Joy Division-Interzone

Muse-Unnatural selection

Rush-vital Signs 1982

The who-live 1970 isle of wight

Sahkin all Over, Twist and Shout

Einsurzende neuabaten-Yu Gung-adrian Sherwood

Industrial metallic dance, features Blixa bargeld who is guitarist with Nick Cave and bad Seeds. Was reading a book and I thought I had forgotten about that band. This was perhaps their most acceesible record. But almost all were not easy listening

depeche mode-higher love instrumental

Amazing track of 'songs of faith' from 1993

u2-hold me thrill me kiss me live

rare track not seen performed live before

the power of the who

Neil Young -heart ofgold

Takes him 2 minutes to sort out his harmonica, but then gets better

Mike Oldfield-The Bell 1992

Re-evaluation – Part 22. Siouxsie and the Banshees

If one band I would say influenced me more than any other it has to be Siouxsie and the Banshees. I was a bit to young to remember the Punk Explosion at the time. But with hindsight you can see that Siouxsie and the Banshees were extremely motivated to become famous. Siouxsie was part of the famour Bromley contingent who regularly followed Sex Pistols around the country-they were filmed on the Bill Grundy interview in 1976. When the Pistols broke big and Punk started to break as well Siouxsie formed the band the banshees and they performed at the 100 club in 1976 with a line up the featured Sid Vicous and Marco Peroni(adam and the ants guitarist). This line up didn’t last long but they found replacements in Kenny Morris and John Mcckay. What was important to the band was their distinctive sound the drums of Kenny Morris were not entirely straight forward like other bands at the time. John Mckays guitar playing was cutting .

They released the brilliant album called The Scream in 1978 and this was followed up with Join Hands in 1979. At the time of the albums release tensions in the band were getting tense . Basically Siouxie and her banshee Steve Severin on the other and Mckay and Morris on the other. The band split up at a signing of an album at a Aberdeen record store . Robert Smith of the support band the Cure joined for the remaining tour. In a stroke of genius the band recruited former Slits drummer Budgie and John Mcgeogh once of Magazine. They released a good album in 1980 called Kalidiscope , but followed it up in 1981 with the album Juju. The 1982 albums is classed as their classic line up and it’s a good album but for me the 1981 album is a standout album.

There has always been this kind of Gothic sound to the Banshees sound due to the dense drumming of earlier records and the guitar work, where John Mcgeogh added things was to add effects to the guitar where the sound would go from gothic(on the 1981 album Juju called ‘Nightshift”) to Tenant(1980) which was almost punk psychedelia.

In 1982 they split with John Mcgeogh and he went onto join PIL and Armoury Show. They recruited Robert Smith again who was achieving more success with the Cure. The released a album , a live one at that called ‘Nocturne ‘ . This was like a greatest hits package in a way. Some songs sounded better than the originals in a live context.

They released a 1984 album called ‘Hyena”. In truth this was a album that did feature guitar work from Robert Smith but most of the tracks where heavily bass driven and drums. Robert Smith quit to concentrate more on the Cure. They then appointed Johnn Carruthers (ex of Clock DVA) and released a brilliant album called ‘Tinderbox”.A cover Version album was released about 10 months later in 1987 .

They released a string of good albums into the early 90s like Peepshow and Superstition. They split in the mid 90s to concentrate on their Career with the Creatures(Budgie and Siouxsie’s band).

For me they are one of the most influential bands I ever heard. The music was ahead of its time.

Voluntary or Paid - Driven by profit and an Ideal

Bit of an open ended blog this one. Over the years I have worked in a variety of diffrent roles some at lower level and some at management level. At this moment in time Im sort of taking time out and working voluntary. Its a immensely rewarding experience and opens your eyes to business and how they work and how people work within them.

Over the years I got used to the hieracal way of business where Managers would be respoibsle to their managers and as \a result I would have to motivate people around me just to get the workload manageable. Attending managers meetings which were driven by profit for an organisation regardless of personal cost of collegues and other factors.
In all my time of working in business I was sort of resentful of this desire for profit , not anarchic at all but sometimes the very companies I worked for would just fuck off.

In some of the companies as well there has been takeovers where companies would bring in new managers and people that were working there at the time would get nostalgic for the good old days, where they didnt have to deal with highly technical things.

I volunteered my services to a employer(in the loose sense), initially on 15 hours but at the moment increasing to 30. Its intresting working in that kind of environment, there is no pressure if for instance if you make a mistake on a till or if a customerslightly rude. You can work at your own pace without the need to justify your actions, you can carry a phone at all times (and answer it). You can sit down have a natter. In companies in my hometown talking to your nieghbours is frowned upon as it means your are not productive enough.In a voluntary job there is no need to justify anything.

Another thing what is amazing me is the ammount that people throw away and give to these shops. It really opens your eyes to what some people would class as rubbish, is what someone else needs.

jarre -1978 Equinox

I liked the Equinox album better, more electro. Where Oxygene was dense keyboard textures. Equinox was better produced

Jean Michel Jarre-Chronologie 1

Loved this track when it came out in 1994, quite anthem like . Powerful when played at loud volume

yyz-rush

Lyrical insight

"We can circle around like hurricanes
Dance and dream like lovers
Attack the day like birds of prey
Or scavengers under cover

[Chorus:]
Look in...to the eye of the storm
Look out...for the force without form
Look around...at the sight and the sound
Look in look out look around..." Rush-Force ten(87)

An abyss that laughs at creation,
A circus complete with all fools,
Foundations that lasted the ages,
Then ripped apart at their roots.
Beyond all this good is the terror,
The grip of a mercenary hand,
When savagery turns all good reason,
There's no turning back, no last stand.

Joy Division-heart and soul(80)
Come take this hand at twilight's door
I'll meet you there we'll share the moonlit floor
Through the driving rain, colours run in veins
Ozone fills the air, two figures disappear
Come let's take flight, let's quit this scene tonight
Whilst they sleep on endless, in their wrecked designs
Sleep on endless in your wrecked designs

Moths touched by flame repeat their fatal game
Forever and eternally, the cliffs around the crashing sea
Unsolved asnd endless, wait for me
Undulating far below, where lucid waters flow
Their faces seem to know ........

Where the land falls to an end
This hidden tale begins
Take a walk with me, down by the sea
Take a walk with me
Down by the sea
Siouxsie -lands End(86)

Bruno,czech replublic

Ballestrand,norway

Alaska.

Porto.portugal

Re-Evaluation-Part 21 Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd

Not a re-evaluation, what a band they were in the 70s. Like Bowie who was extremely prolific in the 70s they started the 70s with albums like Atom Heart Mother, they truly became a rock band with the album ‘Meddle’ Which hinted at things to come, particularly on the track called ‘Echoes’ which is a 21 minute song which sort of has a manin part and then breaks it down. It’s a piece that contains like jamming over a solid bass and drum. The production of the album was also an improvement on earlier albums. They released an album called ‘Obscured by Clouds’ which often gets forgotten about that contains some good tracks, but is not as consitent as the follow up. ‘Dark Side Of the moon ‘ was an album that had been toured about 6 months before as a piece called ‘Eclipse’.

The album was excellently written and brilliantly produced and engineered . It has been said in the press by Walters and Gilmour that the album was when things started to go wrong. Due to the success of the album the target before that was to be rich and critically acclaimed, when you reach that point where do you go.
The follow up is good as well ‘Wish You Were Here’ which was released in 1975 the title track called ‘Shine on you crazy diamond’ was a song dedicated to the former lead singer Syd Barrett. That album is a truly brilliant piece of music, I always feel that David Gilmours input to that album is the main part of it. The albums that followed it ‘Animals’ and ‘The Wall ‘ were basically roger Waters albums with input from other Pink Floyd members. Although the wall would be the last great Waters and Gilmour album.

Its quite unique for a rock band to be appreciated by the indie, Rock and progressive crowds all at the same time. Like Kraftwerk who influenced all manner of techno and Electronic music. Pink Floyd were a band that were not afraid to slow tempo introduce pace and tempo to songs. Which for rock bands of that time was unheard of.

isle of arran

Download after december and be....banned

What constitutes “egregious” is unclear.

The BPI last abandoned its RIAA-style “sue em all” campaign back in 2006 after determining it had little effect on illegal P2P and only alienated music fans and the public at large. It now blames the govt not allowing the technical measures to take effect immediately for its decision to return to the courtroom to solve its problems until they do.

“Government disagreed with us, regrettably, and decided not to bring the technical measures into effect immediately and has said to us that it expects us to bring legal cases and that it will take that into account when it looks at whether or not to introduce technical measures,” says Taylor. “So we may well have to bring lawsuits at some level, and that is apparently expected of us by government, it is not something we really want to do because we believe that technical measures would be a better approach. However we are not going to be given that option initially and so it is something we may have to do on some scale.”

So it would seem if people in the UK didn’t already have enough to worry about with the corporate takeover of the Internet – website filtering, ban on public access Wi-Fi – the BPI will begin suing people until the govt has the power to disconnect them from the Internet.

Talk about heavy-handed tactics.

Stay tuned.

Whitehaven cumbria

Mai, Shetland

Shetland

South pole

Siberia, russia. Snow

Rispond.highlands scotland

Scottish football grounds vol 2

hearts

Celtic......

rangers ibrox.

aberdeens pittordrie stadium

Scottish football grounds via google maps.p1

Kilmarnocks ground. Not architecturly stunning by any strech of the imaginaton

This is Hamiltons Ground

This is Falkirks staduim, hard to get a clear shot. Notice I have not been able to cut away the footer. So at the moment you can see my browsing !

Google Maps. Top of isle of skye

just having fun with google maps and zooming in on a location. this is what the true power of the internet is, to explore areas you might never see and so much detail

Re-evaluation - Part 20 - Goldfrapp

One of the best new bands around, well I say New they have been around for about 10+ years now. Initially I heard of them around the time of 2000 when they had just released the album 'Felt mountain'. Was sort of in the vain of Portishead, but the album did contain some good tracks.

What blew me away was the album from 2003 called 'Black Cherry'. A almost complete album it featured hits like 'Twist', 'Strict Machine '. Tracks that were dance and other tracks that were atmopsheric. In some ways I think Goldfrapp probably influenced other acts alot bigger (say for example Madonna). Where Goldfrapp was embracing old trends and making them a bit more fashionable.Glam etc, also adopting old 70s songs as covers 'yes sir I can boogie ' for example.

Will Gregory is the man behind the sound of Goldfrapp , I read somewhere he has a thing for old keyboards. Which I suppose are then merged with new technology. Goldfrapp released the album 'Supernature' which featured 'Oh la la ' and they followed that album with 'Seventh Tree'. This year they have released the album 'Head First'.Intresting to see where they go next.

Re-Evaluation - Part 19. Tom Petty

With Tom Petty he achived massive success in his homeland from the late 70s onwards, but it wasnt until the late 80s that he was getting hits in the UK. What I like aboyut Tom Petty was that he played the game with MTV as most of his 80s video's testify, but he also remained part of the live scene. I remember seeing a video performance of Tom Petty and it was like watching a different artist.

Tom Petty and the heartbreakers have continued to release records over the last two decades, not meeting the heights of their 70s and 80s output but keeping their fan base and releasing radio unfriendly material.

Tom Petty remain in the UK a typical US band which is unfair as they have released so many good albums over the years

delerium-incantation from 1994

* Delerium * Incantation 1994
Uploaded by musiclover4. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Prodigy-Smack My bitch up-live IOW

Re-Evaluation - Part 17..-Skinny Puppy

22 Years and counting. Skinny Puppy a name that probably didnt help them achieve any commercial success. But they released some of the finest examples of Electronic -Industrial music ever written. I discovered them on the late John Peel show in the 80s, it was so radically different from anything he was playing at the time. I then went to London to get hold of their 'Cleanse Fold and Manipulate' album, I liked everything about it , the sleeve was excellently designed and the music was unlike anything I had head.

They released albums of equal power, where Pink Floyd Dark Side of the moon, would often get spoken about a album that tests hifi equipment. Cleanse Fold and Manipulate does the same for me. Heavily densed, electro, featuring heavy samples and hard drum machine beats.

They continued to release albums into the 90s, but sadly stopped recording as a three piece when Dwayne Goetel died of a drug overdose. Their final record from that era was the Process. They reformed in early 2002 and released 'The greater wrong of the right'

Re-Evaltion - Part 17- David Sylvian & Japan

Probably a bit unfair to group him together with the band he was the front man with. In 1984 David Sylvian sort of went to what is reffered to as a 'year zero' , where his musical path didnt really match what had gone before. With Japan although commerically successful was essentially a pop band and as their recordings went on, the influences became less prominent and their sounds sort of found its own way

Re-evaluation - Part 16-Delerium

In writing these sets of articles I like the bands with History, but I also like the bands that are forward thinking. I first chanced upon this band as they were an offshot band from the line up of Front Line Assembly, who were a electronic band from Canada(more on them later). I brought the first album in 1989 which was called 'faces forms and Illusions'. Radically different from FLA, the album was sort of like listening to a industrial version of Enigma. Where as FLA's output was harsh and electro driven, the Delerium sound was atmospheric and used keyboards to create themes and Moods. No more is this evident on tracks like 'Hidden Mask' which features Ofra Haza on vocals. One of those songs that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

They release a album every one to two years as an average and are quite prolific, Semantic Spaces from 1994 is one of their best releases as this almost becomes very dancy-orientated on top of the more atmopsheric stuff. Bill Leeb is the man behind the band. In 2000 they did achieve success with Sarah Mclachlan as 'Silence' became an Early trance classic. It was strange to see a band that had remained on the outside of the music scene , suddenly achieving success.

Re-evaluation-Part 15 - Fleetwood Mac

Another band with like two phases, the Peter green part from 1966-1970.Then the Buckingham and Nicks Fleetwood Mac. Although they have had numerous line ups in between. When I think of my first memories of Fleetwood mac its of Stevie Nicks ridicolous perm and shoulder pads in the 80s videos of Everywhere and Little Lies. But to be fair although there most succesful period of singles they had been recording for 20 years pri0or to those hits.

In the 60s Fleetwood mac were like and R and B band but with a intrest in the blues , as their releases went on the Blues was a bigger part of their sound. They had hit singles as well and Peter green was a repsected guiatrist. As their albums went on and into 1969 Peter Green drug usage effected the bands , the songs of this times like 'the Green manalishi' are almost drug fuelled songs. But brilliant at the same time. Peter Green retired from the line up in approx 1970 and for the years afterwards the line up sort of changed almost yearly.

It was with the chance meeting in a american recording studio that their fortunes would change. Mick Fleetwood chanced upon hearing a tape of the Buckingham and Nicks album from 1974 and was told that the Guitarist was looking for a group. He was invited but insisted on bringing his then girlfriend Stevie Nicks into the line up.

They released a self titled album in 1976 which I like just as much as their succesful rumours album from 1977. The partnership then went onto record albums like 'Tusk'(1979-experimental almost in places), Mirage(1982) and of course Tango in the Night'. Linsey Buckingham left in 1988 and went into his solo worked and again Fleetwood mac soldiered on with various line ups until he rejoined again in 1997 onwards.

Fleetwood Mac is a band that soldiered on through adveristy to become probably one of the biggest bands the UK has every created, although not held in the high etseem of say floyd and Zeppelin. Their story makes for fascinating reading and features many highlights through out thier recording career

Re-Evaluation - Part 14. Porcupine Tree

What a band and I mean that as a compliment. Porcupine Tree have been around for ages, but Ive been aware of them from about the mid 90s. Although I didnt discover their music until 2004. Porcupine Tree is hard to define but I would called them 'Progressive Prog'. progressive as established but breaking new ground.

They started in the late 80s as Steve Wilson's fictious prog band. Their early 90s work was Pink Floyd like in terms of guitar work. In early 2000 they worked with Opeth and their albums went from lush almost classical like rock to full on metal riffing.

Richard barberi who was once with 80s pop artist Japan adds keyboards and the line up also features Gavin Harrison who is drummer with King Crimson. Where as they went from being influenced by those bands they are now amongst them and are influencing bands from their own generation.

Re-evaluation - Part 13-The Eagles

When you think of the eagles immediately Don Henley comes into mind. Not many drummers were also singers at that time. I think there is two era's of the Eagles bernie leadon period and then the other late 70s version. The Eagles were moire country/roots at the beginning butn their music sort of invented AOR. Songs that were typically american but with a songwriting edge that set them apart from their rivals. Their greatest hits album from 1975 was one of the biggest albums of the time.

With the Eagles I have to admit I dont like some of the singles but the albums and tracks like 'take it Easy ' and 'Desperado'. Put them on another level.

Of Course Don Henley had a succesful solo career as did Glen Frey, I was perhaps to young to appreciate them at the time. If anyone is looking to listen to the Eagles as a starting point I recommend their live album from 1999 callled ' Hell Freezes over'. Which is essentially acoustic and probably has the best version of Hotel California on it.

re-evaluation - part 12 Human League

You may be thinking what are they doing here? Human League for the period 1977-1984. Influenced initially by german electronic bands they forged ahead with a similar sound from sheffield at the height of the punk explosion. They of course were having some successes as band until the girl singers joined. Albums like'Travelogue' and singles like Being Boiled, match bands like Kraftwerk at that time.

In 1980 they introduced the singers and Jo Callis, Jo callis was a major contributor with the songs and initaially they were still stuck between the experimental and the desire to be successful. This bore fruition in 1981 with the album ' Dare' which of course featured 'Dont you want me'.

For me the Human league released singles like 'Sound of the crowd' and non singles like 'things that dreams are made of'. They released catchy songs and went onto the 1984 album Hysteria. But then the band sort of fragmented. They were getting more influenced with soul and dance, which I have to admit didnt really fit their style.
The 'Love and Dancing ' 1982, was probably the first remix dance album and predated Pet shop Boys discon series by a good 4 years.

A band of their time. Still touring, still releasing records

Re-evaluation -part 11- Bryan ferry

Although I have covered roxy music in a previous part, I have to say that although say Roxy Music's avalon follows on nicely to Ferry's solo work. I have to say that his 1985 album Boys and Girls is such a brilliant album. Obviously a successful album but often gets overlloked in hindsight. That album features contributions from Mark Knopfler and David Gilmour amongst others, I like various tracks from his solo albums , especially the 1994 album which reunited him with eno called 'Mamouma'.

WIth Brayn ferry the image is one thing, but he has stayed true to his musical path which must be commended.

Southampton Blog

Have set up a blog for southampton football club which is in the early stages but will be online for next season . Will be uploading alot over the next few days.

Voting and Election

What is the lesser of three evils?

iio-rapture

Bruce Spingsteen-War-1988

Listening to alot of his old records at the moment

f1 for ps3 2009 edition

I must get this game


F1 Championship Edition PS3 - Trailer
Uploaded by VirgilioGiochi. - Watch game reviews, trailers, and walkthrough videos.

Formula one game for Ps3.

Official F1 2010 game preview
Uploaded by itngameandgadgets. - News videos hot off the press.

looks really good, not sure when released

kraftwerk-musique non stop

KRAFTWERK - WORLD TOUR 2004 - MUSIC NON-STOP
Uploaded by Rha_lovely. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Kraftwerk-radioactivity Live

Kraftwerk - Radioactivity (High Quality) LIVE
Uploaded by deep-house. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

u2-australia 1993.....dirty day

U2 - Dirty Day - ZooTv Sydney
Uploaded by LazlowJones. - Explore more music videos.

More messi brilliance

Lionel Messi - Todos los goles de la temporada
Uploaded by lionelmessiorg. - Discover the latest sports and extreme videos.

Messi brilliance

2-0 Messi/Maradonna goal
Uploaded by Speedy_Gonzalez. - Check out more sports and extreme sports videos.

Siouxsie and the Banshees- fireworks 1982

Siouxsie & The Banshees - Fireworks (1)
Uploaded by vc666. - See the latest featured music videos.featuring John Mcgeogh

Magazine-the Light pours out of me

1978 punk retro classsic,minus john Mcgeogh who sadly died in 2004
Magazine - The Light Pours Out Of Me
Uploaded by Saklas. - See the latest featured music videos.

Re-evaluation -Part 10 - Dead Can Dance

A band that is deeply personal to me. Discovered them an absolute age ago, was taken in by the almost tribal drumming of a track called Frontier. Although aware of them as far back as 1986. It wasnt until about 1990 that I started listening to the other albums, and then sort of disovered one a year until about 2000. They split in late 1990s as they had probably gone as far as they could go.

The music of dead Can Dance I would describe as other worldly. The first album was poorly produced but still had highlights and got them to a wider audience, they were offered a one album deal with 4AD. Spleen and Ideal album from 1985 was the album that sort of showed what was to come. Lisa Gerrards tracks were like operatic gothic masterpieces. Her vocal style was speaking in tongues in high pitched.A amazing singer who would have been a classical artist. The other tracks by Brendan Perry were my favrioutes, his songs were like Scott Walker singing over the most epic songs you can dream of. The use of instruments with his tracks were spacious and were full of romantic idealism and lyrics that cut to the bone.

Dead Can Dance formed in the 2005 period for a reunion tour. Brendan Perry has a solo career. Something tells me things just are not over yet.

Re-Evaluation - Part 9 -New Order

New Order are a bit like Kraftwerk in some respects. They were influenced by them but they released such a series of groundbreaking albums in the 80s. Like a trilogy, from Movement in 1981 to Technique in 1989. With their critical success and financial pressures (hacienda ) caused them to sign to a mjaor label. The Lines between the Electronbic albums and New Order albums that followed were pretty similar the 80s albums were experimental and set new standards.

A few months ago the Times released with their paper the album 'Power curruption and Lies' in some ways its wierd seeing a brilliant albums given away a daily paper.

Re-Evalaution -Part 8 - Roxy Music

'there's a new sensation, a fabolous creation '-Do the Strand

In the post 80s and 90s Roxy Music were viewed for their commercial output and not their truly groundbreaking albums. I noticed a slight shift in the mid 90s with bands like Suede who were starting to acknowledge them as an influence. Roxy Music influenced bands like Simple Minds to bands like Cabaret Voltaire. There are so many eras of Roxy Music, the glam and eno period, the sort of Lounge Lizard phase, then they albums towards the end that sort of linked to Bryan Ferry's solo work.

Roxy Music is quite an expensive band to collect, most cds are going for about 5-6 a time. In terms of the years they were together, they didnt release that many studio albums and a big percentage of their catalogue is live albums and best of.

Phil Manzenera is such a under-rated guitarist. Roxy Music have reformed and will be playing concerts aroud the world this year and on my homeland the Isle Of Wight. I just hope one day that studio album see's the light.

Re-Evaluation - Part 7 -Rush

Rush are the 7th band Ive been collecting. My thoughts on Rush, is that I wish I had discovered them earlier. I was aware of them for a period of about 18 years without really listening to them. I Listened to their 2002 album Vapor Trials and found myself listening to certain tracks. The truly brilliant record is the 'Rush in Rio' which is a triple live cd. Most songs are short and powerful, although it does contain many concept pieces from their early days.

What I admire about rush is that they could have easily folded due to Neil Pearts Personal tragedies(he lost his wife and daughter within a year period). But after a period of reflection Rush came back in 2002 and have got better than they were before( and they were quite good before).

In the US I think they were college Rock and most of the first few albums followed a sci-fi theme with lyrics. In the first few albums Alex Lifesons guitar work was very prominent. In the Early 80s they introduced keyboards and more advanced drums they released two albums which I think were overlooked in the UK, but appreciated more abroad. These were the albums 'Power Windows' and 'Grace Under Pressure'.

Rush continue to confound and move onwards. Of late they have released a studio album followed by a live album, with a discography of so many albums they have such an extensive catalogue of tracks to choose from.

Re-Evaluation -Part 6. -The Beatles

The 6th band I am collecting. Not an obvious choice, I have to say their recordings are very expensive to buy even in cd form. Luckily for me most of the artwork is black and white for most of their albums, so that has enebaled me to fill in the gaps.

The beatles first few records were smashes of the time, there was truly no band that could match them. I find the first few albums very hit and miss. But obviously of the time they were outstanding. Its the 1966-70 era that I find the best, especially the George Harrison composistions.

The Beatles went from producing hits, to still producing hits but with a more unique production and some different instrumentation.(sitars). That is to their credit that they followed their own path until the end. For me 'The White album' and 'Abbey road' are my favourites.

The Lennon and Mccartney songwriting partnership will never be surpassed or equalled . The song writing to the techniques , some still sound as fresh today , yet recorded 40 years ago

Re-Evaluation - Part 5-King Crimson

In the 80s and 90s treated by the music press as Dinsoarus but respected by musicans and loyal fans. When I think of King Crimson from that period, they were a bit different from the norm. King Crimson has had numerous line up changes, so many that its impossible to cover who has played form them. The main person is Robert Fripp.

Robert Fripp contributed to the Crimson sound but also guested on albums by David Bowie and others. Robert Fripp is unique in music, its probably unfair to say but the link between music and academia is not really there in the most part. King Crimson come across as a band that is not stable in line up terms, but that applies intelligence to the music and the presentation of the music. Almost improvised at times but also at times highly organised and precise.

The main line up is made up of Adrian Belew and Tony Levin and at the moment features Gavin Harrison out of Porcupine Tree.

The thing I am finding in that collecting them is a very hard thing to do as the recordings are very expensive to buy, some were released in limited editions. The sound quality of their 1984 recording called 'Absent Lovers' is brilliant. In some instances I have been getting recordings from live concerts as these seem more accesible and easier to find.

Instrumentation wise, the 1981 album called Discipline is the best but with each album its best to approach each one on its own merits.

Re-Evaluation -Part 4 - David Bowie

Arguably the best modern composer of pop songs that has ebver lived. My wife loves the ground he walks on, I think I grew up with artists that were influenced by him but discovered him quite late. Although I was familiar with his hits in the 80s. In the 80s he was at the height of his image, in the 70s he was the darling of the press and the public alike. I think no artist has matched the legacy of albums that he realeased in the 70s starting with Space odditty, he went onto release 'the man who sold the world', Hunky Dory' and Ziggy Stardust.

My fave albums of his are post Ziggy Stardust. Aladin Sane is more rockier than Ziggy Stardust but features some brilliant songs like 'Lady Grinning Soul' and 'Cracked Actor". David Bowie was iunique as he realised music was about music but it was also about image. He constantly reinvented himself and each album was a different one from the other.
Kraftwerk released albums that was about the concept and were almost designed. David Bowie followed his influences but also created a sounds and image all of his own. The Albums that followed Allandin Sane, he followed up with Pin Ups which was a cover version album featuring tracks by the Who and Pink Floyd.

Then the albums followed were the Eno period. Low, Heroes and Lodger. These were precedded by the brilliant album Station to Station. In the 80s he released 'Scary Monsters' which featured the number one ' Ashes to Ashes'. In 1983 I would class David Bowie at his most influential he was collabarating with Nile Rodgers and was achiving success in the charts all over the world and in the touring arena with his 'Serious moonlight ' tour. The Problem with the Bowie Period after this time was that had signed for EMI, at that time EMI was quite powerful in record company terms and they spend alot of money securing his services. He released ' Blue Jean ' which was followed by the album 'Tonight'. This was that start of the period where the Bowie albums were getting a bit slagged off in the press. 'Never let me down' was also in the same catagory. David Bowie was following his intrests and was sort of alienating the fans at this time. In Bowie's defence he could not continue on at the same way he has in the 70s,m where he was experimental. When you are on a label like EMI you expect that the pressure to release hits is massive.

Bowie returned to form in the 90s with albums like 'Black tie White Noise'. Even hearing album like 'Heathen' it reminds me of themes that were explored in earlier albums (the word heathen was mentioned in the song 'Loving The Alien'. Its the little things.

In the 90s Bowie Contributed with Reeves Gabriels and collabarated with other artists, it was a invigorating time for Bowie in both the musical world and his personal life.

In collecting all his albums I still have gaps to fill but I know all the albums I havnt got off by heart for kme my fave album ever by him is 'Station to Station' from 1976. Its just 6 songs but the structure and guitar work and everything comes together.

Re-evaluation Part 3 - Coldplay

This is an easy band to write about, initially they came out in the year 2000 with the good album 'Parachutes'. Which featured hits like 'trouble ' and 'yellow'. Quite an influential album to indie bands at that time like Snow Patrol and Athlete.
I started to notice a turn in their approach on the follow up ' A rush of blood to the head' the album cover was like kraftwerky in design all though the music was still guitar based in the main part. The third album I have to say is utterly brilliant 'X and Y'. Songs are really strong, and in a way the songs like merge into other parts. Bit like Depeche Mode's voilator album(but not as electronic).

They Collabarated with Brian Eno with the Viva La Vida. Which is another brilliant album. Coldplay remind me a bit of the Police and Sting and I cant put my finger on it why, obviously their albums are becoming better produced and structured. The Songs writing is also getting stronger. They remain hugely popular and are due to have a new album out by chritsmas 2010. Will be interesting to see what its like

Re-evaluation - Part 2. Simple Minds

Almost in the same vain as before. Unfairly labelled in with U2 in the mid 80s they were more experimental in the early days and drew on their wide range of influences. Simple minds have been the second band I have collected cds by. Now with only one album to get which is rare(Sons and Fascination from 1981). Simple Minds came to main promimence in 1978 with the Life in a Day album this sounded alot like a punk contempory band called Magazine. The Follow up 'real to reel cacophnoy' had a strange title but was even more experimental than the first.

My fave albums of theirs is like a triliogy but isnt grouped as such, in my head it is. The 1980 album called 'Empire and Dance' which was followed by 'Sons and fasciantion'. Which all followed a logical progression to their most critically album 'New Gold Dream'. Through out this time they became of a singles band as well, with the 12' remixes very much in fashion they did use that format. Which resulted in some brilliant remixes of their songs. With Hindsight I have to say that the new gold dream album released in 1982 is their most bass driven record its quite atmospheric with space within the sound. where as their late 80s albums would be slightly overproduced.

They released further albums like ' Sparkle in the rain'., Once uponj a time'. Streeyt fighting years'. I have to admit I quite like the first side of Real Life which was their album from 1991. But Side 2 lacks production.

Towards the late 90s the origianl line up got back together, I think in Simple Minds history it was the loss on Forbes and Mcneil which resulted in their drop in the critics eyes. Their songs were bass driven before that, where as Mcneil produced textures and was quite experimental in their approach.

I have located a demo version on the internet of their album called Sparkle in the Rain, which was obviously recorded before Mel Gaynors drums. The songs are alost trance like and utterly brilliant. The album itself has a more rock sound but those demos, there are some excellent songs on both versions.

Simple Minds are still around . They have just released 'Graffiti Soul 'which features a full album and has a bonud disc of cover versions. Simple Minds still retain their fan base which after 32 years is no mean feat

Re-evalution - Part 1 -The Music of U2.

At this moment in time I am collecting cds by certain artists, with the intention of getting the complete collections. In some cases this isnt possible-have you seen the prices for Rolling Stones and beatles cds?.U2 has been one of the first bands on my list, they are a band i have had a love and hate relationship with. I remember there intial power when they came out, due to the excellent guiatr work on the first few albums. From boy in 1980 up until probably the Joshau Tree , the guitar was the lead instrument. They were quite distinctive from the other acts of the day where the Edge was playing Guitar as a rythmn lead, with very strange tuning techniques.

From about 1987 onwards the songs featured more keyboards and other sounds added by Eno and that helped bring their music to a much wiser auidence, particalary in the US. They achived a commercial success with the Joshaut Tree, but this was followed by the largly dissapointing Rattle and Hum, U2 then regrouped to record a string of excellent albums in the 90s like Zooropa and Actung Baby, but then again lost their way a bit with the Pop album in 1998.

I have been going through the albums and have to say that the power of their 1981 album called 'October ' is probably my favrioute. All though i must admit the cover is a bit naff.

Paypal horror stories.....

http://www.paypalwarning.com/horror_story_of_the_month

Intresting this site. I have used paypal for a while over the years. But after reading articles on this web site i think I will escape while I still can. There are so many horror stories on there.

malcolm mclaren-Madame Butterfly

RIP Malcolm Mclaren, video from 1984 'Madame Butterfly'

Killing Joke-1980/81...High definition

Very rare footage, from around 1981. Amazing how people come across this footage, 28 years ago. Jaz Coleman looks menacing beyond belief

David Bowie-Oh you pretty things

Tv programming and New ways

As stated n a facebook page, I hate certain programs with a vengence. Nothing personal against the actors that play their parts. My main one is coronation street, a few years ago they introduced comeday into it by bringing in actors from outside . But of late it is following such crap storylines. It bores me to tears. There are other programs.

With the internet you can access tv stations from around the world using programs called Miro, so you can always find something you are intrested in. I wish at times it was possible to connect the power of these programs through my TV. Maybe thats something to do for the future. I just find things a bit familiar. We pay our Tv license for

Not enough ram

Whos says you need faster broadband, computer is working with 256mb ram and it cant bloody cope with it all.When replaced I will drop kick....

Solar Stone-Seven cities..ambient dub

From 1999, dont know much about this artist.Was a more rave track in its original form. this is the ambient mix

The orb

around in the early 1990s Ilove their records. this track was from 1992 and featured Jah Wobble on Bass(ex of public image limited ).the track at the time came out in a short radio edit, 12 version and a 39 minute track which is probably the best of the lot. I find music by the orb and tangerine dream brilliant to do whilst working.

Beatles-dear prudence...

This song is going through my head today, havnt listen to this track for ages

Rush-Contents under pressure. Book.

Brilliant site, google books. Contains limited views to books

Music - Past future and Present

To many of us music has always been a big part of our lives. Over the last few years I have found myself sort of re-evaulating my musical tastes and also how I come to obtain music. For anyone who grew up in the 1980s we were all familiar with the Vinyl era ehere 12' and 7' inch records ruled the media outlets. In about 1987/88 the cd era took off which in turn drove the price of Vinyl down. In 1991 a couple of record shops tried to introduce the cassette single as a viable format but that then failed and over the last few years(well 20) cd has rules the roost until now.

Downloading which was once frowned upon and classed as highly illegal has now been emraced by the record companies, artists and media alike.

I saw a artcile on a documentry on Rough Trade records a while back where they classed music as a cottage industry, where people with limited means and a bit of motivation could get there music to a larger audience. Thats what is happening with IT and the use of social networking, bands can be promoted through driven advertising campaigns on all social sites(namely artic monkeys and Pixie Lott are example's of this).

At the time in the 80s I was very much into this era, where bands were spread by word of mouth. Then it was all fanzines and mostly music papers ruled the roost.At that time there were so many artists avaible and breaking through that you had discard alot just because there was to much out there. With the advent of the MP3 revolution I still discover the new artist I like, but mostly my music taste has gone full circle and I find myself rediscovering artists that perhaps I didnt like about say 10 years ago.

Peter gabriel-here comes the flood

SPK -Sandstorm method

Bloody rare video clip. They were a mess to watch but highly percussive music, this was the point where they were going from being industrial to commercial. Bass player joined the cure, graham revell does soundtrack work

The Who-underture

from the 1969 album Tommy

Rush-Tom Sawyer

best quality video I have found on google video.

Rush-Mystic rythmns

1985 clsoing track from the power Windows record

u2-11 o clock tick tock. 1983

brilliant quality

u2- the studio process....1984 part 2

this is a intresting video, sort of shows the studio process of the making of 'pride in the name of love'. i found this as it was listed under Eno.

u2- the studio process....1984 part 1

brian eno-just another day

Robert Fripp Soundscaping , King crimson DVD "Eyes Wide Open" 2003

Robert Fripp=Kon kan Power

Robert Fripp perhaps the intelligent guitarist ever.

cabaret Voltaire- 1985 Automotivation

repetetive trance from 1985..

also from 1983...



One of those bands of the time. 1980s they sounded like nothing else, shame they should of stuck together and would have been even more influential than they were.

Chicane-offshore...

I see that Chicane actually employs a company to break links to his videos.Some artists are actively promoting their music through IT, where as others dont want to.

Simple Minds - new gold dream unreleased track

A track that was rejected from the 1982 album.never heard before

Siouxsie-Jigsaw Feeling(1978)

Zeropaid.,,,,the best site for downloading info

This site is the most informative site for media, tells you where stuff is located and what is safe.
http://www.zeropaid.com/

Porcupine Tree-Lazarus

One of the best of the new wave of progressive bands, even though they have been around for nearly 20 years. This is a beautiful song.

BT-Flaming June

1997....ahead of its time