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 […]

TTA Press World Cup Sweepstake – The Final

So we were set for the final. The venue was buzzing. The contenders were nervous. The officials as glad-handing and self-aggrandizing as ever. Yes, we were in the Captain’s Rest pub in Glasgow’s West End to watch the World Cup Final. The last two contenders in the TTA Sweep – Chris Murdoch and Jim Steel […]

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 […]

TTA Press World Cup 2010 Sweepstake

Just returned from fulfilling my duties as draw administrator for the now traditional TTA Press World Cup sweepstake ( I can’t believe either of those links is necessary, but apparently there some people who don’t know about either TTA or the World Cup. Nothing short of bizarre, but there it is). It was a lavish […]

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 […]

NAF : FRIGHTENED RABBIT / The Winter Of Mixed Drinks

Not done one of these for ages. You remember, New Album Friday is where I dash out to FOPP on a Friday lunchtime, return to the office with a new CD and blog the first impressions. What happened? Was it winter? Did I stop going out and buying new albums? Do any of you give […]

Other things to do

Course if nothing in the list below takes your fancy you could always try one of the following: Download Hal Duncan’s latest Scruffians story. Listen again to the Murnie session that we did for Pulse Community Radio’s ‘Under the Radar’ show. There’ll be a highlights show broadcast over the next week either at 98.4FM if […]

Things to do

Blog’s been quiet lately because the first two months of 2010 kicked off in busy fashion. Lots to see, lots to do, including gigs and WordDogs and all sorts. And the first Murnie gig in two years, and nearly half a book punched into the netbook have polished up the old brass plaque inscribed self-satisfaction […]

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 […]