An Overview
But mostly this week, everyone is raving about STEVEN WILSON's new album "The Overview" in all its various incarnations. Indeed, it's already 'TOPPED THE HIT PARADE', as you young'ns say! I didn't pre-order it from a shed in Norwich myself, nor did I rush out and buy it from HMV, as I have established a 'policy' with new music of 'TRY BEFORE I BUY'. I'm unable to understand why some people BUY an album to find out what it sounds like. That's what yer streaming services are for! Instead I've listened to the whole thing a few times on Mr Wilson's YouTube channel. So what do I think of it so far?
IMPRESSIVE? most definitely!
It's 'CLEVER'.
Interesting? there's a lot to take in...
A bit wordy, perhaps...
I ADMIRE it rather than LIKE it.
But do I find it EXCITING?
Hmm...
Will I BUY it?
Probably.
Eventually.
Sometime, on a passing whim.
I have to confess, it's probably not for me in the long run. It's 'THAT KIND OF THING' that appeals to folks who really like 'THAT KIND OF THING', P-WORD people who buy into the 'CONCEPT' of concept albums, who still speak in reverent tones about "The Wall" or "Karn Evil 9" or "2112" or what have you. I don't anymore. These days I probably wouldn't have the time or patience to GET INTO IT, maaan! And once I did, it's not the sort of music I'd WANT to listen to repeatedly. Just so's y'know, I bought Steven Wilson's previous album "The Harmony Codex" earlier this year, a good EIGHTEEN MONTHS after it first came out! Same comments apply - It's an IMPRESSIVE piece of work, but it doesn't EXCITE me. I still haven't grasped what it's all 'ABOUT', nor have I given it the attention it so obviously begs for.
But why would I? If I want to go "PROG" (cringe!), there's a new PAKT album, new SOFT MACHINE reissues and a third album from Markus Reuter's TRUCE in the pipeline, music to which I PREFER to devote my attention and that I KNOW I will get a thrill from exploring... Ah! well, we'll see...
Second and third listening... it's certainly got some really nice 'BITS', but I can't say I'm enjoying the WHOLE thing. Side two is the better 'half' for me... I think I prefer to hear it broken down as individual tracks rather than as two continuous 'sides'... Can I hear a cutdown instrumental version...? Conclusion...
Okay, I've HEARD that.
I LIKED a lot of it.
But I don't yet feel any pressing NEED to hear it again...
...or to OWN it.
To Be Continued.
On Saturday, I schlepped up to the HOZZY for my monthly armful. There was quite a lot of "PATIENT WAITING" this time around, as I had to await the results of some BLOOD TESTS before we could get started for real. Luckily I had my faithful TABLET with me, so I could log into the NHS WI-FI and listen to a couple of PODCASTS from my ever-growing BBC SOUNDS playlist. I did another episode of ALEXEI SAYLE's "Imaginary Sandwich Bar" (I'm gradually working my way through all five series!) and an episode of "The Infinite Monkey Cage" pondering the history of recorded music, with BRIAN ENO et al. I also did a bit of BLOOSKY SCROLLING while I was under THE DRIP, which also took a little bit longer this time, as there were questions about my 'renal function' an't'ing. I had planned to go down to the city centre for some casual chazzabrowsing afterwards, but it was getting a bit late, so I didn't bother in the end.
Another "GOLDEN TURKEY AWARDS" nominee is on Talking Pictures TV this weekend, 1957's "THE BRAIN FROM PLANET AROUS". It stars JOHN AGAR, so that's ALWAYS a guaranteed sign of quality!
#OnThisDay #FiveYearsAgo The SOCIAL DISTANCING thing continues. Most people have now got the message and have locked themselves away, but there is still a minority of Selfish-Bastard-Brexit-Bullshit-Blitz-Spirit-I'm-Alright-Jack-It's-All-The-Fault-Of-The-Foreigners-It-Can't-Happen-Here types who DESERVE to be locked up. While I fully understand that some are troubled with ANXIETY as to where this is going, I can honestly say that it hasn't really affected me much YET. This is NORMAL LIFE for me, so it's relatively easy! If you don't crave human contact, you don't miss it when it's gone... I remain snotty in a 'normal for me' way, but have none of the reported symptoms of the CONSUMPTIVE-19... I've been going for WALKIES and I'm still noticing a variety of questionable behaviours amongst others: Most people do the 'KEEP TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAVEMENT' thing to maintain distance, but there are joggers who run down the middle of the path and expect you to get out their way. The worst are the family groups: Two or three kids on bikes or scooters; mum and dad constantly on their phones; maybe a couple of dogs in tow; all weaving in and out of each other and taking up the full width of the pavement.
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