Have you seen the advert playing in cinemas that supposedly is helping to promote our wonderful national radio station?
It's way too long and most peoples' interest has waned before you get halfway through. But what really strikes me is how some of the DJ's make a great and persuasive case for the enjoyment of dance music in the clubs. Just a pity that in doing so, they totally illustrate why it's entirely inappropriate to have this on a radio show!!
Out of all the "talent" on show there's only two that say anything that I can empathise with. The rest I wouldn't trust to entertain my granny.
Thursday, 28 August 2008
In Praise Of Esoteric Recordings....
Esoteric Recordings are a fine record label which has focused on reissuing old classics largely from the early 1970's, as well as helping some of these older bands in their current activities. Put together by Mark Powell who should be a name familiar to finely remastered versions of similar bands on other labels, it caters for the less obvious choices and, as such, is making many lost gems available to a new audience as well as reminding us old fogies of the great music around in those days.
I was especially pleased that they took on the United Artists back catalogue of Man and an excellent job they did of it as well. I'd like to hope that they will be able to get the rights to the later EMI recordings as well as access to the master tapes. Indeed, The Welsh Connection is an album that would benefit considerably from a remix as opposed to a digital buffing up of the tapes. (Unrelated to the Esoteric series, Mark and his team have also been involved in the issue of the complete Greasy Truckers concert. These have been fully remixed although, certainly as far as Man, are concerned is an unusual occurrence where it hasn't really hit the mark (sic) as the guitars - and principally that of Micky Jones - seems buried within the rest of the music)
The quality control is very good to the extent that I'm buying albums that I'm not familiar with but am more than happy to take a risk on in the full (and, as yet, untainted) expectation that it will be more than worth my while.
Perhaps their piece de resistance is the Jack Bruce boxset, Can You Follow. Bruce's career is mapped out over six discs and makes a strong case for his being regarded as one of the major talents to have graced our shores over the decades. That he is from Glasgow is just the icing no the cake!! Foregoing any over-emphasis on his days in Cream, the range and quality of material from his career is simply staggering. A highly recommended set.
Esoteric are now linked with Cherry Red and this seems to have given them a more stable existence. Clearly, nothing that they are selling is likely to be troubling the top of the album charts but they are performing a valuable service to music connoisseurs. A labour of love it may largely be, but one that is greatly appreciated by me.
I was especially pleased that they took on the United Artists back catalogue of Man and an excellent job they did of it as well. I'd like to hope that they will be able to get the rights to the later EMI recordings as well as access to the master tapes. Indeed, The Welsh Connection is an album that would benefit considerably from a remix as opposed to a digital buffing up of the tapes. (Unrelated to the Esoteric series, Mark and his team have also been involved in the issue of the complete Greasy Truckers concert. These have been fully remixed although, certainly as far as Man, are concerned is an unusual occurrence where it hasn't really hit the mark (sic) as the guitars - and principally that of Micky Jones - seems buried within the rest of the music)
The quality control is very good to the extent that I'm buying albums that I'm not familiar with but am more than happy to take a risk on in the full (and, as yet, untainted) expectation that it will be more than worth my while.
Perhaps their piece de resistance is the Jack Bruce boxset, Can You Follow. Bruce's career is mapped out over six discs and makes a strong case for his being regarded as one of the major talents to have graced our shores over the decades. That he is from Glasgow is just the icing no the cake!! Foregoing any over-emphasis on his days in Cream, the range and quality of material from his career is simply staggering. A highly recommended set.
Esoteric are now linked with Cherry Red and this seems to have given them a more stable existence. Clearly, nothing that they are selling is likely to be troubling the top of the album charts but they are performing a valuable service to music connoisseurs. A labour of love it may largely be, but one that is greatly appreciated by me.
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Music Review : Foo Fighters - Live At Wembley Stadium
Just received this DVD the other day in my mailbox and spent last night watching the gig.
Whilst there's probably nothing on here to make you like the Foo Fighters if you don't do so already, for converts this is a simply awesome gig. Grohl's chatty demeanor on stage runs the risk of being swamped in a venue as large as Wembley but it's clear that the crowd are with him and the band all the way. Indeed, I'd go so far as to suggest that the last band that had a Wembley crowd with them so much was Queen.
The main point of interest for many music fans will be the appearance of Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones as part of the encore. Grohl plays drums on a version of Rock And Roll and absolutely nails it, whilst he returns to stage front and demonstrates that whilst he does a damned good Bonham he's no Robert Plant on a version of Ramble On.
But perhaps the surprise of the show (for me at least) is at the end of Taylor Hawkin's drum solo on Stacked Actors when the band dive into, of all things, Hocus Pocus. No yodelling though!
Grohl is very visibly moved by the whole occasion and close to tears (in fact, beyond that - on the breakdown in the closing Best Of You he's definitely wiping tears and not sweat from his eyes) . He more then lives up to his reputation as the nicest man in rock, and unlike many of his peers, you only get a sense of enjoyment and gratitude from the man for being there.
Oh yes, and the lady who plays violin with the band is very foxy indeed!
Whilst there's probably nothing on here to make you like the Foo Fighters if you don't do so already, for converts this is a simply awesome gig. Grohl's chatty demeanor on stage runs the risk of being swamped in a venue as large as Wembley but it's clear that the crowd are with him and the band all the way. Indeed, I'd go so far as to suggest that the last band that had a Wembley crowd with them so much was Queen.
The main point of interest for many music fans will be the appearance of Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones as part of the encore. Grohl plays drums on a version of Rock And Roll and absolutely nails it, whilst he returns to stage front and demonstrates that whilst he does a damned good Bonham he's no Robert Plant on a version of Ramble On.
But perhaps the surprise of the show (for me at least) is at the end of Taylor Hawkin's drum solo on Stacked Actors when the band dive into, of all things, Hocus Pocus. No yodelling though!
Grohl is very visibly moved by the whole occasion and close to tears (in fact, beyond that - on the breakdown in the closing Best Of You he's definitely wiping tears and not sweat from his eyes) . He more then lives up to his reputation as the nicest man in rock, and unlike many of his peers, you only get a sense of enjoyment and gratitude from the man for being there.
Oh yes, and the lady who plays violin with the band is very foxy indeed!
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Life In The Old Beast?
Really!! The last post on here was on 31 March 2008? Time does indeed march on.
Things have been somewhat hectic on the personal front although this has now settled down, so I might just see if I can revert to some more regular postings.
There's been much done, and much to come that is worthy of comment. I just need to get my ass into gear and DO IT!!!!
Things have been somewhat hectic on the personal front although this has now settled down, so I might just see if I can revert to some more regular postings.
There's been much done, and much to come that is worthy of comment. I just need to get my ass into gear and DO IT!!!!
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