Festive Greetings!

And as a gift, something I think I forgot to blog about a month ago: Neel's pictures from our climb in Glen Coe, that is Aonach Eagach:
here
Best wishes,
Roy

WebbIE

This from Neel:

Just heard a really interesting interview with one of the members of the cinematic orchestra on gilles peterson from last sunday - new album coming out soon he plays one track as a preview. Forward to minute 44 or 45. (hold down numpad 6 to forward if using accessible listen again (link below))

try this out
http://www.webbie.org.uk/download/WebbIE3.exe
for a standalone version of the BBC listen again for all the radio stations. Saves going through the browser interface (which maybe only I find really annoying) Also installs accessible podcaster and podcatchers. The webbie website also has a really neat interface to project gutenburg for free, out of copyright books.

Snap

If you're wondering what on earth is going on here the following might explain it:
Snap

Reached via Geobloggers.com, an interesting blog about geotagging on Flickr and Google and the such like and possible intergrations with mobile technologies - very interesting, via the Guardian Technology supplement last Thursday.

I am Kritch

I am Kritch

Richard has pulled out the stops and cemented his web presence (he's a got a website)

theSound updates finally

I have rehashed the front page of theSound a wee bit to reflect the more fragmented nature of my web presence. I still like theSound. But that was then. This is now.

I suspect that that update was for the last time.

International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival in Glasgow this week

As produced by Suzy and co.

Google Ads

Don't you just love the 'user targeted' ads that Google puts into gmail?

Ladakh 06 photos!

I've uploaded my photos from Ladakh. For reference the address is:
http://www.zero-waste.co.uk/thesound/ladakh06

I hope you like the gallery. I chose the music myself. The initial view is a bit small though. If you click the bottom left button, you'll get a larger view of the gallery. If you want to turn off the music, which is likely, its the bottom right button.

Enjoy. I will happily give you a more comprehensive commentary if you come round my house.

Bell's Bridge

As you probably know, I have been cycle messengering since about May, and am loving it, although today was rather tiring having been off the bike for 7 weeks. Although I think the altitude in India did me good stamina wise, cos my bigger complaint was my sore bum! Anyway, I like couriering because I get to cycle all over the city and see new bits of it and get paid for the privilege. People say it must also be good for keeping fit, but I think the fumes from idling engines negate any beneficial physiological effects.

Today I did a long run from Temple in Anniesland to Sighthill (well, more like Royston) so I took the canal towpath all the way across teh north side of the city centre. I think its pretty cool that thats even possible. I also was at Bell's Bridge at just the right time to see it turning to let a boat through, which I've never seen before. It was much quieter than I expected, judging from teh condition of the painwork - its obviously better maintained inside than out. Also it was just a case of a couple of guys closing the gates at either end and pressing a button on the main mast around which it rotates - dead simple. It did grind a bit when meeting up with the other bit of teh bridge actually, but other than that very elegant!

MacKinlay enjoying Calgary sunshine

MacKinlay enjoying Calgary sunshine
Originally uploaded by ofreflection.

As you may or may not know my co-blogger and also I'm happy to say lover, er, best buddy, has moved to Calgary. But fear not! This is no reason to impede his Slogging, so while he gets sorted, here are some of his first photos on Flickr.

Valley of Flowers

Rishikesh
Originally uploaded by Spherical Roy.

I've uploaded some pictures from the first leg of this year's India trip to Flickr. I have more, but am nearing my upload limit on Flickr so will put up my own gallery in time. Got dust in my camera in Ladakh anyway so they're not that good sadly..

Element Magazine

I wrote a review of the Subtle gig way back in June for my friend Matt who works for Element Magazine and they printed it! Its in the August issue which may be found in selected venues in Glasgow and can be downloaded from the Element website. Its amazing what people will print..

The Global Rich List

Have a lok at where you come in the global wealth rankings...

popcorn ear

popcorn ear
Originally uploaded by gillyroche.

Gilly has put up some photos from when we went to San Fermin in Pamplona a coupla years back. see here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gillyroche/

Gig Review: Low

Well, so much for resolutions. I've been to quite a few gigs since Battles and haven't written anything about them. Here's what I wrote to my friend Nick about the Low gig on May 2nd at the ABC. My Latest Novel supported:

>>
I enjoyed My Latest Novel more than the last time i saw them(which was the first) i think they've got better, Paul's calmed down a bit. They played better and the songs were more consistent. I love that loud acapella stuff, its really striking. There's a fairly dark thing to the lyrics i think which i'd never noticed before.

I donn't know Low all that well, just have a couple of albums but really like Trust. It was a nice gig in general cos its so subtle and down tempo everyone was so quiet and attentive. Its a shame the drummer and bass player looked so bored at times! They make quite a noise for a three piece, despite playing very few notes - it was a real lesson in subtlety and craft - the quy was hardly touching his guitar strings - just exciting them at the specific volume
he wanted. A well spent evening, I think.
<<

Went to see Radiohead at Blackpool (Empress Ballroom) on Saturday. Still mulling it over somewhat, deserves a more extensive review probably. Mind you, there are plenty of other so-called reviews on the fansites already, and some live bootlegs.

My proposal to mysociety

mysociety have called for proposals for their next democratising web application, so I put one in to do with strengthening micro-communities, such as that which should exist in our close here in our Glasgow tenement. Please have a read and leave any comments there.

St. Georges Cross graffiti

st georges cross
Originally uploaded by gillyroche.

by Gilly.

New photos on Flickr

George and Aby
Originally uploaded by Spherical Roy.

such as this of George and Aby, some from Skye, some from Loch Lomond, some from Anstruther.

All sorts of wonderful geographic data

"Global-i is a 3-dimensional interactive globe that displays information about the world in your browser. The Earth can be rotated and inspected and displays can be changed to see information in the most appropriate form." from Core77

Thoughts at 2am on Sunday

battles are hard. They play with the vim and vigour I knew little of before seeing Frightened Rabbit a couple of weeks back. Apparently now that is the norm. All other drummers must up their game.

The difference between the Rabbit and Battles has to be intent however. Whereas Saturday night's Battles set was a lesson in performance and technique (by no means classical, but skilled nonetheless), Friday's was another display of shear heartfelt exuberance. FR's drummer plays like his life depends on it. So does Battles' except, that drummer appears to be directing his own fate. He looks like a drummer punishing himself. He doesn't play each with drum with both hands, he dedicates one stick to each. He doesnt put his crash and hi hat within easy reach, he makes himself work to reach them. The man sweats like a, cheese. or something that sweats an awful lot. It is as if the man is restricting himself in order that he can be the machine that Battles wants to be - one that pumps out a newborn montage of free dance and metal. Which it does, but with little overall purpose. I see the skill, the sweat and the conviction, but I can not clearly see the aim, the soul, the meaning. Perhaps battles are just an exercise, with no meaning.

Saturday was a night of drumming. We had battles, followed by Steve Reid and Keiran Hebden (Fourtet), two renowned rhythm mongers, all preceded by James 'Colditz' Chapman, trombonist turned drummer turned expert composer/producer. A tantalising set comprising all new to me tunes, played out to found sound backings on piano, cello, viola and trombone. James played with virtuosity, George blew assertively and lucidly. The performance was precise and so considered that it was played out serenely by all. A delicate and modest set that left the audience enraptured.

Later, Reid and Hebden would play with similar attentiveness but the sound let them down, as it did all the acts occasionally throughout the night. The venue was great for the event, large, open and friendly, and sufficiently trendy. But the sound was volatile, erring mostly on the high-end, and with various channels mysteriously droppiong out on occasion, while Reid's drums were almost constantly swamped by Hebden's belching samples. The quagmire lifted at one heady point of true dialogue between drummer and laptop but that was sadly unique. The perfomance showed great potential and given its brevity is undoubtedly an exciting work in progress.

The night ended with the Sun Ra Arkestra of which I feel unqualified to say much. It was simply a great way to end a great lineup, psychadelic and off-the-wall, trad and mod, simply a great big band. The first that I've seen in far too long.

[This is hopefully the first of many attempts to document the silly amount of time and money I spend at gigs and exhibitions.]