Album Digest, December 2011
Posted on 2011-12-29 · 4 min read · Music · Album Digest · December · Radio Slave · Pinch and Shackleton · Emika · Eleven
Some rather brief pen pictures of this month’s albums. I’ve been a bit busy!
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The Amber World
Posted on 2011-11-22 · 2 min read · Ideas · Memories · Insomnia · Eleven
My earliest memory is waking up in Queen Alexandra hospital in Cosham after an operation on my ears. I must have been about four years old and it was the middle of the night. I was in a room on my own and the door was locked. It had been daylight only seconds before so I got out of the bed and walked to the window to look incredulously out at the amber world that lay beyond.
Album Digest, November 2011
Posted on 2011-11-20 · 5 min read · Music · Album Digest · November · Kate Bush · Tom Waits · Peter Gabriel · Eleven
Just three albums this month as I’ve been listening to a lot of Brian Eno records ready for an upcoming understated classic. First up is 50 Words For Snow by Kate Bush, the second album that she has released this year. Back in May I wrote about Director’s Cut, which presented re-recorded and re-mastered versions of songs from her albums The Sensual World and The Red Shoes. This time around it is an album of brand new material, the first since Aerial in 2006.
Understated Classics #14: Clear by Bomb The Bass
Posted on 2011-11-07 · 5 min read · Understated Classics · Bomb The Bass · Music · Electronic · Eleven
I think it’s time to discuss your philosophy of drug use as it relates to artistic endeavour…
Contagion: A Short Review
Posted on 2011-11-03 · 2 min read · Films · Disease Modelling · Science Fiction · Eleven · Twenty · Marion Cotillard · Thriller
There was much excitement about Contagion at work. Finally a movie that explains as part of the plot! A bunch of us went to see it, mainly to see whether a disaster movie about a global pandemic could hold up as entertainment and to have a bit of a giggle if it couldn’t.
Mark Rowlands, The Philosopher And The Wolf
Posted on 2011-11-02 · 3 min read · Books · Mark Rowlands · Non Fiction · Eleven
I saw that a friend had ‘liked’ this book on Facebook and reading about it on amazon, I was curious enough to give it a go. It is the autobiography of the philosopher Mark Rowlands, specifically the experiences and lessons learned from raising a wolf, Brenin, from cub to maturity and beyond.
Album Digest, October 2011
Posted on 2011-10-31 · 9 min read · Music · Album Digest · October · Bjork · Coldplay · M83 · Radiohead · Eleven
This month we have albums by Björk, Coldplay, M83, and Radiohead.
Album Digest, September 2011
Posted on 2011-09-30 · 9 min read · Music · Album Digest · September · John Beltran · Four Tet · The Rapture · Wilco · Eleven
Hmmm, a rather grey looking selection of covers this month. The albums I have listened to most are:
Understated Classics #13: U.F.Orb by The Orb
Posted on 2011-09-09 · 5 min read · Understated Classics · The Orb · Music · Electronic · Eleven
FUN FACT: It was because of the artwork to this album that I obsessively scrawled onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome onourwayhome on my pencil case at school. I also had a very passable u.f.orb logo drawn on it too.
Frank Herbert, Dune
Posted on 2011-09-09 · 3 min read · Books · Frank Herbert · Science Fiction · Dune · Eleven
A week or so ago, I finished reading Dune by Frank Herbert. It tells the story of a revolution within a Galactic Empire that takes place on a harsh and unforgiving desert planet called Arrakis. One central theme is how destinies can be shaped despite being intertwined around many axes. Another is the importance of adaptation in the fight for survival.
Album Digest, August 2011
Posted on 2011-08-31 · 7 min read · Music · Album Digest · August · Biosphere · Ford and Lopatin · Gus Gus · Instramental · Jon Tajeda · Eleven
I bought a collection of electronic music this month. I mixed them all up in a smart playlist on iTunes, the smart aspect being to limit to tracks that had been played fewer than five then six then seven times etc. This made sure I was still listening to all the tracks equally often, despite the randomness.
Understated Classics #12: Look Sharp! by Roxette
Posted on 2011-08-16 · 5 min read · Understated Classics · Roxette · Music · Pop · Eleven