We always hope that good things are on the horizon but, at the same time, we fear bad things will be coming all too soon. I suppose that's not really surprising; it's just what we mean by 'hope' and 'fear'. To an optimist the future holds sunny days and happiness; the pessimist sees only dark…Read more Soon
progressive rock
Blue Angel
The prog folk theme continues this week with the Dave Cousins song, Blue Angel. Born David Joseph Hindson, Cousins was the leader and primary songwriter with the Strawbs from its formation in 1964 through to the present day. The band has at various times included: Sandy Denny (Fairport Convention); Rick Wakeman (Yes); and John Hawken (Renaissance,…Read more Blue Angel
Easy Targets
The Crotchety Wanderer stepped into yet more uncharted territory recently. This time it was a website called The Progressive Aspect. An album review in the News section had caught my eye. The album was called Black Bead Eye, which was an interesting title, and it was by How Far to Hitchin, an outfit I'd not heard…Read more Easy Targets
Sleepwalk
It's a sleepy Sunday here in Crotchety country. Mrs C has gone away for a few days, all is quiet in the neighbourhood and the late summer sun is bathing the house in its warm lazy rays. No-one is around. No children play outside, no cars drive down the street. No sounds break the silence…Read more Sleepwalk
The Sad Story of Lead and Astatine
Lead is the stable end-product of three major nuclear decay chains. In fact, it has the highest atomic number (82) of all the non-radioactive elements. Astatine, on the other hand, is so unstable that it is the rarest naturally-occurring element in the Earth's crust. Its nucleus is so fragile that only microscopic quantities of the…Read more The Sad Story of Lead and Astatine
Wally
Crotchety Man has been hearing a lot of slowish soft-to-ambient music recently and was looking for something with a bit more bite to spice up his listening hours. But the airwave gods were not paying attention. Although the cuisine was excellent and the menu was varied, each dish they served up had clearly been prepared…Read more Wally
Beyond Illumination
Spotify was in a contemplative mood this week. My favourite streaming service served up track after track of melodious keyboards and laid-back beats. It was all very pleasant but Spring is a time of vitality and vigour and the Crotchety sinews were in longbow tension, as if waiting for Diana to release her hunting arrow.…Read more Beyond Illumination
