Focker

The trouble with being the groom’s father at a wedding is that you do not get the platform to defend yourself when you are attacked by both the bride’s father & by the groom himself.

However the day was not about me, although the above 2 speeches seemed to suggest otherwise.

I know these unwarranted attacks were meant with love in their hearts.

Moreover, I fail to see how anyone can compare me with Dustin Hoffman in ‘Meet the Fockers’, but a hall full of 100+ guests seemed to disagree!

Mubai No 1


For tonight Only let us make this site a forum for the fathers of the groom on the eve of my younger son's marriage as we do not get a chance to make a speech on the big day.


Well here is my bit: on the stag do journey up the a9, my son's soon to be father-in-law wasinformed by me that I was a former Bombay taxi driver.

The scariest part was that I am sure he believed this!

Blows Against the Empire

Yes, I can see myself in my flares, puffing on a chillum, when someone would dare suggest that almost 40 years later, I would now be groovin’ to the sounds of the 5^th Dimension & The Free Design.

At the time they were so uncool, easily dismissed as we slipped more Jefferson Airplane or the Dead vinyl onto the Dansette.

Now I am actively searching out those albums. What does that mean?

Incidentally, the groom caught me grooving to the 5^th Dimension this a.m. & he thought it was Petula Clark. Yesterday in a brave attempt to try & tidy up my loft I did have a Petula Clark cd in my grubby mitts. It’s a strange old world innit.

Talking about remarkable coincidences & the rest, one of the Happy Highlanders, who had not visited this blog for a few days & had left out some cds to play during the day, ones he had not played for ages. He then went to work & checked the blog to find me raving about the Blue Nile. Yup you guessed right, one of the cds he was about to play, for the first time in years was: Blue Nile.

Krautrock Album Covers

I just realised today that although I am extremely fond of krautrock & because most of this stuff appeared in the 70s & on vinyl with a huge canvas to create artistic works of art, they did not.

I know we are primarily concerned with the music, but have another look at the artwork, it is so awful.

However, you might point out that this is what made them stand out in the record racks, the sheer ugliness of the jackets.

Osaka Bridge

How cool does our own Bill Wells look in this month’s ‘Wire’ magazine. The picture shows him with a guitar, not crouched over keyboards.

He is such a pleasant person & should be Scotland’s Minister for Japanese affairs.

Did He Jump Or was he Pushed?


Maybe it was the effect of too much java or the excitement of getting the hammock repaired & 2 weeks hols (where has the sun gone?) or it could be the thought of finally getting rid of one of those wee toerags that calls me paw, but I did a very stupid thing on Sunday evening.

I was clowning about climbing my railings, when my slippers (not ideal acrobatic footwear!) got caught in the railings & I took a tumble head first & hit the ground!

I have lots of bruises, cuts & a very delicate dent in my ego. Pride comes before a fall.

The most annoying bit was the fact that my wife & the groom drove away completely ignoring me as if I had not diced with death & almost missed the wedding.

Will my bruises show up under my kilt?

Rooftops, railway stations & rain

I went last night to see Glasgow’s best kept secret. Yes you guessed right: the Blue Nile @ Concert Hall.

I have waited a long time for this opportunity & I was amply rewarded. The sound was astonishing as was the performance & Paul Buchanan has that voice that pierces your heart especially in the songs he sang with minimal accompaniment.

A Walk Across

As I get older, I have discovered, I am now easily moved to tears. This is no disgrace, even in the West of Scotland, it just happens & I am glad that it does.

I am becoming my father. In his later years I could see his eyes watering.

What really does it for me in a musical framework are some really great singers. I know this wouldn’t be the case for everyone, but I just thought I would list what vocalists do it for me.

Paul Buchanan of the Blue Nile, Andy M. Stewart & Jackie Leven (all Scots!) & Scott Walker.

Librarians Love Lists – Discuss

I recently found my old prison notebook & I had made lists under different headings that were important to me. I thought I would share them here. See what you think:

· British jazz

· 60s Psychedelia

· Krautrock

· Lounge/Easy Tempo/Exotica

· 70s Reggae/Dub

· Pork label

· Japanese noise/Other noise

· New Psychedelia/Freak Folk

· Soundtracks

· Gilles Peterson related items

· ‘Wire’ magazine related items

· Bollywood

· Brazil

· French Pop/Ye – Ye

· Finnish Underground

· World Music

· Sublime Frequencies label

· Italian Easy Tempo

· Library music

· Ghost Box label

· Funk & Soul

· Glitch

Naming the Angels

I recently acquired the albums in John Zorn’s Book of Angels series & this gave me a pause for thought. Mr Zorn & his Tzadek label has been extremely prolific & it is impossible to keep up with issues.

I became fascinated by the titles & the names of angels unknown to me, e.g.

1. Astaroth

2. Azazel

3. Malphas

4. Orobas

5. Balan

6. Moloch

7. Asmodeus

8. Volac

Etc………….

Other angels were already familiar to me, e.g. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael & Islam, Judaism & Christianity all mention their interventions on behalf of God.

Judaism however, has such a wealth of writings on the subject. There also appears to be a lot of medieval use of the names of angels in many ancient, secret & esoteric practices. Aleister Crowley & his crew were exceedingly well-read on the subject.

On a personal level, I am engrossed in the angel themes throughout art & history, whether it is in writing, painting or cinema.

On the latter, one of my favourite movies is Wim Wenders, ‘Wings of Desire’. How this same theme was dealt with in the Hollywood copies is infantile to say the least.

When I start to see angels on a more regular basis, I will know it is time to move on.

Millions – Notebook Behind Your Eyes

This is another cd I discovered by chance. It reminds me of the electrical thrum from the generators of the nearby Thor Ceramics Factory or the type of music I used to dabble in myself using drones & a 4 track tape deck.