Well, it would seem London has had it's mini 2 day freak heat wave, and now we are back to high winds, heavy rain, and dark skies of near biblical proportions. Today's weather should of had an epic film soundtrack from something like Jason and the Argonauts!
I've been sleeping a heck of a lot lately and been feeling real tired. Pretty much missed Friday and Sunday, but from 3am Saturday until 5am Sunday morning I was full of energy! Managed to do a lot of photo-shopping. Cooked a mean Spinach Lasagne of my own recipe. Seems to be a fav for anyone who's had it.
A little story;
Listened to a load of Vinyl for the first time in ages on an old record player I found in a weird little antique store a few days ago which I stumbled across in the most unlikeliest of places, owned by this sweet little old man. It felt magical in there, like I'd walked through a door in time. As the door of the shop shut behind me, with the tinkle of the bell echoing into the distance, the sounds changed simultaneously with the smell and atmosphere of the air surrounding my senses. The lighting was warm and dim, and the shop keeper went about his business in the back with a silent calm about him. I walked around slowly, taking in the details of so many interesting objects and devices, some of which had been lovingly restored, whilst others looked so fragile that they could fall apart with the softest of breath. The record player I bought for hardly any money at all was old and worn. But when I went to the counter to ask why it was so cheap, and if it worked... the shop keeper calmly came over, and with a soft and kind voice said "it is not the value in money that makes this worth your while, but the value you assign to it when you take it home". I stood there for a moment speechless. As I did so, the light touch of his hands examined the player, as he continued to tell me the best way to use it with standard vinyl. As I left, I thanked the wise old soul who served me, and as I shut the door behind me, the same bell this time being drowned out of earshot by the bustle of the city... I walked away. Part of me didn't want to look back, in case the place suddenly disappeared from existence. I went home and fixed up my find with an amplifier and speakers, and tested it out on an old record. Sounded rough, but in a nice comforting sort of way.
It really is something else sitting down and devoting time to music this way. 2 sides tailor made, and the large artwork of a well designed sleeve and inner sleeve notes to read and look at. That's a whole package to me. The marriage of all those elements makes for a totally enriching experience, and you feel you've really gone to another place.
I love shuffle play and mp3's etc, but when you listen to music like that, sometimes, no matter how good it is, it can easily slip in and out of yourself without you noticing... become almost like wallpaper. I'm trying not to loose that by playing albums as a whole too. I've always admired the real skill in track listing an album so it flows well.
Pre mp3 era, I used to make so many compilation tapes of the most diverse music, but spend time getting it to sound like one song flowed naturally from another, no matter how different the type of music it may be. Oh, the skills that get lost over time.
EDIT: I should say that the reason I've been excited to play my vinyl is because the 12"/10"/7" I own are all vinyl only releases of one off things that were never available on any other format, so I haven't been able to hear them for a long time. Some of my favourite songs are on some of them too.
I gotta get me some of these
How about you my friends?
Tell me you're thoughts, funnies, troubles, and experiences
I've been sleeping a heck of a lot lately and been feeling real tired. Pretty much missed Friday and Sunday, but from 3am Saturday until 5am Sunday morning I was full of energy! Managed to do a lot of photo-shopping. Cooked a mean Spinach Lasagne of my own recipe. Seems to be a fav for anyone who's had it.
A little story;
Listened to a load of Vinyl for the first time in ages on an old record player I found in a weird little antique store a few days ago which I stumbled across in the most unlikeliest of places, owned by this sweet little old man. It felt magical in there, like I'd walked through a door in time. As the door of the shop shut behind me, with the tinkle of the bell echoing into the distance, the sounds changed simultaneously with the smell and atmosphere of the air surrounding my senses. The lighting was warm and dim, and the shop keeper went about his business in the back with a silent calm about him. I walked around slowly, taking in the details of so many interesting objects and devices, some of which had been lovingly restored, whilst others looked so fragile that they could fall apart with the softest of breath. The record player I bought for hardly any money at all was old and worn. But when I went to the counter to ask why it was so cheap, and if it worked... the shop keeper calmly came over, and with a soft and kind voice said "it is not the value in money that makes this worth your while, but the value you assign to it when you take it home". I stood there for a moment speechless. As I did so, the light touch of his hands examined the player, as he continued to tell me the best way to use it with standard vinyl. As I left, I thanked the wise old soul who served me, and as I shut the door behind me, the same bell this time being drowned out of earshot by the bustle of the city... I walked away. Part of me didn't want to look back, in case the place suddenly disappeared from existence. I went home and fixed up my find with an amplifier and speakers, and tested it out on an old record. Sounded rough, but in a nice comforting sort of way.
It really is something else sitting down and devoting time to music this way. 2 sides tailor made, and the large artwork of a well designed sleeve and inner sleeve notes to read and look at. That's a whole package to me. The marriage of all those elements makes for a totally enriching experience, and you feel you've really gone to another place.
I love shuffle play and mp3's etc, but when you listen to music like that, sometimes, no matter how good it is, it can easily slip in and out of yourself without you noticing... become almost like wallpaper. I'm trying not to loose that by playing albums as a whole too. I've always admired the real skill in track listing an album so it flows well.
Pre mp3 era, I used to make so many compilation tapes of the most diverse music, but spend time getting it to sound like one song flowed naturally from another, no matter how different the type of music it may be. Oh, the skills that get lost over time.
EDIT: I should say that the reason I've been excited to play my vinyl is because the 12"/10"/7" I own are all vinyl only releases of one off things that were never available on any other format, so I haven't been able to hear them for a long time. Some of my favourite songs are on some of them too.
I gotta get me some of these
How about you my friends?
Tell me you're thoughts, funnies, troubles, and experiences
VIEW 14 of 14 COMMENTS
i got my last clean dirty shirt out of the wardrobe!
and all the good people know...
i most definitely have Hex Enduction Hour... it is a true classic. (ever noticed how much the early Pavement records even ape the cover art?) i wouldn't say that i am terribly knowledgeable about The Fall, but i do own about 8 or 10 albums (funny how that still feels like a drop in the bucket for them). i was just saying in Richardson's journal that i especially like the times they get some beats behind MES, so this von sudenfed is just fucking kicking my ass. i love it. you'll have to hip me to any Fall that might lean that way, perhaps.
i agree that the video becomes rather sexy at points, when i wouldn't have expected it to. as far as i can tell, it's MES basically chanting on about being willing to walk up multiple flights of stairs to "get it" at any point. but who really knows what is in that man's head?
looking forward to reading about your weekend - i'm glad it was a good one, man.