Sempre Libra

Last night I saw La Traviata performed by Opera Bohemia in a church in Glasgow (same company and venue as my first opera experience a few years ago) - which was nice. Love it when they belt out those arias. I wonder if Verdi ever imagined there would be amateur productions in Scottish suburban churches 170 years after its debut? Maybe he did.

I was glad to get to work on the music for "The Fade", a new documentary feature by director Andy Mundy-Castle.

There's a wee article here.

I liked director Hamy Abu-Assad's "Omar"when I saw it a couple of years ago.  I didn't know what to expect of The Idol but I dug it. A lot.

On a whim I gave this a go:

Not sure why. Maybe something to do with Grand Budapest Hotel and Youth. I dunno. Anyway I grooved to its atmospheric setting and clipped wit:

"Reciprocity was a state unknown to Mrs Pusey, whose imperative need for social dominance, once assured by her beauty and the mute presence of an adoring husband, had now to be enforced by more brutal means."

What else? Both Tom Hanks and Zaha Hadid were a good listen on Desert Island Discs podcasts - ideal soundtracks for cycling around Glasgow.

I am also up for a bowl of this - and not just for the better-late-than-never explanation of a pun which must have passed me be throughout Breaking Bad: 'S'all good, man....

Next Friday in Glasgow New Music Scotland is hosting a day of Networking And Discussion. I am sure glad I popped along to one a couple of years ago; I've met some good people and had some great experiences. And you don't have to have studied at a conservatory in order to be welcomed.

Meanwhile the first of several Teenage Fanclub gigs kicks off in Bristol this Saturday. Have you ordered the new album yet?

Aug 18

Yesterday I wrote "Francis" for 3 hours on some vinyl LP covers. I am looking forward to writing "Francis" repeatedly on some CDs soon. Have you ordered yours yet?

So I'm onboard with Stranger Things. It keeps making me think what a great film E.T. is.

This is one powerful film:

Here's how to turn the Royal Albert Hall into the upstairs folk club in a pub.

What have St Kilda, Julie Fowlis, James MacMillan, Craig Armstrong, Rebecca Dale, C Duncan, The Scottish Festival Orchestra and me got in common? You will find out on Sept 9th....

Potatoes And Molasses

I saw "Over The Garden Wall" recommended by Graham Linehan on Twitter. 5 episodes in I can vouch that it's creepily fun family viewing...

Apropos of nothing, I like the look that Henri Dutilleux is rocking in this picture:

I enjoyed the Merchant City Festival panel chat about album artwork on Friday, sponsored by the good folks at Glasgow Music City Tours. I was reminded that I used to pore over this when I was nine years old...

I picked up a pair of these for £3 at Tiger in Glasgow:

Anyone recommend a good VR app?

Six new contestants on Cash Trapped this week. I'll miss Es.

I got an email from young Polish boy praising the music. Good for my fragile ego while half of Twitter demand to know what happened to The Chase...

Onwards and sideways.

August!?

I am going to miss Cash Trapped (featuring my blinkin' music) today cos I am talking on this panel about Record Covers...

I've been reading Blair Tindall's "Mozart In The Jungle". Charlie Watts pops up and make a nice impression.

This week I watched and dug "La Grande Bagarre De Don Camillo"

...which put me mind of Cinema Paradiso...

(Itzhak Perlman pops up in Mozart In The Jungle too).

BTW if you fancy a smashing' family film, this gets my vote...

Got your Teenage Fanclub tickets yet?

Cash Trapped - The Truth About Me And Bradley Walsh

Bradley last Tuesday

OK I'll come clean. I've never met Bradley Walsh. 

However I can, at last, exclusively reveal that the rumours are true. I did indeed provide the music for "Cash Trapped" - his new quiz show which begins on ITV today at 5pm. 

Now to see if they spell my name correctly in the end credits...

Time After Time

It's been a wee while.

If you are in Glasgow I recommend a visit to the Water Tower at The Lighthouse sometime. Great views of the city.

I am looking forward to the release of this and this....

I loved this article by Frank Cottrell Boyce and this BBC Imagine doc about the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

Films I have dug..... *clears throat*

This:

 It's almost a love letter to Europe - you remember Europe...


This:

...a kind of companion piece to Grace Maxwell's book. Bet it looked great on the big screen.


And this:

I was right in the mood for it. It reminded me of Alex Chilton coming to Glasgow one time and recommending the Best Of Chet Baker Sings album.

Alex had recorded - but not yet released - Clichés, which included "Time After Time" among others. There were a few us at Riverside Studios in Glasgow and he held up a cassette and said, "This is my new album". I said, "Wow". He said, "It's yours", and tossed it to me. Chet was cool but so was Alex.

Here

So I voted *Remain* in case anyone is wondering...

You can order the new Teenage Fanclub album "Here" here....

I am gradually making my way through the Don Camillo films from the 50s/60s. This was last night's treat...

I've stumbled across this music from the 18th century by Johann Philipp Kirnberger and I dig it.

So "The Neon Demon" is boring and predictable. Just kidding!

I liked this:

This Glasgow building is worth seeking out...

I took a wee jaunt down to the Baird Institute, Cumnock for the Picasso At Play exhibition. Which was nice. But look at this detail from a piece of furniture by Baird himself...

Yay for the Govan Ferry.

Last Friday I headed along to the CCA to help celebrate Ian Smith's retirement from Creative Scotland. It should have been a great night. Except I got the date wrong and it is happening this week. What larks.

And in other news - I've been writing music for a *timpani roll* Quiz Show!! *trumpet fanfare/gong*

I'm off to bed. Wake me when the Brexit referendum is annulled...