for a weekend of soul searching as my 16 year old son enjoyed telling me (probably followed by a mumbled silly old bugger), lot's of time to go over my future, reflect on the past and I think my mind is clearer but I won't bore you with the details. Anyway so as not disappoint you all on my return I heard this on Absolute 80's on the way to my retreat and it's stuck in my head all weekend and seems to strike some sort of chord, maybe Colin H will tell me it's a F/17 minor or something. Oh by the way, have I missed much? By the way number 2, this is a tuuuuune and I'll hear nothing else ok!

Howard Jones "Pearl In The Shell"

If I were to say to you
"Can you keep a secret?"
Would you know just what to do
Or where to tweet it?
Then I say "I up you"
And foul the situation
"Fraser I thought ups
the right compromisation" (?)
Who upped my post?
You did you did
Bow to the target,
Blame cupid, cupid
One Karma Error
Stupid, stupid
Click that poison arrow to my thread
Click that poison arrow
No tweeting in secret
Stick ups up your bums
Loving a rival
They come when they comes
Right on the target
But wide of the mark
What I thought was harmless
Was only the spark
The sweetest melody
Is a well upped refrain
Don't lower your sights, yeah and raise your aim,
raise your aim
I thought you upped me but it seems you don't care
I care enough to know I can never up you
Who upped my post?
You did you did
Bow to the target,
Blame cupid, cupid
One Karma Error
Stupid, stupid
Right from the start
When you knew we would part
Click that poison arrow to my thread
Click that poison arrow

"Shy man with a keyboard, imagination, bucket full of tunes and steely stare requires flamboyant singer to take over the airwaves of Radio 1. Only apply if quirky, with tendency to show off and unique sounding voice. Urban myth preferred but not essential"

So must hundreds of adverts run across the shop windows, music paper classifieds and student notice boards of the early 80's. This genre seemingly as unique to the period as long winded guitar solos were to the 70's produced some fabulously outrageous tunes as the most unlikely partnerships somehow found their way together and filled our eyes, ears and imagination. If I were able I would love to put together a book cataloguing how these unlikely partnerships were made, maybe someone already has or maybe I should just search Wikipedia to find out how the Lotus Eaters came together. Maybe you lovely people have some insight or tales to tell.

Here's my current pick, please share yours

Soft Cell "Torch"

but if this doesn't bring a smile to your Monday......

Les Dawson "Feelings"

to find out just what all the fuss is all about.

Here's to another good week for all you great people. And remember love is indeed a wonderful colour.

Icicle Works "Love Is A Wonderful Colour"

that music's lost it's taste so try another flavour...

Have a good week people

Adam and the Ants "Ant Music"

And then miaow?

Are there Martians?

Arse! Tits! Minge!

Are there more?

I was listening to the fabulous "Sound Of The Suburbs" compilation tonight. So many great late 70's tunes that prove I didn't only start listening to music on 1st Jan 1980 (take note Colin H). Anyway two tunes that in my simple non-political mind were mini musical time capsules of the era would work perfectly well if released today over 30 years later. "Eton Rifles" and "Olivers Army" both lyrically capture a mood that I feel exists today as it did in 1979. I'm probably wrong, is "Olivers Army" REALLY about Oliver Cromwell "London is full of Arabs" "Over run by the Chinese line"? "Eton Rifles" seems to be a rant against the privileged few who take the cream and leave the rest of us with the mess. There doesn't appear to be any bands writing similar tunes today so are there any other songs that would match the political mood of today? No Youtube videos because you all know both songs so well.

We spend many hours debating what WE think of our favourite or not so favourite artist, but what do we know? I want hear what your favourite artist thinks about themselves, in this age of blogging, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter etc there is ample opportunity for people in the public eye to write "about" themselves, never mind the endless autobiographies. Anyway, no surprise who I'm posting in the comments below (sorry Brookster but the time loop continues, Dave posts more Justin Currie shock) but it is a wonderfully pithy and self deprecating piece from his Myspace page that tells us all we need to know about where the melancholy came from. Any other "abouts" you'd like to share?

and I've just watched Adrian Lewis come back from 5 - 1 down to beat James Wade in the world darts semi-final 6 -5 finishing on 161, that's treble twenty, treble seventeen, bulls eye, un-fucking-believable. Now I love all sports and games but nothing, and I mean nothing gets my heart beating harder than PDC darts, sneer if you like, ask how fat men throwing arrows can be sport if you must but there is nothing like it. Yes, drink has been taken but fuck it, you don't know what you're missing.

Just been catching up on some Sky Plus stuff as the weather is so bloody awful and came across this treat. Happy New Year!!

Music, it is what brought us all here in one form or other. I assume it's a passion for many if not all of us but because of the wonderfully eclectic nature of this site we discuss a million other things and music comes down to what I like / what I don't like, which I think is a bit of a shame really. Myself and the venerable Colin H have been indulging in some very pleasant light hearted banter surrounding our opposite end of the spectrum tastes. We have discussed whether two opposites like us could have common ground "When Pop Met Prog" if you like. we've dabbled with Tears For Fears, The Adventures and Nick Heyward but it would appear quite bizarrely that in the centre of our Venn Diagram would sit the Isle of Wights finest jazz funk popsters, Level 42. Reading about ver 42 it is clear that King, Lindup, Gould and Gould were inspired by John McCloughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra among others, who'd have thought it.

So I thought, idly, if any of you who are true lovers of music would like to discuss the process that brings lovers of prog to produce mass consumption jazz funk and pop. Where and how are those decisions made? I assume King and Lindup had a love of funk and Kings bass playing would lend itself to stuff like "The Chinese Way" Lindups voice certainly fits with the style. Did they sell out in the 80's and is it wrong? "Running In the Family" really is the most 80's of 80's albums and they went for the look, the sound and the kitchen sink but only the most cynical would deny that they are musicians of the highest order, real quality for the mass market. I'm no musician, my love of pop is because it makes me smile, my love of Justin Currie is because he speaks to my down moods, I have no idea what notes they're playing.

So questions, if questions are needed are these. Are musicians like Level 42 any less worthy than The Mahavishnu Orchestra because they went for the money? Does it matter? What determines what you listen to, skill or feeling? (I've had a shit Christmas by the way so excuse the ramble)

"Why do you love Justin so Dave? He's such a miserable bastard isn't he?" Well this time of year more than ever he speaks to me in a way that no other artist does, I do go long periods not listening to him but when I'm full of bitterness, sadness and regret he really is the only one for me. So when I need some serious Christmas wallowing (it's a very long story that I may share one day), a large serving of Currie is what I go for. So as my Christmas gift to all you wonderful people here are some clips from Justin Currie speaking directly to me about my life on his own in a church hall somewhere. I truly hope you all have a fantastic Christmas full of cheer.

Justin Currie "The Way That It FalIs"

I heard "Do They Know It's Christmas" on the radio today, nothing unusual about that, the radio stations appear to be aware of the proximity of the festive season. As the stars of 1984 began their trawl through those earth moving, epoch making lyrics it began to dawn on me that almost all of them are among the most reviled round here. Geldof is not exactly lauded round these parts, Paul Young is not considered the best soul singer from Luton never mind anywhere else, Boy George? Enough said. Then we really have a run George Michael, Simon le Bon, Tony Hadley, Sting and then there he is emoting for all he's worth The Words favourite whipping boy Bono and "Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you". You get my point, add in Phil Collins drumming (Jon Moss excitedly saying "Phil Collins is going to be here" sounds so sweet now doesn't it). it would appear by general Word consensus that appearing in Band Aid was a career finisher. Bloody good job MacCartney and Morrissey didn't involve themselves. Anyway for this 18 year old in 1984 it was quite an event, the news story breaking, the footage, finally the video, the song and in at number 1. The biggest selling single of all time and all that guff. Didn't change much though did it except making most of those involved (except Bananarama) an unpalatable footnote in the history of music on a music blog. I'm sure all those multi millionaires aren't that bothered and let's hope that in their world of plenty they are still spreading smile of joy.

I was stuck in a traffic jam on the Hayes by pass on Wednesday, three hours for a 45 minute journey, still at least I made it home in one piece which perhaps the people involved in the hold up didn't. Anyway, I had time on my hands and my iPod so I did my usual flicking through the lists of albums, hovering over the usual suspects but moving aimlessly on. Then a song from a current advert for some perfume or other popped into my head that goes by the name of "Rosé" by The Feeling so I clicked on "Twelve Stops and Home" and listened transfixed while waiting for the traffic to move being reminded of one of the great debut pop albums that to my knowledge has never properly been followed up. Song after song of hooks, harmonies and no humdrum. If like me you enjoy your music on the pop side but not too lightweight, more Monkees than Mahavishnu then search it out there really isn't a duff tune on there and there are 4 or 5 absolute gems. I have seen a few mentions of it on here before, I know our resident Portsmouth dentist has a soft spot for it. You might recognise this from the onslaught on your senses and wallet that is Christmas TV advertising.

"Rosé" The Feeling