It's Here

As I write the new Teenage Fanclub album "Endless Arcade" has finally been released into the wild.

It was a pleasure to make: grooving to Dave's bass-playing, eating schnitzel (not at the same time) and generally hitting drums on great songs. Working and hanging out with good people is something I try not to take for granted.

Aye, aye aye, very good. But is it up to much?

Well, you can make up your own mind by clicking here.

Now this was a rollercoaster ride...

... I don't think I've ever read a book so quickly. And if you want me to sum it up - I can't.

Here's a sweet read for dog-lovers and non-dog-lovers alike..

I've been watching Holy Grail, Life Of Brian, yada.

I recommend this documentary series about the amazing Greta Thunberg.

To quote Ivor Cutler, women of the world world - take over. Greta for president; Dee Hepburn for Minister For Sport:

If you love Gregory's Girl as much as me - here's a lovely chat between Nicola Meighan, Clare Grogan, Alex Norton and Bill Forsyth. 

Farewell, Jim Steinman. Wagner maybe have written The Ring Cycle - but you wrote Dead Ringer For Love and Total Eclipse Of The Heart. I found this interview with Meatloaf moving.

I've been making music for an arts programme for BBC TWO and also for The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2021.

Here's an opportunity for any budding or established Scottish or Scottish-based composers that you may know.

This looks interesting...

Tickets - https://www.dounetherabbithole.co.uk

We (Teenage Fanclub) were asked to recommend some Bandcamp music - so we did.

Finally - I enjoyed writing the music for this ad (trigger warning - this might make you want to become a filmmaker and move to Scotland):

Hello, Motherwell...

"Hello, Motherwell!"

"In Our Dreams" is taken from the new Teenage Fanclcub album "Endless Arcade" - out on 30th April.

You can pre-order it here.

Strange to be releasing an album without a tour in tow. But these are strange times.

Check in here for future live shows.

I enjoyed being back in Motherwell Civic for the video shoot. Hadn't been there in yonks (aside from one Fanclub gig in *relatively* recent times). Lots of my own teenage memories bubbled up; gigs with the Motherwell District Concert Band (with whom I played drums/percussion; meeting saxophonist Joe McAlinden who brought me into the orbits of The Boy Hairdressers, BMX Bandits and The Groovy Little Numbers) and also with A Parcel O' Rogues - a school folk band with whom I pretended to play the bodharn, writing tunes with my best pal John McCusker. But enough reminiscing from this misty-eyed old fool - forgi’e a hameless loon that canna see for tears...

I am reading this:

I'm enjoying it for its wit as much as anything:

"Then, feeling that this shifting of attention from herself to Mrs. Morgan's husband's sister was to be encouraged, she led Mrs. Morgan on to a further recital of that lady's career, including her gentlemen friends, her varicose veins and her final demise without a burial insurance."

TV? Mister Winner; The Mind Of Benedict Clunkerdunk (end credits of the last episode = particularly good); Monty Python (Series 1 of Flying Circus & Holy Grail); Wandavision; Futurama; The Hairy Bikers: Route 66...

 

And I liked both episodes of this.

If, like me, you watched "Only When I Laugh" back in the day...

...you might enjoy this interview with Christopher Strauli.

I was moved by this piece of writing by Audrey Gillan who has spent Lockdown on Armona.

I like listening to this from Víkingur Ólafsson.

Re-watched - and loved - this. (If I'm ever invited on to Desert Island Discs I might have to choose America as one of my songs.) I inflicted half an hour of this on a certain 12 year-old who said, "He reminds me of the grumpy grandfather in Up". He had a point.

I have been writing some music inspired by Humphrey Bogart. But that's another story.

The Scottish Awards For New Music 2021 are go!

And there's just time for Nigella's Doughnut French Toast recipe.