14/08/11 - Holiday
I've been on holiday. Its nice to be in the sunshine and relax for a while isn't it? However, as we emerged through the wispy clouds and the landing gear clunked into place my thoughts turned to home. Whenever I am away and however much I have enjoyed my trip there are always things I miss about England;
Cheese
Radio 4
My bed
A national sense of humour
Rain
Evenings that look warm but turn out to be chilly when you eat your dinner outside
Drunk people staggering past the newsagent at six thirty on a Saturday night
Marmite
Pembury Porkers sausages
A cup of tea
The library
The smell of the morning
The grass on my lawn under my bare feet
Pubs
A game of tennis
My guitars
Rude taxi drivers
Victoria plums
Slang
Figs from my tree heavy with juice
Not having to wear flip flops
Constantly dressing inappropriately for the weather
Warm beer
Cricket
Money with people I recognise on it
Slippers
Tomorrow I'll tell you all about my new EP. Its nearly finished and i'm really rather happy with it.
30/06/11 - Voting
Hello. Sorry I've not been in touch for a while but I have been tremendously busy on a number of projects. On the musical front I have been writing a huge amount of material. Sometimes its hard to know where the inspiration comes from, although I have to give immense credit to Boo Hewerdine and his excellent songwriting workshops. Since attending one a year or so ago I have had a number of "eureka" moments which have had a very positive impact on my writing.
Talking of Boo I am very happy to let you know that earlier this month I was in Glasgow recording a little EP with him producing and playing. It was a quite excellent couple of days full of songs, tea and mirth. A couple of pictures here http://grahamlandi.tumblr.com/
Its a while since I released any songs so its really quite exciting. Four songs about loss and hope. Tomorrow I will be off to the studio to do the backing vocals and other bits and pieces.
More news soon
15/05/11 - Disappointing
Yesterday I took delivery of some cheese from Sainsbury's. It was "Vintage Extra Matured". What can possibly go wrong with that? Well, it was pretty dire to tell you the truth and in my fug of despair I mulled over the numerous other things that never fail to cause me disappointment.
People who don't say thank you when you open a door for them or let them pass in their cars
Bar staff in Wetherspoons
Unreliability and inconsistency
Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs
Airports
Bread from Waitrose
Sausages
Golf
The fuel economy of my car
Capo's
Plectrums that split
The amount of mint cream on the top of a Viscount biscuit
The lack of Beefy Wotsits
Venues that only want bands who play covers
The selection of magazines in doctors surgery waiting rooms
The impact Red Bull has on my level of energy
Meetings
The quality of coffee in England
American's use of the word "awesome" to describe almost everything
British use of the word "awesome" to describe almost nothing
The rarity of finding kidneys included in a full English breakfast
The winners of the Eurovision Song Contest (not talking about you Lordi..or you Abba)
That's it really. I'm off to barbecue some ribs which may turn out to be disappointing. Chin up.
27/04/11 - Love Songs
We all like a good love song don't we? But what is it that makes them so appealing?
I was having a bath the other day (it was a little too hot actually. I like the bath to be just hot enough so that I feel momentarily scalded as I sit in it to the extent that I have to repeatedly hurl expletives and insults to the bath water under my breath. On this occasion it really was quite uncomfortable) and I was musing on the different types of love songs and their relative merits.
The Cathartic Love Song:
I think this is my favourite. Its the song which is not written for the lost beloved. It is written for the writer, the bitten, the broken hearted. It is a song which trawls the depths of despair in a tragic attempt to clean the poison from the wound. The great thing about this type of love song is that it truly is a form of self-help therapy. No amount of lying back in a soft chair and talking about one's childhood can be as deeply and immediately healing as getting it all out in a song. On top of this there is so much scope for the varying degrees of honesty. If the writer so wishes he may cloud the truth with all manner of metaphor so that the lines "Like a ship on stormy seas, I am founded on the rocks. Searching for reprise, from the rain that never stops" is actually simply a subtext for "She's left me and I am really quite unhappy" which is far less lyrical if slightly more direct. At the other end of the scale there are writers who have the courage to say it like it is and show, in their deep pit of despair, just that. Its hard to do this without seeming crass but if I were to offer two examples of where this approach is taken and played out to magnificent effect I would recommend John Martyn's "Grace And Danger", and for a more contemporary example seek out the "Noah & The Whale" album "First Days Of Spring". Both are very fine albums. I am led to believe that the record company didn't want to release "Grace And Danger" because they felt it was so utterly bleak, but it's a good job they did because it's bloody brilliant. As for "First Days Of Spring" I cannot think of an album that is so "in your face" in terms of it honesty. Its remarkable and wonderful.
The Joyful Love Song:
This is the song which is written as a celebration of a love enduring. There is a serious risk of appearing self satisfied and too cheery here. Let's be honest, most of us aren't interested in how happy someone else is are we? We like a bit of misery because it makes us feel better. Otherwise why would anybody watch "Eastenders"? If you are unsure about this point I suggest you get yourself a copy of Chris De Burgh's "Lady In Red" and start writing me an apology. Of course it can be done well and I can offer no finer example than the beautiful "Song For The Road" by David Ford. Go and check it out, really its wonderful. Not only a beautiful love song without any artificial sweetener but the words don't rhyme (very clever touch) and it also hints at the fact that everything has an end, so setting up either a sequel "Cathartic Love Song" or a song about death. Marvellous these songsmiths, always one step ahead with new material in the pipeline.
The Non-Person Centred Love Song:
This is a song about a thing or a place rather than a person, and as such I am not sure it really fits in this blog too comfortably. It can be done very badly, for example a song about a car (grow up will you?!...unless its "Rush" with "Red Barchetta"). Or it can be done quite fabulously in the case of "New York, New York"
The "Please Come Back" Love Song:
This one is really very common. Its the song where there is a desperate attempt to win back the lost love. It will generally take the form of describing pain inflicted and then a bit of pleading for reconciliation. I think there are some lovely examples of this, but let's face it, they don't work do they? Whoever won someone's heart back with a song? It just doesn't happen. Once it's over it's over and making yourself look a bit needy in verse is not going to help. It is likely to make you feel worse and on top of that will confirm to your lost lover that he/she was right to let you go in the first place you sad pathetic loser.
There. I hope that's helped. If it hasn't don't be too hard on me because I have suggested some great music for you to listen to. I'm off for a bath.
19/04/11 - Why?
I am troubled by many questions today.
Why does the rind of a brie cheese smell like sperm?
Why do men lose all of their dress sense when the sun comes out?
Why did someone invent "I Cant Believe It's Not Butter"?
Why do we always find blue fluff in our belly buttons?
Why do people say one thing when they mean another?
Why do they always have every single size of jeans except mine?
Why is asparagus so sensual?
Why do some people put pineapple on pizza?
Why does anyone watch "My Family"?
Why is it so difficult to source a good sausage?
Why are there so many meetings?
Why am I afraid of heights?
Why do people swear in front of small children?
Why are flowers so beautiful?
Why don't we truly appreciate people until they are gone?
Why do we buy so much "stuff"?
Why do we go so fast?
Why do women driving car parts vans drive like Jack Brabham?
Why does spring smell of my father?
Why?
night x
10/04/11 - Gigs In Churches
Have you ever been to a gig in a church? I don't mean Holy Communion or Evensong, I'm not using the word "gig" as a general term to appear hip and down with the kids, I actually mean a gig, a concert. I was at Union Chapel, Islington on Saturday to see Eddi Reader (I'll tell you about it sometime) and I also saw the magnificent Jane Siberry there one Christmas which was completely magical, and if you want a taste of what that was like just buy her album "Child" and put it on at Christmas while you make the pudding and take a glass of ginger wine and tell me you dont feel Christmassy you heartless Scrooge. I digress. I also played a gig in a converted church last year and another one in a chapel-like building right next to a very big church called Canterbury Cathedral. On the whole I love gigs in churches. I love the smell, the acoustics, the light shining through the windows, it's just totally great. Go to a gig in a church soon, and if you don't have a church with a gig going on just put one on or take a guitar and have your own gig. Really..it's totally groovy.
Coming out of Union Chapel on Saturday I was filled with inspiration, such a magnificent night had it been, and when I feel like that my mind is filled with all the little things that I find joyful, so I thought I'd share some of them here with you, and maybe it will inspire you to think for a few minutes of all the things that bring joy to your life. Its a great way to spend a bit of time. Go and write them down and put them in your pocket, then when someone upsets you tomorrow have a look at your list and smile. Here's a selection of mine;
Discovering a chord I never played before, the fish finger sandwich from "Toast" in Brighton, watching "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy" on a sultry summer evening, the smell of a bonfire, a bed with fresh sheets on it, Daniel Kitson, buying guitars, good cheese; getting into a bath that's almost too hot, bookshops, writing in notebooks with pencils, smelling my own skin after I've had a bath, having my hair cut, standing in the garage with the door open when its pouring with rain, more songs than I can possibly list here (that's another list completely), making lists of things I like, Twiglets, Beefy Wotsits, gigs in churches, wooly hats, writing and singing songs, washing up using a wooden handled brush, eating cherries out of a brown paper bag on the top deck of a bus going to Folkestone, thinking about stuff and very good coffee.
I could go on but I sense you'd probably lose interest.
As I was crossing the road on my way back to the tube station after the Eddi Reader gig I overheard a man speaking to his partner about the evening's entertainment. He said "she's got a good voice but...." Either she punched him hard in the face or he didn't finish the sentence for some other reason. Of course it's immaterial either way. How could he possibly have finished that sentence with anything that would leave him looking like anything other than a massive bell-end? Honestly, some people.
7/04/11 - Pointless Jobs
I'm a bit tired and emotional this evening. I have been doing a lot of brain work and it's taking its toll but I wanted just to drop by and say hello with a thought about useless jobs.
Food critic. I have tried, really I have but I cannot for the life of me think of a single redeeming feature of food critics. Some of them may be very nice people but for heavens sake what on earth are you doing with your lives? I have had this thought before and it usually emerges when I have been watching Masterchef. Last night it was the episode where the aspiring chefs have to prepare a three course meal for three food critics. I don't know what has happened to Jay Rayner, perhaps his ridiculous hair and beard were deemed inappropriate, but he was replaced by some blonde haired woman who I didn't care for. There was the other sour faced one who always looks like she's sucking a lemon and then Charles Campion, the most odious and unpleasant individual I can remember seeing on television for some time. Charles Campion pontificating on the sogginess of a chip or the delicate spicing of some paneer, maybe even the disappointment he feels at the pumpkin pie is quite the most revolting spectacle on the air. Charles Campion, you sit there with your lardy arse jammed into a restaurant chair and criticise peoples cooking. What in heavens name is the point of that? What is the benefit? The irony of it all is Mr Campion that judging by the size of you there is not much evidence of your being "picky" about your food. As far as I can see if it isn't nailed down you'll bloody well eat it. So why don't you sod off with your opinions about other people's cooking and go and eat another pie.
Right, I'm glad that's off my chest. In contrast to the worthless waste of space that is "food critics" the songwriter is of great worth to society and humanity in general. Spinnning and twirling important observations about life and love into three or four minute morsels all encased in fine tune. That's what I call a tasty dish. How dull life would be without song. On Saturday I shall be at Union Chapel in London to see the wonderful Eddi Reader. Afterwards I might have some chips and I expect they'll be soggy. If I happen to run into Charles Campion I'll mock him silently behind my gherkin and consider it a victory for us all.
See you all soon
5/04/11 - Rice Pudding
Inspiration can strike in unlikely places. I was wrestling with some tricky lyrics this past weekend. I have had a melody in my head for some months now and been unable to find a lyric to match. I had a first line, but everything that came afterwards was cheesy or tired or something equally "not very good". I had a "big idea", I mean I knew what I wanted to write about but I just couldn't find the words. I tried everything I could think of as I played the chords round again and again and again. In the end I ran out of different styles to play them in as I searched for that elusive spark. Funky, rocky, folky, soulful, I even tried a bit of reggae but that was unspeakably shit. In the immortal words of Catweazle "nothing works". In the end I gave up with a heavy heart and made a rice pudding.
I don't know how you feel about rice pudding but I am a big fan. I don't want jam on it or chocolate or anything like that, I just want the comfort of a slightly sweet creamy bowl of rice and a big chair. For some reason, perhaps because I had been thwarted in my musical creative efforts, I felt the need to embellish. With a soup this is good but with a rice pudding it can be dangerous, but I am delighted to announce that rice pudding infused with cardamon, vanilla and some lavender from the garden is an absolute winner. It was absolutely top drawer and I was reminded of the fact when I just ate the last of it from the fridge whilst chuckling to myself like a lunatic.
So that was my "eureka" moment. If it's not working creatively where you are, just go somewhere else. I was struggling with the song again earlier so I put the guitar down and went to the park. I sat in the park with a notebook. It was quite cold, but when I opened the book to a blank page the words all tumbled out in a constant stream. Was it the rice pudding or the fresh air or something else altogether? I don't know. What I do know is that at last it is finished and it feels like a weight off my mind, as opposed to the weight on my belly from the last of the rice pudding.
Finally this evening I would like ton update you on my "Mispronunciations" post from last week. You will remember, if you have stayed with me, that the mispronunciation of "espresso" is a source of immense irritation to me so you will admire my self control when on my way to work this morning I was hit with a caffeinated "double whammy". I was in Costa Coffee and a tall smart looking chap wanders in behind me. I am waiting for my cappuccino (small, regular strength, no chocolate) and he gets to the counter and orders. "A double eXpresso please" he says. I avoid punching him in the face due to the fact that it was only breakfast time and there is no stomach for a scene at breakfast time in Costa Coffee. So the waitress (barista) takes his money and shouts the order to the lady (barista 2) on the coffee machine "Double eXpresso" she shouts. Even the bloody staff can't say it properly. I simmer quietly and throw a disdainful look toward "daft barista" and "smart bloke" as I leave. In the car park moments later "smart bloke" is getting into his car. I thought I detected an accent but I couldn't hear him properly to place it. I looked at the plate on his car. He was a bloody Italian.
One Cappuccino - £2.69, One Double Espresso - £1.99, An Italian who cant say "Espresso" - Priceless.
Me? Speechless.
28/03/11 - Goodbye
I was writing songs with a good friend of mine at the weekend and he played me something new he'd written. It was a song inspired by the end of a relationship, which is always a rich seam for songwriters. More specifically it marked that moment at the end of a relationship when both parties know that it's finished and they choose to mark the goodbye with a final affectionate embrace, just to ensure that those final minutes are as painful and difficult as possible. We are strange creatures aren't we? William Fitzsimmons has a song called "Further From You" which has the line "Everything is closer to the end and I will get farther from you". This finality is the things that stirs up such strong emotion. Elton John said that "Sorry" was the hardest word but I think he is wrong, I think it's "Goodbye".
I have had cause to think about loss and goodbye's alot this month for reasons I won't bore you with but I decided that I should write a song of my own on the subject of endings and reflection. It helps us grow but goodbye's of any description are pretty tough to take, sometimes years later. I shall post it on YouTube in the next few days so do pop by and have a look. I know it sounds like a standard love song but there's a great deal of thought in it. These songs don't write themselves you know. http://www.youtube.com/user/grahamlandi?feature=mhum
Anyway, none of that is "Pointless" which is the them of today's blog. I only decided upon that theme this evening at around 20.15 when two things happened. Firstly I saw a personalised number plate. What's the big idea behind them then? Sorry but I don't see the point although ironically I have a number plate on my car which begins with my initials which was just by chance, so I look a bit of a twat and didn't have to pay for the privilege. The second thing was that I saw someone running to the gym. I was leaving the gym and I watched a guy run from the bottom of the car park at full tilt all the way up to the door. What was the point of that? Why doesn't he just leave his car at home, run to the gym, run back again and save himself the cost of a gym membership? Pointless behaviour.
Goodnight
26/03/11 - Forgetting Things
Did you remember to put the clocks forward? So did I and consequently I know it is now 12.30 whereas I suspect that a proportion of you are still languishing under the notion that it is in fact 11.30 which could cause all manner of difficulties. For example you will be thinking that you are having brunch now but in actual fact you are having lunch. If you dont get yourself sorted out soon you will miss the whole of Waking The Dead this evening and then you'll have to watch tonights episode tomorrow whilst recording tomorrows episode to watch after that. This could lead to a very late night and exacerbate the hour of sleep you have already lost. Do you see how these little forgetful moments have a tendency to snowball out of control?
I am quite forgetful, especially when it comes to songwriting. I have spent years coming up with a nice little melody or lyric or chord sequence only to have it disappear from my mind ten minutes later. Some wise sage once said that if the idea is any good it'll stay there. I think this is nonsense. I know that there have been instances where I have come up with a little line that I am most excited about, fail to record it and then hear some other music on the radio or TV. This is fatal because when I then try and remember the idea I had it has gone, washed away by someone else's music. In the end I had to develop a system of recording absolutely everything I think of and this requires an immense hard drive because I really think a great deal despite the fact that most of my thoughts are irrelevant and worthless. I have taken to using iMovie to record every song idea provided I am within reach of my Mac and this has the twofold benefit of being an aural and video record which helps when I have forgotten the chord I was playing. I have about a dozen notebooks which I scribble in endlessly but if I were to lose one and someone come across it I am sure they would be bewildered and disturbed at their stumbling upon the inane ramblings of a fractured mind. I also use the voice recorder on my iPhone constantly, but the other day whilst waiting in a car park I idly flicked through some of the recordings on my iPhone dating back some months, and to my mixture of horror and excitement I realised that there are countless "good ideas" on there but I have absolutely no idea what chord I was playing on so much of what I have recorded that it is rendered worthless without a great dela of examination. I have an irritatingly technically inept way of writing music in that I often make chords up which is fine except when you have to try and remember what they were.
So whilst I am happy to have remembered to put my clock forward I am somewhat less amused at the musical carnage strewn across my desk this morning as I try to make sense of the moments of inspiration captured but forgotten from the last months.
I hope you have a peaceful Sunday. I need to finish writing an essay..where did I put my pen?...
25/03/11 - Funny
Isn't laughing good? I'm sure we all like a good laugh and today I have been thinking about my Top 3 all time laughs. I can tell you that this has not been at all easy. I considered going about it in a variety of different ways and found that I was able to categorise my top laughs of all time quite extensively. In the end I decided that the best way to build my Top 3 was to consider a couple of key principles. Firstly they needed to be real moments or events rather than stories that had been made up. Secondly they needed to be things that always made me smile as a minimum or fully laugh whenever I thought about them, even if this was years later. I pondered on the realisation that quite often its the things that other people don't find funny that I find the most amusing. I often find myself thinking "you had to be there" as I tell one of my favourite tales to a stoney faced companion. Even with these reasonably tight criteria I still had immense trouble boiling it down to three and to be perfectly honest with you I am still undecided. Some contenders are the "Bern, you bastard...you've buried my fags" story; Adam's tale involving an ex-girlfriend and some currant buns; the tale about the shoe in the ditch at Goldwells; the altered rendition of "Watch Out Beadle's About" theme tune, oh goodness there are just so many. I clearly need to do some more work on it. If you've had a difficult day or week spend a few minutes this evening trying to sort out your Top 3. It might not be easy but I promise it's great fun.
For my final recommendation this week I am able to continue with the theme of this evening's blog and I'll tell you why. My final selection is Boo Hewerdine. You may not know of him but many of you will have doubtless heard songs that he has written for countless artists not to mention those that he has writes and performs himself. He is a true craftsman. A great musician and songwriter who is clearly a student of the art, thoughtful about his structures and melodies and lyrics and with a wonderful distinctive style and voice. I have had the great pleasure to have spent some time with Boo and aside from his finely honed songwriting skills he is wonderfully encouraging and helpful to other songwriters regardless of their experience or ability, and the reason that he is a perfect fit for today's recommendation is that he is also extremely funny. His dry wit can best be experienced on his daily blog which you can read here http://boohewerdinesblogthing.blogspot.com/ I often laugh out loud at his daily musings..ha ha ha..like that, and I urge you to look at Day 339 - "Trousers" and Day 280 - "Snowstock". In all honesty he's funny most days so you can't really go wrong. Then when you have had a chuckle check his website at http://www.boohewerdine.net/ and go see him live because he's really very very good indeed.
STOP PRESS: Yesterday I blogged about listening to music and pointed out that not every song has lyrical content worth sitting down and listening to intently. Today my son has provided me with an example. It's called "Friday" and it is by Rebecca Black. It's shit.
Good day and have a nice weekend
24/03/11 - Listening
I'm quite cross. I had almost finished writing today's blog and it was really quite interesting. Then my browser crashed and I lost it all. So now I am faced with the task of writing it again but that flow of inspiration that I had a few minutes ago is now tainted with the knowledge that all the ideas are second hand and have already been written down more eloquantly than I can recover them from my mind. Its really very upsetting to be interupted in that way.
Anyway, as I was saying, I was propped up in bed last night with William Fitzsimmons and a thought struck me. You like music, right? You may even love music but how often do you actually listen to it, really listen? Cast your mind back to a few minutes ago and you will remember that I was talking about books. I was saying that I love books but different books give me pleasure in different ways. I like books that stimulate my mind and help me develop new perspectives. I like cookery books both from a practical perspective and because I enjoy gastroporn. I like a good novel because it can free my imagination to an extent never equaled by even the best movie. I like books because they fit perfectly in that space on the bookshelf, because they have lovely pages or just because they are the right thickness to prop up the sofa with the wonky leg. Surely music is the same. We like some music because it keeps us company whilst we are doing something else and some because it gets us moving or feeling happy before a night out. We listen to some music when we feel low because it makes us feel even lower (what's that all about?). There is music for every circumstance. But how often do we listen, really listen to it? How often do we give the music our undivided attention? When was the last time you sat down with a cup of tea or a glass of something and said to yourself "Right, I'm going to spend 45 minutes listening to this album"? We do it with the TV because it demands that we look at the pictures. We do it with books because it's hard to read whilst engaged in the washing up or mowing the lawn. With music it will quietly sit in the background if that is the place that we give it. But what delights are held in albums if we would only spend some time stopping and listening. The lyrics of albums are often wonderful heartfelt insights that we would never be privvy to from even our closest friends. The great John Martyn once said "some people write diaries, I write albums" That's it. This is often the most intimate outpouring of someone's heart. A wonderful open view on the human spirit. I fully accept that it probably isnt necessary for everyone's work. You probably wont get a lot of emotional nourishment from an end to end full on listen to "Glee - The Music volume 4"
On the subject of great songwriter's with thoughtful lyrics I did toy with the idea of recommending William Fitzsimmons again today in my week long crusade to champion the brilliance of unknown songwriters, so in love am I currently with his work, but I knew that would be short-changing you dear reader. Instead I have chosen someone else whose lyrics are as much of the art as the music in her work. Ladies and gentlemen I give you Jane Siberry. As nutty as a fruit cake but a brilliant and talented fruit cake this Canadian songwriter has been a personal favourite for many years. In fact I can reveal that I had one of her CD's before I had a CD player. She's great and if you have stayed with this marathon blog from start to finish, so are you.
"I live in the hills, you live in the valleys"
Check her out here http://www.janesiberry.com/home/music.html
23/03/11 - Flattened 5ths
I'm not very "chipper" this evening so I hope you'll excuse the inexcusably short blog. I don't really have too much to report today except to say that I am able to state with some degree of certainty that I have, for the first time in my life, written a song (half written) with an A and a flattened 5th. Its got a nice country zing to it so I trust that you'll look out for it through these pages when I have done with it. I am fortunate enough to be reasonably well connected from a "country" perspective so once we've ladled on the 3 part harmonies and got a bit of twang from the Telecaster on it you'll probably not even realise that it was written in Kent.
So, on to this evenings unheard of musical star. It's a good one this evening and I am quite moist at the prospect of sharing him with you. Drum roll please. It's William Fitzsimmons!! Who? I hear you cry. Well, never mind about the fact that he is an Illinois based singer/songwriter with a quite magnificent beard, just listen to his wonderful music. As luck would have it he has just released a new album entitled "Gold In The Shadow" and you can watch the video of "The Tide Pulls From The Moon" on his website here http://www.williamfitzsimmons.com/ If you have a heart you cannot fail to be moved. If you don't you belong in the Wizard Of Oz and I frankly don't have time for you so I'll bid you good day.
22/03/11 - Mispronunciation
My mind wandered today to the words that one hears mispronounced so often. It drives you mad doesn't it? I realise I am a bit of a pedant for this type of thing but really. Who can fail to be filled with the motivation to punch someone squarely in the face when they wander up to the counter in "Costa Coffee" and order an "expresso". It's an "espresso" you moron. How many times have I been confused when someone describes to me the fear induced by a "massive arctic" passing them at speed on the M20? I would be pretty concerned if the entire region between the North Pole and North American timberlines came tootling past me on the motorway, however an artic(ulated) lorry would be somewhat less of a worry. If you must discuss a white supremacist movement don't refer to it as the "Klu Klux Klan" It's the "Ku Klux Klan" I realise that the first unwelcome L is logical but who expects logic from such an outfit? However the one that really gets me is the mispronunciation of "specifically". Yes, you know who you are, all of you that insist of saying "Pacifically". Its not even a real word!!
Good, I am glad I got that off my chest. So back to my week long recommendations of super musical acts. I recently went to see Teddy Thompson (He's Richard Thompson's son, oh and Linda Thompson's son) He was great, but was supported by David Ford. Now, I doubt you will have heard of David Ford but you really should seek him out. He is another singer songwriter in the vein of David Gray (it must be something about people called David). For me the difference between him and the other David (Gray) is that I like his voice quite a lot (that's Ford, not Gray. Are you keeping up?) He plays piano and guitar and no doubt countless other instruments. He was born in Kent and lives in Sussex and he is a damn sight more entertaining than that Matt Dawson, Sue Barker & Phil Tuffnell (see yesterday's blog)
See you tomorrow for another thrilling instalment. I'm off for an expresso.
21/03/11 - Happy New Year
Yes, I know I'm late. I have had a lot on. Although I have been absent from these pages for some months I have not been idle. I have been writing prolifically and I will share with you the fruits of these labours over the coming weeks both through this site and on my YouTube channel. In fact if you go off there now you will find a new song that I wrote recently called "Lies" I am rather fond of it http://www.youtube.com/grahamlandi
I was trying to assemble songs for another album but then found myself creating songs in which I could hear bass, drums, piano and so on but then another bunch of songs which seemed to be all acoustic, cello, penny whistle so I have decided to prepare for two albums. I haven't yet worked out how to fund them but that's a worry for tomorrow.
I am also planning a re-vamp for this site so I'll keep you posted on that too.
Keep popping by and saying hello. I know it looks like nothing's happening but it is..really!
Something caught my eye yesterday. Looking through the Sunday papers I arrived at the pages which list the various tours and shows. Edward Fox in "Trollope", Ladysmith Black Mambazo, "Swan Lake" danced by the English National Ballet and "Question Of Sport Live On Tour 2011". Yes, all very normal and cultured..hang on, wait a minute..."Question Of Sport Live On Tour 2011"? Are you out of your mind?! Sue Barker, Phil Tufnell and that other one travelling around the country answering questions about sport and identifying Premiership footballers with their faces partially obscured pretending to be ice cream salesman? What on earth is going on? They are showing this rot at the Hammersmith Apollo. I saw Alice Cooper there, and Bill Withers, and Black Sabbath, and James Taylor. Admittedly I also saw "The Tygers Of Pan Tang" but nobody's perfect.
If it has come to this, that not satisfied with dulling the senses of the nation with the broadcast equivalent of temazepam we have to endure it on tour. Who is buying the tickets for heavens sake? What next will we be treated to "on tour"? I can pull together a pretty good display of washing up and putting things away in the cupboard. Perhaps we can get a few local dog owners together and put together a musical version of picking up shit in a little bag and swinging it in your hand whilst you walk round the park. Maybe we could do it on ice.
Listen up people. There are hundreds and thousands (I like them on my ice cream) of talented, creative artistes around all begging for a stage to play on and instead of that we get the same old tosh that's served up on the telly on our stages all around the country. Its insane and depressing, so for this week only I shall be championing a number of extremely worthy musicians who deserve to be heard and supported. If you always do what you always did you'll always get what you always got, or something like that.
So here is my first submission. James Vincent McMorrow. He's Irish, he writes wonderful songs with wonderful lyrics. Go and see him at the South Bank in May or somewhere else near where you live. You don't need to thank me.
03/12/10 - Snow (2)
I notice that it has been snowing. I realised this when I was unable to see my feet when going outside. At first I thought I had been the victim of a freak accident which had seen my legs cut off at the knees but then it all became clear.
Its a strange thing about snow that we all look forward to it and then we want it to go away almost as soon as it has arrived like an annoying relative. Yes, of course it makes getting around more difficult and all the milk seems to go from the supermarket much more quickly as if being without milk for a few days will be intolerable, but it is also beuatiful and inspiring. Extremes of nature are usually that way. An aggressive thunderstorm or a bitterly cold but bright winter morning, even persistent heavy rain battering the windows so hard that you can barely make out anything through them has this effect on me. We are all so often engaged in such complex and stimulating pursuits that I think it is easy to lose the power of simplicity in our everyday lives so here are a few suggestions to help you make the most of the snow and suspend the cursing that the Sainsbury's delivery can't get through.
Go sledging in the dark, preferably somewhere reasonably secluded. There is a wonderful light in the night when the ground is covered with snow and even more so when there is a clear sky and moonlight. In fact I wrote a song referencing the fact which I have just posted on my YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvV_3HAGU2c
Stand under a street lamp when it is snowing and focus your attention on the snowflakes falling..if you concentrate it feels like you are actually rising up into the sky rather than the snow falling down towards you.
Catch a snowflake on your tongue. When there is no wind you can track a flake from way up into the sky and position yourself so that it falls into your mouth. Indeed the more you look the more beautiful you realise that the snowflakes are.
Make a snowman. I know its a pretty obvious one but its really very satisfying. Especially when you have finished it and you stick a carrot in it for its nose. Oh, and don't forget a hat, its very important. Any hat will do and I have often found that something a bit "left field" looks great. A cycling helmet for example or, if you can find one, a welding helmet is also a nice touch.
Finally have a really good snowball fight and actively encourage snow down the back of your neck and in the top of your wellies. I know this might sound unpleasant but the great thing about this is that when you go back inside you can have a warm bath with the radio on and a steaming mug of hot chocolate made additionally luxurious with a drop of cream.
So there we are. Make the most of the snow. Its really very lovely.
Stay warm.
Graham x
31/10/10 - Halloween & Bananas
Hello everyone. Sorry I haven't been around for a few weeks. Its all been a bit hectic but I wont bore you with the details except to say that I have been far from lazy on the musical front. In fact if you pop along to my YouTube channel you will see I have been writing new material and making videos just for your delectation and enjoyment..go on then www.youtube.com/grahamlandi
Hope you enjoyed that, so anyway back to the blog. Halloween wasn't a big deal at all when I was a child but these days teenagers and toddlers alike seem to delight in dressing up as zombies, ghouls, ghosts, devils and the like and then proceeding to scare the living christ out of anyone within a three mile radius. In addition they get to collect a bucket load of sweets which they then eat at all at once and get a sugar rush so powerful that they can't sleep until Thursday week. I look on somewhat bemused but impressed by the ingenious displays made from polystyrene tombstones and plastic eyeballs. I even saw a very fetching pumpkin which was cut not in the traditional scary teeth and triangular eyes fashion but instead had thin eyes and a wide open mouth from which the detritus of the inside of the squash had been splayed giving a delightful impression of vomit. Very haunting.
In many ways its a good job that Halloween wasn't a big thing in my younger days because my late mother was a devout Christian churchgoer and did not approve at all. In fact she even disapproved of superstition. On one occasion I was particularly worried about a sporting event and when mum served up my tea in the wrong mug I rejected it insisting that it was bad luck. Her response was that I shouldn't be superstitious because "it's naughty"...Hmmm. Talking of being naughty, some years later I had cause to consider her behaviour in the same fashion when she went to visit the church organist who had unfortunately found himself doing a spell at Her Majesty's pleasure due to an Uncle Bryn style camping trip with a schoolboy (he was also a school music teacher). My mother went to visit him one evening in prison. I believe you are allowed to take prisoners things that they might not be able to get easily "inside" such as toothpaste, a bag of Maltesers maybe or a magazine. Mum didn't take any of these, oh no. My mother went to visit a sex offender and took him a huge bunch of bananas. The irony was lost on her. Oh mother...you are awful.
Happy Halloween
16/10/10 - The Top Of My Head
I was in the studio yesterday recording some rough acoustic versions of some new songs for the next album. Being the resourceful, "never one to miss an opportunity" sort of a guy that I am we decided to video the session so that I can post the live performances on YouTube and the website. However, looking through the videos I realised that camera placement is everything. I have a tendency to look down when I play in the studio. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly it seems to help me concentrate which is pretty important when you are recording live. There is no "X Factor" style editing and no "dropping in" because you made a total cows arse of the penultimate line. If you cock it up on the last chord you have to do the whole thing again. It's OK to make such a mistake in a true live performance because nobody much tends to notice and the people that might are usually off their faces on strong lager. If however you have videoed the whole thing to be watch repeatedly there is no getting away from a B where you should have played a C. The second thing is that I am not as good as I should be at learning my own lyrics very quickly, so when I am recording I tend to do so with a heap of notebooks and have indeed been known to re-write on the spot. The floor is a good place to put a notebook because it is "out of shot" and easily accessible but it does make it difficult to keep ones head up for the sake of the camera. So, all of this is a round about way of saying that when I upload the videos I hope you enjoy the songs and you may also enjoy looking at the top of my head with the occasional glimpse of my face. Its quite a nice shaped head, not like John Merrick or anything like that so I suppose it could be worse.
11/10/10 - Bloody Hell
It's annoying when you lose something isn't it? I can't find my bloody sodding book and it's driving me mental. Where the hell is it? I don't live in a castle..there's only so many places it can be, and yes of course I have looked under the bed. Anyway, I have said a prayer to St Anthony and I am thinking of writing a song to him too, just for good measure. Talking of writing songs I have been quite prolific recently. In fact so much so that I will be in the studio later this week recording some rough demos in preparation for a new album but I need to do some gigs so if you know of any decent venues that might like to have an ageing songwriter who is unable to locate a book in his own frigging house perhaps you would be kind enough to let me know. Don't suggest a library because it's not funny.
30/09/10 - September
Hello. I dont really feel like blogging this evening but it's the last day of September and I feel a responsibility to do so. Tomorrow it will be October. Last night I emerged into the darkness at barely past seven. This morning there was a mist hanging as I drove past in the thin early light that seemed to make a perfect line across the fields. There are horse chestnut shells under the trees and the smell of bonfires in the air. I am tempted to make baked apples and sweep up the leaves. Before I go I must highly recommend Cherry Ghost. We went to see them in Brighton last week and their collection of dark melodic songs sung and played with great aplomb was an absolute joy. It wont make my top three gigs of all time but it is hard to break into that exclusive club. Go check them out because they are really very good. As for their support, the excessively named "Tim and Sam's The Tim And The Sam Band With Tim And Sam" I found myself not so much swayed by their chirpy melodies but more frustrated by their apparent unwillingness to say anything between songs. Painfully shy is our Tim. He looks as if he is just out of University and I suspect he was not a mainstay of the debating society.
Goodbye September.
19/09/10 - Accents
I like Tom Petty, a lot. Today I have been listening to his "Southern Accents" album which reminds me of so many things. Amongst the memories evoked are an old girlfriend, Hurlimann lager, hair dye, fruit and veg and red Converse baseball boots. Tom Petty is a wonderful songwriter and it is the title track on the album which has inspired this blog, as I remember my 19 year old self listening to Petty whilst hanging out of the bedroom window looking down onto the road below sucking on a Marlboro (I was sucking on the Marlboro, not the road below, just by way of clarification). Never mind the song I like the sound of Tom Petty's voice. I like his accent. I think I have a good ear for an accent. I think I can always tell the difference between an Australian and a New Zealander. I think I can pick any regional accent across the UK. I cannot mimic a Welsh accent without it sounding Indian which I believe is a common curse. Accents are fascinating and I find myself wondering where they came from in the first place. Why did people speak differently just from living in different parts of the country? Why do some people lose their accents relatively easily when they move and why do some hold on fiercely no matter how many years they spend away from the area of their birth? But most confusing of all is a question involving my brother. He was born in Kent and has lived in Kent all of his life. Many years ago he went and spent two weeks on the North Yorkshire moors working on the steam railway. Two weeks remember...not two years. When he returned he sounded like he had walked straight out of an episode of Last Of The Summer Wine. He had gained a broad Yorkshire accent in 14 days. He even started calling me "our kid" for Gods sake. He still has the accent over 30 years later. Quite astonishing and absolutely true.
Also, why do they sometimes fail to put pockets in pyjama trousers? Where am I supposed to put my plectrums?
16/09/10 - Libraries
There are three libraries where I live. There’s a little one just near the butcher where they sell excellent sausages but disappointing cakes. I don’t really know why they diversified into cakes because it’s not a natural leap to make is it? Their pastry is particularly heavy and dry requiring at least a pint of tea to get down an individual Bakewell Tart. Their donuts with amusing faces iced onto them are a much better effort but they have so much sugar in them that they induce a hypoglycaemic shock in all but the hardiest of individuals. Bread is a dead loss so I’d steer well clear of that if I were you. There is another library in the town opposite The Albion where I was once punched hard in the face at closing time, and then there is the one out towards the army barracks which is the largest of them all.
Libraries are great places because they tend to be full of books. I tend to get a little over-excited surrounded by books and then I find myself a little overcome with anxiety that there are all these wonderful stories and I will only ever have time to read a tiny fraction of them. Every time I reach the end of a book and think to myself “wow, what a fantastic tale” I tell myself I had better get a move on and read another one before I run out of time and…well..die. I am not sure what the reading arrangements are post-death but I can be pretty sure there are not three libraries, although I harbour great hope that there is better pastry.
I once worked for a guy who was not like me at all. Attempting to make polite conversation I said to him one day “what do you like to do in your spare time?” “I like to read” he replied. I was buoyed by this news. “Oh, well you’ll be happy living around here then wont you, with three libraries?” His answer was short and dismissive, “No, they don’t have the sort of books I like”. Intrigued I asked what type of books they might be. “Books about business”. Honestly, great art and culture is wasted on some people isn’t it. So, if you are at a loose end this evening go and read a book, but not one on business because life is too short and I know you are not a complete arse.
15/09/10 - Trains
I've been to Paris today and I have been reminded of the fact that I really like trains. I like the rhythm of their movement, I like the sound of them, I like falling asleep on them but most of all I like to look out of the big wide windows at the big wide world flashing by right in front of my face. I like the fact that within seconds factories and car parks and soulless retail parks can be replaced by green fields, tall tall trees and lazy cows whose only responsibility in life is to lie down when they figure its going to rain. But I need music too and this evening travelling back across France as the light was fading into a weak inky grey and a snake of headlights from a motorway funnelled far underneath the track the iPod brought me perfect train music to fuse the scurrying scenery and my chilled state of train-induced relaxation. Isn't one of the most wonderful things the discovery of music you have never been exposed to before but instantly fall in love with? This happened to me with Scala. If you never heard of them they are a Belgian choir...I know what you're thinking but you are very wrong. They do the most amazing covers of songs by all manner of famous and fabulous artists and its the perfect accompaniment to a long train journey. I'm inspired. Tired, but inspired.
Check them out because you owe it to yourself www.scalachoir.com
Bon nuit
13/09/10 - Dragon's Den
I'm watching "Dragon's Den". There's a bloke with what looks like a big pram with an advert on it asking some self satisfied people for a large sum of money. Apparently entrepreneurs have an instinct for making money. They also appear to make me feel a little queasy. I have just finished writing a song. I was asked to put some music to some lyrics (that's what songs are by the way..) and I wonder what sort of reception I would get turning up in front of the Dragon's saying that I wanted £75,000 for a 10% stake in my songwriting business. I would tell them that I needed the money for plectrums, strings and for food just in case I didn't get any business. I think Peter Jones might invest but to be honest I hear the last band that were on there (Hamfatter? or something like that) suffered greatly from the experience so I'm sorry Peter but...I'm out.
11/09/10 - Dreams
It's sunny and warm. I am in someone's back yard (it's not a garden, it is a yard, very definitely) and we are off to do some clay pigeon shooting. We are not using real guns, we are using laser guns to bring down the little clay discs. I patiently wait for my gun whilst Trevor Notton (joint proprietor of The Minstrel Wine Bar in the 1980's) hands them out. He comes to me and hands me a third of a bar of chocolate (plain and not milk) and I say "Where's my gun?" he is rather short with me and tells me that it is coming, almost as if the chocolate were a little extra he has afforded me because I am a personal favourite. I am confused and a little abashed. The next thing I know Trevor is climbing into the front of an unmarked police car and he is off on a raid. I know that Trevor was once in the Flying Squad but I would have thought he had retired by now, after all he must be over 60. I watch the car (A Nissan Primera...since when were they police squad cars?) speed off down the road and round the corner into St Luke's Avenue. I stand and gaze at the empty road. Trevor is gone and he forgot to find me a gun.
I once shared with an audience the importance of dreams to a songwriter. So much so that I took to keeping a notebook by my bed so that I could capture the moment as soon as I awoke. But this morning I am wondering what the hell I do with that dream. Is it a metaphor for something or am I just up for a bit of clay pigeon shooting with people from my formative years? I suppose it makes an interesting album title "Clay Pigeon Shooting With Trevor Notton". Trevor, if you are out there I hope you're doing well, thanks for the chocolate but where's my bloody gun?
Good weekend all
07/09/10 - The Scintilator Drive
A friend of mine had to deliver some bad news this week to a rather important client. These situations are never easy. Both he and I have often employed the same foolproof way of dealing with highly stressful situations, you know the ones, where you realize you are in up to further than you can cope with. You are holding the smoking gun, there is a corpse lying on the floor with a bullet hole in his head and the police are banging at the door. Its tough sometimes being in that position but with age and maturity there is sometimes no way to avoid a difficult conversation or potentially explosive situation. When things really get too hot the best thing to do is go and sit in the toilet for a while. When you emerge things have often improved or someone else has dealt with it in your absence.
There are times when going off and locking oneself in the toilet is not an option. For example I am not the most technically gifted guitarist. In fact I often write songs with chords in them that don’t exist; that is to say you will not find them in the most comprehensive chord charts. This is not because I am a musical genius, it is because I like the sound of them. This is fine playing on your own but when you play with other musicians it can be a bit of an issue when someone says “What chord is that you’re playing?” and you return the question with a blank and rather sheepish look. Of course if you select the right musicians to work with they get to understand it and tolerate it in a “care in the community” type of way.
So that’s my top tip for this month. If you don’t know what you’re doing, surround yourself with people that do and you will spend far less time in the toilet...or something like that.
28/08/10 - Lavender Muffins & Mothers
I have been making muffins. I know, I'm so "rock n roll" although in truth we don't really know what the likes of Pixie Lott and Snow Patrol do when they aren't gigging or recording do we? Perhaps they knit or ramble or experiment with different bread recipes involving sour cherries and fennel. That's not really important because I make muffins and this is my blog. As I was filling my kitchen with the aroma of cake and lavender I thought about my mother's kitchen and all the little moments through my life experienced in that room. My dad sitting with the dogs...in the bloody dog basket! The tin of oxtail soup that was placed to hold up the collapsing worktop which stood there proudly doing its job for 25 years minimum to my certain knowledge. The period in my late teens when the answer to "what's for lunch?" on each and every sunday was "chicken casserole", and the little hatch in the wall which opened to enable communication with anyone sitting in the living room. My dad used the hatch one day when we were watching "Within These Walls" (Googie Withers, Friday nights at 9.00pm) and said in a solemn and rather alarmed and urgent voice, "You know Peter Butterworth?.......He's dead you know" Clearly such gravity was rightly reserved for a deceased member of the Carry On team in our house. Oh happy days. Most of all I remember the smell of the kitchen at my mums house, the sound of Radio 4, and my mum sitting at the table which was scarcely visible under the piles of papers and envelopes and recipes and other clutter. She was sitting in that chair when I was small and wanted to sit on her lap for a cuddle and she was still seemingly always sitting in that chair when I was grown up and went back to visit. It was windy and a Bank Holiday when I was born. I was a big baby and I expect that was a struggle for my mother, and I think I was probably a constant struggle for the many of the years that followed. Anyway Mum, I wrote you a song. www.youtube.com/user/grahamlandi
Happy Bank Holiday weekend everyone and don't forget to have a chat with your mum.
26/08/10 - Too Much "E"
Recently I have been experimenting with songwriting. Trying to write songs without choruses, songs with different structures, songs with unpredictable chord progressions. I have been trying to write from an idea, or from a melody in my head, or from a line of text or a verse. I have been writing the first verse last, the last verse first and the middle eight somewhere in between. Its liberating and enlightening trying to do something in a different way. Like putting your socks on before your pants or wearing a hat in church, or maybe offering a banana to a disgraced music teacher (my mother did this once and I will tell you about it sometime). Another thing I have done this week is started to write songs in the key of E. In fact this has been very successful because I have written three songs in the key of E just this week. One in E, one in Em and one in Esus4 but let us not split hairs. You know the thing about inspiration is that its a gift and you have to make the most of it before it goes back into its hole for a while.
25/08/10 - Rain
"It rained and it rained and it rained. Piglet thought that never in his life had he seen so much rain, days and days and days of it" This is the beginning of one of my particular favourite stories from Winnie The Pooh where the Hundred Acre Wood is flooded and Pooh has to sail away on an empty hunny (sic) jar to get help. I am reminded of this story today because since lunchtime it has poured down with a ferocity I have not seen since I spent a weekend in New York which was so wet that I had to head off to Gap to buy a new pair of jeans having run out of dry clothes. I dont know if today's weather marks the end of the summer but far from being depressed at the prospect this means that autumn is on the way with its colour, smell of bonfires, plum crumble (made with a little ammeretti biscuit in the crumb, and doubtless a new series of "Last Of The Summer Wine". Whilst I am on the subject of autumn when did children stop collecting conkers? Whenever I find a horse chestnut tree at the appropriate time of year it seems resplendent with little shiny conkers. When I was a boy you had to get in quick or there would be nothing left. I guess you can play championship conkers on the Wii these days without having to brave the wind and rain in the park. Oh dear. Its not a day to be out. It is a day to be at home writing a song with mostly major chords and a surprising minor chord thrown in when you aren't expecting it. So I did. It hasnt got a title or any words yet so if you are reading this blog and you have a subject you think I should write about why dont you let me know and I'll see what I can do. Its good training for a songwriter to be challenged like that. I'm just off to see if it's stopped raining. Good evening one and all.
23/08/10 - Erected In My Tenure (Part 2)
So at the end of day 1 we had dinner accompanied by a couple of jars of Blue Bear ale which I have to say is a very nice dark pint which I had sampled on around 6 occasions the previous evening. You know when you have an unforgiving thirst? Well I had one and I was alone in a pretty English pub on a fine summers evening with two days of solid music and merriment ahead of me so...what's a boy to do? Anyway, I had a bit of thick head as a result. On day 2 I hooked up with Mark Freegard who owns and runs a studio in Galsgow. Mark was clearly a decent guitar player but has swapped the guitar for a Ukelele and now complains that a guitar feels too big, I imagine rather like a Lilliputian might feel with a soprano Ukelele. So Mark & I were faced with writing a song for which we had been provided with the first verse. This was another new experience...I am not used to people writing my lyrics for me. Mark and I set to work and emerged some 90 minutes later with a rather nifty little reggae style number entitled "Leave My Love" which Boo suggested would have had Aswad storming up the charts back in the 80's (although I can't remember them having a ukelele. I didn't mention this to Boo). Its nice to know that I can co-write 30 year old hits with a reggae feel. Although having said that this one will also feature on the new album so I better get off and find some Jumbo Rizlas and my old copy of Exodus. Bye for now.
18/08/10 - Erected In My Tenure (Part 1)
I have been away, like many people at this time of year. During my holiday I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of days in the company of some other songwriters at a workshop run by a particular songwriting here of mine Boo Hewerdine. If you are not familiar with his work seek him out. Boo has written countless songs for other artists, is a hugely talented songwriter and is one of the nicest guys you could ever wish to meet. Coupled with the fact that the workshop was held in a lovely country pub (The Blue Bear) in the Derbyshire countryside and was awash with fine ales I must say it made for a rather enjoyable break. I had never attended a songwriting workshop before so I had no idea what to expect. An hour into day one and I am sitting with my new friend Tom in a marquee faced with having to write a 3 verse song without a chorus which would be fit to play to the rest of the group in less than 2 hours. Now, I hardly ever write songs with other people and Tom is about half my age sports a fine head of dreadlocks and various piercings so I am thinking "hmmm, our musical styles could be quite diverse". I had a lot of misconceptions smashed during those days and this was one of the first. Not only did Tom and I mange to complete the task but the song we wrote "All The Things I Knew" is, to my mind, a lovely little piece which will without doubt find its way onto the new album. I always thought that songs only came when I was inspired to write them but I have realised that songwriting is like sport, you have to train if you want to be any good. You have to try different structures, you have to start with a melody sometimes and a line of text another time or a chord sequence. There is no growth in always doing things the same way. I have learnt that writing a song because you tell yourself you have to can be as satisfying as writing one which is bursting within you to be let out. All these things were revelations to me and the imapct of them will, I hope, be evident on the next album. In the next few days I will try and put a copy of "All The Things I Knew" up on YouTube so that you can judge for yourself. Tune in soon for more installments of my great songwriting adventure.
02/08/10 - Fairground Attraction
It was the River Festival this weekend and all manner of alcoholics and their families were unleashed on an unsuspecting public against the backdrop of the beautiful Archbishops Palace and the rather amusing Millennium Bridge which wobbles alarmingly if more than half a dozen people venture across it at the same time. In the fairground a group of youths hung around one of those boxing machines where you are rewarded with the ringing of a bell if you manage to smash the living daylights out of the punchball without breaking your fingers. Pavlov's Dog springs to mind, an instinctive reaction to being young, stupid and brutal. I was taken back to my youth when I saw the Waltzer with its brightly coloured cars spinning and spiralling round and round to the shrieks of the happy passengers. I only experienced the thrill of the Waltzer on one occasion when I was around 8 years old. My dad took me on one up at the park when the fair was in town but at that age I hadn't realised that the world was a deeply unsafe and frightening place (I have since realised that it is and that I often think it is even when it isn't). We had barely reached top speed when my unbridled fear caused me to press my full stick of candy floss into my fathers trousers leaving him looking like a man with a bright pink pubic explosion. That was the last time I can remember being tempted by an adrenaline rush. Anyway, I digress. I mention Fairground Attraction because I am most excited to report that for a couple of days this week I will be in the company of a particular songwriting hero of mine, Mr Boo Hewerdine, a man who has penned wonderful songs for the likes of KD Lang, Natalie Imbruglia and Eddie Reader (Fairground Attraction anyone??...can you see what I've done there?). I am fortunate enough to be joining a songwriting workshop he is running deep in the Derbyshire countryside and I am hopeful of picking up a few tips and enjoying a few local ales at the same time. I will, of course, keep you informed. Oh, and if you would like to hear an early acoustic version of "Ashamed" head on over to my YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/grahamlandi.
Toodle pip and more news soon including a very good tip for getting yourself known in the local community.
19/07/10 - Holiday
I think it all dates back to 1977. It was in Kendal and I was camping with the scouts. I am sure it was 77 because the year before we had been in Dartmoor and that was a long hot summer. I remember that for two reasons; firstly because we got our first colour TV and when watching the test match I could actually see the ball rather than cricket on the TV being one bloke flailing his arms like a windmill, another chap swatting with his bat and then lots of other fellows dressed in white rushing hurriedly around scooping an imaginary object off the floor. Secondly I can remember the 1976 scout camp because a particularly odious member of the "troop" had been staked out on the parched earth and strawberry jam spread over his torso and nether regions to attract the wasps. I know it sounds brutal now but that's what life was like in the 1970's scouting movement. Anyway, this is a year later and its raining in the Lake District. I have already suffered one injury from putting my hand down on a wasp when I was procuring sausages from the quartermasters stores, but as I returned to my tent Steven Stubbs was playing with his dinner plate (it was a bit of a quiet day as I recall) by flinging it into the air and catching it again. He cast it off into the late afternoon sky like a spaceship on its side and as it sped back toward the earth its path was blocked by something, namely my head. "F**k me that hurt" I cried...actually I probably just cried, and from that day on holidays were never the source of great anticipation and excitement that they appear to be for others. So, take heed those of you that are planning expensive all inclusive holidays in the Seychelles and camping breaks in the Dordogne, its much safer to stay home and enjoy the sun in your back garden with a guitar (i thought I should get a music reference in somewhere)..and dont even get me started on that week in Cornwall with the cottage that smelled of cat piss, the 12 times I had thrown up in the hedgerows before we arrived and Tom being sick up the wall. Happy holidays.
15/07/10 - Menu Masters
Jamie Oliver is staring at me from the packaging of the parmesan cheese. I don't know why but I am strangely irritated by finding the "luverly jubberly" one on the front of my comestibles. Tonight I am in the kitchen and cooking, and a strange and wondrous thing is occurring. The iPod is on "shuffle" and as I prepare food I find that each and every track is a perfect accompaniment to the culinary task at hand. Is this some quirk of fate or are there deeper and more celestial forces at work? I am making a cherry pie and into the pan go the cherries and some sugar and a little water. I bring it all to a rolling boil to reduce the fruit to an unctuous syrupy mass to the sounds of the rather superb new(ish) album from Boo Hewerdine and the opening track "Geography". Its got a gentle bouncy vibe which is perfect for boiling fruit. In fact I wouldn't be at all surprised if he was making some sort of a fruit pie when he wrote it so perfect is the harmony between soft acoustic music and soft acoustic..uhh...fruit. However I accept that he could have been making jam. Now for the pastry and there can be no better artist to join in the rubbing of butter to flour (and a little caster sugar because this is a sweet pie and not a savoury one) than the beautiful Kate Rusby. "Bitter Boy" had me reaching the "breadcrumb stage" without missing a beat although it always makes me tearful so once the egg was in there was no additional water required. Rolling pastry was a doddle to "The White Tent The Raft" by the inimitable Jane Siberry. What to have before my pie? Caesar Salad with home made anchovy dressing. I like to make mayonnaise by hand, the vigorous whisking taming the stresses of a testing day, but a constant speed is critical here if you are not to end up with a curdled mess. So I can reveal to you this evening, dear reader, that the very most perfectly perfect song with which to whip up a mayonnaise is The Stereophonics and "It Means Nothing". Try it, I'm not wrong. There is no real musical ideal for making croutons because the little buggers just sit around in the oven so do as you will for that bit but when you are ready to sit and eat I can only offer the following; a cold beer, an outside berth as the sun sets over the tall trees and Kate Walsh "Greatest Love" followed by The Swell Season and "Two Tongues. Then its a book and bed. Good night when it comes x
13/07/10 - Cherries
Apparently this is a bumper year for cherries. Its only every seven years that a cherry farmer can expect a significant crop and this is the year. Sod the World Cup, cherries are where its at this summer. Living here in Kent cherries are available around every corner (apart from the corner at the end of my road where there is a church...which of course is different from cherries even though it starts with the same two letters so don't make that simple mistake). This year I've even managed to find some of the white cherries which I haven't seen since I was little. I used to buy them from the fruit shop in the town and then me and Dave Clark went off to Folkestone for the day on the bus (not every time I bought cherries...just on this particular occasion). We found ourselves a little cafe to have some fish and chips but I got confused between all the condiments and accidentally sprinkled sugar and vinegar on my chips. I think my family must have had some sort of an issue with condiments generally because sometime back in the late 60's or early 70's when there was still a Lyon's Corner House in the High Street my brother was thrown out for deliberately pouring salt into the sugar bowl. Silly twat. More music news soon. Buy some cherries.
01/07/10 - Nostalgia
Yes, I know its been a long time since my last blog. I have been quite busy, although not in a musical way. (Note to self - Get some gigs). This afternoon on a train I was carried on a wave of nostalgia when the chap across the aisle from me extracted something round and silver coloured from his bag. Mmmm, what's that? I wondered...it seemed familiar but at the same time as if it were from a bygone age. Then I recognised it. A CD Walkman. Now, I didn't know that many people who had a CD Walkman when they were fashionable. Personally I went pretty much from the cassette version into a void until the iPod emerged, but at the risk of sounding like a "techno-snob" I was surprised that someone hadn't taken this poor unfortunate aside and pointed out that this is 2010 and there is a better way to carry around one's music than on a device the size of a side plate. Then I stopped myself and was reminded of the numerous times over the years when I have, during an exploratory conversation with someone, ventured to ask "What kind of music do you like?" to be met with the reply "Oh, I don't really like music" :-0 That's like saying "I don't like breathing" or "I don't like laughing" or "I don't like Marmite"...OK, maybe not the last one. So at least the guy with the silver musical frisbee likes a good tune. Fair play to him for that. Well, I do like music and so do most other normal people. However I know that there are fewer of us that choose to immerse ourselves in it like some sort of cultural hot tub. Next month I will be excitedly jollying along to a songwriting workshop with a particular individual who has been a big inspiration. More news on that later when I have finished cleaning my Hostess Trolley.
31/05/10 - Last Day Of May
Its been an interesting month, full of twists and turns, highs and lows and the weather is a perfect metaphor because yesterday it was gloriously sunny and warm and today its more like autumn. Although I must say this is one of the things I love about England. You never want for variety. So as we reflect on yet another terrible showing at Eurovision (did anyone else think that one of the backing singers was flat?) I am reflecting on a very pleasant gig last week with the charming Fairport Convention chaps. We only had a short set but it felt pretty good and I think we are beginning to learn the songs, which is always a help :-) Just need to do some more gigs...mmmm. Just a word on Fairport. It isn't really my cup of tea from a musical perspective but they were absolutely first class. Great musicians, great rapport with the audience and really lovely guys as well. So I hope this bank holiday Monday finds you well, and if it doesn't then come on, chin up! I hope to be letting you know about some more live stuff soon.
Note to self - I must buy a ukelele
26/05/10 - If Radiohead Were A Country Band
On the eve of my much anticipated (that's my personal anticipation) gig at Canterbury Cathedral I have been very much enjoying an album by Brandi Carlile called "Give Up The Ghost" and I heartily recommend it to you, but that isn't the point of this blog. It strikes me that what we hear in the music we listen to is often a very wide spectrum. I may hear The Beatles in a song whereas you may hear "Slipknot"..well perhaps that's a bit too wide a spectrum but you get the gist. So, I can hear Thom Yorke in this Brandi Carlile album and I can even hear some "Radiohead-like" melodies. It could be just me and of course once we have an idea in our mind it is certainly true that our sub-concious likes to play up to it. For example I challenge anyone to listen to the great first album by "Cherry Ghost" (sorry, its name escapes me) and not hear Harry Hill singing the melodies. So, get yourself a copy of "Give Up The Ghost" and imagine that Thom Yorke was a woman, an American woman, and playing in a folky/country/rocky type band and see if you don't get an idea of what I mean; and if you don't, well who cares? It's a great album whoever it sounds like and in the end it only really sounds like Brandi Carlile and that'll do for me.
So here's to a good evening tomorrow with the Fairport guys. All the very best.
18/05/10 - Pilgrim
I admit to be rather excited about playing in the confines of Canterbury Cathedral next Thursday (although not actually in the Cathedral itself). Furthermore I notice that the tickets have sold out, although I have to say that Fairport Convention have significantly more to do with it than I have. Nevertheless, its not often one gets to play a gig where all the tickets are sold...Charles, Ibbie, do you remember playing that pub in Brighton where there were only 2 men and a dog, and we couldn't get the PA to work, and then we discovered that the most popular local band were playing in the bloody bar upstairs!!...happy days
08/05/10 - Writing
Got a new notebook. It always makes me want to write a song. I have amassed sufficient material for another album so I am busy trying to get myself together organising a few more to promote the current one. There's nothing like getting ahead of oneself. On another note I am pleased to say that Charlie Kenny, who plays drums on the album, has landed himself a nice little gig touring with Eagles tribute band "Talon" and is currently playing to packed out theatres up and down the land. You heard it here first, that boy's going to be a big success. Well done Charlie.
05/03/10 - Radio Radio
If you happen to live in the North West of England and suffer from mild insomnia you may have stumbled across an interview I did for the John Barnes show on BBC radio Lancashire last evening. John & I had a very nice chat about the album, music and life in general and you can listen again if you wander along to the website. The show aired on 4th March and the interview starts after around an hour of the show. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p006ll2b
04/03/10 - A Hand For The Band
Well I'm pleased to tell you that joining me on stage for Saturday's little set will be Sean Kenny on guitar, Charlie Kenny on drums & Marco Panzarella on bass. Its such a sweet venue it seemed a shame not to knock a quick band together. We haven't had time to rehearse yet so I hope we manage to get an hour in tomorrow. Anyway music should be organic and all about feeling. As Eric Morecambe once said "I'm playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order"
Graham
02/02/10 - Gig
Yes I know I'm still shamefully bad at updating the site. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the gig on Saturday at the Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells. I do hope you'll come along. You know, its quite tough being in a band or being a solo musician. Playing original material is hard because most of us like to go and listen to music we know. But how do you get known if people dont come and listen to you? Apart from that there are some really lovely venues run by enthusiastic and dedicated people so when nobody shows up its pretty disheartening. So, if you dont want to come along on Saturday to support me (you miserable sod) just come along and support local music and a really beautiful venue. Oh, and you can drink beer and have a chat with your friends too. What could be better than that? I really hope to see you there.
Graham
09/01/10 - Snow
Firstly I'd like to say Happy New Year to you all..there, I've said it. I hope it turns out to be as good as you hope it to be when the clock strikes twelve on December 31st. That must be the one moment in the year when, if it were possible to harness all the combined optimism of a nation, anything would be possible. Of course, anything is possible, except it seems getting to the shops through 5cm of snow. Anyway, I find the cold weather and the snow hugely inspiring and as long as I can watch it through the window with a cup of tea I think I can cope until things begin to thaw. Keep safe and warm.
Graham
14/11/09 - Unknown All Over the World
Digital download is a wonderful thing and a terrible tragedy. I was discussing this with my friend Adam yesterday and we came to the conclusion that there is just too much music in the world and not enough time to get through it all. There are thousands of artists and bands releasing albums and finding endless distribution possibilities through iTunes and Amazon and Amie Street and so on and at the same time remaining anonymous until the slow burn of reputation starts to take hold. There is really only one way to do that. Gigs. So, I am trying to arrange some. Sean and I have been quaffing strong lager and working out some acoustic arrangements in between "Come Dine With Me" on the TV or when there is a particularly interesting and low priced bit of kit nearing the end of its eBay auction. And if you've signed up to the mailing list I will be sending you a mailing this week...at long last :-)
So. If you know any good venues that might like me to pop along and play a few tunes I'd be most grateful for suggestions.
Hang loose. I'll be back in a deuce.
Graham
08/10/09 - Remember Me?
Hello everyone. Sorry I've not been around for a while. Unfortunately I have been "indisposed". However, I am now back and "fit as a fiddle" (what does that phrase mean anyway? Must make a mental note to "Google" it when i have a minute). I have been busy writing new material and rehearsing for some gigs. Sean Kenny (who played on the album, engineered it, produced it blah blah and blah) and I have been busy locking ourselves away with cans of strong lager and packets of Wheat Crunchies working on some really rather tasteful acoustic versions of the songs on the album plus a few others and we would hope to be in a position to try it all out in the next month or so so keep checking back on the web site and I'll post any news I have there as soon as is possible. All of the songs on the album started out as acoustic numbers so in many ways its really rather nice to have them back "au natural" as it were, although I am keen to do some stuff with a full band in the new year. Anyway, I hope this blog finds you well and generally "chipper" and I look forward to updating the content on the site a good deal more regularly than has been my habit of late.
Toodle pip
Graham
31/08/09 - Release Release
I think that was the name of an old "Yes" track from the album "Tormato" if I am not very much mistaken. Well, after what seems like an eternity I am pleased to say that the album will finally be released tomorrow. In the short term the best way of getting a copy is to order it on here. In the medium term it should be available on iTunes or any of your preferred music download sites. Failing that, keep checking back on the site for live dates or even better sign onto the mailing list and I'll keep you informed without you having to leave the comfort of your armchair. Thanks to all those of you that have already bought the album. To the rest of you, don't delay because I can't afford to record another one until I've shifted a few units. Anyway, all ordered albums will be in the post in the morning. I hope you enjoy it. I'm always happy to receive your feedback.
Laters
21/08/09 - Couriers & CDs
If you were a courier you basically have to read an address and then take something to that address, right? Apparently that is beyond some couriers so as I sit here this evening I should be the proud owner of my very own CD, all pressed and packaged and looking dandy. Instead of which I am twiddling my thumbs waiting for them to arrive in the morning if they bother to read the right address and remember to bring the CD's with them. I suppose if it can go wrong it's sod's law that it will. Anyway, enough of that. As it's the weekend I will offer a couple of crumbs of comfort to those of you that maybe feeling a little blue this evening. Firstly England are about to re-gain the Ashes. Secondly, if you haven't discovered Amie Street www.amiestreet.com and you are a music fan you really should go and have a look. You can pick up really quite super little albums there for virtually no cash. Can't be a bad thing. Finally, depending on how you feel about my music the CD's should be ready for desptach on time for Sep 1st and we are about to begin rehearsing a set for a few gigs in the autumn so stay tuned.
Keep smiling
10/08/09 - Red Tape
Clearly there is nothing much in life that doesn't involve a bit of red tape. Having previously announced confidently that the album would be on the streets by August 21 I then got involved in registering it with the PPL and arranging the digital version for uploads on CD Baby and iTunes et al. Anyway, after half a dozen cups of coffee and a very long evening I finally finished but as a consequence the release date has been pushed back to September 1st. That's not so bad I guess. Most people will have finished with their summer holidays by then and as the nights draw in you can cosy up in front of the CD player (?!) pour yourself an Ouzo (it never tastes the same when you bring it home does it?...I once brought back some apple tea from Turkey..but that's another story, and it wasn't the only thing I brought back). So if you havent had your holiday yet I wish you a good one and if you've already had it just remember it will soon be Christmas.
Take care one and all
01/08/09 - My album & Susan Enan
There are many coincidences in life, some of them happy and others less so. My album (which you must be getting sick of hearing about now) is at the presses now so will be released on 21st August I think, anyway that isnt the point of the story. My album was mastered by a guy called Jon Astley who quite apart from being a jolly nice chap also happened to mention to me that he was about to master an album by Susan Enan. He had mentioned this because he had obviously heard my album and thought I'd like it. Well, I downloaded it last night and I have to tell you that its an absolute gem and I heartily recommend that you all get yourselves along to www.susanenan.com as soon as is physically possible. You know those albums when you think "ooh I must play that one again before i listen to the next track"? Well her album "Plainsong" is frankly full of songs like that. So, coincidence that I should be having my album mastered in the same place as hers was because had that not been the case I would probably not have yet heard of her (I say "yet" because I feel sure she will have some success with the album) and therefore i wouldnt be able to tell you that you can currently download her work for only $5 (yes that's about three and a half quid) from www.amiestreet.com and the first track "Bird" is worth twice that on its own. Now, dont say I never do anything for you.
Happy weekend.
25/07/2009 - Release Release
Well the CD mastering is done and I am proofing the artwork today so the album should be pressed next week and be finished by August 10th.
In celebration of that fact Iwill wander into town and take the children to the River Festival where they will mither me to buy candy floss at extortionate rates and I will feel threatened by the tatooed gentlemen lounging around on boats while they stoke their barbecues and drink their Stella at 10am in the morning. There will be the odd boat or two drifting up and down and there will be bands playing, lots of them, probably badly.
Just how good is Jane Siberry? I have completed my collection by way of her superb web site www.sheeba.ca and the variety and creativity between albums is quite astonishing. Quite apart from that I could be happy just reading her lyrics without any music at all. Something to aspire to...mmmm.
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