PSB and other stories

 So we went to Glasgow, I'd not been there for quite a while. A Turkish meal - 

Through the window.

Public Service Broadcasting have a new album, The Last Flight, it's based around Amelia Earhart's story. The stage set is like the cockpit of an aircraft, it reminded meof flying out to North Ronaldsay, and Papay.

PSB in full-flight.

The subtlties of the album are largely lost in live performance, but all the same. A great new album and of course they played all our favourites as well. Barrowlands is well suited to their music.

I've been remiss in not mentioning that we went to Edinburgh during the festival, just for a day. Small venues and front row seats for stand-up are not really my thing, but we had got in the queue early and we were ushered to the front of a small but packed venue for Alok. If you don't know them Alok is a bit of a phenomenon (and is not a Brazilian DJ) - 

 

...this Alok https://www.alokvmenon.com/ not the other dj one. (Photo Alok's website, an amazing image, not mine, sadly.)

Politically astute, clever, intelligent and pointed "comedy", funny, but sometimes horrific, not ha-ha. The men in the urinal gag is a good one - especially as heading for a pee later I was fortunate in just avoiding them, perhaps. I think I would have seized up!

Something good to eat and then on to Lisa O'Neill. One of my most favourite artists. Lisa did not disappoint, and a big thank you to her for performing so soon after the death of a close relative. There's a lot of chat between and around the songs, most of it political, Lisa is a woman in tune with our times. It was so impressive that two people could so brilliantly re-create the complex sounds of the last album, stunning. Don't miss Lisa if she plays near you, you will not be disappointed.

https://lisaoneill.ie/home/shop/

Back to the present, or, at least the more recent past.

Much time expended in trying to prevent the closure of our local library. Not unexpectedly the SNP majority council (but not controlled) behaving in a shitty manner. OK, so there's no money, or at least not enough, but, FFS this is a democracy not your own fiefdom. More proof that the SNP's time is done, like Blair's Labour, a hugely wasted opportunity, a chance to do something lasting and good pretty much entirely squandered for short-term politics and the distraction of independence (their hopeless pipe-dream). Having sat, or at least pondered sitting, briefly, on the independent fence (I voted No though) their performance of recent years has convinced me that this is not a party capable of independent government, let alone a party to be trusted with anything more consequential than Hornby OO.

Younger daughter and I watched Paterson, she'd never seen it. It remains my most likely contender for favourite movie ever. I love the cyclical, intentionally coincidential nature of it. Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch it is a work of gentle genius. And coincidentally elder daughter had recently, and entirely independently, declared her liking for it. 

Lastly, the play list.... some great stuff in this one with new albums by Bill Callaghan (Live), Fontaines D.C. and Arab Strap. Also, a new entrant to my greatest ever pop single collection, welcome Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan.

 

Tae Sup Wi' A Fifer

We went to see James Yorkston's Tae sup wi a Fifer, wee tour on Sunday. I was very keen to see James again and as Rozi Plain was on his guest list for the tour this was unmissable. In the end there wasn't quite enough of James, as he generously gave a lot of stage time to his guests, Iona Lee (poet) and Kris Drever (Lau) were also on the guest list. Rozi's set was excellent, and Kris was at his best on accompaniment. Whilst I'm a great admirer of Lau I don't quite gel with Kris' solo stuff. He is a most excellent guitarist and when playing with both Rozi and James the warmth and depth of his guitar sound added muchly to the performances. A plug for Rozi's album - Prize (purchased via Bandcamp) and I came away from the gig with a Prize T-shirt. https://roziplain.bandcamp.com/music

I have realised that there is no Rozi Plain album in my (still uncompleted) list of 104 albums on another page of this blog. Prize would certainly not be out of place there. (I still need to add 29 albums, it's the time to do it, not the lack of music to put there.)

https://roziplain.bandcamp.com/music

Glastonbury sets, gigs, albums and a playlist

Before they're gone... my favourite sets from Glastonbury, and I haven't watched that much of it. But, don't miss - This is the Kit, a set full of love, life and wonder - Nitin Sawney, hugely enjoyable, Nitin and co on top form - Lankum, dark folk, - Barry Can't Swim, pure joy (and the album and new single are also excellent).

I've been to a couple of gigs - younger daughter and I ventured to the Stirling Sessions for cold but stirring outings by noname and Young Fathers - if you get the opportunity to see Young Fathers live don't miss them. Then Louise and I had an afternoon in Edinburgh followed by Nils Frahm live at the Usher Hall. Unexpectedly Nils finished the set with some old favourites, even dusting off the toilet brushes. My favourite albums of late, the afore mentioned Barry Can't Swim and a new record by Cassandra Jenkins, yes it is as good as Phenomenal Nature - and we have tickets for the Glasgow gig.....

Young Fathers live in Stirling.

 Albums - please purchase on Bandcamp if you can -

Barry Can't Swim - When Will We Land?

https://barrycantswim.bandcamp.com/album/when-will-we-land

Cassandra Jenkins - My Light, My Destroyer.

 https://cassandrajenkins.bandcamp.com/

Playlist - 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2saWq7BzfW0tk2fjVhQyec?si=b1b35fc57d004229

 

 

All of Us Strangers

A post-covid evening in front of the TV, younger daughter is charged with selecting a film. I'm still getting over a mild, but tiring and irritating infection, in the mood to accept pretty much whatever is put in front of me.

This is a film that initially requires some patience, it takes a while to figure out what is going on, but patience is certainly rewarded. This surely joins the ranks of my favourite movies. A beautiful, emotional, heartfelt creation. And at the end a perfect choice of song, with a clever visual reference to the original song video. 

Stunning.

noname - Sundial

No posts for an age, moving house from a northern island was a bit of an undertaking. Anyway, job done, nearly all the boxes unpacked, although the garage is a tad chocker! Living here, in Perthshire, I can now go to gigs again, or at least, "a significantly broader musical genre may be experienced with relative ease.....(ha-ha)". Louise is a bit bemused by the number of things now booked (really not that many!). The first is coming up shortly, thus the recommendation below. Younger daughter kindly bought tickets for the Stirling festival day with headliners Young Fathers, a band I've long enjoyed. However, the recommended album is more controversially by one of the support acts, noname. Fatimah Nyeema Warner is a controversial figure, and would not like me promoting her album (in this very small way) I suspect. However, there are some great tunes and lyrically it is wordy, and interesting (warning, some might find it offensive, for various reasons). So, recommended, Sundial by noname

https://www.instagram.com/nonamehiding/?hl=en

 

And I'm feeling a playlist formulating... posted shortly maybe.

An album and an EP - enjoy!

 Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker  and The Great Gatsby by Jeffrey Lewis.

Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker.

https://jeffreylewis.bandcamp.com/

 

Click the pix for Bandcamp links (where you can purchase the music).

The January playlist - Americana

Here's the playlist. The thing that makes it play may appear at the bottom.

A lot of films recently, several forgettable but  Everywhere, Everything, All At Once is wonderful, highly recommended.

Photo Allyson Riggs.

 

We went to a gig in Kirkwall, Auskerry, Hildaland and Saltfishforty. Excellent. Great atmosphere, fabulous tunes and playing. All three bands came together with a few friends for a final song. Hildaland are on the playlist but do check out Saltfishforty and Auskerry.

Next playlist - horses.

An Overview on Phenomenal Nature

I'm not sure why I don't post music straight on to this blog, instead of posting on a page. Anyway, early New Year's Resolution, post here!

This album is my new obsession. It is truly lovely. Many thanks to Simon Armitage, the UK Poet Laureate no less, for the recommendation. 

An Overview on Phenomenal Nature by Cassandra Jenkins.

Many movies.

 The best of which was The Big Short, great performances and an interesting insight into the financial crash of 2007 - 08.

Poster - Paramount.

Bones and All is well worth a watch, but be aware this might be considered offensive or distasteful (ha-ha) by many as it deals with a taboo subject. This is a clever film, and it would be a shame to be put off by the context, but that is understandable as well. Approach with caution if you are of a more delicate persuasion; otherwise add to your watch list.

Photo - DP Arseni Khachaturan.

 Various other movies have been watched in the last couple of months, and whilst some of them were niche subjects (a few cycling films) others were pretty forgettable.

Avatar

Not being one for mainstream cinema on the whole I watched this for the first time the other day, mostly because family want to watch the next one but couldn't really remember this. Good things, if the allegory was intended, European invaders destroying the stable, animistic lives of Native Americans. Mostly, they destroyed them by introducing European diseases I  believe, but there was also brutal oppression and murder. The world created in this film is pretty amazing, hugely imaginative, some of the details are just lovely. Bad things; the writing and plot are abysmal, corny, just embarrassingly so; far to much violence, oh, it's just dross. What a wasted opportunity. There is a wonderful film lurking in here, if the studio and director had employed some decent writers and edited it properly there could have been something truly magical. Instead we sadly have a James Cameron ego trip, well that's how it seems to me. Family may watch the newer version but I'll be strategically absent, I have better things to do with three precious hours of my life!

Tiny Desk Concerts.

If you've never found the Tiny Desk Concerts on NPR you've been missing a treat. There is so much fabulous music here. The musicians all seem to enjoy this tiny, tiny venue, everyone gets happy and the music is often very different from albums or more formal gigs. The gigs are also tiny, with the sets being around 20 minutes, like about an album side. Of course, it's a big deal being invited these days so, there's a certain nervous energy in the mix too. I particularly love the Raye set, but you could pick almost anything here, Kenny Garrett, Ezra Collective, Fred Again, Allison Russell, Theo Croker, Mama's Broke....

Here's the link - https://www.npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts/