Wild Nothing Free Download

I don't know anything about this tune other than this, taken from The Line Of Best Fit -

Owing a vast debt to the array of 1980’s / early 90’s indie-pop bands currently in vogue, Wild Nothing is more than a homage or a cheap cash-in on the current trend of lo-fi indie guitar slingers – Jack Tatum simply writes and records the music that has flowed through his veins since he was a kid. The result is everything you’d expect it to be. Taking cues from pre-Screamadelica Primal Scream (the guitar jangle of ‘All Fall Down’ springs to mind) and early Teenage Fanclub with a dose of US slacker rock – ‘Summer Holiday’ is a neon fused daydream; texturally perfect and insanely romantic – Tatum’s deft touch and humane songcraft make this one of the standout tracks of the year so far.

Sounds good to me!  Here it is.

Picnic!

Yesterday, we were to have a picnic with friends but before we headed off to the proposed spot we stopped off at Akamba.  It's a garden centre that specialises in African plants.  It's actually much more than that.

As you walk around, through the palms, you come across little thatched platforms with tables and chairs.  Here, you can sit and have a bite to eat or a drink.  Dotted around is the odd bar.  They serve tea and coffee but also African beer.  I assume they stock local drinks as well but I opted for a Tusker.  A beer made in Kenya and named after the elephant that killed one of the brewery's founders.  It was very enjoyable. 

Whilst sitting, drinking my beer it started to rain quite heavily. There was something quite cosy about sitting in the hut amongst the trees whilst the rain came down. It showed no sign of stopping so once we had finished our drinks we headed off to have our picnic. 

Having driven around we came across a picnic area and sat in the car as the food was passed round.  An English picnic in all it's glory.

Not long after arriving home the sun came out. Oh well, still a good day.

If you want to know more about Akamba visit their website http://akamba.co.uk/

Another Suny Day

Another sunny day and another walk along the towpath.  This was the best walk yet as we got to see kingfishers!!  2 of them.

We came across them toward the end of our walk.  I had been trying to take photos of a heron who we found sitting on the path underneath a motorway bridge. Each time I got closer it would fly a bit further down water.  Having followed  for a bit, we decided to turn round and head back. 

As I turned I saw a flash of blue, low over the water. We watched it swoop twice before turning and heading away with a fish.  As we watched another appeared.  I tried to take a photograph but they were too quick.  We waited and within a few minutes they were back. Again, I tried to take a photo but again no joy.  After about 15 minutes they disappeared.  We waited for a few minutes and when they never returned we decided it was time to head home. 

Here are a couple pictures of something that wasn't as quick as a kingfisher.  In fact it just stood there.

The Drums Free Download

Just a quick one as I want to get out into the sunshine.  The Drums' Forever and Ever Amen remixed by Saint Etienne.  It's a lovely tune on a sunny morning and you can get it here.




Website: http://www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever

More Morris

As the weekend is here once again, it's time for a tune.  I thought I'd pick up from my last post and give you a song that you can do your own Morris Dancing to.  You can get it here.

Morris: A Life With Bells On

A few years ago I seemed to be stalked by Morris Dancers.  Everywhere I went there they were.  A country pub - Morris Dancers.  A trip to the seaside - Morris Dancers. A day out in Oxford - Morris Dancers.  I'm sure that they were not the same ones but even so I became a little worried.

The day the smoking ban in England came into force I was at a country pub for lunch.  Having eaten, I needed a cigarette and so, for the first time headed outdoors.  Although it was the height of summer it was a cold and wet day.  I stood in the temporary shelter that had been provided and tried in vain to find a corner that would protect me from the pouring rain.  The wind was up and was driving the rain straight through.  As I stood there cursing the government for such a stupid idea, a couple of cars pulled up on to the car park and out sprang a group of Morris Dancers.  Despite the weather they proceeded to dance.  I stood and watched whilst I finished my cigarette. I then realised I was surrounded!  I couldn't get past them to get back to the pub.  As one dance ended the next would start.  I must have stood there for 15 minutes, getting cold and wet. I wandered why men would want to do this in their free time.  I did not understand. I still don't but have to say I have warmed to them.  Old traditions and dances kept alive, there's a lot to be said for that.

I mention this because the other day I finally got round to watching Morris: A Life With Bells On and have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.  The film follows the fortunes of an avant garde Morris team in their struggle to evolve Morris Dancing.  It was written by Charles Thomas Oldham who also stars as the lead character Derecq Twist.  Directed by Lucy Ackhurst, the film looks great, has a great cast and is very funny. I won't spoil the plot in case you decide to watch it. A good, gentle  English comedy and one of the best films I've watched this year. Apparently it was well received by the Morris Dancing community.

The DVD is realeased sometime in July.

The Weekend

Had a quiet Bank Holiday weekend.  Enjoyed it though.  Saturday was spent trawling charity shops in Moseley, Kings Heath and Shirley.  Clare and I do this from time to time.  She looks for books and I go looking for CDs.  It was a successful trip with 9 CDs and 5 books between us.  We stopped at the French Cafe in Moseley. I don't know what it is called but it's a bigger version of the one up the road in Kings Heath, Maison Macy’s. The weather was grey and wet which is typical for a Bank Holiday Weekend.

We spent the evening watching Eurovision.  Belgium should have won hands down but Germany came out on top. The United Kingdom came last!  Why we never put forward and established artist is beyond me.  We have some of the greatest artists in the world and yet we insist on putting forward unknown rubbish.  Still, the public gets what the public wants.

Sunday brought blue skies and sunshine, so we went for a walk along the canal tow path. We saw a half submerged branch in the water and lined up along it were 9 ducklings with their mother.  All asleep with their heads tucked away.  I tried to take a picture but as is usually the case it didn't come out very well.  We walked for a couple of hours but headed back to watch the football.

England were playing in their last match prior to The World Cup.  Another unconvincing display against Japan. We won 2-1 but if we are to beat USA in our opening World Cup match we need to play much better than that!

We watched the football with friends who had invited us over for a BBQ.  After we'd eaten we went for a walk in a local park where we found an ancient oak tree that was quite unusual in as much as it stood in the centre of a ring of smaller oaks which has grown from it. The circle is a perfect ring and is quite rare. Apparently it is in danger of being built upon by a supermarket chain. It would be a great shame were that to happen.

Yesterday was a quiet day.  Watched the cricket and Terry Pratchett's Going Postal.  I enjoyed both.  Bangladesh put up a bit of a fight but England won by 8 wickets and had it all wrapped up by tea.  Going Postal was really good.  I've never read a Terry Pratchett book and probably never will but as a 2 part TV special I thought it was great.  Had it been a series I probably wouldn't have watched it all but over 2 nights it was perfect.  All in all a quiet, lazy but enjoyable few days.