Guten Tag, readers.
Plenty of musings since the last instalment, so it's list-o-time!
- I have a shiny new computer. I like being able to send emails from my kitchen, and I can use the laptop and my old monitor together for dual-screen madness. I have crashed Windoze Vista a couple of times already though.
- This winter seems to be a tantalising mix of awful storms inter dispersed with the odd nice day (not on a weekend though). I actually got blown out of the Northern Corries of Cairngorm on Sunday, and then discovered that if you're not prepared to spend any money, Aviemore is a crap place to be.
- I'm loving my mountain bike more and more each time I use it. I definitely feel like my bike skills are improving (albeit still rudimentary), and I'm starting to get a bit more from jumps and whatnot. I think some body armour might be in order.
- Still on a mountain bike theme - if you ride mountain bikes then you HAVE to go to Kirroughtree (one of the 7stanes). You'll know why when you go.
- I had my sister up to visit recently. The highlight was coming home from the climbing wall to find she'd cooked up an incredible ratatouille with baked mackerel. It was even better than the nice meal she took us out for at Sweet Melindas the following evening (although that may be a virtue of the timing).
- I managed to lose about a stone in weight in the space of three weeks. I'd try to sell my techniques to a health magazine, but I think I might struggle selling the concept of shivering the weight off on a belay ledge to middle aged women.
- In the lsat 2 weeks I have broken two bike wheels. Smashy smashy.
You need to hear these tunes:
1. Hot Chip - Shake a Fist
2. Modeselektor - 20000007
3. Two Gallants - Drive my Car
4. Robyn - Konichiwa Bitches
5. Half Man Half Biscuit - Paintball's Coming Home
6. Dans le Sac vs Scroobius Pip - The Beat That My Heart Skipped
7. Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen
8. Amiina - Seoul
Take it easy folks!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Friday, January 04, 2008
2007 questions
Well, it's that time of year again that everyone reflects on the year that has been, and I grumble that it's no different to any other time of year, blah blah blah. And then join in, because it's fun. So I've stolen one of those Q&A things from my sister's blog to make up for the fact that I have no imagination (cut me some slack, though, I am full of germs at the mo).
1.What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Alpine climbing. I didn't get the bug though.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm too much of a grumpus to make resolutions most of the time but I do have some goals for this year that mainly include doing more rock climbing and maybe learn to swim properly. Oh, and to get the hell out of DullLabHell and train for a proper career.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, and they got afterbirth all over my shoes.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Auntie Leah died, but she'd had a good innings.
5. What countries did you visit?
Went to France for a bit (and Italy for an evening) but mostly explored Scotland even more. I'd almost count the Western Isles as a different country.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More dry rock in the mountains please. And more holiday time to spend there.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I never remember the dates of anything, really but there's a few days that will stay with me forever. Completing the Cuillin traverse on Skye was a very special day, as was climbing Point Five Gully on Ben Nevis in beautiful blue-sky conditions.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not making a mess of the relationship with my girlfriend. Best thing I've ever done.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not passing my driving test. Several times.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Lots of cold/flu malarkey and some tooth-related bother but nothing to moan about.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My mountain bike. Mountain biking has become a big part of my life this year, and no one item that I own provides so much by way of fun and freedom. Worth every penny and more.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Amongst others, Del, Radiohead and my Sis.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My work colleagues. I've never met such a bunch of uninspired, lazy and just plain self-obsessed people. I could go on about it for hours but it depresses me too much that people like that exist in such great number.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Bikes, food, council tax, travelling.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Riding my bikes fast over things and music from Iceland.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? same
c) richer or poorer? same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Rock climbing
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Driving lessons
20. How did you be spend New Year?
Edinburgh Hogmanay street party. Party was a bit rubbish but I had fun with my friends nontheless
21.Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
My girlfriend. Hooray for Orange's Magic Numbers
22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yep. Right up to my neck
23. How many one-night stands?
Nil
24. What were your favourite TV programs?
Flight of the Conchords, Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe and The Late Edition. I am a BBC4 whore.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nobody springs to mind
26. What was the best book you read?
To Kill A Mockingbird. It's the first time I've read it since I studied it for GCSE and I actually enjoyed it this time
27. What were your greatest musical discoveries?
Amiina, The Album Leaf, Holy Fuck, The Octopus Project, Dans le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Efterklang, Malcolm Middleton, The National, Fujiya & Miyagi, CSS, Adjágas.
I listened to a LOT of music this year.
28. What did you want and get?
A mountain bike.
29. What did you want and not get?
A driving license.
30. What were your favourite films of this year?
This Is England and Heima
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went bouldering in Glen Nevis. I'm 27 now.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A more comfortable bike saddle. Less rain.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
'Mostly appropriate'
34. What kept you sane?
In no order: Music, my girlfriend and the wild places in Scotland.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
A tie between Lovefoxxxxx from CSS and Elliot from Scrubs.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Too many to mention.
37. Who did you miss?
My girlfriend
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Nobody springs to mind
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007
That no matter how well/badly things are going in your life there's always time for the simple pleasure of pedalling a bicycle.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Thou shalt not stop liking a band just because they’ve become popular.
Thou shalt not question Stephen Fry.
Thou shalt not judge a book by it’s cover.
1.What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Alpine climbing. I didn't get the bug though.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm too much of a grumpus to make resolutions most of the time but I do have some goals for this year that mainly include doing more rock climbing and maybe learn to swim properly. Oh, and to get the hell out of DullLabHell and train for a proper career.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, and they got afterbirth all over my shoes.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Auntie Leah died, but she'd had a good innings.
5. What countries did you visit?
Went to France for a bit (and Italy for an evening) but mostly explored Scotland even more. I'd almost count the Western Isles as a different country.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More dry rock in the mountains please. And more holiday time to spend there.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I never remember the dates of anything, really but there's a few days that will stay with me forever. Completing the Cuillin traverse on Skye was a very special day, as was climbing Point Five Gully on Ben Nevis in beautiful blue-sky conditions.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not making a mess of the relationship with my girlfriend. Best thing I've ever done.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not passing my driving test. Several times.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Lots of cold/flu malarkey and some tooth-related bother but nothing to moan about.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My mountain bike. Mountain biking has become a big part of my life this year, and no one item that I own provides so much by way of fun and freedom. Worth every penny and more.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Amongst others, Del, Radiohead and my Sis.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My work colleagues. I've never met such a bunch of uninspired, lazy and just plain self-obsessed people. I could go on about it for hours but it depresses me too much that people like that exist in such great number.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Bikes, food, council tax, travelling.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Riding my bikes fast over things and music from Iceland.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? same
c) richer or poorer? same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Rock climbing
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Driving lessons
20. How did you be spend New Year?
Edinburgh Hogmanay street party. Party was a bit rubbish but I had fun with my friends nontheless
21.Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
My girlfriend. Hooray for Orange's Magic Numbers
22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yep. Right up to my neck
23. How many one-night stands?
Nil
24. What were your favourite TV programs?
Flight of the Conchords, Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe and The Late Edition. I am a BBC4 whore.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nobody springs to mind
26. What was the best book you read?
To Kill A Mockingbird. It's the first time I've read it since I studied it for GCSE and I actually enjoyed it this time
27. What were your greatest musical discoveries?
Amiina, The Album Leaf, Holy Fuck, The Octopus Project, Dans le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Efterklang, Malcolm Middleton, The National, Fujiya & Miyagi, CSS, Adjágas.
I listened to a LOT of music this year.
28. What did you want and get?
A mountain bike.
29. What did you want and not get?
A driving license.
30. What were your favourite films of this year?
This Is England and Heima
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went bouldering in Glen Nevis. I'm 27 now.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A more comfortable bike saddle. Less rain.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
'Mostly appropriate'
34. What kept you sane?
In no order: Music, my girlfriend and the wild places in Scotland.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
A tie between Lovefoxxxxx from CSS and Elliot from Scrubs.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Too many to mention.
37. Who did you miss?
My girlfriend
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Nobody springs to mind
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007
That no matter how well/badly things are going in your life there's always time for the simple pleasure of pedalling a bicycle.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Thou shalt not stop liking a band just because they’ve become popular.
Thou shalt not question Stephen Fry.
Thou shalt not judge a book by it’s cover.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Five Knuckle Shuffle
Well, I went winter climbing and survived - twice! More thoughts on that at a later date.
The real news is that Del finally received Shuffleathon CD I made for him (albeit in digital form due to postal ineptitude) and reviewed it here. Am rather pleased to say he liked it.
And now you too can be the judge as he's kindly hosted a zip file of the mixtape for you to download and enjoy.
Right click here and it's all yours!
The real news is that Del finally received Shuffleathon CD I made for him (albeit in digital form due to postal ineptitude) and reviewed it here. Am rather pleased to say he liked it.
And now you too can be the judge as he's kindly hosted a zip file of the mixtape for you to download and enjoy.
Right click here and it's all yours!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
First Frosts
November is usually a tense month for me. By this point the frustration of being pinned inside for months - too cold for rock climbing, too warm for winter climbing - has mounted to the point of near insanity. I'll spend hours each week peering at weather forecasts looking for that one word which will fill me with joy and fear: Snow.
Once the mountains put on their white winter coats, all manner of irrationality kicks in for climbers. Here it's all 3am wake-up calls, hours of torchlit walking, hot aches and frozen noses, all so we can scratch our way up some frosty rock with out ice axes. Great.
There's so much more to it than just a bit of climbing though. It really does feel like an escape heading into the hills in winter. The the subdued greys and blacks of everyday life are replaced by fresh, shocking white. The sound of godawful xmas music and delayed traffic replaced by the clank of metal on rock and the manic croaks of ptarmigan. When you return home at the end of the day, you do truly feel like you've been somewhere else. And also like eating all the food you can find.
This year's different. We've had the most beautiful autumn I can remember, and I've been lucky enough to keep myself active with my bikes, so I've not felt that frustration and yearning that usually overcomes me at this time of year. Have I lost my Winter Psyche?
Hell no. I'm getting up to go climbing in the cairngorms in about 3 hours.
And I'm bricking myself.
Once the mountains put on their white winter coats, all manner of irrationality kicks in for climbers. Here it's all 3am wake-up calls, hours of torchlit walking, hot aches and frozen noses, all so we can scratch our way up some frosty rock with out ice axes. Great.
There's so much more to it than just a bit of climbing though. It really does feel like an escape heading into the hills in winter. The the subdued greys and blacks of everyday life are replaced by fresh, shocking white. The sound of godawful xmas music and delayed traffic replaced by the clank of metal on rock and the manic croaks of ptarmigan. When you return home at the end of the day, you do truly feel like you've been somewhere else. And also like eating all the food you can find.
This year's different. We've had the most beautiful autumn I can remember, and I've been lucky enough to keep myself active with my bikes, so I've not felt that frustration and yearning that usually overcomes me at this time of year. Have I lost my Winter Psyche?
Hell no. I'm getting up to go climbing in the cairngorms in about 3 hours.
And I'm bricking myself.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
A List
No, not that one. It's spelled all different, innit?Here are some things:
- I went to see Battles again the other week. One of the best gigs ever. There was some impressive multi-instrumentalism, an incredibly high cymbal, loudness, a roomful of post-rock nerds dancing in 7/4 time and one of the best atmospheres I can remember. The Pigeon Detectives they aint. I urge you with every possible organ in my body to see them if you can.
- Give Blood. Not only do you get free biscuits, but a sense of smugness and achievement that would usually require some actual effort. Lots of biscuits.
- I'm beginning to think Buck 65 might be mankind's saviour. If you don't believe me then go to his website and download the Dirty Work EP for free. Track 2 may just be one of my favourite songs EVER. Ever.
- Bikes. Yeah!
- Isn't it a great autumn? Have been out in the hills a bit this past few weeks and it's even more stunning than most autumns. Must be payback for such a soggy summer.
- In the year 2000 there are no more elephants but also no more unethical treatment of elephants.
- I have completed and sent off my Shuffleathon 2007 CD. Each and every song makes me smile like a fool. Can't wait to see the review.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Electric Bogle-oo
Last week I promised tales of further Derring-Do. Well, I was going to write about completing the Cuillin Ridge traverse on Skye, but Sam's pretty much summed it up in words, and Rik's got pretty photos up too. All I can really add to that is how chuffed I am to have completed one of Scotland's best mountaineering challenges in good time, with good weather and with good company. It really is a spectacular day (or two) out.
On to a different, but still spectacular part of Scotland - the area around Loch Laggan
I went mountain biking up there at the weekend with a different Sam, and after a wet day of cruising around the built trails at Wolftrax, we decided to go for a spin around the Ardverikie Estate.
TV watchers may be vaguely familiar with the area as the site of the ficticious Glen Bogle in Monarch of the Glen. Climbers will no doubt know of the classic Ardverikie Wall on Binean Shuas. Either way, it's a perfect place to go exploring on a clear Autumn day.
And what a day! After setting off into a fairly dense ming (it takes a lot of faith in the weather forecast to cycle directly into some clouds), we gradually saw the clouds lift as we rode on, with the odd wisp still clinging to the lochs. I know it looks pretty cool in the photos but that doesn't even get close to doing the sight justice. Even though I know it's due to temperature differences in the air, it still looks like magic happening right there.
We stormed our way through the first part of the riding - mostly on good Land Rover tracks. Because the area is a deer estate there's actually pretty good infrastructure for getting around, and even the odd holiday home hiding in the trees:
To be honest, after a while I was getting a bit weary of riding on good tracks - part of the fun of mountain biking is overcoming the obstacles that the trails throw at you. Luckily, the trail turned into some incredible singletrack snaking up a beautiful glen.
Unluckily it was the wrong glen and we had to re-trace our steps for about 6km. And the push our bikes most of the way up a munro, made all the more soul-destroying by the fact that the trail looked almost unrideable. If we were going to have to push back down the other side it would have been quite upsetting.
Of course, the downhill was rideable, and utterly fantastic.
Riding this sort of ground is exhilarating in so many ways. Squirming the bike between rocks and ruts focusses the mind like few things I know, and then letting loose of the brakes on the smoother sections brings some raw speed into proceedings. There's no time to think about how broken you'll be if you stack it - all your thoughts are on spotting the best line, or even just one that's kind of safe. Zen monks train for years to achieve and emptiness of mind like this. I suspect they'd be doubtful that riding a pushbike down a hill could lead to enlightenment though. Who cares - it's brilliant fun.
So for any mountain bikers reading this - hell, anybody reading this - get thee to Glen Bogle. It rocks.
On to a different, but still spectacular part of Scotland - the area around Loch Laggan
I went mountain biking up there at the weekend with a different Sam, and after a wet day of cruising around the built trails at Wolftrax, we decided to go for a spin around the Ardverikie Estate.
TV watchers may be vaguely familiar with the area as the site of the ficticious Glen Bogle in Monarch of the Glen. Climbers will no doubt know of the classic Ardverikie Wall on Binean Shuas. Either way, it's a perfect place to go exploring on a clear Autumn day.
And what a day! After setting off into a fairly dense ming (it takes a lot of faith in the weather forecast to cycle directly into some clouds), we gradually saw the clouds lift as we rode on, with the odd wisp still clinging to the lochs. I know it looks pretty cool in the photos but that doesn't even get close to doing the sight justice. Even though I know it's due to temperature differences in the air, it still looks like magic happening right there.
We stormed our way through the first part of the riding - mostly on good Land Rover tracks. Because the area is a deer estate there's actually pretty good infrastructure for getting around, and even the odd holiday home hiding in the trees:
To be honest, after a while I was getting a bit weary of riding on good tracks - part of the fun of mountain biking is overcoming the obstacles that the trails throw at you. Luckily, the trail turned into some incredible singletrack snaking up a beautiful glen.
Unluckily it was the wrong glen and we had to re-trace our steps for about 6km. And the push our bikes most of the way up a munro, made all the more soul-destroying by the fact that the trail looked almost unrideable. If we were going to have to push back down the other side it would have been quite upsetting.
Of course, the downhill was rideable, and utterly fantastic.
Riding this sort of ground is exhilarating in so many ways. Squirming the bike between rocks and ruts focusses the mind like few things I know, and then letting loose of the brakes on the smoother sections brings some raw speed into proceedings. There's no time to think about how broken you'll be if you stack it - all your thoughts are on spotting the best line, or even just one that's kind of safe. Zen monks train for years to achieve and emptiness of mind like this. I suspect they'd be doubtful that riding a pushbike down a hill could lead to enlightenment though. Who cares - it's brilliant fun.
So for any mountain bikers reading this - hell, anybody reading this - get thee to Glen Bogle. It rocks.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Post Rock
So I signed up for the Shuffleathon over on Swiss Toni's Blog the other week, and have already received my CD! The idea of the shuffleathon is for a bunch of strangers to send Toni their address, and he pick out a victim for each person to make a mix CD for. Once you get the mix CD you post a review on your blog, and everyone gets to discover lots of music. Ace.
Mine was made by Mark over at LifeOnPlanetMe and I've now had it for a few days and a few listens. Reviewing each of the 23 tracks individually could get a bit tedious, so I'll just give a tracklisting and then discuss my particular high and low points. I won't pull any punches on the stuff I don't like as I don't believe in pretending to like music that I hate, so please don't take that side of things personally Mark - the whole point of music is to evoke emotions!
Tracklisting:
Whole Lotta Love - Prince. I remember at school there was an urban myth that Prince had some ribs removed so that he could auto-fellate. It seemed believable at the time, partly because of Prince's ludicrous-yet-entertaining sex-dwarf persona, and partly because when you're a teenage boy you want such things to be true. I now realise that it's certainly not true, because if you could suck yourself off, WHY WOULD YOU BOTHER WANKING IN PUBLIC LIKE HE DOES ON THIS SONG? Please, Prince, put it away.
Love Will Tear Us Apart - The Cure. I love the original, and I'm quite fond of The Cure, so I was quite surprised at how bad I found this. Where the original makes you empathise with the bleak subject material by being heartfelt and catchy, this version just makes you want to smack Robert Smith and tell him to cheer the fuck up. I feel a bit absurd for criticising a Joy Division cover for being too dreary, but this sort of thing does give sad music a bad name.
Girls and Boys - Pet Shop Boys. I just don't get the Pet Shop Boys at all - everything they do just sounds lifeless to me. And I hate the original. This made me want to superglue earplugs into my ear canals forever so that I don't accidentally hear it again.
Street Life - Morrissey. Oh, he's just a cunt, alright?
It's not all bad, though. INdeed there's some superb little numbers on there:
Teenage Kicks - Therapy? For me, Therapy? will always represent all of the unsavoury aspects of being a teenage boy. Here, they've made the song their own and turned it into a terrifyingly sinister stalker-dirge. It's actually scary to listen to. And at the end you can just about hear Andy Cairns' distorted voice saying 'Sorry Fergal' but not really meaning it. Ace.
Crazy - The Flaming Lips. The Lips always seem to do brilliant covers, often replacing many of the lyrics with their own seemingly ad-libbed words. In contrast to Gnarls Barley's dense original, this version is a far more spartan arrangement, but the quality of the song isn't dented one bit by this or by Wayne Coyne's alternative narrative.
Keep the Car Runing - Foo Fighters. Having picked one of the criminally over-rated Arcade Fire's truly great songs, Grohl and co. go for a fairly straight cover version, with an accordion taking the place of the original's strings etc. As usual, Dave Grohl's innate likeability shines through and makes this a real treat to listen to.
Hot in Herre - Beck. On just seeing this in the tracklisting I realised that 'Hot in Herre' is really a Beck song that just so happened to have been released by Nelly. The whole song is essentially one long shit chat-up line but as Beck shows here (and Nelly on the original) if you deliver it properly it can be brilliant.
There's a few other songs that I really enjoy (Radiohead's cover is a bit of an old favourite, and Coldplay use their earnestness to bring a heartbreaking quality to theirs) and some that leave me cold (Suede, Metallica, Audioslave, Ian Brown). There's some annoying niggles with a couple of tracks ending a bit abruptly and the sound levels all over the place (I really hate having to fanny about with the volume al the time to hear the songs properly). They're not critical flaws, but things that the dedicated mixtape nerd can fix easily in this glorious digital era.
As you'd expect with a mixtape for a complete stranger, it's a bit of a hit-and-miss affair for me. There's plenty on here that I don't like or am indifferent to, and I doubt I'll be listening to it much. There are, however, a few absolute corkers on here that I'll probably end up ripping and using in a mixtape of my own at some point. The main thing is that Mark's obviously put together some songs he loves and wants others to hear, which is all that you can ask for. So cheers, Mark - the CD may not have completely rocked my world but it did at least get me spastic dancing round my room to Beck.
As for my mixtape, that'll be revelaed soooooooon.
Mine was made by Mark over at LifeOnPlanetMe and I've now had it for a few days and a few listens. Reviewing each of the 23 tracks individually could get a bit tedious, so I'll just give a tracklisting and then discuss my particular high and low points. I won't pull any punches on the stuff I don't like as I don't believe in pretending to like music that I hate, so please don't take that side of things personally Mark - the whole point of music is to evoke emotions!
Tracklisting:
- Let there be Rock - Henry Rollins & the Hardons
- Whole Lotta Love - Prince
- Where's Captain Kirk? - R.E.M.
- Teenage Kicks - Therapy?
- It's Not Unusual - The Wedding Present
- Alphabet Street - Jesus and Mary Chain
- Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue - Metallica
- What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?
- Been All Around the World - The Pixies
- Instant Karma - U2
- Keep the Car Running - Foo Fighters
- Love Will Tear Us Apart - The Cure
- Crazy - The Flaming Lips
- Hot In Herre - Beck
- Thriller - Ian Brown
- Girls and Boys - Pet Shop Boys
- Can't Get You Out of My Head - Coldplay
- Street Life - Morrissey
- Union City Blue - Suede
- Nobody Does it Better - Radiohead
- Dark Globe - David Gilmour
- Straight To Hell - Moby
- So Long and Thanks for Al the Fish - The Divine Comedy
Whole Lotta Love - Prince. I remember at school there was an urban myth that Prince had some ribs removed so that he could auto-fellate. It seemed believable at the time, partly because of Prince's ludicrous-yet-entertaining sex-dwarf persona, and partly because when you're a teenage boy you want such things to be true. I now realise that it's certainly not true, because if you could suck yourself off, WHY WOULD YOU BOTHER WANKING IN PUBLIC LIKE HE DOES ON THIS SONG? Please, Prince, put it away.
Love Will Tear Us Apart - The Cure. I love the original, and I'm quite fond of The Cure, so I was quite surprised at how bad I found this. Where the original makes you empathise with the bleak subject material by being heartfelt and catchy, this version just makes you want to smack Robert Smith and tell him to cheer the fuck up. I feel a bit absurd for criticising a Joy Division cover for being too dreary, but this sort of thing does give sad music a bad name.
Girls and Boys - Pet Shop Boys. I just don't get the Pet Shop Boys at all - everything they do just sounds lifeless to me. And I hate the original. This made me want to superglue earplugs into my ear canals forever so that I don't accidentally hear it again.
Street Life - Morrissey. Oh, he's just a cunt, alright?
It's not all bad, though. INdeed there's some superb little numbers on there:
Teenage Kicks - Therapy? For me, Therapy? will always represent all of the unsavoury aspects of being a teenage boy. Here, they've made the song their own and turned it into a terrifyingly sinister stalker-dirge. It's actually scary to listen to. And at the end you can just about hear Andy Cairns' distorted voice saying 'Sorry Fergal' but not really meaning it. Ace.
Crazy - The Flaming Lips. The Lips always seem to do brilliant covers, often replacing many of the lyrics with their own seemingly ad-libbed words. In contrast to Gnarls Barley's dense original, this version is a far more spartan arrangement, but the quality of the song isn't dented one bit by this or by Wayne Coyne's alternative narrative.
Keep the Car Runing - Foo Fighters. Having picked one of the criminally over-rated Arcade Fire's truly great songs, Grohl and co. go for a fairly straight cover version, with an accordion taking the place of the original's strings etc. As usual, Dave Grohl's innate likeability shines through and makes this a real treat to listen to.
Hot in Herre - Beck. On just seeing this in the tracklisting I realised that 'Hot in Herre' is really a Beck song that just so happened to have been released by Nelly. The whole song is essentially one long shit chat-up line but as Beck shows here (and Nelly on the original) if you deliver it properly it can be brilliant.
There's a few other songs that I really enjoy (Radiohead's cover is a bit of an old favourite, and Coldplay use their earnestness to bring a heartbreaking quality to theirs) and some that leave me cold (Suede, Metallica, Audioslave, Ian Brown). There's some annoying niggles with a couple of tracks ending a bit abruptly and the sound levels all over the place (I really hate having to fanny about with the volume al the time to hear the songs properly). They're not critical flaws, but things that the dedicated mixtape nerd can fix easily in this glorious digital era.
As you'd expect with a mixtape for a complete stranger, it's a bit of a hit-and-miss affair for me. There's plenty on here that I don't like or am indifferent to, and I doubt I'll be listening to it much. There are, however, a few absolute corkers on here that I'll probably end up ripping and using in a mixtape of my own at some point. The main thing is that Mark's obviously put together some songs he loves and wants others to hear, which is all that you can ask for. So cheers, Mark - the CD may not have completely rocked my world but it did at least get me spastic dancing round my room to Beck.
As for my mixtape, that'll be revelaed soooooooon.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Derring Do
I've been putting off writing about my trip to the Alps because, well, it was a bit of an anticlimax truth be told.
Don't get me wrong, the scenery is incredible and the whole alpine environment is mindblowing, but I just didn't get excited by it.
There were a few mitigating factors - I took a while to acclimatise to altitude and I also contracted a fairly debilitating infection in a tooth - so I'm not sure I was in the right physical state to appreciate any of it. I also got a bit pissed off with nasty loose rock, and the faff of being roped-up all of the time. I was especially peeved at not being able to slide on my arse down easy-angled snow (probably one of the most fun aspects of mountaineering) for fear of falling into a crevasse.
But there's no need to whinge, as Chamonix was a fine place to sit about and take antibiotics, and I'm very glad to have at last seen the Alps. I'll be in no rush to go back (I think fir the same amount of money I could have a MUCH better holiday elsewhere), but I've no regrets going.
And also, on the way back I visited Fontainebleu, which is a magical playground of boulders in a beautiful forest just South of Paris. Anyone who even vaguely likes climbing should go there just to play around for a few days.
There's hundreds, if not thousands, of rocks with 'circuits' of problems to climb in sequence. Each circuit is marked out with arrows and numbers to guide you from rock to rock, and most of the circuits are designed to develop your skill and strength in a whole variety of climbing techniques. It's quite simply one of the most fun ways to climb I've ever experienced as you don't hang around in one place long enough to get bored, and you can easily choose the level of challenge you're up for. And it's knackering in the best way possible. I'll definitely go back.So that was France - not as great as I'd hoped, but still not bad, and all the better for having had soe real fun at the end.
As for real tales of Derring Do - I've had quite a weekend, which I'll tell you about once I've managed to thieve some decent photos from. Watch this space.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Pack-a-doodle dooo
Man, I hate packing.
I've got a pile of clothes and climbing gear all set for my alps trip and I have no idea how to rationalise it all. So I think I'll take all of it. Hurrah for not flying.
In other news, I saw about 3000 fringe shows last weekend when the mighty Del, the lovely Chloe and the perplexing Henry invaded my city like the tourist Londoner scum that they are. Can't be arsed to review it all but I saw Charlie Brooker, both of the Hollies from Red Dwarf AND got my question read out on 'We Need Answers' all in one day. It was special.
I also failed my driving test last week because I broke the speed limit. Twice. Ooops.
Right, will post again in a couple of weeks with breathtaking photos and tales of derring-do.
Tata!
I've got a pile of clothes and climbing gear all set for my alps trip and I have no idea how to rationalise it all. So I think I'll take all of it. Hurrah for not flying.
In other news, I saw about 3000 fringe shows last weekend when the mighty Del, the lovely Chloe and the perplexing Henry invaded my city like the tourist Londoner scum that they are. Can't be arsed to review it all but I saw Charlie Brooker, both of the Hollies from Red Dwarf AND got my question read out on 'We Need Answers' all in one day. It was special.
I also failed my driving test last week because I broke the speed limit. Twice. Ooops.
Right, will post again in a couple of weeks with breathtaking photos and tales of derring-do.
Tata!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Invaders
Every August, they come here, with their haircuts, their overpriced beer and their 'culture'.
Most of the year, Edinburgh's the sort of peaceful city where lazy misanthropes like myself can merrily wander the streets without fear of jostling from hideous 'other people' whilst still enjoying the benefits of city life. Basically, I can go and buy Kettle Chips at midnight whilst avoiding the sweaty masses. Ace.
For one month, though, literally millions of hideous, yelping humans flock here to 'see stuff', booze themselves silly and GET IN MY WAY. All of a sudden Arthur's Seat is crowded with human cattle, pubs swarm with idiots in pork-pie hats and every square centimetre of indoor space is turned into a 'venue'. I took one of my shoes off to scratch my foot in the street the other day and when I tried to put my foot back in a troupe of lycra'd dwarves were performing an interpretive dance about the Iraq war in it.
And these people are some of the worst sort known to man: 'Creative' types. Now, don't get me wrong, there's any number of great performers, artists, etc who've enriched mankind no end. The problem is, they're followed around by a bunch of unimaginative gobshites who swan about the place pretending to have a reason to live. You can spot them wondering around town wearing some wacky headgear and a pair of plastic 'Elvis' shades handing out forests of paper to promote their awful show. They should all be rolled up in a giant newspaper and fired into the centre of the sun. With these folk about it's like living in London, only without the ethnic diversity or decent public transport.
There are, however, some decent comedians on and fireworks every night. When I get me that Taser I ordered it could almost be quite a fun place to be!
Most of the year, Edinburgh's the sort of peaceful city where lazy misanthropes like myself can merrily wander the streets without fear of jostling from hideous 'other people' whilst still enjoying the benefits of city life. Basically, I can go and buy Kettle Chips at midnight whilst avoiding the sweaty masses. Ace.
For one month, though, literally millions of hideous, yelping humans flock here to 'see stuff', booze themselves silly and GET IN MY WAY. All of a sudden Arthur's Seat is crowded with human cattle, pubs swarm with idiots in pork-pie hats and every square centimetre of indoor space is turned into a 'venue'. I took one of my shoes off to scratch my foot in the street the other day and when I tried to put my foot back in a troupe of lycra'd dwarves were performing an interpretive dance about the Iraq war in it.
And these people are some of the worst sort known to man: 'Creative' types. Now, don't get me wrong, there's any number of great performers, artists, etc who've enriched mankind no end. The problem is, they're followed around by a bunch of unimaginative gobshites who swan about the place pretending to have a reason to live. You can spot them wondering around town wearing some wacky headgear and a pair of plastic 'Elvis' shades handing out forests of paper to promote their awful show. They should all be rolled up in a giant newspaper and fired into the centre of the sun. With these folk about it's like living in London, only without the ethnic diversity or decent public transport.
There are, however, some decent comedians on and fireworks every night. When I get me that Taser I ordered it could almost be quite a fun place to be!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
What Were the Skies Like When You Were Young?
They were fucking ace.The Pentland hills are a mere 20 minutes of uphill sweating on a bikefrom work, and once there it's a veritable playground for mountain bikers. Never-ending uphills, super-fast downhills, a few wee jumps, midges - the lot! It makes me feel pretty lucky when I'm sitting eating my post-work snacks on the grassy hillside gazing idly at the reservoir reflecting the early evening sky. Much better than going to the gym or something.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Start Again
Whooooeeeee. Well, everyone else seems to be blogging like crazy, so I guess it'd be rude for me not to resurrect my own little corner of the internet.
So I thought I'd start a clean slate and explain who I am and what this blog will contain.
This is me:
I write this blog from my room high up in a tower above the beautiful city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It's an amazing city to be in, and I will no doubt yammer on about it ceaselessly in posts to come.
I make a living working in a chemistry lab, where I mostly take bits of goo and put them through horrible chemical ordeals in order to make sure the people in the adjacent factory are doing their job properly so that we don't poison anyone (the goo gets used in medical applications). I have the usual complaints that many folk have for their jobs: monotony, poor management, crap holidays. On the up-side, I love the cycle commute and the job's pretty undemanding, plus I can smugly approach it in a thoroughly half-arsed fashion smug in the knowledge that I have no intention of keeping a career there.
I started this blog so that I could show off all the big words I know and also have the odd rant. So what can you expect to read about here?
Well, I love the outdoors, particularly climbing (rock, ice, whatever) and cycling (on or off road). Much of my free time gets spent travelling to what I can only describe as big grown-up playgrounds where I can indulge in some mild derring-do. It's all actually a lot less dangerous than it sounds and a lot more fun than it should be, and I get to see some truly amazing things that you just don't get to see unless you go a bit off-piste. Like this:
I also listen to music endlessly. My tastes are fairly broad, but I have no time for bad music, or worse, mediocrity. Be warned that I may loose all sense of proportion when praising/damning some music, but then what's music for if not to get passionate about?
To that end, I will end this post with a short playlist of what's been rocking my hungover Sunday:
Mogwai - My Father My King
Sufjan Stevens - Sister
Malcolm Middleton - Fight Like the Night
Nelly Furtado - Maneater
Simian Mobile Disco - Sleep Deprivation
Caribou - Melody Day (Four Tet Remix)
Daft Punk - Da Funk
Fujiya & Miyagi - Transparent Things
CSS - Music is My Hot, Hot Sex
Prodigy - Charly
Idlewild - In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction
So I thought I'd start a clean slate and explain who I am and what this blog will contain.
This is me:
I write this blog from my room high up in a tower above the beautiful city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It's an amazing city to be in, and I will no doubt yammer on about it ceaselessly in posts to come.I make a living working in a chemistry lab, where I mostly take bits of goo and put them through horrible chemical ordeals in order to make sure the people in the adjacent factory are doing their job properly so that we don't poison anyone (the goo gets used in medical applications). I have the usual complaints that many folk have for their jobs: monotony, poor management, crap holidays. On the up-side, I love the cycle commute and the job's pretty undemanding, plus I can smugly approach it in a thoroughly half-arsed fashion smug in the knowledge that I have no intention of keeping a career there.
I started this blog so that I could show off all the big words I know and also have the odd rant. So what can you expect to read about here?
Well, I love the outdoors, particularly climbing (rock, ice, whatever) and cycling (on or off road). Much of my free time gets spent travelling to what I can only describe as big grown-up playgrounds where I can indulge in some mild derring-do. It's all actually a lot less dangerous than it sounds and a lot more fun than it should be, and I get to see some truly amazing things that you just don't get to see unless you go a bit off-piste. Like this:
I also listen to music endlessly. My tastes are fairly broad, but I have no time for bad music, or worse, mediocrity. Be warned that I may loose all sense of proportion when praising/damning some music, but then what's music for if not to get passionate about?
To that end, I will end this post with a short playlist of what's been rocking my hungover Sunday:
Mogwai - My Father My King
Sufjan Stevens - Sister
Malcolm Middleton - Fight Like the Night
Nelly Furtado - Maneater
Simian Mobile Disco - Sleep Deprivation
Caribou - Melody Day (Four Tet Remix)
Daft Punk - Da Funk
Fujiya & Miyagi - Transparent Things
CSS - Music is My Hot, Hot Sex
Prodigy - Charly
Idlewild - In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Yeeeahhh Bwoyeeeee
My it's been quiet on here of late hasn't it?
To make up for that, as promised, I proudly present to you the second part of my mixtape/podcast/whatever: Son of Red.
I personally guarantee that it will have you air-drumming and booty shaking till you can drum/shake no more.
All you need to do is do the right-click/save as thing on this link, then enjoy to your heart's content. The track list will appear in the comment box for some reason that escapes me.
ENJOY!
To make up for that, as promised, I proudly present to you the second part of my mixtape/podcast/whatever: Son of Red.
I personally guarantee that it will have you air-drumming and booty shaking till you can drum/shake no more.
All you need to do is do the right-click/save as thing on this link, then enjoy to your heart's content. The track list will appear in the comment box for some reason that escapes me.
ENJOY!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Feast Your Ears
Evening all.
I can just tell by the way that you're reding this that you're getting bored of your record collection. You've heard it all six million times, and you certainly can't be arsed with the squealing gibbons that present the radio.
Fear not, for the internet can save you.
Yes indeed. I have painstakingly collected a bunch of wonderful tunes together for your Aural pleasure. Call it a podcast if you will, but that implies that I did something other than choose some good songs and put them in a pleasing order.
It's called 'Son of Blue' as its the sequel to a compliation I did a couple of years ago along the same theme. It's one part of two, the other part being the 'Red' side which will appear on here in due course. The 'blue' side is the quieter, more introspective part, the tracklisting for which can be seen in the comments box.
Right Click here and do the Save As thing, then enjoy enjoy enjoy.
Thanks to Del for the hosting.
I can just tell by the way that you're reding this that you're getting bored of your record collection. You've heard it all six million times, and you certainly can't be arsed with the squealing gibbons that present the radio.
Fear not, for the internet can save you.
Yes indeed. I have painstakingly collected a bunch of wonderful tunes together for your Aural pleasure. Call it a podcast if you will, but that implies that I did something other than choose some good songs and put them in a pleasing order.
It's called 'Son of Blue' as its the sequel to a compliation I did a couple of years ago along the same theme. It's one part of two, the other part being the 'Red' side which will appear on here in due course. The 'blue' side is the quieter, more introspective part, the tracklisting for which can be seen in the comments box.
Right Click here and do the Save As thing, then enjoy enjoy enjoy.
Thanks to Del for the hosting.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
A Quote
Comedian, TV Presenter, novelist and genuine National Treasure Stephen Fry on the ongoing tension between protestants and catholics:
"Religion: Shit it."
Wise.
"Religion: Shit it."
Wise.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
These Things
Straight from my brain to your eyes (except with computers and internets and stuff in between), yet another list of ponderations:
- Today I dissolved some eye goo in acid and then set fire to it. They pay me money to do this. I like my new job.
- Scotland beat The Best Football Team In The World® at the weekend, and the supporters and press didn't go on about it as if it was the shattering of a new epoch. English sport media (and supporters) have a lot to learn from their wise Caledonian brethren.
- Someone asked me if that new slide thing at the Tate Modern is really art, or if it's just a slide. I say if it's in an art gallery and some pseud wants to fawn over it then it's art. Either that or the Tate Modern's trying to muscle in on some of Alton Towers' action.
- I am so tired of Co-op filled pasta but it's just so damn easy.
- I want to find the peple responsible for Radio 1's daytime playlist and kick them in the kidneys until they piss blood. If I hear James Morrison or The bastardbastardbastard Feeling once more I may become unstable. ALthough they can play that Jamie T song a bit more. And Hot Chip. Oh, alright, they can stay, but I'm not making them a cup of tea or anything.
- There's yet another podcast over on Delrico Bandito. It will make your ears quite literally catch fire with joy.
- It's way too warm for October. Quite a lot of the trees are stil lgreen and it's just plain wrong. I bet slugs and badgers and that are going mental with it all.
- Waitrose isn't as expensive as I expected.
- I can't find non- aerosol deodorant anywhere. If you know of a cunning source then let me know and I will award you with a shiny new donkey.
That is all. Time for bedsleeps. Goodnightithtihtihtittttt!
- Today I dissolved some eye goo in acid and then set fire to it. They pay me money to do this. I like my new job.
- Scotland beat The Best Football Team In The World® at the weekend, and the supporters and press didn't go on about it as if it was the shattering of a new epoch. English sport media (and supporters) have a lot to learn from their wise Caledonian brethren.
- Someone asked me if that new slide thing at the Tate Modern is really art, or if it's just a slide. I say if it's in an art gallery and some pseud wants to fawn over it then it's art. Either that or the Tate Modern's trying to muscle in on some of Alton Towers' action.
- I am so tired of Co-op filled pasta but it's just so damn easy.
- I want to find the peple responsible for Radio 1's daytime playlist and kick them in the kidneys until they piss blood. If I hear James Morrison or The bastardbastardbastard Feeling once more I may become unstable. ALthough they can play that Jamie T song a bit more. And Hot Chip. Oh, alright, they can stay, but I'm not making them a cup of tea or anything.
- There's yet another podcast over on Delrico Bandito. It will make your ears quite literally catch fire with joy.
- It's way too warm for October. Quite a lot of the trees are stil lgreen and it's just plain wrong. I bet slugs and badgers and that are going mental with it all.
- Waitrose isn't as expensive as I expected.
- I can't find non- aerosol deodorant anywhere. If you know of a cunning source then let me know and I will award you with a shiny new donkey.
That is all. Time for bedsleeps. Goodnightithtihtihtittttt!
Monday, October 09, 2006
I'm Feeling Lucky
I've finally given up and poured my whole online soul into Google's servers. As well as having a Gmail account, a Blogger account and using their fine search engines, I've now signed up for Picasa photo hosting too. You can see a link to it over on the right. Arent these internets clever wee gadgets?
I've also updated some other links over there too. If you have a photo site, blog or whatever then leave a comment and I might even get round to adding a link for you. How nice.
Also, some amusing and/or interesting things have happened recently and I have opinions about their implications.
I've also updated some other links over there too. If you have a photo site, blog or whatever then leave a comment and I might even get round to adding a link for you. How nice.
Also, some amusing and/or interesting things have happened recently and I have opinions about their implications.
Monday, October 02, 2006
A Smile Around the Face
Man, my CDs are in a total mess. I've just been looking for my copy of The Soft Bulletin by the Flaming Lips (one of the greatest albums evereverver), and after a solid 20 minutes looking I'm still no closer to hearing those opening strings (or synths or whatever) of Race for the Prize. I reckon I might have to wait until the invention of the quantum computer before I'll be able to bring order to the realm that my music collection now occupies.
On the bright side, such lengthy searches always unearth a forgotten nugget of brilliance that has sat dormant for years. I found my copy of Four Tet's Glasshead single hiding next to some unsavoury looking compilation CDs. Hooray for me!
If you've never heard Glasshead then you should do your utmost to seek it out NOW. For me personally it was a bit of an epiphany. Back when I was a mere 18 years old I bought it pretty much on a whim and started an unending love affair with off-kilter electronica. I'm desperately trying to hink of how to describe the track but without diagrams, hand-signals and perhaps even dancing I'm not sure I could do it justice. It's over 11 minutes long and has a bit that sounds like someone scratching on giant rubberised turntables whilst riding a pogo stick. And there's trumpets and stuff. Aw fuck it, it's brilliant - JUST GO AND FIND IT NOW.
And to think that more people will buy the new David Hasselhoff single than will have even heard Glasshead. Humankind is surely screwed. If, by the way, you have so much as smirked at the idea that that permed moron should be allowed to invade the nations collective consciousness then you should instantly ram a vinegar-soaked fork through your reproductive organs. There really is no excuse.
On the bright side, such lengthy searches always unearth a forgotten nugget of brilliance that has sat dormant for years. I found my copy of Four Tet's Glasshead single hiding next to some unsavoury looking compilation CDs. Hooray for me!
If you've never heard Glasshead then you should do your utmost to seek it out NOW. For me personally it was a bit of an epiphany. Back when I was a mere 18 years old I bought it pretty much on a whim and started an unending love affair with off-kilter electronica. I'm desperately trying to hink of how to describe the track but without diagrams, hand-signals and perhaps even dancing I'm not sure I could do it justice. It's over 11 minutes long and has a bit that sounds like someone scratching on giant rubberised turntables whilst riding a pogo stick. And there's trumpets and stuff. Aw fuck it, it's brilliant - JUST GO AND FIND IT NOW.
And to think that more people will buy the new David Hasselhoff single than will have even heard Glasshead. Humankind is surely screwed. If, by the way, you have so much as smirked at the idea that that permed moron should be allowed to invade the nations collective consciousness then you should instantly ram a vinegar-soaked fork through your reproductive organs. There really is no excuse.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Daguerreotypes
I done posted some pictures what I took of my antics over the summer on my fotopic site. Check it out, yo!
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