The video below turned up in my Hubzilla feed last week. It was titled "Hania Rani - Live from Studio S2" and it was tagged #piano and #electronicmusic. There was no other description. The tags I understood but the names of the artist and the studio meant nothing to me, so clicking on the link…Read more Hania Rani
Danger Money
Out of curiosity I looked up the most dangerous occupations in the UK. There are several lists based on fatality statistics. They vary considerably but most include some or all of the following professions: Seafarers, especially fishermenConstruction workersFarmers and other agricultural workersLorry drivers Some of the most dangerous jobs don't employ that many people: oil…Read more Danger Money
A Taste of Honey
The other day, on my daily walk (weather permitting), I met a bee. A big, fat bumble bee. The first of the year. And, when I got home, an email informed me that our Little Big Band will be starting rehearsals again soon, now that the Covid-19 restrictions are easing. Better start practicing again, I…Read more A Taste of Honey
Your Power
When this song came up in my Hubzilla feed I could guess from the title that it is about the abuse of power. But who, I wondered, is it addressed to? Is Billie Eilish admonishing a loved one, berating a political leader or even condemning a whole society? But the Crotchety ears were tuned to…Read more Your Power
Just the Same
We don't do repeats on this blog. But today the Selection Sub-Committee has chosen an old song from Gentle Giant, a band that featured here in 2015. Although the song is from the 1975 album, Free Hand, this version has had the magical Steven Wilson remix treatment, making it as clear as a glass bell…Read more Just the Same
Isolation
Fed up with Covid restrictions? Longing to get back to the old normal? Well, here's an album that will put a spring in your step and banish those isolation blues to the musty pages of the history books. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_laIbzhC50SwNk5dui0F639xGE9D0jpy2c The Backstage is a band born in adversity. When Steve Hackett's U.S. tour was cancelled last…Read more Isolation
Flown
Burning Shed is inviting pre-orders for CD and vinyl versions of Flown, the debut album by the Norwegian trio, Dim Gray. They list the band as "art rockers" and describe the album thus: The music on Flown combines strings-infused chamber pop, dark indie folk and grandiose art rock. An ambitious musical statement [...] in the vein of…Read more Flown
Lucky Dip
Hear My VoiceLiquid EvolutionLord It's a FeelingThe Gift of LoveClocks For this post I'm offering an assortment of easy-on-the ear pieces: three songs and two instrumentals. Click on the images above to enlarge the picture; click the caption to go to the corresponding YouTube video. Alternatively, all five pieces have been collected as both a…Read more Lucky Dip
Pianocean
Today we will be sailing with an ocean-going piano. With the piano we will take a yacht called Lady Flow, a pianist, singer and songwriter called Marieke Huysmans-Berthou and a cat, whose name I do not know. Together they have created a project called Pianocean, sailing from port to port, meeting the locals and putting…Read more Pianocean
Te Acheres
I believe the title of this track-of-the-week, Te Acheres, is in the Ethiopian Amharic language1. Unfortunately, I have not been able to work out what it means. The Web does have the lyrics of the song and Google Translate will give a literal translation of them - but it refuses to decipher the title. And…Read more Te Acheres
Crotchety Man 