Busy, busy, busy. No time for the tools of the wordsmith's trade. But I can just squeeze in a wholehearted recommendation of Steven Wilson's latest solo album release, The Harmony Codex. https://open.spotify.com/album/0qEIPJU8WQdXpr3eIc6dHK?si=c_RzD9nZToix9Y6hXvEJ9Q Steven Wilson's seventh solo album Anyone who is at all familiar with Steven Wilson's work will find no great surprises in this codex.…Read more The Harmony Codex
art rock
Amor Fati
Amor Fati is a Latin phrase with the literal meaning, "love [your] fate". It encapsulates the Stoic philosophy, which espouses a calm acceptance of life's up and downs. If the event must occur, Amor fati (a love of fate) is the response. No looking backwards. Sideways. Only forward with a smile. From an article in The Observer.…Read more Amor Fati
Old Friends
And New Acquaintances My recent Spotify Release Radar playlists have yielded a glut of riches. So, this week, I'm offering around 45 minutes of music covering a range of styles, spread over two playlists. Old Friends The Old Friends collection features artists that have appeared in these pages before: the Canadian acoustic guitarist, Calum Graham…Read more Old Friends
Beyond the Illusion
2D or not 2D? The Crotchety wordsmith is officially on sick leave today. A nasty dose of 'flu has stiffened his fingers and addled his brain. So I'm just going to recommend the 2021 album, Beyond the Illusion, by Stefano Panunzi for your listening pleasure. https://open.spotify.com/album/7z1TQoe3meczYTzERbnJlM?si=5F3XmegCTQiiGbsSYfniyw There are strong influences of Richard Barbieri, Mick Karn…Read more Beyond the Illusion
Panopticom
One of the artworks in the Panopticon Sculpture Trail, Lancashire, UK Panopticom? Is that a word? And, if it is, what could it mean? Well, 'pan', as a prefix, is the Greek for 'all'. 'Optic' is also Greek, and it refers to the eye. So, perhaps, a panopticom is a device that sees everything. But,…Read more Panopticom
Polarchoral
It's at this time of year that it gets noticeably colder here in the UK. So, let's sing a song of winter. The meteorological office will say that's premature - it's still officially autumn - but hats and gloves have been at the ready in this household for several days now. And Grice released his…Read more Polarchoral
I’m the One
There's something unique about this woman. No, not Leeloo in the 5th Element film, I'm talking about Annette Peacock, the American composer and musician who released her debut album, I'm the One in 1972. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs9zwqXsceUjPhAZQhNJ2OKYbdNvSeofE In the film, Leeloo is grown in a lab from an alien blueprint, and the scene of her awakening is…Read more I’m the One
Bite the Bullet
To adjust to unpleasant circumstances. e.g. "The severe drought is forcing everybody to bite the bullet and use less water." dictionary.com A few days ago, a drought was declared in half of England. Crotchety County falls within the drought area and this part of the English midlands has sizzled to 30+ degrees C. Our once…Read more Bite the Bullet
Mercury Music Prize 2021
This year's shortlist for the Mercury Music Prize was announced on 22nd July. The prize celebrates albums by artists from the UK and Ireland released in the qualifying year. According to its website it is "the music equivalent to the Booker Prize for literature and the Turner Prize for art". Allowing for some understandable self-promotion…Read more Mercury Music Prize 2021
The Old Man and the Table Saw
Have you any idea how difficult it is to find a good picture of an old man and a table saw? This is a little smaller than I'd like but it's the best I could find on the whole of the Internet. I suppose there aren't that many master craftsmen around these days. Carpentry has…Read more The Old Man and the Table Saw
Crotchety Man 