The Fender Stratocaster

Today’s trite aphorism is courtesy of Dieter Rams: Good design is long-lasting. I would add to that : Good design is widely copied. The Fender Stratocaster exemplifies both. In 1954, Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Freddie Tavares created one of the most enduring and recognizable examples of industrial design music has ever seen. The “Strat” is still [...]

Scott Walker – Oort Man

In the eccentric cosmology of entertainment, those who succeed early usually embark on one of three trajectories. Many take a rocket ride into the stratosphere for a quick sub-orbital jaunt, only to come crashing back down to obscurity, bankruptcy or premature death. Some achieve orbit, then inhabit our heavens in the form of a slowly [...]

Dogs In Space

Don’t think less of me for quoting Nietzsche: “The advantage of having a bad memory is that you can enjoy the same good things for the first time several times.” As such, I’m looking forward to the next chance I have to see Richard Lowenstein’s 1986 movie, ‘Dogs in Space’. The rare-as-hen’s-teeth soundtrack is even [...]

Neil Hannon – The Divine Comedy.

I can’t reliably recall when it was that I first listened to The Divine Comedy. Sometime back in the 90′s for sure, and likely to have been during one of my Saturday shopping trips into Shibuya or Shinjuku (Tokyo).  Many enjoyable solo hours were spent wandering the floors of HMV or Tower Records, hopping from [...]

John Cale

John Cale left the experimental rock band he co-founded with Lou Reed – ‘The Velvet Underground‘ in the same year I was born. From that time, he’s released around 30 albums. This prolific and hugely talented Welsh composer, musician and singer-songwriter is one of my all-time favourites. I’m rather partial to this cover version of [...]

The Selfish Replicators

I’ve been playing this one track, many many times over the past few days. However, try as I might, there seems to be very little I can find about the artists. Rumour has it they are from Norway, but that’s about all I can glean from the scant information scattered across a few music blogs [...]

Need some happiness?

I shall deliver with this rousing melody from Tunng. “Hustle” is full of charming folksy energy. Earthy vocals courtesy of Mike Lindsay and Becky Jacobs that slide like cigarette smoke over a hearty assemblage of guitar, piano and banjo are just the ticket for banishing winter blues.  A fine celebration of traditional English folk influences. [...]

Beauty

A very beautiful advertisement. Gucci “Flora” The model is Australian Abbey Lee Kershaw, the commercial by British video & film director Chris Cunningham.

Françoiz Breut

I’m in a decidedly Gallic mood again today – would be rude not to share it with you. Françoiz Breut is the stage name of Françoise Breut, whose enchanting, moody pop encapsulates all that I have to come to love about France. If you are not already a Francophile, and “si tu disais” fails to [...]

Herman Düne – French Indie

On a crappy, grey English day like today, I can either wallow in damp morosity or I can fight it with some quirky, colourful French indie. Herman Düne are my ammo. Like the Ramones, the members have taken the band’s name as their own: Songwriter and vocalist David-Ivar Herman Dune and drummer Neman Herman Dune. Their [...]

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