Having returned recently from a holiday in France, I find myself struggling to make good use of time. If I was as wasteful with other areas of my life, it would be a criminal offence!
Last weekend I went on a spending spree, and bought some of the Led Zeppelin back-catalogue which is missing from my collection. The first two albums really are something else - both released in 1969. I can't help wondering how it was possible to produce albums of immense creativity and exploration every six months or so back at the end of the 60s, whereas these days average time is every three years or so to produce an album.
It makes me truly respect the work of bands like Led Zep and The Beatles. It wasn't just the breadth and range of what they did, but the speed with which they did it too.
On holiday I read Mark Haddon's 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time'. I know I must be the last person to read it. I really enjoyed it - no need for a review. There are already loads of them out there on the net. I also read 'A Walk in the Woods' by Bill Bryson which was a good read - made me laugh out loud which is unusual (maybe the wine had something to do with it). Finally I read Anthony Clare's 'On Men' which was thought-provoking and infuriating too. I can't say I entirely agreed with what he had to say in the book - but some of the points were poignant. Verdict - heavy going, but worth the effort for the arguments it can cause.
Thursday, 19 August 2004
Thursday, 15 July 2004
Monitoring weblogs on the fly
I have been thinking for a few days now that there must be a way to monitor web pages for changes automatically. I regularly visit quite a large number of weblogs on a wide range of topics. Having to load each page separately, when many of them may not have had an update, is very laborious and time-wasting.
So, I did a google search on 'web page changes alerts' and found a load of different approaches. They fall into two categories - web based and software based. I chose one which is web based, and free. It's 'WatchThatPage' available here:
WatchThatPage - Monitor web pages extract new information
It looks really good. You can set it to send emails at a frequency to suit, with details of which of the pages have updated. Let's hope it's 'as good as it says on the box'!
So, I did a google search on 'web page changes alerts' and found a load of different approaches. They fall into two categories - web based and software based. I chose one which is web based, and free. It's 'WatchThatPage' available here:
WatchThatPage - Monitor web pages extract new information
It looks really good. You can set it to send emails at a frequency to suit, with details of which of the pages have updated. Let's hope it's 'as good as it says on the box'!
Monday, 12 July 2004
Reiki and Chakras
I learnt the first degree of reiki about a month ago, and since then have been working on the self-healing phase of things. It's amazing. I'm going through all sorts of experiences, feelings and emotions. Each step takes me further on, as I gain deeper understanding of working on an intuitive level.
Intuitive ideas and thoughts are blipping into my mind in a way that surprises me. I wonder whether these thoughts were there before, but went unacknowledged, or whether there are thoughts in my mind that I wouldn't have had before.
The whole idea of chakra working is fascinating. I'm reading a book about all of this at the moment, called 'Wheels of Life' by Anodea Judith. I've just started to dip into this book - it looks really fascinating. It draws quite heavily on the work of Caroline Myss. I read her book 'Anatomy of the Spirit' a couple of years ago, and particularly like the way she links together chakras with qabbalah ideas, christian ideas and hindu approaches. Joining up systems is a great way to encourage harmony in the world, rather than division.
Intuitive ideas and thoughts are blipping into my mind in a way that surprises me. I wonder whether these thoughts were there before, but went unacknowledged, or whether there are thoughts in my mind that I wouldn't have had before.
The whole idea of chakra working is fascinating. I'm reading a book about all of this at the moment, called 'Wheels of Life' by Anodea Judith. I've just started to dip into this book - it looks really fascinating. It draws quite heavily on the work of Caroline Myss. I read her book 'Anatomy of the Spirit' a couple of years ago, and particularly like the way she links together chakras with qabbalah ideas, christian ideas and hindu approaches. Joining up systems is a great way to encourage harmony in the world, rather than division.
Friday, 9 July 2004
Montague Terrace
I thought it might be useful to post a link to a detailed website about Scott Walker and his pretend brothers. This site contains a heap of information about Scott's musical career.
Interested? Click on the title for this post to link to the site, which is called Montague Terrace after a song title from Scott's first solo album.
Interested? Click on the title for this post to link to the site, which is called Montague Terrace after a song title from Scott's first solo album.
Scott Walker in Five Easy Pieces
I've read so many people saying positive things about Scott Walker. He has influenced so many of the artists I like. And I really loved the popular tracks by the Walker Brothers.
And yet, over a year ago I tried listening to 'Tilt' - the difficult album from the 90s. I didn't get it!
So, it was with some uncertainty that I got hold of a copy of 'In Five Easy Pieces' earlier today, and put it on the CD player. It's a five CD compilation album - huge in scope.
Well, I have listened to the first album whilst working this afternoon. It is beautiful. The richness of his voice, the gorgeous arrangements, the spread of material and moods. I love it!
I'm really looking forward to working through the other four CDs over the next few days.
And yet, over a year ago I tried listening to 'Tilt' - the difficult album from the 90s. I didn't get it!
So, it was with some uncertainty that I got hold of a copy of 'In Five Easy Pieces' earlier today, and put it on the CD player. It's a five CD compilation album - huge in scope.
Well, I have listened to the first album whilst working this afternoon. It is beautiful. The richness of his voice, the gorgeous arrangements, the spread of material and moods. I love it!
I'm really looking forward to working through the other four CDs over the next few days.
Thursday, 8 July 2004
Frozen in ice
Stuck - stuck - stuck. Frozen in activity. Thanks to the fact that I am exhausted, and the weather is terrible, and I should be doing a million things. It's the pause before a flurry of action...
Tuesday, 6 July 2004
The Tipping Point
I promised a review of 'The Tipping Point' by Malcolm Gladwell. It's a magnificent book - one of those books that you find yourself quoting bits from to people through the course of the day. It describes the phenomenon whereby things can grow from nothing to a craze in an unbelievably short space of time. He attributes this to a number of factors, issues which are important to understand if you are interested in building communities of interest, marketing an idea or just want to understand why something goes from being unfashionable to being the 'must have' without any apparent involvement from 'marketeers' or sellers.
Gladwell covers a set of key principles and issues, looking at the roles of different types of people in building networks, communicating messages etc. He also looks at the importance of numbers - the maximum numbers for a circle of intimate friends, and for our circle of influence. He talks about the number 150 as key to manageable groups, organisations and societal sections. This is really interesting. What about the current trend towards ever bigger schools and hospitals? Is it any wonder that these organisations become dysfunctional when they are not organised around core units of 150 with strong identities for each.
The case study which looked at policing in New York, and the way they turned that city round from a lawless chaos to one where things were rapidly coming under control again, is fascinating reading. I hadn't seen it that way - a different and convincing view is always worth looking at.
The book is light on references, and attributes for the theory underpinning the work. But I think it is a better book for that - it is so readable.
I will never look at Hush Puppies the same way again.
Go get it! And enjoy it, I'm sure you will.
Gladwell covers a set of key principles and issues, looking at the roles of different types of people in building networks, communicating messages etc. He also looks at the importance of numbers - the maximum numbers for a circle of intimate friends, and for our circle of influence. He talks about the number 150 as key to manageable groups, organisations and societal sections. This is really interesting. What about the current trend towards ever bigger schools and hospitals? Is it any wonder that these organisations become dysfunctional when they are not organised around core units of 150 with strong identities for each.
The case study which looked at policing in New York, and the way they turned that city round from a lawless chaos to one where things were rapidly coming under control again, is fascinating reading. I hadn't seen it that way - a different and convincing view is always worth looking at.
The book is light on references, and attributes for the theory underpinning the work. But I think it is a better book for that - it is so readable.
I will never look at Hush Puppies the same way again.
Go get it! And enjoy it, I'm sure you will.
Wednesday, 16 June 2004
Buddhist chants
I am relaxing, listening to an album of chants called 'Om Sai Ram' which creates a gentle state of tranquility. This is interrupted only by the occasional click of computer keypad, and the sighing of the cat. Sometimes peace is the right state of mind.
I have nearly finished reading 'The Tipping Point' by Malcolm Gladwell which is an absorbing book full of fascinating facts and theories. I'll post a review of it in a couple of days.
Monday, 14 June 2004
Sonic Youth
This is my first attempt to produce something on the blackberry. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it's a great way to comment on the move. Just a case of getting used to the keyboard!
Well, what have I been listening to recently? I heard my first album by Sonic Youth - I think it's their first one. It's good sometimes to discover these people even if it is 20 years after everyone else. It was music of its time, but moving somewhere new. Interesting and worthy of a few more plays
Thursday, 3 June 2004
Robert, Brian and Alice
Listening to ‘Music for Airports’ by Brian Eno. I must have listened to this album hundreds of times over the last 25 years. It still weaves a magic, creates a mysterious atmosphere that makes working easier.
I’m reading a book by Michael King at the moment – “Wrong Movements: a Robert Wyatt history” which is interesting, not least because I am really interested in the work of Robert Wyatt. It’s an interesting approach to biography, written mainly through the words of those interviewed, and fragments of data relating to concerts, recording dates etc. The author’s words are few – at first I found this a bit odd. But it does construct a story really well, without the usual purple prose of music biographies.
The reason I mention this is because Robert Wyatt co-wrote the first track on ‘Music of Airports’ and plays the piano phrases on which the track is built. Life is a series of connections and synchronicities.
The poetry for ‘the alice conversations’ is progressing steadily. Here is an extract from one of the poems written:
Alice in replay / relay
Disturbance
Resonance and replicate
Words tumbling along like a chaotic maze of messes
The light was barely visible, just out beyond the turn of the road
Where he could clearly see she was standing
Disturb
Resonate and replicas
Sounds fumbling inside like it's all gone wrong now
She turned to look at him, the mark on her cheek
From the cut that had scarred, clearly visible in the light from the lamp-post
Distress
Resounds and reposition
Colours crumbling around the merest guesses
Car tyres screech as the mondeo flashes around the corner
Heads towards him now, glancing the kerb near where she stands
Distort
Restate and replace
Touch the crumbs that feed the mouth
Violence is a space we find between the sense of us and them
Seconds that make every difference, when all will change
Despair
Remonstrate and replay
Wherever it will lead him
Rain falls on the daylight street, nothing left now
Of the moment when fates crossed and openings slid together.
I’m reading a book by Michael King at the moment – “Wrong Movements: a Robert Wyatt history” which is interesting, not least because I am really interested in the work of Robert Wyatt. It’s an interesting approach to biography, written mainly through the words of those interviewed, and fragments of data relating to concerts, recording dates etc. The author’s words are few – at first I found this a bit odd. But it does construct a story really well, without the usual purple prose of music biographies.
The reason I mention this is because Robert Wyatt co-wrote the first track on ‘Music of Airports’ and plays the piano phrases on which the track is built. Life is a series of connections and synchronicities.
The poetry for ‘the alice conversations’ is progressing steadily. Here is an extract from one of the poems written:
Alice in replay / relay
Disturbance
Resonance and replicate
Words tumbling along like a chaotic maze of messes
The light was barely visible, just out beyond the turn of the road
Where he could clearly see she was standing
Disturb
Resonate and replicas
Sounds fumbling inside like it's all gone wrong now
She turned to look at him, the mark on her cheek
From the cut that had scarred, clearly visible in the light from the lamp-post
Distress
Resounds and reposition
Colours crumbling around the merest guesses
Car tyres screech as the mondeo flashes around the corner
Heads towards him now, glancing the kerb near where she stands
Distort
Restate and replace
Touch the crumbs that feed the mouth
Violence is a space we find between the sense of us and them
Seconds that make every difference, when all will change
Despair
Remonstrate and replay
Wherever it will lead him
Rain falls on the daylight street, nothing left now
Of the moment when fates crossed and openings slid together.
Wednesday, 2 June 2004
Surfing far and wide
Spending far too much time surfing on the net (who doesn’t given the chance!)
Out there is just about anything you want to find out about. A few years ago, if I wanted to know what had happened to a particular band or musician it was near impossible to find out. If there was no recent material in the local record store, there was no other easy way to find out.
Thanks to the web, I can find out about anyone. So, I set out on a search to find out what had happened to The Residents. This was a band that a mate of mine was in to when I was a teenager – we used to listen to their albums when they came out, and were usually impressed at just how weird, imaginative, and downright strange their music was. The album I remember most vividly was ‘Eskimo’ which was presumably put together in a studio, but sounded like an on-location recording in deep dark cold eskimo country. It was odd – no songs as such, but a fascinating listen. Then there was the take-off of The Beatles with ‘Meet The Residents’. Well, a quick search with Google, and I found www.theresidents.co.uk which tells me that there is a whole heap of material out there – the band carry on working, producing mysterious material underneath the cloak of anonymity. Their work continues to display everything dadaist, avant garde and post-modern. And it has all become available again thanks to the advent of CD technology. Time for some real exploring I think!
Meanwhile, my musical indulgences continue with recent purchases of albums by Tom Waits (www.anti.com) ‘Blood Money’, Steve Hillage ‘L’, Morrissey ‘You are the Quarry (excellent new album!), and Wire’s ‘Chairs Missing’ (with the superb single ‘Outdoor Miner’ from 1979). Great music all round. I’m also listening to Miles Davis / Gil Evans ‘Complete Columbia Recordings’ borrowed from the local library. Stunning music – older than me!
Thanks to the internet I have discovered that Steve Hillage has been working for the last decade as a duo called System Seven with Miquette Giraudy (www.a-wave.com) and has produced 7 albums. Worth an exploration, I think.
Language – I’m working more on ‘the alice conversations’ poetry sequence which has now reached 11 poems. I want to get on with this and complete it soon. It’s shaping into an interesting poetry sequence. Final push…
Out there is just about anything you want to find out about. A few years ago, if I wanted to know what had happened to a particular band or musician it was near impossible to find out. If there was no recent material in the local record store, there was no other easy way to find out.
Thanks to the web, I can find out about anyone. So, I set out on a search to find out what had happened to The Residents. This was a band that a mate of mine was in to when I was a teenager – we used to listen to their albums when they came out, and were usually impressed at just how weird, imaginative, and downright strange their music was. The album I remember most vividly was ‘Eskimo’ which was presumably put together in a studio, but sounded like an on-location recording in deep dark cold eskimo country. It was odd – no songs as such, but a fascinating listen. Then there was the take-off of The Beatles with ‘Meet The Residents’. Well, a quick search with Google, and I found www.theresidents.co.uk which tells me that there is a whole heap of material out there – the band carry on working, producing mysterious material underneath the cloak of anonymity. Their work continues to display everything dadaist, avant garde and post-modern. And it has all become available again thanks to the advent of CD technology. Time for some real exploring I think!
Meanwhile, my musical indulgences continue with recent purchases of albums by Tom Waits (www.anti.com) ‘Blood Money’, Steve Hillage ‘L’, Morrissey ‘You are the Quarry (excellent new album!), and Wire’s ‘Chairs Missing’ (with the superb single ‘Outdoor Miner’ from 1979). Great music all round. I’m also listening to Miles Davis / Gil Evans ‘Complete Columbia Recordings’ borrowed from the local library. Stunning music – older than me!
Thanks to the internet I have discovered that Steve Hillage has been working for the last decade as a duo called System Seven with Miquette Giraudy (www.a-wave.com) and has produced 7 albums. Worth an exploration, I think.
Language – I’m working more on ‘the alice conversations’ poetry sequence which has now reached 11 poems. I want to get on with this and complete it soon. It’s shaping into an interesting poetry sequence. Final push…
Wednesday, 19 May 2004
Blogging on the move
Making a blog entry whilst travelling has always appealled - now I can!
This entry is being written on a palm for transmission by email the next time I log on.
I know it's boring reading but then most new experiments probably are.
Roll on a blackberry with a proper keyboard!
Stuart Eglin
Monday, 17 May 2004
New interface
Blogspot has gone through a major facelift. And I didn't notice, because I haven't been visiting for a little while. Well, I'm back - and promise more entries before the end of the week.
There's a lot to write about - music, poetry, reviews and a heap of other things.
In the meantime, this is the first entry sent to blogger by email - hope it works!
Wednesday, 14 April 2004
The Reviewer
At the end of last week I sent copies of ‘Zen Words’ and ‘Umbrian Images’ through to Gerald England in Stockport. He runs a website which has heaps of information about poetry and a reviews section. I wanted him to review my first two poetry booklets – he replied today with a positive. They will be reviewed soon – I wonder what the reviewer will make of them! In the meantime, I asked him if he needed any more reviewers. His response – incredibly rapid – was in the form of three booklets for me to look at. So, it looks like I am a reviewer now. Time for some serious reading, and a few words of comment.
Meanwhile, thoughts continue to develop on the next two publications from bluewater books (site needs updating, but it is here). I’m working on the idea of producing a booklet with a mini-CD included. I’m really impressed with those little CDs that are about 3 inches across, play on ordinary CD players and hold about 20 minutes of sound files. Small enough to fit inside the back of a booklet. More news on this as the idea develops.
Musically I am still bouncing around inside the back catalogue of Joni Mitchell – scope for months of exploring there. At the weekend I bought the new album by The Divine Comedy which is back down to just Neil Hannon again. He moved to Ireland and his wife had their first baby since the last album. The album is a set of beautiful pop songs. Sounds like he has been listening to Scott Walker and maybe Frank Sinatra a lot lately. Orchestrations and production are wonderful. Favourite songs so far are ‘Absent Friends’ (title track), ‘Come Home Billy Bird’ and ‘Our Mutual Friend’. I also really like the sentiment in the last track where he sings about his ‘charmed life’ to his baby, hoping that his baby will one day ‘call your life a charmed life’ too. I know it sounds a bit coy, but within the confines of the song it works really well.
Meanwhile, thoughts continue to develop on the next two publications from bluewater books (site needs updating, but it is here). I’m working on the idea of producing a booklet with a mini-CD included. I’m really impressed with those little CDs that are about 3 inches across, play on ordinary CD players and hold about 20 minutes of sound files. Small enough to fit inside the back of a booklet. More news on this as the idea develops.
Musically I am still bouncing around inside the back catalogue of Joni Mitchell – scope for months of exploring there. At the weekend I bought the new album by The Divine Comedy which is back down to just Neil Hannon again. He moved to Ireland and his wife had their first baby since the last album. The album is a set of beautiful pop songs. Sounds like he has been listening to Scott Walker and maybe Frank Sinatra a lot lately. Orchestrations and production are wonderful. Favourite songs so far are ‘Absent Friends’ (title track), ‘Come Home Billy Bird’ and ‘Our Mutual Friend’. I also really like the sentiment in the last track where he sings about his ‘charmed life’ to his baby, hoping that his baby will one day ‘call your life a charmed life’ too. I know it sounds a bit coy, but within the confines of the song it works really well.
Wednesday, 7 April 2004
Mitchell and Nelson – alphabetical partners
Latest obsession is the music of Joni Mitchell. I’m revisiting some albums I haven’t heard for probably 20 years. And I am listening to some for the first time. As it says in the biography which I am reading (Joni Mitchell: Shadows and Light, by Karen O’Brien) she is “renaissance woman, painter and poet, one of the great formative influences on contemporary popular music”. The website dedicated to her is pretty good too.
Another website I have revisited recently for the first time in a while is Bill Nelson’s website, Permanent Flame. There’s a really good diary at this site which is worth a look. Bill Nelson has given up on the recording industry and gone out on his own to produce music himself using Lenin Records for distribution. I remember being really enthusiastic about the music of Be Bop Deluxe when Nelson was their guitarist. I’m curious to hear some of his more recent stuff. The last I heard by him was a few tracks on a compilation from Robert Fripp’s label. These were highly creative, imaginative and eclectic pieces with great tunes too!
Another website I have revisited recently for the first time in a while is Bill Nelson’s website, Permanent Flame. There’s a really good diary at this site which is worth a look. Bill Nelson has given up on the recording industry and gone out on his own to produce music himself using Lenin Records for distribution. I remember being really enthusiastic about the music of Be Bop Deluxe when Nelson was their guitarist. I’m curious to hear some of his more recent stuff. The last I heard by him was a few tracks on a compilation from Robert Fripp’s label. These were highly creative, imaginative and eclectic pieces with great tunes too!
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