I've said it before, but I just love the Internet. Did you know there are websites dedicated to listing weird band names? And lists of funny names feature in quite a few music blogs, too. Most of the names in those lists are, not surprisingly, either mildly offensive or downright obscene. Some, though, are rather…Read more The Remedy Of Abstraction
jazz
Free Henry Fool
While looking for Bill Bruford CDs I was directed to the Burning Shed website. Burning Shed publishes CDs and vinyl records on behalf of a few select musicians and hosts the online shops for various artists/bands. Two things make Burning Shed admirably different: 1) the copyright of the works they publish remains with the artist and 2) it…Read more Free Henry Fool
Midnight at the Oasis
No, this is not the Gallagher brothers arguing after a night in their local pub, this is somewhere much more romantic. We are in an Arabian desert. It is night; the only light is from a half-silvered moon. Hidden among the dunes there's a shimmering pool of fresh water, surrounded by palm trees. The oppressive heat of the…Read more Midnight at the Oasis
Born Under A Bad Sign
There was a documentary about Ginger Baker on the TV a few days ago. The programme is part of the BBC's Imagine series and it's available on BBC iPlayer until 7th August if you want to watch it. (I don't think the iPlayer service is available outside the UK, though.) Ginger Baker will be 76 next month.…Read more Born Under A Bad Sign
The Gnome’s Revenge
In 2007 Josh Dick and Brad Scoville used computers to create a music album for their U.S. college project. They called themselves Free Admission, the album was called Revenge of the Lawn Gnome and the result is available for free streaming and download on Jamendo, Last FM, Soundcloud and the Josh Dick website. There are…Read more The Gnome’s Revenge
Landscape
In my first chemistry practical at school we explored the difference between mixtures and compounds. Most metallic elements, we were told, have certain properties in common: they are hard and shiny; they conduct heat and electricity well; they ring when you strike them. Non-metals, like sulphur, are usually soft and powdery, are insulators and scrunch quietly if you…Read more Landscape
Axis
It's time to introduce you to the best band you've never heard of. I know you've never heard of them for two reasons. Firstly, although they recorded three albums in the mid to late seventies they were never signed up by a record company and never promoted in any way. Secondly, they never played any live gigs.…Read more Axis
Baker Street
London is a big city. A really big city. The population of Greater London is currently estimated to be about 8.6 million, only slightly less than New York. Crotchety Man was brought up in the suburbs of England's capital city and it will always have special memories for me. London, though, can be a lonely place…Read more Baker Street
Soft Machine
I just love the Internet! The other day an email dropped into my in-box inviting me to listen to Karl Jenkins on composed.com which is, apparently, a brand new streaming service. "Oh, that's good", I thought, "I'd like to hear some of that". The email described Karl Jenkins as an award-winning composer, which he is,…Read more Soft Machine
Feels Good To Me
I was going to have All Heaven Let Loose by Bill Bruford's Earthworks as my album of the month for March but it's not available on Spotify and there's not much point writing about music my readers can't listen to. So, instead, I'm going back to Bill Bruford's first release as a solo artist, Feels Good To…Read more Feels Good To Me
Crotchety Man 