Corrections to the previous post (and an uplifting play list - in development)

Some corrections are required to the previous post.

First the library - the dates when the ALEOs were created, Culture Perth and Kinross was created in 2016 but Live Active Leisure, and  Perth Theatre and Concert Hall were formed much earlier.

Wind generation schemes - Glen Tarken is being built by SSE but is on the Drummond Estate. To be fair this is not such a terrible scheme, SSE will improve biodiversity on the site by at least 10% (an interesting idea, but I'm not actually clear what that means). I went to a public open session to explain the project and from being opposed I might now be marginally in favour of this scheme. It will be interesting to see in comparison what the Oxygen Conservation open session is like. The access roads mostly(?) already exist, although they will need to be "improved". I've also learned that the Drummond Estate is to plant "native" woodland nearby the proposed generation site. I need to pay the place a visit. More info in a future post.

Twitter now deleted from this blog. I stopped using X when it was renamed and deleted my account.

Library emergency (sweary language warning if you scroll down below the library piece).

There is a community emergency, the county council, its elected representatives and its ALEO (Arms-Length External Organisation) have decided to close our village library, and those of six or seven other rural communities in Perthshire. Whilst the County Council have brayed about the information related to these closures being "in the public domain" since the decision was made back at the end of last year it appears that elected representatives have been somewhat circumspect in their duties to inform the communities via the community councils. The long and short of this is that the proposal to close the libraries only became public knowledge following the ALEO issuing a wonderfully obtuse survey to library users, not actually mentioning the intention to close the library. This is a situation occurring all across Scotland, in one form or another, and I believe across England, although perhaps not managed in such an apparently underhand manner. I've been writing Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and then trawling through the outcomes to try to get at the details of the decision making process and the finances.

Save Comrie Library From Closure!

The creation of ALEOs, hiving off, "non-essential" services like libraries, museums, art galleries, sports centres and swimming pools, has become common practice amongst local authorities across the UK. In the case of Perth and Kinross Council these were created in 2016 and in my opinion the intention  was always to create a buffer between the council and the electorate to prepare for cutting these services. One reason for the creation of ALEOs is that they may then apply for external funding that is not available to local authorities. However, in reality this is truly a bit of a smokescreen given the monies involved and how difficult it is to obtain such external funding in the climate of the former slash and burn Westminster Tory government. Whilst the Scottish Government and the Barnett Formula might attempt to provide a buffer to try to protect some Scottish services, for this particular ALEO to somehow come up with nearly £1,000,000 (Bank of England inflation calculator) to hold its funding at 2016 levels is unrealistic. Initial budget funded by Perth and Kinross Council in 2016 c£3,400,000 (worth c£4,500,000 in today's money), latest service fee from the council to the ALEO in April 2024 was c£3,500,000. 

There is some interesting research by UEA carried out on Suffolk libraries demonstrating that for every £1 spent on library provision the economic benefit is about £6. I'm struggling to find the URL for this, but will post it here when I do. I have an electronic copy that I'm happy to share though if anyone would like one.

There is no good news at the moment it seems. The industrialisation of our countryside is to continue with windfarms proposed, and no doubt put through on the nod by the Scottish Government in Glen Lednock at Invergeldie and Glen Tarken. Effectively this is one large scheme with two owners SSE and Oxygen Conservation. So much for the Scottish Government's biodiversity aims! These schemes will involve ploughing huge access roads through moorland. I do wonder what the CO2 costs and gains are over the life of windfarms like these. With the disturbance of the moorland, the concrete, the manufacture of the structures, the constant vehicular access to remote areas etc. Added to this is the upgrading of the transmission infrastructure, mostly above ground and involving more huge industrial structures. Hard to find figures for this information. It is worth reading this paper - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484721010805 My MP and MSP have studiously avoided my letters on this matter.

And then of course Trump...

 

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.