An Olympian effort

Off to China on business tomorrow so blog silence for a couple of weeks. Went to the Olympics this week, what a fantastic experience, great atmosphere and brilliant facilities. Proud to be British. Let's bottle it, keep it, and get some of it out when the times get tough over the next few months and years.

A rough trade indeed

Excuse the absence from blog land, I didn't really feel strongly enough about anything to write it down, plus the Olympics, work etc etc.
But...today I was out on my weekend long run and I listened to the Stiff Little Fingers debut album 'Inflammable Material'. Released in 1978, it's easy to forget what an impact on the music scene these upstarts from Belfast made at the time. Yes they wrote great tunes, yes they had bags of energy... what singled SLF out from the crowd were the lyrics. Heartfelt and hard-hearted, tales from young men living through the nightmare of the Ulster troubles. Here were guys brought up in an environment where Catholics and Protestants were enemies purely because of their religion. And whilst fellow countrymen The Undertones wrote sweet pop tunes about bubblegum and girls to forget the Troubles, SLF confronted the bigotry and hatred HEAD ON. They exposed the people who were meant to be representing them and let out a youth scream for peace - but they didn't beg, they demanded action.
So...listening to 'Inflammable Material' again, it's lost none of it's raw power and emotion. Jake Burn's gutteral singing was from the heart, no-one ever doubted that. The single 'Suspect Device' and 'Alternative Ulster' were hook-laden chart material with a dark underbelly, just listen to those lyrics. The epic trawl through Bob Marley's 'Johnny Was', adapted and delivered for Belfast instead of Kingston, but listening to it again you can't help but think it still applies to Damascus today. 'Barbed Wire Love' is the closest you get to an SLF love song, but it's a bitter sweet tale delivered with venom. I don't know why but my favourite track is - and always has been -  'Rough Trade', a tale of how SLF were treated when the big record companies started to sniff around them (Island Records in particular). How the corporate lies in London are no different from the religious bigotry back in Ulster.
I admit I'm biased, SLF were one of my favourite bands from the late 70's, I saw them at Portsmouth Guildhall, and live they really did cut it, but the album is one of the few that retains the power of a live performance and transfers it to vinyl.
And where are today's Jake Burns?

Worth Thinking About

Very partial to the new Chemical Brothers DVD/CD package "Don't Think". The reviews said that it was the next best thing to being there and that's about right. I've seen the Chemicals a few times and it's always 'an occasion' and a bit of an assault on the visual and aural senses. The DVD is beautifully filmed and captures the way the music and fantastic visuals combine in an almost hypnotic way. I watched it first time listening loud on headphones and it did take me back to the Brixton Academy a few years ago. The songs - particularly the newer stuff such as 'Swoon' and 'Horse Power' are great. Probably the best live DVD since Talking Heads 'Stop Making Sense' - and that's a few years ago! Now all we need is LCD Soundsystem to release their long-promised last concert DVD 'Shut Up And Play The Hits' - due later this year?

Beyond Belief

Meant to be seeing Elvis Costello & The Imposters tonight - in Basingstoke on the last day of their UK Revolver tour. Haven't seen him for several years so was very excited. Got a text from the venue saying it's been postponed because he isn't well. Very frustrating. Hopefully we'll be able to go to the re-scheduled date,

Things That Really Annoy Me - Part 3

When you put the toothpaste on your tooth brush, put it under the tap to make it wet, and the force of the water washes the whole blob of toothpaste down the plug hole.
And as you get older, your reactions get slower so you're never quick enough to save it...and you get really annoyed because "it's a waste of good toothpaste".

The Only One I Know

Just finished the recently published autobiography of Tim Burgess of The Charlatans - 'Telling Stories'. And very good it is too. It helps if you like their music (which I have done for getting on for twenty years!) but not essential. A cracking read, but you wouldn't want the kids to read it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Telling-Stories-Tim-Burgess/dp/0670921289/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335896666&sr=8-1

Back home

Been in China for three weeks, so no blogging I'm afraid - more on that soon. In the meantime, I realised how much I miss the Broken Family Band. Check this out (right-click, 'save as'):
https://www.box.com/s/6f9dfb59561fdb6ccdc3

Clear Heart Full Eyes - addendum

Just found this on You Tube, Craig Finn and guitar playing one of the unreleased songs - the extraordinary 'Dennis and Billy'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfJBHf426Po&feature=player_embedded

Clear Heart Full Eyes

Went to see Craig Finn, erstwhile leader of The Hold Steady, playing live with his own band Some Guns, promoting his recently released solo album. Good venue on Brighton seafront - the Coalition club, holds 500 for gigs but Finn only attracted 100+ punters, mostly male and middle-aged fans of THS - like me. Dragged Mrs P along although it's not her thing. Finn played the whole album + some even newer tunes, all of which were rather good except one 'Dude from St Paul' which sounded like a song idea in development, work in progress.
The band were excellent, Finn was his usual committed self, despite the lack of atmosphere, and the strength of the songs came through, there's no half measures with Finn, it's all or nothing. He did a solo acoustic in the middle of the set when he played mostly new songs, it's strange seeing him with just an acoustic guitar, but it worked really well.
I still think the subtlety of the songs, both musically and lyrically, is somewhat lost when played live. They are introspective, narrative songs that deserve close listening. With THS live you don't mind losing some lyrics because of the power and energy of the performance, that doesn't really apply to Finn solo. Still, a really good night out.

Things That Really Annoy Me - Part 2

I live quite close to where the Olympic cycle road race will pass through in July (nine times in fact - Boxhill). In reality what this means is that the route is full of would-be Olympic cyclists (i.e. amateurs) who want to sample the route for themselves.
Good for them I suppose, but trying to drive down these narrow country lanes is becoming a PITA because of these wannabe Mark Cavendish's. If you manage to scrape past one then another one pops up a few yards later. Like most cyclists they don't give a stuff about the rules of the road and have no sense of what's going on behind them. But it was whilst I was stuck behind one of them that I realised what really gets to me.
IT'S THE LYCRA!
Now, Cavendish and Hoy can get away with it and Victoria Pendleton certainly can, but the thing about lycra is that it sticks very closely to the contours of your body. So being middle-aged and overweight, which  99% of these Olympic wannabees are, makes wearing lycra a really shit look. A big bulging arse that flops over the side of the blade that they call a saddle is not a welcome sight. A brightly coloured nylon-look jersey isn't going to make anyone ride any faster - when it's stretched across a rotund fat belly. And figure-hugging shorts that leave nothing to the imagination aren't going to win any admiring female glances.
Even the riding technique these guys employ is rather strange, with knees poking out. Yuck. Hopefully its popularity will quickly fade away after the Olympics is over and we can all drive on our roads in peace.

Things That Really Annoy Me - Part 1...

...inconsiderate people (usually blokes, but not always) who get on the Tube still wearing their rucksacks on their backs. They have no spacial awareness at all, they swing around hitting people, taking up twice as much room - of which there is very little in the rush hour - as they need to. FFS,  just take them off and hold them down by your legs where there is more room. And I've also noticed it's usually blokes in suits. What happened to briefcases? As I say, very inconsiderate.

Sonic Tricks

A new Paul Weller album is usually a cause for celebration, but I am very pleased that I listened to his new one - 'Sonik Kicks' - on Spotify before wasting spending any money on it. It's complete and utter tosh, a one man charter for taking yourself - and your 'art' - a little too seriously.
I should have guessed by the over-the-top PR that has accompanied the launch, the usual "Weller has returned to form" "possibly his best album in years" etc etc. The Times magazine cover shot, the critics fawning over the Modfather. All indications that the album won't stand up on it's own two feet.
Self-indulgent in the extreme, the cod-reggae, dub-lite of 'Study In Blue' feels like a practice jam desperately searching for a tune, and the 20-second instrumental 'Twilight' is frankly embarrassing, sounding like someone who has come back from the pub extremely drunk, and deciding to muck around with a synthesiser. There is no point to it - why include it? In fact I just listened to it again (it is only 20 seconds long) just to make sure I'm not being over harsh, and yes it really is that bad.
Throughout the album his usually strong voice sounds forced and frankly out of tune on a number of tracks. His wife, son and (young) daughter all contribute vocals, can you get more self-indulgent?
I've followed Weller all the way - I saw The Jam in Portsmouth in 1978, the Style Council in Southampton a few years later, and Weller solo a couple of times more recently. I really wanted to like the new album.
But utter tosh is utter tosh, whoever produces it. I'm actually shocked at how such a talented person can produce such nonsense.
Avoid at all costs.

Life is as fragile as duckweed in a storm

Old Chinese proverb.

Just got back from being in China on business, and after several trips there over the last few months I feel I am starting to understand the Chinese way. 

Before I started going there I was told of the importance that the Chinese place on relationships and connections. It's usually described as 'guanxi'. But it's more than about relationships - in fact we probabaly don't have a Western word to describe what it is. It's more about a feeling between people, and I think I'm just starting to understand it. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanxi

Friday fun time

I've always been a fan of the killer hook. When coupled with a majestic melody, you can't go wrong. Here's a prime example, the wonderful Magnetic Fields, whose new album 'Love At The Bottom Of The Sea' has much to commend it, with Stephin Merritt (who is The Magentic Fields) playing around with a much more electronic bias.
But this track is from a few years ago and sticks to rock 'n' roll basics. It's up there with my all time favourites. Download or just play it here:
http://www.box.com/s/leyu8ucbrctekjtpmayd

They Don't Understand

One of the few good things about being stuck on an aircraft for seven and a half hours is that it forces you to do something that passes the time. I had had enough of the book I am reading at the moment (an excellent Graham Hurley book, but not for several hours), I had recently seen (and paid for at the cinema) the only film I fancied (the very excellent 'The Descendants'). So I switched to my default in these situations - and grabbed my i-Pod.
On the plane I usually ignore my playlists and just flick around in the artists list. For some reason I stopped at something I hadn't listened to for years - literally. But I was immediately transported back to my youth, it's amazing how powerful music is for doing that.
'Tell Us The Truth' was the first album by Sham 69, released in January 1978, when I was all of 15 years of age. I still remember my brother buying it and bringing it back home, after which I commandeered it and spent hours in my bedroom (shared with my brother) being blown away by the sheer power and raw emotion. What was unusual was that side one was a live recording (bum notes included), side two was recorded in the studio. Few songs exceeded two minutes. It was before lead singer Jimmy Pursey and the rest of the band hit the commercial highs and appeared on Top of the Pops. Before they started behaving like 'real' pop stars and lost the plot. The songs had messages for the youth, they were played and sung like they meant them. I identified with the lyrics and the energy - as you do at that age.
And for 30 minutes on that Boeing 777 last night I was back in 1978, and loving it. Do 15 year-olds get that buzz from music these days?

Fancy another day off?

I can't quite get my head around what makes someone like Len McCluskey tick. The General Secretary of the UNITE union - possibly the largest in the UK with millions of members - seems to think it is a good idea to threaten industrial action by his members during the London Olympics. Just to add an additional headache for the organisers. Nice one Len. But he can't have really thought it through can he? It's hardly likely to endear him to most of his members is it? The fact that he has gone public with it says more about him than anything else, it shows what power can do. If he really believes in what he says then he has pretty poor judgement, if not then he;s just a self-publicist. He must have known it would make headlines, so take your pick. Blimey, even Bob Crow has done a deal to keep his members working during the Games!
And I've just remembered I am actually a member of Unite, I get no value from them, I became a member as an 'insurance' against my company being nasty to me, although on the one occasion ina  previous job when that happened, the union were absolutely useless. Ho hum.

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Just can't understand how a seemingly respectable gentleman from Orpington, Kent - a British man, born in Britain - can be treated worse by the British justice system, than some foreign terrorist, who is allowed to walk free from prison because the UK 'system' is helping him with his appeal. A man who spouts bigotry and spite, who hates the West so much he wants to stay here. And live in a free world where he can encourage others to hate us. Unbelievable, Cameron, Clegg and Hague should hang their heads in shame. And, by the way, if our man from Kent is guilty - which he may well be for all I know - let a UK court decide, not the nuke 'em cowboys in Texas.

Greece is the word

I can't help but wonder if the latest 'deal' done by Germany/France and Greece is the beginning of a slippery slope, and I fear for where it will end. When the vanity of politicians leads the decision-making process we are in trouble. The Euro has not worked, from Greece fudging the entry rules to the latest bailout scheme, put together not on economic grounds but in order to save the political ideology that the Euro scheme represents. I repeat, I fear for where this will end - wars have been started for less.

Clear Eye Clouded Mind

I've enjoyed the output from American band Nada Surf for some time. Their last album 'Lucky' was a true masterpiece, chock full of great melodies and vocals, coupled with a crisp and full production not always evident on previous releases. So I was really looking forward to their new album 'The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy' and for the most part I'm not disappointed. Aside from a couple of filler songs, it's bang on the money again. Lead man Matthew Caws is again the star with his versatile and distinctive voice. The fact that he has now relocated to Cambridge in the UK, from his native New York, only adds to the way I relate to his lyrics, which are clearly personal and usually thought-provoking. Not to underestimate the contribution of his two fellow band members who are once again on fine form. They've been producing quality output for 20 years now and the standard hasn't dipped. Not many people have heard of them and I kind of like that...a hidden gem of a band just for me. But it would be mean not to share them a little.

Non stop noise

Well, my latest trip to Mumbai is almost at an end, I have the joys of catching the 02.45 to Heathrow in a few hours time. Every time I'm here the place amazes me. It's just a mass of humans, all going about their business, whatever that is. Five star hotels (literally) rub shoulder with corrugated iron slums. On Saturday I went to the Aer Bar on the 34th floor of the Four Seasons where the drink prices compete with top clubs in London or New York. Next door is a run down cafe, where ordinary Indians stop, drink and chat. Under highway flyovers, people take a mid-day sleep, despite the screaming, honking traffic that hurtles by them a few yards away. The driving here is something else, the only place as bad that I know is Cairo. If you see a space, accelerate into it. That's the only rule. Honking the horn is standard, and very much an un-aggressive action, unlike the UK. In fact, despite being cut up, honked at, narrowly missed and blocked in - and despite the blistering 38c heat - nobody gets upset at all. And I mean not even a flicker of anger. It's just the way it is, and nobody takes it personally. How different from the UK can you get?

Off his roja

I usually take a fairly philosophical view on sporting spats, particularly those concerning football. It's usually two players who are cheating just as much as the other. Handbags usually, nothing serious. But the latest Evra/Suarez episode, as played out last Saturday at Old Trafford, takes the biscuit. My usual stance cannot apply, the numpty-in-red continuing his personal crusade to join the brainless brigade. Dalglish is nearly as bad doing his usual "I'll only talk about the football" thing. Frankly it's embarrassing, and the belated apologies from Liverpool FC (none for months, then you get three in an evening) only magnify their blind ineptitude. Useless, incompetent and childish. Words that apply equally to the other party that didn't get a grip on this whole sorry episode, the FA.

Strange days indeed

Day 7 of my latest trip to Mumbai, a Sunday. With time on my hands I thought I would start writing a blog. So I woke to the news on CNN that Whitney has pegged it. I wondered why nobody had mentioned it on Facebook then realised that everyone in the UK was still in bed, and the news was pretty hot (if you see what I mean). No surprise at her demise really, just the same as Amy, at least she had a few more years. There was something rather surreal about all the celebs carrying on with enjoying themselves at the pre-Grammy Award party, whilst Whitney was dead in her room in the same hotel.
In the gym I listened to Craig Finn's new solo album 'Clear Heart, Full Eyes'. And very good it is too, mixing Finn's usual lyrical storytelling with a diverse musical soundtrack, certainly far less full-on that his usual band The Hold Steady's full frontal musical attack. Must be something about solo albums at the moment, as I'm still regularly listening to Noel Gallagher's 'High Flying Birds' album, which is exactly what you expect from Noel, but strangely addictive, probably down to him writing his best tunes since 'What's The Story, Morning Glory'...which is a very long time ago (nearly 17 years!!). Maybe he had a point to prove with someone.
Finishing the day by watching the Black Country derby on TV, it's the Sky coverage but I'm not paying for it (although I suppose it's in the room price). Later it's Villa v Man City, with a bit of luck the Midlanders will prevail but I suspect not...