Tunes to Whistle While You Are Boiling the Basmati

Lazlo Hortobagyi - 6th All India..

Enduser - Bollywood Breaks

Various - Bollywood the Hard Way

Sheila Chandra - Nada Brahmin

Bombay Dub Orchestra - 3 Cities

Bombay Dub Orchestra - Bombay

Bombay Dub Orchestra - Dub

Best CD Title

Ennio Mazzon - Ripples caressed by drones

Enoesque

The best Eno cd by another artist = Rim - Seas, Deserts, Skies.

I really enjoy cds that reflect natural phenomenon like breathing, the wind, surf on pebbles, tides.

I believe that there is something going on that draws us to these sounds & maybe that is what Eno is going to tell us next.

Sound Advice

Sound advice for the young at heart: more acid, less speed

Scotlands Hidden Reverse

There is nothing better for the urban explorer than to find hidden empty spaces to investigate.

Even although these sites might only be yeards from a main road e.g. Devil's pulpit, you often find yourself in the middle of nowhere, always without a map & always without adequate food & drink for diabetes.

I started off by parking @ Dobbies & then went down to the Allander. I followed the path up to Milngavie, pretty uneventful & boring, but I moved on to follow the river in the other direction & that is when I was on my own away from any other walker.

I was getting a bit lost, a bit parched & light headed after a while & I thought I was heading back towards the road. It was another road of course.

I ended up cutting across a field to get back to Dobbies & some liquid & my Gold Block.

All in all an outstanding ramble in unexplored territory.

Reading Groups Are Fun: Discuss

Almost a punch up at my last Reading Group in the library. 'Morven Caller' divided opinion totally. Myself & 2 others liked it, with 2 abstentions & 3 absolutely loathing the book, we reached a stalemate. I cannot remember such a heated, if interesting choice.

Walnut Whales

As I was so disappointed with the new Joanne Newsome, I went right back to the start for my choice of music on my favourite drive out to Stirling.

I knew what I liked about her & it is missing from her new album. Shame.

Old Friends

What a week it was for catching up with ghosts from the past. Martin (Madhu) popped into the library (what a history we share) as he is back in the area.

At an incredible Bridget St John & Michael Chapman concert in the Fraser Centre, Milngavie (the 2nd time we have caught them there!) I met my old mate Aitchi, who actually put some Michael Chapman vinyl onto tape about 50 years ago it seems.

I will have to chat to Aitchi as he may remember bits concerning the Maryland Ballroom, Glasgow that I may have forgotten.

Holy Cow

I don't know who committed this heinous crime, whether it was the Burniston Butcher or someone with a thing for 'Apocalypse Now'.

It is nothing short of a tragedy.

Clouds of Sounds

Him next door helped me set up an additional page on this blog for music & also there is a link that takes you to even more madness @ Soundcloud.

Forest Walks & Spring Talks

The sun was shining & so was I & eager for a bit of fresh air & exercise. A few days holiday a bit dampened by the weather up to now.

Less people around so it was a bit quieter than usual & snow on the Campsies.

It is good to zone out & let your brain toy with zen & the art of creative thinking.

Don't Lie Down

I found myself crying while driving as I listened to Keith, Kenny & Tracy playing 'Dont Lie Down'. It just struck a chord & if I can hope to be remembered for something in this life, I would hope it was for producing 2 boys, who care about the important things in life.

Gentlemens That Do Lunch

Yes that's right, real men do lunch. As I face the prospect of another 3 course lunchtime pile up, being pandered to by attentive waiters bringing me my fine choice of fish or veg, I wonder if this is ok.

I know I enjoy the time away from my hot desk & the stressful confines of my day job.

Luckily next door is getting me along to the gym twice a week to counterbalance all this food & splendour.

The Death Of Mr Lazerescu

I subjected my wife & son to 3 long hours of this Romanian cinema classic.

Shaky, hand held, cameras in this piece of cinema verite. Shaky cameras make me feel dizzy now.You do get swept along in the whole tragedy.

It is a great movie & if you have 3 hours to spare on a harrowing, tale, that perhaps indicates how our health service performs, then this is a must see.

Suspira

As I just watched Dario Argento's 'Suspira' again for the nth time, I realised how crucial Goblin's soundtracks are to these classic movies.

I must get around to playing the soundtracks on their own. I do have them all.

Oh he is so passionate about the colour red, not just for the blood, it is everywhere in this weird & wonderful movie.

Prog Rot or Not?

From being totally anti-prog, to being, well maybe, there is something of re-usable value here.

Looking at this genre with fresh ears & catching up with e.g. Association PV - 'Erna Morena', I can draw parallels with much of the jazz rock I enjoy ..e.g. Brian Auger/Soft Machine/Chicago Transit Authority/Frank Zappa/Miles Davis Electronic Funk period........

As long as the jazz element is foremost, progjazz still is enjoyable for me.

Recently I was grooving to Dun 'Eros' (1981) & although it is thought to be deep in prog rock territory with disjointed odd time signature & drum patterns, I do love it.

Zen & the Art of Space Walking

Try recording air conditioning units or electrical generators & then play back the results.

You will find yourself listening to stuff with new ears.

Whitecrook Social Club

Last night I attended an orchestral gig @ Glasgow City Halls. It was a full-on New Complexity hoo hah being recorded for Radio 3's 'hear & Now' series.

I used to be such an avid listener of 'Hear & Now' & as I was such a James Dillon & not Bob Dylan fan I was well - excited.

I was not disappointed as 'Via Sacra' lit me up.

Interesting that this Glasgow boy, slightly older than this writer, got Phil Lesh from the Dead to help fund some of his work.

It was also cool to see the composer there last night in his hippie ponytail.

Funny Album Titles, Pt 33

Kaffe Matthews -Still a Slapper

It is funny when you know she appears as such a serious composer of new music.

Indian Railway Journeys

It was only a short series of 3 films shown on a Sunday night after a hefty meal, but a number of my friends managed to catch & enjoy & rave about the recent jouneys on the small Himalayan trains.

I am reminded of the less luxurious travels I had on the Indian trains, squashed against a loo door, where obviously half of Utter Pradesh had ate their last spicy curry & then died 2 months previously.