Little Jack Horner, waiting for his promised Christmas pie In 2025, we were promised many things. The war in Ukraine would end. The terrorists of the Hamas organisation would be eradicated. The European nations would take back control of their borders. A golden age was just around the corner. But what we got instead was…Read more Latibulate
Fever Dream
The stairway from a heavenly sleep ... The Third Age Trust runs a number of interest groups online (collectively known as the IGO groups). A new one was started about 3 months ago; it's called Exploring Prog Rock. So, of course, this third age gentleman and fan of the genre had to sign up. At…Read more Fever Dream
This Is No Time To Panic!
There is a rising tide of violence and hate in the world today. But, if you are a protest singer, that presents an opportunity. So, for example, Grace Petrie's gonna do well out of this. At least, I hope she will. With her 17-minute EP, This Is No Time To Panic!, Grace has summed up…Read more This Is No Time To Panic!
Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)
A detail from a Ukrainian postage stamp from 2022 At the turn of the last century, the composer, Mykola Leontovych, arranged a traditional Ukrainian folk song for a choir of students at Kyiv university. The song, sung in March in those days, tells of a swallow heralding the coming of the Spring. But the timing…Read more Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)
Cons and Clowns
Courtney Marie Andrews has managed to sum up the state of the world in three words: "Cons and Clowns". It's bad enough when we encounter confidence tricksters and misguided fools in our everyday lives, but when we elevate them to positions of power, the situation becomes well-nigh hopeless. Fortunately, though, the ever-optimistic Ms Andrews was…Read more Cons and Clowns
Wild Is The Wind
Living wild. Old Man Crotchety is in a sentimental mood today. Sentimental, but not at all gloomy. Outside, it's sunny, and the air is autumn fresh. It is a bit breezy, though. So, here's a version of Wild Is The Wind by the wonderful blues-rock singer and guitarist, Joanne Shaw Taylor. https://open.spotify.com/track/3PWcYUrHSwfFubOB2NLdMH?si=8a5ec2f3f750418f A track from…Read more Wild Is The Wind
Lizard
A fresh look at a beloved lizard. This is the second time I have blogged about Lizard, King Crimson's third studio album. In my earlier post, I noted that Robert Fripp had described it as 'unlistenable', and respectfully disagreed. This time, I will not be pulling my punches. The 2025 David Singleton Elemental Mix reveals…Read more Lizard
Part of the Whole
You and me, the birds and the bees, the fish in the seas, the animals and the trees ... we are all part of nature. A bewildering variety of species form an interlocking ecosystem, nearly all of them dependent on organisms lower down the pyramid of life. Many of those species are now standing on…Read more Part of the Whole
Forever Blowing Bubbles
If you are a fan of West Ham United Football Club, please don't sing/play/stream the club anthem while you are reading this post. Its music hall style wouldn't mix well with the progressive symphonic rock on Clearlight's second album, Forever Blowing Bubbles. https://open.spotify.com/album/7KkzZ9XnykpxNy1hm11H7f?si=YZxqU4v8TfW9rDk-cwAzMw Clearlight was founded by Cyrille Verdeaux in 1973. VERDEAUX, native of France,…Read more Forever Blowing Bubbles
Kin & Chaos
A poster promoting the 2021 sci-fi film, Chaos Walking. In my experience, it's rare for brothers and sisters to get on well with each other. So, if you put three pairs of siblings in a band together, it wouldn't be at all surprising if chaos ensues. But the Bradford band, Mischief, is proving me wrong.…Read more Kin & Chaos
Crotchety Man 