NAF : ZOEY VAN GOEY / Propeller Versus Wings

I listened to your record and it made want to jump out of a window, but in a good way. So begins, Sackville Sun, the third track on Propeller Versus Wings, and that is as succinct a summation of the impact of Zoey Van Goey’s anticipated second album as I can imagine. The winsomely colourful […]

Songs in the key of…M

Continuing the occasional dip into my alphabetical trawl through the MP3 archives. Mary Ann – Ray Charles Maybe – Harry Nilsson Mean Ol’ Misery – Aberfeldy Medal Around Your Neck – Sparrow And The Workshop Meet The Elements – They Might Be Giants Memphis – Cry, Cry, Cry Men, Beasts or Houses – Fol Chen […]

Songs in the Key of…B

Thought it might be nice to revisit the thing I did a couple of years ago where, instead of having my mp3s on shuffle as is my usual practice, I let the player just trawl through the list alphabetically and see what it throws up. It’s a nice way to get a snapshot of what […]

Music anthology tour kicks off in Edinburgh

Tonight I’m going to be reading at the Official Edinburgh launch of the Music For Another World anthology. And not just me, there’ll also be readings by Jim Steel, Sean Martin and Gavin Inglis. And not just that. There’ll also be live music from Markee de Saw and Bert Finkle. If you’re in the vicinity, […]

Music To My Ears

Got a new story coming out imminently. It’s called “Arrhythmia” and it’s being published in a new anthology of fantastical stories on the subject of music. Music For Another World is the debut effort from new Edinburgh publisher, Mutation Press. Editor, Mark Harding, has assembled a fair helping of writers on my personal look-out-for-work-by list […]

NAF : The Divine Comedy / BANG Goes The Knighthood

So, NAF today sees me continuing my long-delayed** but all-too-willing initiation into the cult of Hannonism with the latest release by The Divine Comedy (purveyors of gorgeously satirical pop music since 1989). Musically, it’s the same mixture of style and arrangement that remains entirely ignorant of trend or vogue. It’s a beautiful listen, with possibly […]

NAF : THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS / Here Comes Science

If you know me and came to my house for the first time I’m sure, on browsing the monolithic stalagmites of CDs, you’d totally expect to see a healthy showing from They Might Be Giants. You’d be disappointed, and maybe a little perplexed. I’m not sure I can explain it either because, after all, quirky […]

Call For Inspiration

Got a project I’m working on right now, and I’ve decided that it needs an inspirational song namechecked in it. You know, the sort of thing contestants get to belt out on the X-Factor that have dramatic beat, step-up modulation and fireworks going into the last chorus. “You Raise Me Up”, “I Believe I Can […]

Direct Marketing

Two or three interesting blog entries in the last 24 hrs on the subject of connecting creative types directly with their audience. The first, from Amanda Palmer, is a stand-making shout out to the effect that she is pioneering a new model, combining her effervescent web presence with paypal to make money that goes directly […]

No NAF but Pomplamoose

No NAF today, cos I didn’t get out at lunchtime. But that’s okay because it allows me to drop in quick plug for a band I discovered via Chris Roberson’s twitter feed. They’re called Pomplamoose, they’re from California and when I get home I’m going to buy everything they’ve recorded for $9. It’s not just […]