You can now use your credits on eMusic to download the wondeful EchoNET album. Just click this link.
Category: Diary
I’ve always had a lot of time for Alexei Sayle. From his first appearance in The Young Ones to his own “Stuff” series, I think he is a much-underrated performer. The one reason I admire him is that he’s always been true to his left-wing politics and never “sold out”. Here he is contemplating the current political situation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_week/8155552.stm
Yesterday evening, I received an email from TalkbackThames informing me that I’d been selected for the first round of interviews for the 2010 series of The Apprentice. Now I’d applied for the show as a bit of a joke, especially when Sir Nookie-of-Bear made a direct appeal for hard-luck stories and those of us with small businesses finding it tough.
Initially, I was very excited and geared up for it. Preparations for the shlep to London were drawn up and I was very positive. But then you read through all the condiitions and the prospect of having only having one phonecall to your family per week over the eight-week shooting schedule seemed a little unsavioury and totalitarian to me. What if there’s a family emergency? Do they refuse you the option to leave? It would be tough doing the eight weeks from home, but that limited contact? Not even rapists and murderers get those terms when they make themselves at home in the clink.
I slept on the idea and woke with the conviction that I just can’t go through with it. Not because I’m scared: I’m not. But because I need to be available to my family, especially during October and the filming starts on 21st September.
So Mr Sugar, I will decline your offer and withdraw my application from your competition, making me neither fired, nor hired! A win-win situation, really…
The track 1-2-3-4 has been played on the DALECAST podcast. Details are here.
Here’s the track in question:
Normally at this time of year, I come on here and moan about the Glastonbury Festival, but either I’m mellowing with age or Michael Eavis finally nailed it. With a great mix of old and new talent, this year’s festival coverage from the BBC was very watchable and extremely enjoyable for the armchair music fan. Stand-outs have to be the return of Madness, Tom Jones, Bloc Party, The Ting Tings, Fleet Foxes (who managed to recreate their ethereal sound for the festival stage), Springsteen, Spinal Tap and, of course, the rousing return of Blur. I think because there was a reliance of “greatest hits” performances, each set was vibrant and engaging. I’ll also never forget that rear-end shot of Lady Gaga in her skimpies as I got a good eyeful of her giblets. Oh yes, this is what rock and roll is all about!
Next year is the 40th anniversary of the Festival and Mr Eavis is going to have a hard time topping the quality of this year’s shindig.
Now I’m off for a good lie down as I am obviously sickening for something.
Another one of my tracks has been used in a podcast. This time “Loops & Scales” from way back in 1999 was used in the MSB podcast, created by a fellow who has been recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. You can access it here.
And here is the track in question:
Also, the other week I mentioned that the track EchoNET was used on the Pamplemoose podcast on www.woxy.com. Well, it seems that podcast was created by Dave Allen, who was a member of respected band Gang of Four. So that makes me feel just a litte bit more special, no?