Ok, something I've been meaning to gift you for a while. A podcast, of sorts, from a mixtape my DJ partner and I did for our regular night, Rock n Roll Jumblesale. That said, it's a bit different from our usual act of turning up and playing one record after the other. We've had a bit more fun with it. The first half from me is a mish mash of familiar tracks, whereas Tom's second half is more conventional formwise, but with a fantastic original selection of tracks.

Anyway, it's iTunes ready, and without blowing my own trumpet, I'm really pleased with it, and the quality of the tracks included speak for themselves. Approximate tracklisting in the comments box. Feel free to add your opinions, too...

You can download it here (right click, and Save As)

Enjoy!

Labels: djing, music, podcast

In the 19th Century, they invented the wonderful musical box. The wind up ones that played tunes on the teeth of a steel comb. I distinctly remember my Grandmother having a beautiful jewelry box with a ballerina on top, that would dance as the music played. As a child, it appeared to be truly magical, creating music from nothing but raw metal and minimal elbow grease.

Now it's the 21st Century, and I've got a magical music box all of my own. Except it can play thousands of songs, any that I care to choose from. And videos too. And photos. And as I lay on my bed last night, listening to it as I was reading, it dawned on me how wondrous a thing it is. I mean, we're a bit cynical about technology now, but really... wow. All that artistic intent, that endeavour, the musical creativity and talent distilled into 1's and 0's squeezed inside its modest dimensions. I mean, how cool! And there I was, using it to listen to Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer' and grinning a grin.

1. Elton John - Tiny Dancer
2. Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have To Leave It
3. Tim Buckley - Song To The Siren
4. The Fall - Theme From Sparta FC #2
5. The Prodigy - Warriors Dance
6. The Velvet Underground - Run Run Run
7. The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
8. Propellerheads - Take California
9. Elastica - How He Wrote Elastica Man
10. REO Speedwagon - Can't Fight The Feeling

Ah bugger it, the bloody battery's run out!

Stupid piece of junk...

Labels: gadgets, geek, music

Coming back from the supermarket, late Sunday afternoon. Pleasantly hungover after a night out at premier subterranean bohemian hang out Shunt at London Bridge for the girl's birthday. Ipod on shuffle, and Pulp's 'Mis-Shapes' pops up, sounding wonderfully fresh. I've got a feeling, looking back, that it was the first CD single I ever bought (before that it was all cassette tapes around here, lad.) And I recall scrutinising the lyrics on the sleeve in the way that only 15 year olds have the time and will to do. And I thought, maybe one day, it'll be true...

Mis-shapes, mistakes, misfits, we'd like to go to town but we can't risk it
Oh cause they just want to keep us out.
You could end up with a smash in the mouth just for standing out.
Oh really. Brothers, sisters, can't you see?
The future's owned by you and me.
There won't be fighting in the street.
They think they've got us beat, but revenge is going to be so sweet.
We're making a move, we're making it now, we're coming out of the side-lines.
Just put your hands up - it's a raid yeah:
We want your homes, we want your lives,
we want the things you won't allow us.
We won't use guns, we won't use bombs
We'll use the one thing we've got more of - that's our minds.

And 14 years on, I think it is true. I've left those who I felt suffocated by as a teenager far behind, and I'm doing things my way, with friends who've done the same thing: the geeks who inherited the earth. And it's really cool. And that Jarvis can't half write a cracking song.

Labels: geek, getting old, music, the 1990's

What?

Ok, so I admit it! I've been cheating on my blog with a new playmate. I tried to resist as best I could, but yeah yeah, I've been sucked into Twitter. What of it?



Anyway, if you too have been assimilated, do feel free to follow me. And if not, well, I promise to pay my traditional blog more often (funny how something only becomes traditional when it's usurped by something new). Maybe it's the sugar depravation. Yup, over 30 days in, and I've not sinned once. Only 10 days left of Lent. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to Easter chocolate goodness...

Anyhow, lots has been going on, I've just been a tad rubbish. Needless to say, the appearance of the sun has brightened up the world significantly. The Boat Race on Sunday was great fun, if only due to the complete lack of interest most people had in the event itself. The BBQ and free flowing beverages were a worthy distraction. Anyway, one of the blue teams won, but noone sank. Boo. Still, the festival season starts in just over a month's time! A far finer excuse for braving the elements, drink in hand. I can almost taste the pear cider...



1. The Delgados - Everybody Come Down
2. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Kurt Cobain's Cardigan
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
4. Eagles Of Death Metal - Cherry Cola
5. Chromeo - Bonafied Lovin'
6. Minor Threat - Out Of Step
7. The Pastels - Breaking Lines
8. Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have To Leave It
9. Weezer - The World Has Turned And Left Me Here
10. Gay Dad - To Earth With Love

Played the very last track at my DJ night on Friday and got whoops of joy. Which was more than I could've hoped for having picked it up on 10inch in Camden for a couple of quid a few days beforehand. Time for a Gay Dad revival?

I'm gonna go with "No".

Labels: blogging, music, parklife