Scanning through the list of artists, albums and tracks earmarked for further investigation, I noticed that one band appeared twice. Diagonal's latest two albums, Arc (2019) and 4 (2021), each had an entry. With nothing else begging to be heard, it was time to follow this oblique reference and acquaint myself with the band. Information…Read more Diagonal
psychedelic rock
Humboldt Currant
I know of two things named after Alexander von Humboldt: a penguin and an ocean current. The current flows northwards along the coast of Chile and Peru bringing cooler waters from the southern oceans up to the tropics where it provides a plentiful supply of nutrients for the marine life there. The penguin is…Read more Humboldt Currant
Fire
The end of the year is a time for looking back. Today I'm going back 50 years, almost to the dawn of the Crotchety Man era. It's 1968, a time when experimentation in pop music was the order of the day and a slew of highly original acts flourished. One of the most flamboyant of…Read more Fire
The Weaver’s Answer
Last week we had an Audience with a House on the Hill. They told us a story that asked where in life's rich tapestry we belong. So, this week, it seems entirely appropriate that we look for some answers. And where better to find them than in the studio of those master weavers of sonic…Read more The Weaver’s Answer
Walk On Gilded Splinters
In 1968 the Broadway musical Hair opened in London's West End. It caused quite a stir in the British news media. It was praised for its songs and production but there was some vehement criticism, too, mainly for the 20 second scene in which the actors stood naked on the stage. Hair was a story about…Read more Walk On Gilded Splinters
The Fool On The Hill
"We're going away for a few days", said Mrs Crotchety, "for your birthday". The look of anticipation on my face prompted her to continue. "I'm not telling you where we're going, just that we'll be going on the train", she said, enigmatically. So, for several weeks, I wondered where we would go and what we…Read more The Fool On The Hill
Miss Fortune
A friend of mine went to a posh party recently - dinner, dancing and hobnobbing with the great and the good. You could tell it was a really posh occasion because the guests were being formally announced. There was an aristocratic middle-aged couple and a young woman in the entrance when my friend arrived. "The Lord and…Read more Miss Fortune
Lady Rachel
From ghoulies and ghosties And long-leggedy beasties And things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us. There's a fine line, sometimes, between a curious dream and a terrifying nightmare. The flimsy tissue-paper barrier between benign and malignant worlds, between the familiar and the unknown, is conjured up perfectly for us by Kevin Ayers in his song Lady Rachel.…Read more Lady Rachel
Electric Ladyland
Why do we write about music? After all, mere words can not express the pleasure we get from listening to our favourite songs. How do you communicate the excitement when you hear something for the first time and your inner music critic says "Wow, that's amazing!"? How do you explain what makes this song special?…Read more Electric Ladyland
White Rabbit
Mrs. Crotchety and I were watching the news the other day. There was a piece about the holiday-makers stranded in Sharm el-Sheik after the recent plane crash in the Sinai. A rankled Englishman was complaining about the delay and lack of information. I noticed he was wearing a Hot Tuna T-shirt and remarked that there…Read more White Rabbit
Crotchety Man 