sainsbury's earlier today.
That's the state of play in Cruel Britannia as I type, pop-kids. As Daphne Du Maurier once wrote, it's grim Up North. However, years of yogic discipline and self-deprivation have given yours truly the ability to completely blank out my immediate surroundings at will and mentally repair to my favourite sun-lounger on Sonic Beach, far away in time. This is why I'm such a sunny, warm, agreeable person, pretty much all the time. Seriously, anyone who knows me would tell you the same.
Peace, out.

About the Weather

2010-01-06T12:56:00.018Z

Listening to: The Shadows - Frightened City

And lo, Cruel Britannia did completely close down and grind to a halt. Because of snow and ice. In January. Who could've seen that coming? Schools closed, cars abandoned, airports shut down. All for the lack of some grit being thrown on the roads, from what I can see.
And with that opening observation, bang goes one of my Nu-Year's resolutions - ie, not moaning about the weather. The sad truth is, I enjoy it too much. It's one of life's pleasures for us hard done-to Brits. So as long as cold weather in winter continues to be headline news over here, I'll feel justified in moaning about it.
In other news I'm currently in the process of assembling another mix for your Nu-Year's delectation, which I'll be posting as soon as it's finished. Ok, Forward my little friends...

At last - 2010

2010-01-01T13:09:00.020Z

Listening to: Unkle - Heaven

Happy New Year one and all. Yes, 2009 is finally behind us, and a new decade beckons. I've never known a year that so many people claimed to be their worst. Say what you like but there's definitely something astrological going on there pop-kids. As is my custom I stayed at home on the last night of 2009. Apart from my aversion to Auld Lang Syne-orientated revelry it didn't seem like a good idea to give whoever's in charge Up There one last chance to rain down misfortune on my year. Thus fine wine, pizza and a Robert De Niro flick sealed the deal for me last night. That said, I still do the flinging-the-front-door-open-at-midnight thing, and watching the fireworks etc, so I'm not a complete New Year party pooper. Right boys & girls, helmets on and here we go into the Great Unknown...

Yuletide Preparedness

2009-12-23T11:30:00.018Z

Listening to: Ramsey Lewis Trio - Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Some things continue to amaze, year in, year out. Like the apparent surprise expressed by councils the length and breadth of Cruel Britannia that snow and ice might actually be a reality in December. Like the scenes of near-riot in any given supermarket or department store on any given day in the lead-up to Christmas. It seems to begin slightly earlier every year.
Anyhoo, my up-at-the-crack-of-dawn-to-shop approach (see previous post) worked in the end, and I pretty much have everything done that needs to be done. Plus I managed to traverse Satan's Slip-Road (Southern readers: the M62) without too much grief earlier today. Never a relaxing trip at the best of times.
Of course, in accordance with government guidelines, I'd packed a thermos of coffee, some blankets, stout walking-boots, some flares (no, not the trousers) and a supply of glucose tablets, just in case of climatic Armageddon. Over here, you just never know.
Ok, onward into the Season of Goodwill we go.

Fear of Christmas

2009-12-21T21:43:00.009Z

Listening to: Lou Rawls - Good Time Christmas

The scene at 7.30am this morning, as I trudged my way through the local streets to go swimming with the dolphins. Yes, you read it correctly dear reader. Swimming. I even opted to travel on foot, as the Sonic Chariot was sufficiently buried in ice that I decided to let the sun do all the hard work later in the day.
Let's face it, I'm about to spend the next week laying on a settee in the land of my forefathers, with a TV-remote in one hand, a flagon of wine in the other and a vast tin-box full of Cadbury's Roses on my chest. Just like it says we must in The Bible. So in preparation for this joyous celebration, I figure it's probably best to snatch a few minutes of rogue exercise while I can...catch my body all unawares, like.
I also have some last-minute-but-crucial Yuletide shopping to do, which will see me in the local town centre tomorrow before sun-up.
I actually tried this earlier today. Drove 5 miles, parked the SC near as possible to town, walked for 20 minutes and, upon arriving in Leeds, was presented with what looked like a series of out-takes from a George Romero flick. Queues everywhere. Queues to join queues. I turned on my heels and headed back the way I'd come, without so much as a greetings card to show for it.
Tomorrow I shall repeat the exercise but at a ridiculously early hour, before the Army of the Undead have risen, and begin their day's shopping. I shall report back.

Sonic Santa

2009-12-08T18:04:00.007Z

Listening to: Babs Gonzales - The Bebop Santa Claus

Ok mon petit blogettes, as mentioned in the previous post, I've been putting together a Yuletide music mix, and there it is, over there on the right. Click on the green arrow to listen, click on the link below to see track-listing and download. I tells ya pop-kids, some of those selections are not easy to find these days. The Bebop Santa Claus has long been a Festive favourite of mine, and I never get tired of listening to Porky Pig's reading of Blue Christmas. Lou Rawls, The Ronettes, White Stripes, Little Cindy, the Brady Bunch and more. All the greats in one 26-track long Festive procession of Yuletide jollity.
I actually compiled this because I can never find a Christmas selection that I like enough to buy, so here's the answer. Lovingly crafted by my own fair hands, and free for y'all to download - until Twelfth Night that is, as tradition decrees. Enjoy.

Live at Chéz Sonique Vol 2

2009-12-04T14:32:00.016Z

Listening to: Live at Chéz Sonique Vol 2

Greetings music lovers. As I do every year around this time, I'm getting the Christmas Fear. I'm hoping that the ritual dressing-of-the-tree ceremony at Chéz Sonique later today will ease the fear factor a little. Naturally there will be some ritual drinking-of-the-alcohol to accompany the proceedings. Tradition in these matters is of the utmost importance.
Anyhoo, in the Yuletide spirit of Giving, I present to y'all my latest Sonic Odyssey, Live at Chéz Sonique Vol 2. Click on the orange arrow over there on the right to listen. Click on the link below to see the track-listing and download.
Tastemakers at large have already given Vol 2 the thumbs-up and it has been broadcast on the Joe McKechnie Show, alongside a superb Underground Resistance mix. See what you think pop-kids.
I'm currently preparing something with a seasonal theme, so stay tuned.

Vinyl Thrills

2009-11-26T16:23:00.010Z

Listening to: Leonard Cohen - Democracy is Coming to the USA

'Sup homies. This afternoon finds yours truly putting the finishing touches to another barrier-breaking/envelope-pushing half-hour mix, cut and crafted by my own fair hands. This one is destined for an online radio show (details to follow) but I shall be uploading it here for all you taste-makers and Sonic thrill-seekers to see what you think.
Tiring of the acres of files on my hard-drive, I've definitely rediscovered my love of vinyl lately...in particular the 7-inch variety. I'm not even talking about the more celebrated specimens that sport a picture-sleeve, though obviously that is the ideal aesthetic situation for a small, round piece of plastic with a hole in the middle to be in.
However, some of my collection comes from a time when 7" singles were taken from pub jukeboxes and placed in revolving racks in local sweet-shops, waiting to be loved a second time. I think Marcel Proust wrote about just this at some length.
Anyhoo, some of these gems will undoubtedly be finding their way into my own particular take on Mixtape Poetry, then out there into the cold, dark recesses of cyberspace. Now that's one epic journey pop-kids. Stay tooned.

Live at Chéz Sonique Vol 1

2009-11-08T16:45:00.021Z

Listening to: Live at Chéz Sonique - Vol 1

Greetings y'all. Well, it must be said that recently, the onset of the the dark months has seen yours truly in an unseasonably celebratory mood. Not quite ready for hibernation, I've been hosting a few off-the-cuff music appreciation evenings, so to speak, for a select coterie of guests. The soundtracks for these events - compiled and mixed by myself - have proven quite popular with the assembled party-goers. Lots of cuddly 7 and 12-inch vinyl will have this effect, I find.
So instead of handing out CDs, I've uploaded the first of these mixes to those kind folks at SoundCloud - over there on the right pop-kids. Click the blue arrow to listen. Click on the link to see the track-listing and download. As the tracklist indicates, this ain't Judge Jules. Just stuff I like, cut and re-shaped to my own personal requirements. With this as the basic template, expect further installments as and when. Enjoy, music lovers, and all comments welcome.

Halloween

2009-10-31T16:08:00.050Z

Listening to: Sonic Youth - Halloween

Good evening people. All Hallow's Eve is upon us once again. This time last week here in Cruel Britannia, the clocks went back one hour, thereby plunging us hapless inhabitants into the season of death and decay, which the more seasonally deluded of you out there are wont to refer to as Autumn. Not I though. Despair all ye who enter this season.
So, anyone who's been paying even vague attention around here will recall that I'm all in favour of scarey stuff. Other commitments have prevented me from doing the Halloween thing for a few years now, but this year, falling on a Saturday as it does, things are looking up. Not that I'm planning on leaving the house dressed as Wonder Woman or Charlie Chaplin as our U.S. cousins have taken to doing though. If I ever dress as Wonder Woman I tend to do it indoors anyway. Too chilly.
No sir, Halloween still equates to scarey around these parts, so I've a shortlist of movies that must be watched. Not sure what yet, but the Blair Witch Project is looking good. I've also ordered pizza that has the mushrooms fashioned into the likeness of a laughing skull. If I can obtain scarey alcohol locally, I'm getting that too. I even have a black cat resident in Chéz Sonique for the evening. Yes, really.
Moooohahahahaaaa!

Heading for the Hills

2009-10-14T22:35:00.012Z

Listening to: Soulful Strings - Burning Spear

Currently in the land of my forefathers, about to set off to West Wales for a few days of peace and tranquility. A short spell of the above will hopefully reconfigure my brain circuitry and put me back in general harmony with the universe. Restricted access to the WWW and technology generally will be no bad thing either. Just me, the birds, the badgers, and Mother Nature watching over us all, even when we're in the pub.
Canfod 'ch i mewn hychydig ddiwrnodau pop-fynnod.

Age of Chance v Guardian

2009-10-09T15:27:00.025Z

Listening to: Age of Chance - Kisspower

Just a quickie boys & girls, by way of an add-on to that last post:
Age of Chance v The Guardian is out today. A great interview with Angus Batey, y'all can read it online here. Having just read it myself, I think I might dig out some of my old cycling-gear from the vaults then maybe wander around the environs surrounding Chéz Sonique in the hope of being recognised by Guardian readers. Yes, badly in need of an ego-rub here. However, a more likely scenario is that I'll end up getting chased into a deserted windmill by irate local arbiters of good taste brandishing farming implements and flaming torches. As of today I say, screw 'em - read the papers fules, I'm a Pioneer, it sez so right there. Peace, out.

This is the Age of Chance

2009-10-06T18:34:00.048Z

Listening to: Age of Chance - Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Noise

The musical part of my previous existence is now available to buy pop-kids, as EMI have digitally re-issued the entire Age of Chance back catalogue. Yes indeed, the dayglo-constructivist-lycra-clad underbelly of the 80's is out there and available once more.
While I'm at it, here are some links which the more discerning music-lovers amongst you will find useful:

Age of Chance back-catalogue - Buy here.
Also released are 3 previously unheard tracks from the Playing With Fire sessions:
Definition of a Riot - AOC's wild deconstruction of Flame On and 2 other remixes:
The Longest Day and Midsummer RMX. Y'all need to hear these.

AOC Official website - here.

Of special note with the latter is the sleeve artwork section here. There are some great little hidden eggs in some of the sleeves for your visual delectation. Look carefully.

Great interview: AOC v The Quietus here

AOC Back-Cat reviewed here (click Reviews > Age of Chance)

Age of Chance live onstage - Great photos here

Excellent article on the AOC sleeve-artwork company Designer's Republic with free downloadable and very groovy DesRep Mix - here.

AOC's legendary, super-rare 12" sample-fest Kisspower: Free download here.

There are two items which are not being re-issued - The first two 7" singles Motorcity and Bible of the Beats, on the band's own Riot Bible label. This is because EMI don't own the rights to them, AOC do.
I'm sure they'll make a reappearance at some point in the future, but for now Motorcity is on the accompanying CD to John Robb's current bestseller Death to Trad Rock, an exhaustive study of the 80's Indie/Noise scene, which of course AOC feature significantly in. Available here and all leading book shops. If you can't rush out and buy this one right away, you'll be wanting to place it at the very pinnacle of your Christmas list.
Bible of the Beats, on the other hand, is available on the excellent 2-disc, 48 track CD86 compilation, here.
Make copious notes class, as I'll be asking questions at a later date.

It's a Beautiful Day

2009-10-05T15:34:00.007Z

Listening to: Burial - Versus

Hello boys & girls. No, not the U2 song of the same name. It just is. A beautiful day, that is. October and the sun still shines down on selected corners of Cruel Britannia. I didn't feel so great yesterday to be honest, but today, once I'd taken my morning swim with the dolphins then re-emerged into the sunlight, everything seemed right-ish again.
Part of this has to do with me giving up on one or two projects that were proving to be a definite waste of my time and energy. Sometimes you just have to admit defeat and bow out, and I have. The upside is that now I can better use my time for things that really matter, and I'll be sharing these with y'all pretty soon.
Today I also dropped off a couple of big bags of clothes-I'm-never-going-to-wear-again (some of them quite groovy I'll have you know) at the local RSPCA shop, so the cats and dogs will all be cheering too. Good Karma must be on the cards for me now, surely. I have a definite cosmic backlog of that particular commodity which I need to collect, quite soon if possible.

Summer the 2nd Time

2009-09-12T14:56:00.021Z

Listening to: Alice Cooper - Hello Hooray

I report, dear reader, from the throes of an ongoing heatwave here in Cruel Britannia. No, not a misprint, and not an opener I've used before it must be said, especially in September. As far as I'm concerned, if at all possible, on that rare occasion the sun comes out to play these days, it's time to put down whatever you're doing and re-organise your day. The cold hard fact is that very soon the Great Darkness will descend upon this fair isle, and that will be that until next Spring.
Along with this all-pervading gloom come the Winter Apologists - you know 'em, drizzle-loving, dampness addicted - singing their seasonal song about the ever-changing colours, the kaleidoscopic beauty and natural wonderment of Autumn. Yeah, maybe in Aspen, Colorado you delusional flower-children. Over here it's just Brown.
It's all part of the Weird Weather patterns we live with nowadays though. I mean, the last few days here have been sun-drenched and cloudless. We just don't get to see that anymore, even in midsummer. Anyhoo, I'm just going with it while it lasts.
On another topic altogether, yesterday as I'm sure y'all know, was the eighth anniversary of 9/11. Normally I'd have done a commemorative blog in accordance with this, but I just couldn't rouse myself at all. A couple of nights back I watched a U.S. TV documentary whose entire remit was to make 9/11-as-Inside-Job theories look like Aliens-have-fiddled-with-me ramblings. Nothing new there I know, but it insulted my intelligence enough for me to switch it off, and kind of dulled my urge to write about it.
Even the most obvious aspects of the 9/11 attacks bear further investigation. Like, whatever it was that hit the Pentagon and exploded, it most definitely wasn't a Boeing 757. As a recent speeding summons of mine stated: We have photographic evidence.
The 9/11 Truth will out in the fullness of time pop-kids, you'll see.

Ellie Greenwood

2009-08-27T21:12:00.008Z

Listening to: See below

This RIP thing is getting depressing, so I'll keep it short. Reading about the death of Ellie Greenwood today, I knew that she'd written a fair number of 60's hits but I never realised just how many. Let's face it, she'd have gone down in history if she'd only ever written River Deep Mountain High, but she penned so many transcendent pop songs it's untrue. Phil Spector's Wall of Sound would never have been built without her, and the history of popular music would've been very different indeed.

A Random Thing of Beauty

2009-08-23T21:25:00.007Z

Listening to: MFSB - Love is the Message

Here's something I came across over the weekend, and I post it for no other reason than it made me smile. I'm no Luddite, but it's so good to see a place like this doing brisk business. Long may it do so. For much the same reason, I'm currently listening to the mighty MFSB anthem Love is the Message. A great way to enter the coming week. Click on the title above and turn your speakers up to see what I mean. I should do more of this random stuff pop-kids, it's jolly therapeutic.

Exit Les Paul

2009-08-13T20:07:00.012Z

Listening to: Apollo 100 - Joy

Guitar legend Les Paul died earlier today, aged 94. Without him, it's difficult to speculate how any music over the past 60-plus years that ever required an electric guitar might have ended up sounding. Such were the strides he personally made in guitar and recording technology. In tandem with this, he developed a truly innovative playing style and had a successsful recording career - 36 gold records and 11 US number ones. In every sense of the word, a complete Original.

Back on the Horse

2009-08-06T13:00:00.014Z

Listening to: Unkle - I Need Something Stronger

Good day music lovers everywhere. Every morning this week for yours truly has started at 8.00am in the basement of Chéz Sonique, the swimming-chamber. Yes, I've decided that it's officially time to get things moving again with a spot of the ol' exercise. I've not done any of the latter for much too long now, mainly due to my Big Mishap of 2008. To this end I have returned the relevant staff to full-time duties and have, with their assistance, managed to regain some of my former aqua-skills. Not exactly back to my Young Dolphin status of course, but I have no doubt that this will come.
It's time to celebrate what's left of the Summer pop-kids. If I owned a surfboard, I promise you I'd be waxing it vigourously.

The Weekend that Was

2009-08-03T08:19:00.020Z

Listening to: Moon - OST

Good morning Blog citizens, welcome to the week. Not a bad weekend all in all for yours truly. Saturday I was interviewed by Mr. Andrew Collins for BBC 6Music. Arrived at the studios early so that Panic would not be allowed to enter the proceedings. Found there to be no-one on the reception desk, doors locked, no lights on. Stood outside for 15 minutes or so, until I could alert a grown-up to my predicament. After some indoor waiting around, I was shown to a small room by a helpful chap, who handed me a pair of headphones and informed me that the appropriate folks would be 'Dialling me up as and when'. Helpful Chap then ran off at top-speed to present the news on local TV. My thanks to him.
I sat and stared at a grey wall, listening to the amplified sound of my own increasingly shallow breathing in the head-set for 20 minutes or more. Several calls were made to yet more grown-ups, each growing in fractiousnesss. Panic entered the proceedings. Eventually, I'm happy to report, contact was made and an effortless conversation about the finer points of Popular Culture was broadcast to the nation. Result.
This morning I have swum like a juvenile dolphin and am supercharged with positivity for the coming week. Onward.™

Curb Your Seinfeld

2009-07-31T21:55:00.012Z

Listening to: Fever Ray - When I Grow Up

At last, amid all the war, famine, pestilence and downright rudeness out there, a sign that there may indeed be a God. The entire cast of Seinfeld have been written into the forthcoming 7th series (U.S. readers: Season) of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Read about it here.
I can only imagine that Michael Kramer Richards will be glad of the employment again following his onstage meltdown of a couple of years ago.
For anyone not familiar with Seinfeld who may be experiencing some Sein-Curiosity, try watching Curb (as we say) then working backwards to it. You'll see the evolution. Don't bother too much with the last few series though. Co-creator Larry David had left to do CYE by then, and his absence was more than evident. Go for what are referred to on the box-set as the Yadda-Yadda Years. Then, when you've learned all the scripts, get back to me because I don't know many, in fact any Sein-Fans and I need recruits with whom I can back & forth all the one-liners and in-jokes.

A Dose of the Ethers

2009-07-29T15:46:00.010Z

Listening to: Psychomania OST

So what's new in Sonicworld I hear y'all ask? Well, I've been struck by computer woes recently. My broadband access was powered by a Jurassic DSL modem, which this week has been sounding it's death rattle. Only problem with it's replacement, a super-slick modem router, is that it requires an ethernet connection that my not-exactly-new computer doesn't have. I duly located and purchased an ethernet adapter on Ebay for £1.99. Only after I clicked Buy did I learn that these gizmos apparently slow down your net-speed somewhat. So I ended up buying an ethernet card this afternoon. Couple of hours later, both card and router are installed and running nicely, so all's well. Now I don't have to leave the cosy confines of Chez Soniqué to use the facilities at the local library for local people. The whole scene down there is just too weird for me.
In other news, the people in charge of the UK's weather have admitted that they got things wrong a while back. Turns out that our summer of lawn-darts, croquet, daisy-chains and al fresco dining was a government lie. Instead, it's sideways rain and central-heating. Now there's a thing.

Ill Communication

2009-07-20T21:58:00.007Z

Listening to: Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty

The Beastie Boys. Probably the only act I can think of that have, for over 20 years stayed consistently inventive, never switched into creative cruise-control and remained the best at what they do. No-one else from their era has achieved this. They're the only band that have had real longevity, of whom I can honestly say I like their entire career's output, in all it's musical meanderings. With anyone else I'd have to cherry-pick the best bits. I still look forward to their releases like a 13 year-old, and usually buy on the day of release.
So here's Adam MCA Yauch sharing some generally not-so-great news with the world at large. This clip also proves beyond all doubt something I have known since the birth of time: Without a sense of humour, you have nothing. Get well and get back out there sir.

Here is a Bulletin

2009-07-18T10:24:00.004Z

Listening to: Steinski & the Mass Media - The Motorcade Sped On

Walter Cronkite, the most famous newsreader of all time died yesterday aged 92. At the risk of being percieved as some kind of death-blogger, (see previous) I post this news because Walt's rich baritone was, in time, set against Charlie Watts' cowbell to end up immortalised on vinyl in Steinski's cut n' paste masterpiece The Motorcade Sped On. One of my favourite tracks of all time, I need very little excuse to feature it. Click here for the audio plus some great visuals.

MJ: In Memoriam

2009-07-08T23:09:00.022Z

Listening to: Mighty Dub Katz - Let the Drums Speak

Well, it was a fitting end I suppose. A surreal life followed by a truly surreal spectacle in death. I can't say I watched much of the Michael Jackson funeral-memorial to be honest, but I was compelled enough to keep channel-hopping back to it. Every time I did I was presented with something I just couldn't quite get my head around. The intense grieving of a family and an extended family, presented live onstage. The coffin, spot-lit in front of the stage was the final unreal cherry on the crazy-cake for me. Jeff Koons himself couldn't have done it better.
I'm wondering if this will mark the start of similar events around future showbiz deaths. Truth is though, that not many people ever get to the level of global celebrity that Jacko did. World politicians don't get send-offs like this one, never mind slebs.
Given that the depressing economics of the recording industry will almost certainly ensure that U2 are the last of the Huge Monster rock acts to roam the Earth, (if they were a new band, they'd have been dropped after the first album) MJ will similarly be the last of the Uber-solo performers. I can't think of anyone bigger right now anyway. No, not even Madonna.

Michael Jackson

2009-06-29T12:59:00.028Z

Listening to: Jackson 5 - Looking Thru the Windows

I wasn't planning to contribute anything to the already overwhelming volume of online responses to the death Michael Jackson last Thursday. To be honest, like most of us, it's a long time since I've thought of him as anything other than the world's most famous victim of Sleb Culture. But as someone pretty good at writing about these things once said, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone -and I got to thinking. Ok, it's been a while since he's been on top of his game recording-wise but so what? When Sir Paul eventually goes to meet his maker, my bet is that Macca tributes will be waxing poetic about The Beatles, not Wings...who were actually together for longer.

My own first MJ-moment came as a child when I heard the guitar-chiming/stop-start-bass intro to I want You back on the radio. It still makes me, mentally at least, stop what I'm doing when I hear it now. It also occurred to me; how many of us ever buy records, that have lasting value decades after being released, by someone whose voice hasn't yet broken? The Jackson 5 were fronted by just such a performer, but as a listener you never question the 10 year-old pre-pubescent vocal chords. You don't need to, because of the sheer Greatness thereof. Not many 13 year-olds get to record ballads about waking up in the morning next to the love of their life, but his is up there with the best of 'em.

Of course there's the plethora of non-musical reasons for which he had the world's attention: The plastic surgery, the confused sexuality, the (alleged) abusive childhood, the Messiah complex, the children, Neverland, his marriages, his own closely-guarded brood, and so it goes. I always thought that some aspects of his public image throughout the years were bad attempts to look wierd and therefore press-worthy (Bubbles the chimp springs to mind) but there was enough genuine intrigue around him as an individual to warrant attention most of the time, without any invention. One thing's for sure - there'll be some interesting books on their way to the highstreet as I type this.
I'm currently re-evaluating MJ's place on Popular Culture's scale of importance, and I'm placing him a fair bit higher than I might have this time last week.
For now though, just click on the above clip of the J5 performing the awesome Looking Thru the Windows on TV. MJ's great vocal, the orchestration, the airborne backing-vocals, the cavernous chunks of Theme From Shaft-informed guitar alongside it's fuzzed-out punctuations, the moves. It was all there, even then.

Is it safe?

2009-06-19T20:19:00.019Z

Listening to: The Monkees - The Girl That I Knew Somewhere

It's been one of those weeks. Found myself back at the Dental surgery yesterday morning. Ok, I knew I was in for the first installment of a root-canal treatment, and that this probably wouldn't involve many laffs. But I also figured that I'd be dosed to the gills with enough anaesthetic to render this a merely uncomfortable encounter, as opposed to a painful one. Funny how wrong you can be. He (my dental practitioner of choice, name withheld) had decided whilst looking at an X-ray that the nerve of the tooth was dead, and as a result no anaesthesia would be called for. I replied that I really wouldn't mind having some, even if it were for no reason. He ploughed on regardless, partly I think because he was behind schedule with his appointments.
Yes, you know what's coming. No dead nerve to be found, just a live and very angry one. First time I've ever been remotely vocal in a dental situation I have to say. Screaming was simply the natural, primal response to that particular kind of deeply invasive pain.
My dental visits are rarely a leisurely experience these days. Costly too. Private dental treatment costs £180 per half-hour...and that's just the time. Treatment-costs are added to that. You can see why a lot of people who don't have access to NHS treatment are staying away in droves. Back there in three weeks for the second installment. I'm losing sleep already.

April to June

2009-06-01T22:21:00.035Z

Listening to: Burial - Ghost Hardware

Ok, so apparently May didn't exist this year. I'm officially a bad blogger. That's bad meaning bad. It's not that stuff didn't occur in Sonic World this past month, (quite the contrary) just nothing that urged me to render it in written form and blast it into the blogosphere. Bear with me citizens, as this will happen occasionally.
On the upside, the sun has indeed been shining down on this green and pleasant wasteland we know as Cruel Britannia over the last few days. In fact the sun continues to beat down as I write this. I'm feeling quite Mediterranean I have to say. You know those mornings when the sky is that certain shade of blue that seems to make the likelihood of cloud-formation extremely unlikely? Well normally, we don't here...but this last weekend has seen a daily succession of those azure, cloud-free skies. As a result, yours truly is a little less caucasian than I've been for quite some time. Plus, just over one year on from my unfortunate mishap of 2008, my right-leg is working fine again. In fact, it's better than before.
Things are on the Up pop-kids, I can feel it...

Swines

2009-04-30T12:53:00.018Z

Listening to: Grand Funk Railroad - Into the Sun

It's amazing just how quickly you can become totally out-of-touch with what's going on in the world these days. When I went to bed on Monday night, there was some vague news on TV concerning one death in Mexico from something called Swine Influenza. On Tuesday morning I was up at 5.00am (yes, it happens) out all day, and was indisposed for most of that evening due to someone breaking into the Sonic Chariot. The perpetrator had bent the passenger-side door at the top to gain access then made off with a pair of Primark sunglasses that cost £2.00. Don't you just love smackheads?
Anyhoo, my point is that I managed not to see a newspaper or TV news bulletin for a little under 24 hours. By the time I got to see some news on Tuesday night, there were 150 Mexican deaths, with reports of outbreaks in Scotland and numerous other parts of the globe. At the time of writing (Thursday) it is now a Level 5 global epidemic. We're getting leaflets through the door, schools are closing, people are wearing surgical masks to have sex and sales of pork scratchings have plummeted. Those germs sure can shift themselves pop-kids. It really is like one of those future-doom dramas from the 70's.
Come to think of it, I have at least two of those symptoms listed up there...

Unbridled Optimism

2009-04-24T15:09:00.018Z

Listening to: The Steve Miller Band - Fly Like an Eagle

It must be said that us Brits are enjoying somthing of an early summer at present. I mean, you can pretty much get a sun-tan if you put your mind to it. Excellent for April. Mind you, I recall waxing lyrical about the Weather Gods smiling down upon us around this time last year, and things went downhill for yours truly pretty soon after that. Reminded me that unbridled optimism doesn't always mean that sh*t won't happen. Summer turned into something I only saw on TV and shook one of my crutches at in anger.
Still, as I've been heard to mutter before, this is not a weather blog, although this very topic - The Weather - for me is right up there with 9/11, Scientology in Hollywood, and Seinfeld as being something I rarely tire of talking about.
You'll find examples of each of these scattered around this site in various places, though thinking about it now, it's been a while since I even mentioned the crazy futuristic cult of Scientology...and now we have the whole Will Smith thing to think about. Expect an update on this.

Fear of Facial Hair

2009-04-07T09:48:00.036Z

Listening to: Wicker Man OST - Willow's Song

Caught Fleet Foxes on the Culture Show over the weekend. Music aside, what caught my attention was the band's apparent devotion to facial hair. The appeal of the latter has always been a mystery to me, especially when exhibited by the under-60's. Ok, your songs may be sourced directly from 1968 but you can still indulge in a little grooming now and again, no? Whatever fashion-based skeletons I may have packed tightly in my cupboard, I can assure thee that face-fuzz sure ain't one of 'em.
And while we're at it, that interview... jeez, it's like something from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I'm sure the lead-beard is one helluva song-writing prodigy, but if you remove the word 'Like,' he actually utters about 6 words in total, proving that sometimes there's a lot to be said for faceless techno anonymity.
Don't get me wrong pop-kids, I can be a sucker for timeless-acoustic-guitar-from-wooded-glade-in-Laurel-Canyon music as much as the next Mojo-reading beard-jockey, (check out today's Listening to selection) but many of it's exponents, these days at least, don't make for great interviews it has to be said. Now this band of folk-revisionists did it right in my book. Exactly how I like it - no song-explanations, and never, ever any facial hair.

British Summertime

2009-03-29T09:43:00.018Z

Listening to: Chris Rea - On the Beach

And so beginneth another British Summertime. Yes boys and girls, the clocks have gone forward, the shorts are on standby and high-hopes for a long, lazy summer begin to emerge. No matter how much of a pipe-dream it really is these days, you just can't help thinking that a 1976-style summer just might happen again. Aside from the weather though, Summer is also a state of mind. Longer days and lighter mornings make for happier, shinier (and here in Brit-land drunker) people. Could be an interesting season given the predictions earlier in the year of a summer of civil unrest within these shores. Conditions are pretty favourable this year I think.
The tone has been well and truly set this weekend with the Put People First protest in London yesterday, ahead of the G20 Summit on April 2nd. Earlier this week, the the former CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland had his house and car vandalised by well-wishers - or more correctly, one of his houses and one of his cars. He's probably considering spending the summer at one of his holiday-homes.
Of course, whilst behaviour like this can't be condoned, it's a measure of just how hacked off people in this country are right now. Given the international scope of the current economic mess we've all been plunged into, and the amount of heads in the financial-sector that don't appear to be rolling as a result, it could be a very significant summer the world over, one way or another.
Ok, time to wax that board...

Ace of Wands

2009-03-25T19:55:00.041Z

Listening to: Iron roads, asphalt sky, windows made from water

Sometimes you stumble upon something that awakens a memory you'd forgotten you had. No, I'm not talking about Satanic ritual abuse pop-kids - think quirky, of-it's-time 70's kid's TV, the kind that would never get made nowadays. I give you Ace of Wands.
The series featured the adventures of enigmatic blow-dried stage magician and general mystic guy Tarot along with his elemental owl Ozymandias (street-name: Fred the owl) plus a selection of offbeat side-kicks. Amongst these was classic early 70's ethereal chick Lulli, whose telepathic link to Tarot was first discovered when her spooky mind-waves caused him to drive his Jag into her Beach-Buggy. I kid you not Blogettes, this is what life was really like back then...all running along the beach holding onto your floppy hat en route to solving psychic mysteries and infiltrating secret covens of maxi skirt-clad witches in Biba makeup, (some of whom would later reappear in George & Mildred and The Benny Hill Show), against a musical backdrop of freak-out fuzz guitar and free-form Hammond organ improv. In my view, we need to get back to this.
And the theme-tune! Opens with the line 'Jet White Dove, Snow Black Snake' ... see what they did there? Come on, that's early 70's GOLD baby! The music's composer now resides within the ranks of Status Quo, so it's not a story untouched by tragedy. But as the song says: Take what you can from yesterday, the rest beg, steal - or borrow. Wise words for Tarot Children everywhere.
Take heed.

Clear Blue Skies

2009-03-18T15:06:00.009Z

Listening to: Sly & The Family Stone - A Whole New Thing

Greetings my people. Ok, it's been a bit too long since my last post, but to say I've been uninspired in all areas of late would be an understatement. Today however is different. After a warm spring-like weekend and start of the week, today is the day when Winter is undisputably in retreat. I say this every year I know, but unbridled optimism is the natural companion of these unseasonable clear blue skies and warm sunshine, and blow me down, it's still only March pop-kids.
Aside from this I've had little to report of late. As predicted, I'm developing the leg-power of a Teen-Titan, reaping as I am the twin benefits of the Vibrogym and plain old school weight-humping, with a touch of aerobic activity thrown in. By the time Summer is in full-effect, I shall be lightly tanned and finely honed, Greek deity-style, just you wait. Expect photos.

Quads Hams & Glutes

2009-02-27T17:32:00.010Z

Listening to: A Certain Ratio - Flight

Another day, another Physio session pop-kids. I'm now onto below-the-waist weightlifting, and frequently pepper my conversation with terms such as Quads, Hams and Glutes. All very necessary en route to complete recovery I know, but at the same time I'm concerned that my right-leg (the left one isn't involved much at all in these shenanagins) will end up looking like it once belonged to the Thing from the Fantastic 4, while the rest of my withered and under-developed frame looks on with horror and foreboding. Come to think of it, I may even end up in the Fantastic 4 at this rate.
Whatever the case I'll look sensational in a bikini come June, this much I know.

Crunchy Credit

2009-02-16T23:07:00.010Z

Listening to: Stevie Wonder - Living for the City

And lo, it came to pass that another Winter of Discontent is upon us all over again. It was so cold last week that yours truly took to sleeping in a hat, and my accountant advises that I may have to consider a paper-round soon. Yes indeed, these are tough times and no mistake.
My knee problem is still ... a problem, but getting better slowly. Hopefully it'll be right and exact in time for the April-September Shorts-Season that I had to largely forego in 08 due to wearing a leg-brace/using crutches, and being mostly housebound.
Still, Spring is not far away Blog-Children and despite the unremitting bad news economy-wise, there's a down-but-not-completely-out Optimist in me that sits back, smiles, and waits to see what might happen next.
Onward™....

Sunglasses After Dark

2009-02-05T00:22:00.014Z

Listening to: The Cramps - Sunglasses After Dark

Just about to climb into bed when I learned that Lux Interior, singer and founder of The Cramps died earlier today, or yesterday as it now is. Simply one of the greatest performers to front a band ever. Definitely gave me an appreciation of certain kinds of Old Music. He seemed to Live the Life, as it's politely put, without endlessly banging on about it in the press like bands these days do. He was married to the guitar-player Poison Ivy. You just had to see him in the flesh, staggering round the stage in stilettos with his pants around his knees, and it was clear that this guy probably never prioritised getting down to the gym much.
I prefer to remember them from the bass-less Lux/Ivy/Brian Gregory/Nick Knox era, so I've posted the only footage I could find (with audio) featuring that line-up. It's their now legendary mental hospital gig in '78.
Tomorrow, do yourselves a favour pop-kids, obtain and listen to Songs the Lord taught Us.

Exit George

2009-01-31T11:45:00.016Z

Listening to: Jack Nitzsche - The Lonely Surfer

OK, a tad late with this one, but worth ruminating on nevertheless. I've never been aware of quite so many outraged, and plain ol' pissed-off Americans as I have during the reign of Bush - and of course, by and large the rest of the world shared their feelings. However, one aspect of this was, and still is, puzzling; they voted him into office not once but twice. So you could maybe forgive ol' George for thinking that folks kinda liked him, and his policies. It's a bit like when Thatcher was thrice-voted into power over here - you just couldn't find anyone who'd admit to voting for her.
Made for laffs though clips like the above are, it's still genuinely chilling to consider that this was the most powerful individual on the planet for the best part of a decade.

Patti Sonic Avenger-Smith

2009-01-28T10:00:00.035Z

Listening to: The Banana Splits - Tra La La

Not in great shape this morning people. Had a restless, partial sleep at best last night. I dreamt I was married to Patti Smith - as you do - and we were working intensively on 'Because the Night' which was causing big arguments, arrangement-wise. I was thinking 'Why are we working on this now, when it was released back in 1978?' Woke up at 5am with this very thought in my head and perhaps wisely, never went back to sleep.
This is why I'm currently listening to a reassuringly happy tune from my childhood (see above). Great days.
Spookily though, she was married to the MC5's Fred 'Sonic' Smith (until his untimely death in the '90's), so in my fevered dream she would've been Patti 'Sonic' Avenger-Smith. Either way, she didn't need to give up her surname.
Speaking of strangeness, this morning's papers trumpet the bizarre news that Tory party leader (sic) David Cameron has resorted to an appeal to Cruel Brittania's UFO Community, of all things, in an effort to boost it's voter-base. A bit like getting a PowerRangers action-figure free with your Frosties, as an inducement to puchase. Strange days indeed.
Don't get me wrong, I'm open to the extra-terrestrial truth and it's obvious that there is plentiful compelling evidence Out There. But for the leader of the opposition to attempt to use it as a political tool is a big indicator that these are indeed Hard Times.

Vision Off

2009-01-18T15:04:00.036Z

Listening to: Vision On - Gallery Theme

Just reading about the death this morning of Tony Hart, resident artist on BBC's Vision On, the children's art-based series of the 60's and 70's. A generation or three of paintbrush and pastel-wielding kids mourn his passing.
Today's header up there is a link, (as discussed in the post-before-last), so click on it and bathe in the cool n' mellow vibe-fest that was the soundtrack to thousands of gifted and not-so-gifted art-kidettes waiting to see if their daubings would adorn the wall of the Vision On Gallery each week. Remember "We're sorry that we can't return any of your pictures, but there's a prize for every one we show" ? C'mon, what well-adjusted primary schoolboy in their right mind didn't have a thing for Pat Keysell?
For a generation of kids too young to see the 60's (or the 70's) swing, the show's near-psychedelic sections were created by the BBC's back-door Situationist, one Wilf Makepeace Lunn. Can you guess which one he is in the picture up there boys and girls? And they wonder why we grew up strange.
RIP Tone.

Oxygen Thievery

2009-01-13T21:13:00.017Z

Listening to: Burial - In McDonald's

Ok, settling into the 09 nicely now. Not much to show for it as yet, but not to worry. Once we start to get more daylight, good things will follow.
In a week where citizens of Cruel Britannia are reeling from the shocking news that members of our very own Royal Family alledgedly view non-white folk in a less-than-dignified light, my own personal view - that some of the people with whom we share planet Earth are essentially oxygen thieves - continues apace. Not very Christian of me, but there you have it. In 09 I shall work at being a more understanding soul. I'm fairly sure of this.

The Year Starts Here

2009-01-05T20:39:00.010Z

Listening to: David Bowie - Footstompin'

Greetings and salutations people. Hope y'all are recovered from the Yuletide/Nu-Year festivities. Personally I'm more than glad to see the back of 2008, the year that for me became dominated by my right knee. It's still not back to normal but hopefully will be at some point in the new year.
I'm a few days late with my New Year address because my computer decided to blow up on me last week (as did the sonic chariot just before Christmas). I only got it back from being repaired a couple of hours ago, but hopefully normal service can now resume.
Incidentally, I've had a few emails concerning the Listening to: headings at the top of each post. The more inquisitive amongst you have discovered that some of 'em are actually links, and have asked me why some don't seem to work properly.
This is because not all of them actually are links, pop-kids. I occasionally link to, for instance, a piece of Youtube footage that shows a great or better version of whatever I'm currently listening to. All done on a fairly whimsical basis. Some of the pics are links too, but again, not all.
Today you get Bowie doing Footstompin' on the Dick Cavett Show in '74. They don't make 'em like that any more.
So, here's to 2009. Onward™...

Sonic Seasonal Sentiments

2008-12-21T20:21:00.010Z

Listening to: The Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection

Christmas greetings to thee, my people. I have now embraced the sentiments of the Yuletide season in full, and am looking at this winter wonderland through the eyes of a child - albeit one that will be allowed by his parents to drink alcohol in all it's forms for three days solid.

In the spirit of a picture being worth a thousand words, I leave you all with my fondest Yuletide wishes. Please worship responsibly X.

Zippedy Doo-Dah

2008-12-16T12:14:00.020Z

Listening to: James Brown - Soulful Christmas

This morning found me queueing up outside the local Wesleyan Hall, for this is where the nearest Citizen's Advice Bureau to Chéz Sonique is located, and I'm in need of some impartial advice from a grown-up.
On the the phone, the CAB-lady told me to be there around 9am. What she failed to add was that the doors don't open until 10am, so I had an hour in which to admire the imposingly dark satanic facade of this once magnificent religious establishment. Makes Miss Havisham's gaff in Great Expectations look like Studio 54. The clock is permanently stopped like hers, too. If you look closely, you'll also see that the local brethren have named the basement drinking-den Wesley's, in honour of the building's proud past.
Still, as the advice centre operates on a first-come-first-served basis, I ended up as #1 in the queue. I duly got myself the relevant advice - no details yet people, you'll be reading about it in the society pages soon enough - and am back home now. Not for long though because in one hour exactly, I have yet another appointment with a purveyor of the worst form of institutionalised cruelty, sometimes referred to as the Physiotherapist. Yes, my day continues to get better.

Yuletide Gladness

2008-12-15T16:58:00.016Z

Listening to: Miss Kubelik - Autumn's Hallway

Deepest apologies for leaving y'all hanging with that painful Kilroy-Silk pic (see last post). I've had numerous complaints concerning this and rightly so. I am a bad person.
Anyhoo, am pleased to report that I'm getting the Yuletide Gladness at last. Normally by this point in December it's the Yuletide Fear I'd be suffering from but not this year pop-kids. Being untroubled by any kind of work-schedule has it's advantages I have found. Suffice it to say that, for the first time ever, I have finished my Christmas shopping and everything is wrapped-up and ready to go. High quality prezzies too mind you - no hand-painted-pebble-paper-weights or recycled-from-last-year-after-shave.
Regifting is a cardinal sin in my book and I can smell a re-gift from ten paces. Potential bringers of sonic offerings please take note.

I'm a Celebrity?

2008-11-27T00:42:00.023Z

Listening to: Get Carter - Original Soundtrack

Interesting tonight to see that Robert Kilroy-Silk, independent member of the European Parliament, was the first person to be voted out of ITV's reality show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.
The public, who (allegedly) vote by phone for who stays or leaves, were swift to grant him this wish. Now that's what I call unloved by the general public, pop-kids.
Much media-debate has taken place over the value or not of shows like these, but from the point-of-view of those involved the advantages are obvious. Bigger wages and job opportunities upon exit, generally. Apart from Johnny Rotten, who can blame 'em?
However, can there be any more odious an entrant for such a TV show than a practicing politician?
Apart from anything else, Kilroy-Silk has been taking his parliamentary wage, despite being absent from duty, alongside his fee for the show. Preening self-obsession is generally expected in applicants for IACGMOOH - after all, that's where most of the laffs for the viewing public are - but when it's a politician that's involved, as opposed to some forgotten Variety star, the mirth takes on a different, often more uncomfortable tone. Plus, politicians are generally more self-aware, self-obsessed and self-deluded than the average D-List Sleb. George Galloway, please come on down!
It has to be said - and American readers know this already -there's nothing more dangerous or unfunny than a politician with an eye on a show-biz career.

Cassandra Complex

2008-11-17T20:42:00.018Z

Listening to: Dick Dale - Hava Nagila

This is how I began my week.
Just me and Cassandra in the Sonic Chariot parked up a sidestreet in Harehills, Leeds, waiting for a noon appointment with Pain. Another of those Monday morning in-car hot-water bottle scenarios. I definitely need to go somewhere very sunny for quite a while right now, that's for sure.

Same Road - Other Way

2008-11-16T23:57:00.013Z

Listening to: The Spotnicks - Orange Blossom Special

3.00pm today found yours truly hurtling the opposite way over The Pennines on what turned out to be a nice afternoon for a drive...even if it was on Satan's Slip-road. It's still far from being a leisurely outing though, even on a Sunday. Still, I arrived at Chéz Sonique in one piece, so all's well.
It only dawned on me after the fact, but I didn't procure any photo-evidence of either of my two trips into the outside world on foot, this last week. I actually took my camera with me on both occasions ... just forgot to use it at the appropriate times. I'm sure I'll get better at this kind of thing once I remember how to mingle with the public at large again. Just give me time pop-kids, it'll all come flooding back.
Noon tomorrow sees me back on the physio bench at St. James' Hospital, Leeds. Not entirely looking forward to this, as the physiotherapist isn't what you'd call a People Person. Apart from this he specialises in dubious painful physical manipulations,, but not in that this-is-probably-doing-me-a-world-of-good way. My day will improve once I've gotten this part of it done and dusted.
I shall then proceed with my week in a most positive fashion.
Onwards™....

The Opposite

2008-11-12T17:18:00.045Z

Listening to: Todd Rundgren - Hello it's Me

Whilst pondering life's Big Questions, as you do, I've started to consider - as a serious mode for living - a philosphy posited in one of the greatest of all Seinfeld episodes. Seriously. Entitled The Opposite, it's intended as a working method for overcoming pitfalls and hauling yourself onto the right-track in life: If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.

There's something so monumentally correct about this idea, so Zen-like in it's obviousness, that it's just impossible to disagree with the logic of it. It's fair to say that at the moment, my life resembles George Costanza's quite a bit, apart from the fact that I have hair. Thick, lustrous, flowing hair, but I digress. Whatever the case, I'm going to give this approach a serious trial period. As Elaine puts it, there's no telling what could happen from this.

On the Road again

2008-11-08T21:03:00.010Z

Listening to: Late of the Pier - Fantasy Black Channel

Greetings once more my people. Back again on the Lancashire side of the Pennines. I'm hitting the M62 sufficiently often these days to consider writing my own Kerouac-style stream-of-consciousness Bible of the Beats, but using the Devil's Own Highway as my dark rain-lashed muse. Not sure it'd stretch to a book, but maybe a hefty pamphlet would be feasible. I'll keep you posted on that one, naturally.
Anyhoo, the onward march of time sees my once lame right-leg feeling a little better about life, and mobility is now a realistic option for Yours Truly. It's still not 100% straight, but getting there. I feel that my re-emergence unto the outside world is imminent...in fact, this coming week. There, I've said it. I'll have photographic evidence and everything, so stay tuned.

Eternal Darkness

2008-10-25T21:07:00.031Z

Listening to: The Lovin' Spoonful - Summer in the City

So here we are again, poised at that most dreaded Autumnal place in time. The one where we Brits are ordered, by threat of firing-squad, to turn our clocks back one hour at 2am, thus marking the end of so-called British Summertime. This results in lighter mornings for farm workers...or something. Yeah well, as long as they're alright. It also results in night-time beginning daily at 2.30pm until next Spring.
What it really amounts to is a government ploy to make Winter yet more miserable, and lessen the ever-dwindling tendency of the Brit-Proletariat to revolt, and take to the streets with pitchforks and burning torches, shouting about Socialism. It seems to work I have to say - it's just too dark and damp for us to bother, what with all the health and safety laws in place these days.
As I type this, listening to high-winds and sideways rain, I'm bombarding my fevered brain with reassuring Summer sounds. This is because I haven't had one this year, what with the leg-brace, the crutches, the pennilessness, the infirmity and the Old Testament bad-ass weather to top it all off. When I finish up here, I'm going to watch Play Misty For Me, specifically so that I can mentally climb into Clint Eastwood's vintage open-top Jag and cruise the Pacific Coast Highway with my hair billowing in the wind, which in turn is blowin' through the jasmine in my mind whilst Clint and I wordlessly groove to some upfront Big-Band-freak-out selections on the 8-track. Yeahhhh!....

Taking Names

2008-10-09T15:44:00.032Z

Listening to: Black Sabbath - Sweet Leaf

Greetings citizens. This week finds me back in the City of Culture 2008 once again, and in a reflective frame of mind. Today's Doonesbury pretty much sums up the worldwide financial meltdown as far as I can see. Any non-Icelandic folk unfortunate to have stashed their hard-earned with these jokers will be making a bonfire of their Björk and Sigur Rós albums as I type. The whole world has gone topsy-turvy mes amis and, while I can, I'm hiding from it all.
So amid this chaos, how, you must be asking, am I spending my days? I'll tell you. Bear in mind that I'm in escapist back-to-the-womb-head-under-the-duvet mode. In no particular order then, my typical day currently comprises of: Spending ages reading the morning paper; watching Columbo; eating Lidl's own Licorice Allsorts; thinking about having a shower; watching forgotten classics of the 70's on Youtube; looking out the window (upstairs and down); getting knee-massage; thinking about what I'm going to eat next; having my ham-strings stretched; watching Judge Judy in case it's one I haven't seen before. You get the general picture...

A Simple Life

2008-10-03T09:55:00.010Z

Listening to: Four Tops - Seven Rooms of Gloom

Good Morning Blog-folks. Today is all about life's simple pleasures, and here's one of 'em. The accompanying image has been created using http://wordle.net/ a cute little apple that renders the contents of your site in a graphic wordy-type manner. That there is essentially a colour (U.S. readers: color) snap-shot of my brain on a black background. Most pleasing to the eye I have to say.
Ok, now I can get on with my day...

So it's goodbye to this...

2008-09-30T17:10:00.013Z

Listening to: Klatsch! - God Save the Queer
Yesterday I got permission from my surgeon to throw away the leg-brace. I haven't yet, it's in the boot of the Sonic Chariot but a suitably lavish ceremony is being planned as I type. Fire may be involved.
Today I visited my physiotherapist who informs me that now the brace is no more, we can 'Really get down to it', manipulation-wise. As I understand it, this means more effort from me, more pain for me, and twice as much lurking around in the labrynthine bowels of Chéz Sonique with a damp towel and a wine-cooler, (see last post). As if the descent into The Dark Months wasn't traumatic enough for us sensitive artistic types...

Dead of Night

2008-09-25T23:43:00.024Z

Listening to: Yes - Heart of the Sunrise

So I eventually emerged into daylight after one week and five days. I was in dire need of some Vitamin D apart from anything else to be honest. Staying in as a lifestyle just isn't healthy pop-kids.
Once your body ceases to physically move around much on a daily basis, the general rules of body and mind begin to shift in accordance. Well, mine did at least. It's easy to see where good old fashioned Cabin Fever comes from, and I'm pretty sure I could draft out a fairly informative pamphlet on the painful topic of constipation now too. No further details on that one. Mind you, I had the WWW and a couple of chew-toys to keep insanity at bay I suppose.
One thing that seems to happen quite easily is the shift to nocturnal living, especially as some of the best borderline-loony TV is on post-midnight. I'm talking Couples that Kill, Serious Maniacs, and Deviant Outback Activities, after which a restful night's sleep is simply not on the cards I can confirm.
Speaking of strange night-time activity, 1:25am sees yours truly in the catacombs of Chéz Sonique carrying out my hot & cold pre-bedtime knee-treatment. This is where the microwave and the deep-freeze reside, so it is here that it must take place. Damp towel into the microwave at full-power for 2 minutes, then straight onto afflicted knee; then ice (or wine-cooler in my case - see pic) same, straight after. Repeat three times. All being well, there will come a time in the not-too-distant when this won't be necessary, but for now while the rest of decent society sleeps, this is where you will find me.

Me Myself & I

2008-09-12T18:02:00.025Z

Listening to: David Holmes - The Holy Pictures

As of this evening, I have not left the confines of my current location for precisely one whole week. It's a worryingly addictive state of affairs I'm finding, and ordinarily not something to be encouraged. However, the Robo-leg I have to drag around is my sole excuse for the immediate future. Right now I'm enjoying my status as a seldom-seen, twisted, cackling recluse.
I've not even partaken of so much as a single glass of vino since Monday, as buying it would entail leaving this ol' house. I reckon I can last 'til Sunday, so I'll stock up then. I'll probably drink it all in the supermarket, scurry back here, draw the curtains, strip down to my sonic shower-cap and commence talking to my 70's record-collection mimicking the vocal stylings of Peter Lorre in The Beast With Five Fingers.
Yeah right, like you've never done that....

9/11 Seven years on

2008-09-11T12:22:00.040Z

Listening to: BBC News

The seven-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. On the basis that TV footage is worth several thousand words, kindly take a look at this short film. If you've never considered this topic worthy of your attention before now, this will change your mind. If it doesn't, check your pulse - you probably don't have one.
It includes interviews with Larry Silverstein, leaseholder of the World Trade Centre complex, who was awarded over $7,000,000,000 (that's a cool 7 billion to you and I) in insurance payouts after 9/11. The details of that insurance policy alone constitute damning enough evidence for the prosecution, but there's more:

I'm probably not alone in wondering why our American cousins haven't been rioting in the streets these past seven years.
While I'm at it, today sees the DVD release of The Elephant in the Room, a documentary about the 9/11 Truth Movement, which won the Best Documentary award at the 2008 London Independent Film Festival. British Film maker Dean Puckett has even granted permission for the public to make as many copies as they wish to distribute to interested parties. It can also be viewed for free at the film's official website here, as well as YouTube, BlipTV, and Google Video.
Come on people, it doesn't get any easier than that.

News from Northwest

2008-09-09T18:07:00.033Z

Listening to: The TV ad that features Gordon is a Moron by Jilted John

Hello again boys & girls. This evening finds your roving reporter strangely at peace with the world and most things in it. Yes, my sojourn in the land of my forefathers is doing the trick. Not only are there less stairs for me to hobble up & down, but there's also a back-to-the-womb element involved here, which is definitely therapeutic. Just this afternoon, I was rooting through a cupboard for something when I happened upon an old Bugs Bunny Annual of mine from 1974. And with that chance development, there went my afternoon.
Yes, it all came flooding back. Refreshers, Blackjacks, Follyfoot, Kung Fu Fighting, Mojo Fruits, Music Scene magazine, Sherbert Dabs, The Tomorrow People, Vesta Chow Mein, Minstrels when they were Treats, Snickers when they were Marathons, Wagon Wheels when they were big - All the important issues of the day. Not forgetting of course, Popular music of the Glammerous variety. Ah yes, it was a very different time blog-children... (fade-up miserable brass-band music). Have to say though, I've never met anyone else who ever got the Bugs Bunny annual for Christmas.
So I'm easily entertained at present if nothing else, as you can see.
In other regional news, Fleetwood Pier - the jewel in that town's crown - has burned down. Foul-play is suspected. My hunch is that some property-developer somewhere in the Northwest is keeping very quiet indeed. What with that and the giant French spider episode last weekend, I have my days full just keeping abreast of it all.
Expect further bulletins.

Out and About

2008-09-04T19:28:00.020Z

Listening to: LCD Soundsystem - Big Ideas

They say your feet always put on 10 pounds when they're photographed or something don't they? Whatever the case, behold those two Sonic beauties up there. Twisted and bent via a lifetime of ill-advised yet fashionablé et fon-kay footwear, they've seen dancefloor-styles come and go, and taken 'em all on. For now though, a truce has been called. Doesn't that pic somehow embody Summer in present-day Cruel Britannia?
Take it from me dear reader, being on crutches when it's raining, particularly barefoot, conspires to make you feel like some bedraggled Dickensian wretch, no matter how glittery you might be feeling inside at the time. Once those skies open, pure animal instinct dictates that you run for cover, or at least move a bit faster. You can't really do that with these things. You just get wetter for longer, which takes some getting used to at first. Unspoken communication comes into play; passers-by look on sympathetically and you start winking at other crutched-up folks, all Masonic like.
I'm sure I shall emerge from this episode a better person, blog-children. Either that or a complete psychopath. Whichever, I'll have learned a life-lesson. Stay tuned.

1 week down - 5 to go

2008-08-28T13:28:00.015Z

Listening to: The Maury Show

Greetings Blog World. Can't say I've got that much to report as I've not left the confines of Chéz Sonique too many times since my last post. Mind you, on the occasions that I have, I've gained one or two insights into potential problems faced by the disabled community out there.
The first one I came across is the sheer absence of any kind of consideration for the fact that you're hobbling around on crutches given by the bogbrush-mulleted Primark-worshipping Chuckle Brothers clones* that constitute the customer-base of my local branch of ASDA. This refers to both genders by the way. Doesn't bring one's best points to the fore too readily pop-kids. Mind you, this is where a pair of crutches come into their own; They can be brandished, sword-like, to visually enhance a stream of invective at passers-by, and in worst-case scenarios may be used as a very effective blunt instrument....I imagine.
* Apologies to any ASDA customers who may not actually be in-bred/brain-dead/troglodytic.

Toilet Re-Training

2008-08-24T11:18:00.014Z

Listening to: Alice Cooper - Blue Turk

The story so far: As mentioned previously, I shall be living for the next six weeks in a world without underpants. With this in mind, the only civilised dress-solution, as I see it, comes in the shape of integrated undies. By this I mean the kind that come ready-stitched into sports shorts, usually made of netting or similar. Not very sexy, but they provide my brave little soldiers with a barracks, which is of the utmost importance to both of them.
Urination is now a bit of a production, ie, dragging my sorry ass to a suitable location in which to carry out this bodily necessity. None of this nipping to the bathroom lark...I can't Nip anywhere for the foreseeable. I've already cut down on my fluid intake, which isn't ideal.
Anyhoo, yesterday I thought I had a Really Good Idea as regards this problem. It involved a cut-down mineral-water bottle and a skylight. Sadly dear reader, it did not go well; My clothes all ended up in the washing-machine and I had to double-condition my hair. Back to the drawing board I think. Pity, as that would've saved me a lot of crutch-work.
All suggestions gratefully recieved.

Good & Not So Good News

2008-08-21T16:03:00.032Z

Listening to: Sonic Avenger - Cosmic Message

As ever, yesterday's events didn't entirely go as I thought they might. Waiting for the op, I spent over 6 hours watching TV in a waiting area whilst bedecked in hospital attire. You know the kind of thing ... gown, slippers, paper-underpants. Yes, you read it right. Luckily I wasn't amongst the hapless few who mistook the latter for head-wear. It was hard not to laugh though.
It got to the point where I hadn't eaten or drunk anything for 24 hours, (total fasting had been requested) so I was in danger of generally losing my sense of humour about the whole thing. Luckily, just as this stage was being reached, a very large man wearing a mask appeared who then produced a felt-marker and proceeded to draw an arrow on my right-shin (see pic) which pointed to my right-knee. He then led me to a side room where I was laid out on a trolley and injected with what felt like rocket-fuel equivalent painkillers. A veil then descended, some fairies appeared and off we all went. Next thing I knew I was coming round with a very sore and very bandaged right-knee.

No Deputy Dawg, no hurling. Things have indeed moved on.
So the Good News is that I don't require a second operation to reconstruct a damaged ligament (this had been presented to me as a possibility). The NSG News is that I have to wear Robocop's spare leg-brace and use crutches for the next six weeks. Six freakin' weeks.
Every single thing in life now needs re-thinking: Underpants of any sort are a thing of the past...can't get 'em on over this thing. Boxers are simply not an option under any circumstances. Ironically, I now get to wear shorts for the first time this summer as I don't possess normal pants baggy enough to accomodate the Robo-Brace. Bathroom visits are pure theatre.
And this is Day 1...

Go Time

2008-08-19T19:32:00.011Z

Listening to: Led Zeppelin - The Lemon Song

Things sure move fast in the world of doctors and nurses. The phone did indeed ring, and a voice on the other end informed me that I shall be having my knee-op tomorrow morning. It'll mean missing the Jeremy Kyle Show but what the hell. I've been told to be there for 7am, so all being well I'll be back at Chéz Sonique before noon. I had an idea that I'd be waiting 6 weeks or more, so this is a pretty good development.
Hopefully I can resume my extreme breakdancing career by the weekend.

Nurse, the screens

2008-08-15T23:00:00.029Z

Listening to: Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats

So, I finally got the ok for an audience with the knee surgeon, one Dr. Venkatesh, to discuss the results of my MRI scan. Hobbled down to the relevant hospital wing in town, and waited with an army of bruised and battered souls to be summoned forth. I don't mind saying, I always feel uneasy in hospitals. Apart from anything else, in present-day Cruel Britannia, you simply don't know what you might be leaving the premises with, bug-wise. It may well be your last trip anywhere.
Anyhoo, with the aid of a plastic replica knee with all-moving parts, Doc-V explained the general scenario to me. I nodded a lot and pretended to understand. Long and short of it is, I'm getting operated on pop-kids - a personal first. I asked if I could maybe have the op done under local anaesthetic, but the answer was no, as they have to go in pretty deep by all accounts.

I haven't been under general anaesthesia since I had a tooth pulled when I was six. Back then this meant gas. The dentist, attempting to tap into my fast young hipster mind-set, asked what I'd like to dream about, man. Deputy Dawg I replied and promptly fell into a gaseous coma where me, Musky and Vince Van Gopher got into all kinds of crazy scrapes on a rickety old train speeding West, pursued by a gun-toting dog wearing a waistcoat and a stetson. When I came to, I vomited on the dentist. I'm hoping that med-tech has moved on a little since those heady days.
Just so y'all know, I don't want one of those Kurt Cobain-style candlelit vigils in the hospital grounds, as the moaning and wailing will interfere with my recuperation. However, I'll send a P.O. box address to all interested parties where flowers, wine, money and HMV vouchers may be forwarded to. Dig deep my people.
I will apparently get the call by the end of September, ie, the next six weeks, so I'm just waiting for that phone to ring, then it's Go-time.

Isaac Hayes RIP

2008-08-11T11:10:00.007Z

Listening to: Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul

20.08.42 - 10.08.08

MRI Scanning for Dummies

2008-07-15T19:14:00.045Z

Listening to: The ringing in my ears

Now, you'll recall that recent post where I made reference to a mysterious state of affairs that I could not, at that time, be more specific about? Well, I know how y'all worry an' all, so I've saved my explanation until now.
In a nutshell, what happened was that I had an unfortunate accident whilst working in the quiant Roman walled-city of York on a U.S. TV production of Robinson Crusoe. (The Chinese woman however, must for legal reasons remain anonymous until further notice). I inadvertantly stepped backwards from a height of about 3 feet whereupon my right foot hit the ground and my leg moved to the right simultaneously. CRACK! Much pain, screaming, cursing and discomfort ensued.
The long and short of it is that I have some knee-damage which still prevents me from straightening my right leg, the result being that I'm kind of hobbling everywhere. Everywhere I can manage to get to that is. There's lots of things I have to think twice about doing right now I can tell you. Plus, I can't even wear shorts as I have to keep the knee area warm at all times. Yes, my Summer is going great pop-kids.
Anyhoo, thus far I've had a consultation with a knee-specialist, then the same with a knee-surgeon. Today I had an MRI-scan. Not the funkiest of experiences I can safely report. I was bound in a 4-sizes-too-small NHS gown, laid flat and shoved into a huge glowing tube (see above).
Apparently some folks freak out during this process, so I was given a panic-button to press in case of emergency and a pair of headphones. I was then instructed to keep absolutely still for the next half-hour.
Only once I was in there, the machine fired up and I was completely unable to move a muscle, did I discover to my horror that those headphones were for channeling the new Coldplay album directly into my brain. This was ultimately to take my mind off the 130 db of volume produced by the MRI scanner (equivalent to a jet engine) but really, come on, Coldplay?... where's the humanity?
Thankfully the metal machine music was there to take my mind off Coldplay.

Mad Mother Nature

2008-07-01T19:48:00.023Z

Listening to: Jay-Z - Wonderwall

For those of you that have been taking notice this past week or so, behold my Nu-Skylight - the olde one being ripp'd untimely from the roof (see below).
Of course, I'll be needing some further cosmetic work to be done on the surrounding wall-area, but at least I'm watertight now. This is a major plus-point, because typical of July in Cruel Britannia, the rain is currently hammering down.

The only real casualty was my now ex-computer keyboard, which sadly died a water-related death, but was replaced earlier today at a cost of £6.99 from PC World. It all serves as a reminder, to myself at least, of the awe-inspiring power of Mother Nature, when she so chooses to vent...it. Be very afraid.

Wrath of God

2008-06-23T21:08:00.020Z

Listening to: Miss Kubelik - The Very Essence

So there I was was merrily tweaking a few grammatical details in that last post yesterday. To put y'all in the picture, just above my head, from where I sit and tap out these stream-of-consciousness musings, is a skylight. My window to the heavens. A simple old school architectural feature that's been up there for over a century.
Nary a moment after I pressed the appropriate button to hurl my post into cyberspace, those gale-force winds I mentioned came along and ripped the skylight right off the roof - to a location I know not where.
Seriously. As simple as that. I went down into the local streets to look for the missing roof-piece, checking that it hadn't killed anyone or worse still, landed on a car. Nothing. Maybe it'll turn up on the evening news at some point later in the week.
I had to patch up the hole myself using cardboard, duct-tape and bin liners, lashed together up a ladder in extreme weather conditions...and Chéz Sonique is really high up. Like a more fon-kay version of Castle Dracula. I just hope my humble efforts can withstand the torrential rain that's been forecast for these parts tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.
For now, my God a-fearin' o-meter has just been cranked up to 9, out of a possible 10.

Anyhoo, where was I?

2008-06-22T12:26:00.027Z

Listening to: Angels & Sailors - Miss Kubelik & Jim Morrison

Greetings again Earth-People. Currently listening to the lilting sounds of a Force 9 gale trying to lift the roof off of Chéz Sonique. Yes, Summer UK-style is upon us in full effect.
You'll notice that it's been a while since my last entry, and truth be told, it's been down to me not feeling as open and communicative as I usually am. Not the ideal attitude with this kind of thing I know. This sad state of affairs is down to events of the past month or so, which, for legal reasons I must share with y'all at a later date. Suffice it to say for now, that it involves an ancient Roman walled-city, a famous fictional castaway, a Chinese woman, and one very expensive step backwards into the unknown for myself. You know the kind of thing.
Anyhoo, what else?
I'll tell you what else: Miss Kubelik, a Sonic family-member, is
now out there and waiting for y'all. Take a listen to the stunning remix of chanteuse Sarah Nixey's When I'm Here With You, (then click to purchase on iTunes and others, if so desired) plus five other tracks.
Rhapsody in Black and Angels & Sailors - a Miss-K collaboration with the Woodstock generation's favourite Dyonisian consciousness expounder, Jim Morrison - are two tracks I'm rotating heavily as I type here.
Hang loose pop-kids, change is a-comin'....

Robin Getz

2008-05-24T14:59:00.038Z

Listening to: Sonic Avenger - Dirty Worksong

So dear reader, it was my birthday recently.
One of the cards sent to me via Her Majesty's Royal Mail unfortunately went missing, aka, stolen by a Post Office employee. Significantly it was the only item on it's way to yours truly that contained a cheque. I speak with some prior experience of this.
Several birthdays back, I had the same thing happen except on that occasion, multiple cards went missing, and guess what? They too, all contained money. I subsequently logged a complaint through Postwatch.
Approximately a year later I recieved a zeroxed reply essentially negating the very idea that anyone employed by Royal Mail would do such a heinous thing as steal from the mail. Mine had simply gotten lost somehow, apparently.
I remember thinking that, if there was a more effective way of completely wasting my time than registering such a complaint then waiting for a balanced response, I'd yet to discover it.
I mean, they're hardly likely to acknowledge the plain truth, which is that stealing goodies from the mail is, for some people, the sole reason for seeking employment in a sorting office. Who needs overtime when you can go home every night with cash, cheques, credit-cards and other delicious booty stuffed down your pants?
The upshot is that I now request that people send any mail to Chéz Sonique in a brown envelope, in the hope that it will convey a please-don't-steal-me-I'm-a-pamphlet message to any thieving scumbags in the sorting office.
Consequently, reading THIS today hasn't done my blood-pressure any good at all.

Vodaphobe

2008-05-08T17:57:00.035Z

Listening to: Does it Offend You Yeah? - Battle Royale

It's not just AOL. My own private Techno-War is now being waged on two fronts; Vodaphone have joined the fray. Someone has to say it - timing has never been one of my strong points.
Some years back, I went from being a carefree pay-as-you-go kinda dude to having to consider a Mobile (U.S. readers: Cell) phone contract. After a fair degree of research I opted for Vodaphone. Later that same month, that same company made the biggest financial loss in UK corporate history. I'll wait a few moments for that to sink in fully. Corporate history.
Funnily enough, the same thing happened in 2006.

Whatever the case, fast forward to The Present and here I am, still with 'em. Yeah, I know.
Anyway, a fortnight or so ago I decided to negotiate a better deal. To this end I feel, the best way to cut to the chase is simply to phone up and tell 'em you're leaving for another network. You will then be connected to a person whose sole job it is to try to prevent you from doing this.
Long story short: I got a deal that I was reasonably happy with, plus a new phone in the post as part of the agreement. My main priority was that the phone also be a 5 megapixel camera. I figured that having one of these on my genius, creative-ass person 24/7 could only be A Good Thing. I opted for the Samsung G600. Great camera, nice menus, slick design. One problem: Camera part - fine, but nothing else works. Calls get cut off constantly. Most incoming calls never come at all. People think I'm hanging up on them. Not good.
I ring the company. Vodaman tells me to take my phone to the nearest Vodashop. They will run tests, assess the results, and give me a brand new one if needs be. Today I did this very thing.
There, Vodawoman tells me: That's just not true. We never have done/never will do this. Seems that, at best, they have to send the phone off to be repaired - takes at least a week.
I say to her: A mobile phone company telling downright lies to one of their own customers? Say it ain't so!!
She says: 'Hmm...er, yes. Anything else we can help you with?'
Presumably, now's the time for me to re-familiarise myself with the Great British phonebox.

Salute the Season

2008-05-07T19:25:00.010Z

Listening to: David Bowie - Aladdin Sane

Today was that very special day in the sonic seasonal calendar; The day when it is, unmistakeably, Not Winter Anymore. And in Cruel Britannia we need those Big Signifiers to reassure us of this fact. Stuff like, early morning sunshine that hasn't been obscured by clouds by 11am. No socks required would be another one. Today was that day when all but the most earnest of plans were shifted aside a little to allow alfresco eating and drinking to take centre-stage, and this is precisely what Yours Truly did Pop-Kids. Off into the local fiefdom I went to avail myself of fine wines and locally caught fresh fish. Ok ASDA, but you get my meaning.
What more is needed I ask?
The itinerary for the day then dictated itself. Hopefully by getting a little sun-exposure, I've prepared my legs for the wearing of the shorts for the forseeable, along with aligning my Chakras for the next few months activities. Job done.
And so to bed....

A-O Hell

2008-05-02T08:50:00.020Z

Listening to: Brian Eno - Thursday Afternoon

Not long after that last post, my internet access went kaput. Something to do with modem drivers blah blah. What this means in real terms is that, to get onto the WWW, I've had to travel to the local village of Pudsey to use their Local Library for Local People. Have to say, they have pretty speedy computers in libraries these days, and they're free to use. However, I'm a little out of practice with the local library scene, and the first thing that struck me is that Library etiquette seems to have changed somewhat from days of old.
Once upon a time your local library was a kind of sanctuary from the noisy, frenetic world outside. Silent as a tomb. The ticking of the clock, the odd newspaper rustle or an occasional quiet cough was the nearest to noise pollution you could expect to suffer inside one of these hallowed neighbourhood establishments.
Not any more though. See, whispering is what folks used to do. Mobile phones going off all over, (and people answering calls) local kids, apparently taking a break from school, playing computer games to the left and right, (speakers turned up) and giving a running commentary as they do. Apparently, this is all ok now. Library assistants routinely share the details of their weekend/dislikeable sister-in-law/recent doctor's appointment/prize-winning carrots at the top of their voices with everyone within earshot, which means everyone in the building.
Next time, I'm taking my Karaoke machine and a discreet hand-weapon.
Anyhoo, I digress. Bottom line is that I'm now looking to change my internet provider.
AOL have had my custom for the last decade. I've spent hours on the phone to their tech-team in India this week, and been given varying degrees of not-very-useful advice. The final straw was being advised, on my fifth consecutive day of phoning, to uninstall/re-install the software. Truly priceless knowledge. Well, not really...I then discover that their usually free technical support is now charged by-the-minute. I can't wait for the next phone bill.
It's now time to try someone else. All recommendations welcome pop-kids. Have a good bank-holiday weekend.

More Miss Kubelik

2008-04-25T09:28:00.035Z

Listening to: Dadahack - Number Five

Hello again blog cadets. Don't say I don't report on life as it's lived. This morning when I woke up, my very first thought was: This feels like a buying 10 pairs of underpants kinda day. And spookily, this is exactly what came to pass. Ten pairs. All black. All brief. Seemed like the right thing to do.
Anyhoo, a few posts back (take a look in Previously up there on the left) I mentioned a track by chanteuse Sarah Nixey entitled When I'm Here With You, which has been given the remix treatment by my mysterious cousin from back East Miss Kubelik, remember? Ok, well that track has now been given a proper release date: 16th June on Serviceav Records. Here, Take a look. Perfect seasonal timing I think, for such a sublimely summery sonic sketch. We'll be hearing more from the Miss Kubelik Kamp soon enough I have no doubt.
By the way, with reference to that last post, I'm currently hiding from the window-cleaner as I type this (behind closed blinds). What I really need to do now is move. Like I said, life as it's lived. Stay tuned.

That Friday Feeling

2008-04-11T12:39:00.048Z

Watching: The Filth & The Fury*

Like most people, I've always loved Fridays. However this particular one finds Yours Truly strangely out of sorts. I'm not even working for The Man today so you'd think I'd feel all Fridayed-up, but no.
Whatever the case, I earlier found myself watching Julien Temple's great documentary of late 1970's Britannia*, which somehow seems appropriate to my present mindset. A return to simpler times is what I'm currently craving pop-kids. All grainy brown and quaint like. Well, not really, they were quite grim times for the UK, but I'm in nostalgia-mode here so just humour me. Apart from that, and getting dressed, I've achieved little today, thus far.
Actually, one thing I have done is laid a trap for the window-cleaner.
Yes, you read it right dear reader. See, I'm pretty sure he's not been cleaning the windows of Chéz Sonique on at least a few previous occasions that he's been paid for, but I hitherto couldn't prove it. Today he's due again, so I've smeared trace amounts of Vaseline on various windows. Tonight he comes to collect his ill-gotten gains, so it might be a case of release the hounds. Plus, I'll be wanting that generous tip back he got at Christmas. I'll keep you posted.
As the late great Tommy Cooper once pronounced, Hell is Other People, and how right he was.
Onwards™....

Back from the Interior

2008-04-09T16:41:00.006Z

Listening to: Best of The Specials

Da bore blog blant, fi m bacia chan Gorllewin Cymru. Yes Blog children, I'm back from my Welsh sojourn, all lingoed-up and everything. Ended up staying a bit longer than planned; the peace and tranquility was just too hard to give up. It's always difficult returning to real life, however I became one with nature for the duration, quaffed fine wines freely and got a few early nights. You know the kind of thing.
Here's a small selection of pics for y'all.

Westward Ho!

2008-04-03T09:16:00.022Z

Listening to: ESG - You're No Good

Good morning world. Today the sun is shining down on Chez Sonique and the birds are a-twitter outside my bedroom window. I'm in the process of packing my bags and heading off for my first trip of 08 to West Wales. I'll be gone 'til after the weekend, but will report back early next week.
'Til then then....

Pay and pay again

2008-04-02T11:58:00.029Z

Listening to: Jean Michelle Jarre: Oxygene

Interesting to see that everyone's favourite miserablists Radiohead are offering up the component tracks of their current single Nude for interested fanboys to remix. Lots of acts do this these days, and it's a nice idea. Another PR strand for the band in question, not to mention free remixes. Bedroom producers get their names out there. Everyone's happy.
I recall Byrne & Eno throwing us a couple of tracks in the same manner when the 25th anniversary re-release of My Life in the Bush of Ghosts came 'round a couple of years back. However, the Radioheads have put their own interesting spin on this idea; Potential remixers have to pay for the privilege. Yep, fans need to purchase the component tracks (now apparently referred to as stems) from Itunes.
So to date, anyone interested in owning the album In Rainbows has (optionally) paid for the initial download/shelled out big-style for the deluxe box-set/purchased the proper CD. I picked up the latter myself at Virgin just after Christmas for a cool £10. Called into Asda on the way home and found the same CD for £4.97. Now they want more of your money for the honour of remixing one of their songs.
A real error of judgement in an otherwise innovative and apparently highly successful marketing campaign, this sad ploy is the sound of them falling at the last fence. Much as I'm down with da 'heads, it'd be nice if no-one bothered in this instance.

Miss Kubelik

2008-03-30T11:54:00.025Z

Listening to: When I'm Here With You - Miss Kubelik v Sarah Nixey

As promised in the last post, it's now time to hit the beach pop-kids, in spirit at least. Ok, so there's still a bit of a gale blowing across our fair shores, but it can't last much longer - it's Summer, right? It says so on the news.
So, just to get everyone into the correct zone for the forthcoming season, click here for a little scene-setter - courtesy of that enigmatic overseas cousin o' mine Miss Kubelik. Music by Miss-K, vox by Sarah-N.
If this doesn't do the trick, nothing will.

>>>Click here for more on Miss Kubelik<<<

Fun & Sunshine

2008-03-28T11:57:00.021Z

Listening to: Jimi Hendrix - Third Stone from the Sun

Yes indeed people, British Summertime is scheduled to arrive in the UK sometime over the coming weekend, whereupon we all move the appropriate setting on our digital timepieces forward by one hour. Ok, so we lose an hour of sleep somewhere along the way, but when we awake the world will look like the video for Wham's Club Tropicana. Well, in a fair and just society it would. It's so cold and wet here at present that fingerless gloves would be an asset to my typing this. However, this is the season of optimism and my glass is officially half-full.
Off to wax my board.

Paul McCartney...

2008-03-18T13:39:00.053Z

... WHAT THE #@%! WERE YOU THINKING???!!!

That's better...
I've been wanting to scream that out loud for a while now - not at Macca himself though, as he'd probably have his butler set the dogs on me. Let's face it, he can't be in the sunniest of moods at present.
24 million quid for 4 years of marriage, that only a fraction of which was happy. The mind boggles pop-kids. Apparently that equates to £7,000 for each day of wedded whatever. Surely the phrase pre-nuptual agreement must've come up at some point? I tells ya, if the now ex-Mrs. Macca writes a self-help book, I'm buying it.
One of life's true mysteries this, as Mister Paul is famously careful (ahem) with his dosh. Tight as a gnat's chuff I think was the expression Bianca Jagger used back in the day to describe his advanced mastery in the art of round-buying avoidance.
Come to think of it, she was hitched to Mick 'Steptoe' Jagger at the time, himself an honours graduate of the Yorkshire School of Generosity, so that was quite an insult.
Right now Mister Paul needs to shape up, focus, get back on the horse, and get back Out There.
Sir P, if you need any help easing yourself back into the high-life, ring me and we'll do the town and do it classy.
One condition though - we'll have a kitty.

10 Things I Learned this Week 2

2008-03-14T15:39:00.045Z

Listening to: Black Dog - Radio Scarecrow

1) It is perfectly possible to: Reverse a van into a car belonging to the landlord of a pub on a notorious estate, he watches as you do it, and the car in question is a classic Porsche - yet live to tell the tale.
2) Four to five hours sleep a night is just not enough.
3) Primates peel bananas from the bottom up, which does away with those stringy bits.
4) Due to the inordinately long time since I last had a haircut, coupled with my striking good looks, people on the street now often mistake me for David Bowie in Labrynth.
5) Boiler engineers charge £89 just to glance fleetingly at your broken boiler, then leave. Anything else is extra.
6) It's true: Cheese on Toast is one bad choice of bedtime snack.
7) I can sing along to American Trilogy in the car and garner applause from complete strangers.
8) A raisin dropped into a glass of champagne will bounce up and down continually from the bottom of the glass to the top. This also works with Swizzels.
9) Marc Bolan was encouraged to take up guitar by a youthful Roy Castle.
10) In Toy Story, the carpet in Sid's hallway is the same as the carpet in The Shining.

Rites of Spring

2008-03-11T11:04:00.018Z

Listening to: Velvet Underground - Beginning to See the Light

Good morning Blog-Citizens. Yes indeed, despite the wind and rain that has beset Cruel Britannia these last few days, all signs now point to Spring, eagerly waiting in the wings. I didn't sleep too well last night, and so was awake early enough to witness the sun rising over the Sonic Estate. There is endless deep beauty written into those all-too-transient rays, pop-kids.
Why, I've even done some much needed Spring-cleaning in preparation for bright blue skies, Easter bunnies and seasonal larks.
Now, let us walk together, into the light....

Salvation

2008-03-03T20:00:00.013Z

Listening to: My Inner Voice

At some point this afternoon, for no logical reason that I can personally fathom, I found that I now have pictures back at my uploadable disposal. Just like that. No explanations, no 'Sorry for any inconvenience', nothing.
So, much as I'm glad to be able to resume my online ramblings and then illustrate them (again), this has definitely made me curious about alternative methods of doing so (see last post).
Anyhoo, until that time arrives, Normal Service has apparently been restored, and for this I am thankful.

Y'all Apologies

2008-03-03T12:16:00.013Z

Listening to: My teeth, grinding

Apologies to y'all concerning the apparent Sonic radio silence from Yours Truly. I've been having technical difficulties with Blogger, and have now resumed tearing my hair out. (See previous post).
In short I can't upload images, and can't for the life of me figure out why. Something to do with Blogger vs FTP, I think. It's quite mind-numbingly dull.
I'm actually looking at alternatives to Blogger right now; Wordpress, Moveable Type, Expression Engine etc etc. The latter in particular is looking pretty good. Mind you, so is paper and pencil compared to Blogger at this current time.
Anyhoo, stay tuned people, I'm sure salvation is on the horizon.

It's the Nu-Style

2008-02-27T16:08:00.053Z

Listening to: Cockney Rebel - Sebastian

Greetings Music-Lovers. So, what do y'all think of the Nu-look 3-column Sonic Blog? Improved use of available screen space I reckon. More tweaking to do yet (a Nu-header up top for one) - but the tearing-my-hair-out-in-html-hell part is done.

So what else? A goddam Earthquake in the UK is what else. Some geo-wierdness is definitely afoot blog-kids. There I was last night, snoozing soundly in the sonic 4-poster, when at around 0:45 of the A.M., Thunderbird 2 attempted a landing on the roof, and in doing so, displaced me and my bed right into the middle of the room, like we're in California or Amityville or something. Us Brits expect permanent badweather, but not seismic activity.
What with the God's Wrath-type gale-force winds we've had here this week, now this, things are getting spooky. Someone out there has pissed him off, and I know it's not me.
Tonight I'm sleeping with the lights on.

The Ugly Face of Drugs

2008-02-17T14:02:00.024Z

Listening to: Goodfellas - OST

Occasionally, something will come along that near-as-dammit renders me speechless. Thankfully it doesn't often rob me of my ability to type - so here I am - but I digress. This item is one such gem.
Let it be known that Modern Medical Marvels The Rolling Stones have issued a full-on Warning to The Yoof concerning the dangers of recreational drug use.
Cue speechlessness. Ok, that's it. I'm saying no more.

9/11: Slight Return

2008-02-06T11:21:00.008Z

Listening to: Brooklyn Soul - Jay-Z & Marvin Gaye

Following swiftly on from my last 9/11-symbolised-by-Reptilian-Monster-from- Filmland item; Here's a curious little nugget of media-mysteriousness. This has been doing the rounds since last year I know, but I've only seen it quite recently.
The clip clearly shows the BBC reporting on the collapse of WTC Building 7 (AKA the Saloman building) over twenty minutes before it fell at 5:20pm on the afternoon of 9/11.
This incredible footage shows BBC reporter Jane Standley talking about the collapse of Building 7 while it remains standing in the live shot behind her head. If anyone has any kind of reasonable explanation for this, please let me in on it. This is how the BBC account for it.
However, the story doesn't end there. CNN's Aaron Brown announced that the building had either collapsed or is collapsing about an hour before the event. Unlike the BBC correspondent, Brown seemed to be able to assess the actual events through the window behind him and see that Building 7 was still standing -- resulting in a somewhat muddled commentary. See for yourself:

In a nutshell, Building 7 was/is notable because it was not hit by any aircraft, yet collapsed in an identical fashion (completely symmetrical) to the twin towers, which had been hit. Larry Silverstein, leaseholder of the World Trade Complex then admitted on TV news that he and the NYFD commander had between them decided to pull (demolish) the building.
Interesting - and great - to see that Country singer Willie Nelson is the latest high-profile figure to publically express doubts over the events of 9-11.
Let's face it, that 9-11 was an inside job is pretty much the only conclusion a sane adult can come to, given the overwhelming body of inconsistencies and downright lies which surround that particular tragic event.
Further reading about Building 7 and the massive inconsistencies concerning it's collapse: Click here.